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Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: Cheltenham Trials Day & Doncaster Tips

SATURDAY RACING TIPS

Cheltenham 1.15 – Triumph Hurdle Trial

East India Dock (8/13 fav) is the right favourite for this one after that impressive win at Cheltenham in November.

I think it’s between him and Sauvignon (5/1), who my dad, Paul, thinks a lot of. He’s been ready to run for a while but meetings have been abandoned and the fact he starts him out here isn’t something he usually does with his juveniles.

Just based on that I’ll side with Sauvignon, who looks an interesting recruit to Nicholls yard.

Megan’s Tip: Sauvignon WIN

Doncaster 1.30 – Handicap Chase

Nells Son (11/4 fav) is an improving horse, particularly this season.

He beat Unexpected Party at Carlisle and Matata at Kelso – both pieces of form which look pretty strong when looking at this race.

He does have plenty of weight to carry but he’s a really in-form horse and I can see him making it three wins in a row here.

Megan’s Tip: Nells Son WIN

Cheltenham 1.50 – Handicap Chase

I’m going to go with my old mate Iroko (7/2) again.

I’m very much of the belief he’s better than a handicapper and I know the O’Neill team think so too.

He’s a horse with lots of ability and this race should suit him better than the race he fell in at Ascot last time.

Classy horses running in handicaps is never a bad angle and I can see him taking this on the way to a crack at a race at the Festival

Megan’s Tip: Iroko WIN

Doncaster 2.05 – River Don Novices’ Hurdle

I like the look of Western Knight (2/1 fav) here.

He’s a big chasing type for the future and he stays really well so this trip should suit him.

I like him returning to a flatter track like Doncaster and I think he’ll have learned loads from that defeat at Cheltenham last time.

He should come on again from that and I expect him to take plenty of beating for the Tizzard team.

Megan’s Tip: Western Knight WIN

Cheltenham 2.25 – Cotswold Chase

I like the angle of L’Homme Presse (5/6 fav) here.

He ran really well in the King George on his return at a track and ground that probably was sharp enough for him.

The rain that’s about will only help his chances and we know he likes it around Cheltenham having won the Brown Advisory and finishing fourth in the Gold Cup.

He looks like a very solid favourite to me.

Megan’s Tip: L’Homme Presse WIN

Doncaster 2.40 – Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle

Kateira (6/4 fav) beat Della Casa Lunga (6/1) earlier in the season and then ran extremely well in the Long Walk at the top level, where a slight mistake cost her.

She’s pretty talented, consistent and seems to go on any ground.

I love the way she backs up her runs and I’m hoping she can give the Skeltons another Saturday winner.

Megan’s Tip: Kateira WIN

Cheltenham 3.00 – International Hurdle

It’s great to see Constitution Hill (1/10 fav) back out again.

Barring a massive shock, he’ll win this easily as his price suggests as he gears up for another shot at the Champion Hurdle.

With his price far too short, we’ll try and find the one to chase him home and that could be Brentford Hope (11/2).

He didn’t go a yard at Windsor but connections have reached for headgear which will hopefully sharpen him up a bit.

If it does, he should be good enough to finish second.

Megan’s Tip: Constitution Hill 1st, Brentford Hope 2nd Forecast

Cheltenham 3.35 – Cleeve Hurdle

Crambo (9/4 fav) looks the one to beat in the Cleeve Hurdle.

It was a great comeback run to win the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot after he lost his way a bit at the back end of the last season.

On that Ascot run I think he’s the right favourite and the most likely winner – although there are plenty of worthy contenders against him.

Strong Leader (5/2) has had a wind operation since a disappointing run at Ascot but I’m not sure Cheltenham is his sort of track. I feel he’ll be better at flatter tracks like he showed at Aintree last season.

The one to follow Crambo home might be last year’s Pertemps winner Monmiral (15/2).

He’s not the most consistent but we know he goes well at Cheltenham and he ran pretty well behind Strong Leader at Newbury on his last start.

Megan’s Tip: Crambo WIN

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation

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