Cheltenham racing tips: Cepage and Top Ville Ben catch the eye in Veterans’ Chase
The Ultima Handicap Chase on day one of the Cheltenham Festival
There’s no shortage of proven performers in this veterans’ chase, with a host of familiar faces lining up for what promises to be a high-quality race over an extended two and a half miles.
14:25 Cheltenham: Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2 miles 4½ furlongs)
In what is likely to be a fluctuating market, Storm Control is currently holding the favourite’s baton, but he could well have passed it on by the time the tape goes up.
It would be no surprise to see Le Ligerien garner support after the 10-year-old has quite literally come on in leaps and bounds since leaving Philip Hobbs for Joe Tizzard’s yard.
He kicked off with three straight wins for his new trainer last term, and despite being pulled up on season debut in October, he quickly bounced back to winning ways at Kempton last month, and should go well again despite a five-pound rise.
Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Le Ligerien wins by more than 4 lengths, get a £5 Free Bet
Catching the eye of Tipstrr pundit Richard Hutchinson, is the sparingly raced Cepage, whom Venetia Williams has raced just twice since 2021, once this time last year and re-appearing again when fourth of six in heavy ground at Warwick 23 days ago
However, this 11-year-old tends to do well at this December Cheltenham meeting, having come second and fourth in his last four attempts in the Caspian Caviar Handicap (big Saturday race).
He returns this year having dropped 20 pounds in the handicap and taking a drop in class to this veteran's chase, making his current price well worth considering
- Suggested bet: Cepage in the 14:25 at Cheltenham
- Tip advised by Won Two Three Racing Tips on Tipstrr
Carrying each-way value (for now, at least) is Philip Kirby’s Top Ville Ben, who survived a nasty fall at Aintree on his season debut in October, but whose jockey Harry Cobden feels is not without a chance in this veteran company:
“He took a bad fall last time but has some really good form and, if he can put his best foot forward, he’d definitely have a chance.” Cobden said in his PlanetSportBet blog.
“I can see him taking a lot of beating at his best, that’s for sure.”
.READ MORE: Harry Cobden previews all of his Cheltenham rides in his Planet Sport Bet Blog
Elsewhere, the unpredictable Sam Brown was let down by a late fall when looking the likely winner at Punchestown in April, and with blinkers re-applied Anthony Honeyball’s top-weighted 11-year-old could be in the mix if he can get all the way round.
READ MORE: Friday ITV racing tips: Best bets for Cheltenham and Bangor on December 15
