Cotswold Chase Preview, Betting Tips and Odds – Saturday 30th January (2.25pm Cheltenham)

The Cotswold Chase, run over 3 miles 1½ furlongs on the New Course at Cheltenham, is considered a trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, although it’s been 21 years since Looks Like Trouble became the last horse to win both races in the same season.

That said, last year’s winner, Santini, was only beaten an ever-diminishing neck by Al Boum Photo in the ‘Blue Riband’ event seven weeks later.

 

Cotswold Chase Odds

Horse	Odds	Bookies
Bristol De Mai	2/1	Bet
Santini	11/4	Bet
Native River	10/3	Bet
Saint Calverdos	9/2	Bet
The Conditional	8/1	Bet
Yala Enki	10/1	Bet
Lake View Lad	10/1	Bet
Mister Malarky	16/1	Bet
Yorkhill	33/1	Bet
Lord Du Mesnil	40/1	Bet

 

Will Santini Run at Cheltenham?

Santini (11/4) has, once again, been declared for the Cotswold Chase, but trainer Nicky Henderson has already voiced his reluctance to run the nine-year-old on heavy ground, which he believes ‘will do more harm than good’. The going at Cheltenham is already soft, heavy in places and, with further rain forecast from midweek onwards, Clerk of the Course Simon Claisse expects heavy ground on Saturday. Thus, Santini seems highly unlikely to participate and will likely go to Haydock for the Grand National trial in February.

 

Bristol De Mai the Current Favourite

Bristol De Mai (2/1) stayed on to finish second, beaten 3½ lengths, behind Santini in this race last year, but could only manage ninth, beaten 18½ lengths, behind Al Boum Photo in the Gold Cup. In fact, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ 10-year-old has run six times on the New Course, including twice in this race, without success.

He appears to reserve his best form for Haydock Park, where he has won the Betfair Chase in three of the last four seasons and finished second on the other occasion. He is officially rated just 1lb inferior to Santini but, coming back from a 10-week break, he could be worth taking on at a short price.

 

Native River to Love the Ground

The 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River (10/3) needs cut in the ground to be seen to best effect and runs here in preference to the Denman Chase at Newbury next month – which he won in 2017, 2018 and 2020 – for precisely that reason.

His 2019/20 campaign was brought to a premature end by a tendon injury, but he finished a close third, beaten 3 lengths, behind surprise winner Lake View Lad (10/1) in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree on his reappearance in December.

On that occasion, the omission of the last three fences, due to low sun, did not aid his cause and, on 6lb better terms, he has every chance of reversing the form with Lake View Lad. That said, he is an 11-year-old and his trainer, Colin Tizzard, has saddled more than 40 runners, over a five-week period, since his last winner.

 

Saint Calvados to Stay the Trip?

Saint Calvados (9/2) was making his first attempt beyond 2 miles 4½ when finishing fourth, beaten 8½ lengths, behind Frodon in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day on his seasonal reappearance.

In so doing, he finished one place, and 1½ lengths, ahead of Santini, although he did jump left on occasions and lost two places from the final fence. His trainer Harry Whittington is running him here ‘to see if he stays the trip’, which would make the Cheltenham Gold Cup a possibility but, for a horse with lingering stamina doubts, his current odds are plenty short enough.

The Each-Way Punts

Beyond the front four in the ante-post market, the aforementioned Lake View Lad looked exposed as a handicapper, albeit a decent one, before winning at Aintree and may be hard pushed to follow up.

The Conditional (10/1), Mister Malarky (16/1), Yorkhill (33/1) and Lord Du Mesnil (40/1) all have plenty to find on official ratings, although Willie Mullins’ cast-off Yorkhill was rated 164 in his prime and proved a revelation when popping up at 66/1 on his debut for Sandy Thomson in the Rehearsal Handicap Chase at Newcastle in November.

 

Yala Enki the Each-Way Bet

Yala Enki (10/1) officially has 7lb or 8lb to find with the likes of Native River and Bristol De Mai, but, if Paul Nicholls decides to turn him out again after his gutsy win over 3 miles 4½ furlongs at Taunton last Saturday, he could represent some value. He, too, is an 11-year-old, but is blessed with an abundance of stamina and 3 miles 1½ furlongs on likely bottomless ground should play to his strengths.

 

Cotswold Chase Betting Tip

EACH-WAY BET: Yala Enki (10/1 with Bet365 and Paddy Power).

 

Cotswold Chase Free Bet

Open a new Paddy Power account and bet £20 on the Cotswold Chase. If your bet loses you will get a £20 cash refund credited to your account.

Paddy Power are also NRNB for the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, in every race.

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