‘The odds-on favourites look weak on Cheltenham Festival Trials Day’ – Jason Heavey’s racing suggestions

Our tipster believes Sir Gino and Grey Dawning offer no value to punters as the big guns put their Cheltenham credentials on the line on Saturday

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THE NEW LION (3.00) and L’HOMME PRESSE (2.25) are fancied to topple a pair of Cheltenham Trials Day hotpots on Saturday.

Sir Gino is a very short price to win the Grade Two Unibet Hurdle for Nicky Henderson and see off his three rivals.

But at 4-9 he offers zero value and I’m siding with The New Lion to burst his bubble.

A brilliant winner of the Turners’ Novices Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival for the Skelton brothers, The New Lion blotted his copybook – and lost his unbeaten record – by falling two out in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November.

He gets a handy 3lb from Sir Gino and his 2-1 odds in what pretty much looks like a match make a bit more appeal than the odds-on jolly.

Nemean Lion and Brentford Hope will be channelling the luck of Golden Ace as they make up the numbers.

In the Betfair Cotswold Chase, there is a hold-your-bets warning on the hot favourite Grey Dawning.

Trainer Dan Skelton said that his grey Cheltenham Gold Cup hope was not a certain runner if the ground turned heavy.

If he does take part there is no doubt he will be hard to beat but, like Sir Gino, he offers no value to punters, especially with doubts about his ability to handle the conditions.

So last year’s winner L’HOMME PRESSE is worth chancing.

He is bombproof in terms of the conditions, trip and track and he made an encouraging return when staying on strongly to be second in a December in handicap at Prestbury Park – giving almost two stone to his rivals.

That was just his second start since he beat Stage Star in this race 12 months ago.

Venetia Wiliams’ yard may well be out of form – she is 0 from her last 44 runners – but the tide will inevitably turn soon.

Flooring Porter is another veteran capable of being competitive while fellow Irish raider Spillane’s Tower has attracted plenty of support.

DEEP CAVE (2.05, trb) is worth exploring in the Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster.

The eight-year-old cemented his place among the more upwardly mobile stayers with a tenacious success at Ascot in the Howden Silver Cup December.

He needed every yard of the three miles then and his future may lie over extreme distances.

However, Saturday’s race does not look as strong – plus the handicapper has taken a risk only putting him up 2lb.

I fancy Deep Cave to concede weight to a fairly average field at Donny – although Grand Geste and course specialist Docpickedme will provide stern opposition.

The Virgin Bet-sponsored River Don Novices’ Hurdle is one of the best contests of the day and preference is for COUNTRY CODE (12.55).

Ruth Jefferson spoke about a crack at the Cheltenham Festival in the Albert Bartlett when the six-year-old scooted to victory at Kelso last month.

This is much tougher with some lofty reputations on the line, especially Kicour La and Rocking Man.

THAT’LL DO MOSS (1.30) has hinted that she would relish a test of stamina and she will get that in the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle over three miles.

She gets a handy bit of weight from Irish pair Jetara and Dream On Baby.

At Cheltenham’s Trials Day, JAGWAR (1.15) will be very popular in the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase and it is hard to escape his outstanding claims.

His third in the December Gold Cup was a smashing run and slightly softer conditions should suit.

The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is the biggest field of Trials Day and I’m throwing an optimistic dart at Gordon Elliott’s 33-1 shot WHERE IT ALL BEGAN (1.50).

The 10-year-old has not been the same since Sean Bowen ­almost won a Welsh National on him in 2024 – a bad mistake stopped him four ­fences out – and if anybody can revive his fortunes it is the champion jockey.

IMPOSE TOI (3.35) can cement his place at the top of the staying tree in the Pertemps Network Cleeve Hurdle.

His Grade One win in Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle was a fine ­effort and he can confirm form with runner-up Strong Leader.

And once the ITV cameras have stopped rolling, I fancy THE BLUE ROOM (4.10) to score for Bowen in the Grade Two AIS Novices’ Hurdle.

He was an excellent second to No Drama This End and would have got closer but for an error at the second last.

CHELTENHAM

12.05 Barlovento (nb)

12.40 Tenter Le Tout

1.15 Jagwar

1.50 Where it All Began

2.25 L’Homme Presse

3.00 The New Lion

3.35 Impose Toi

4.10 The Blue Room (Nap)

DONCASTER

12.20 Highland Crystal

12.55 Country Code

1.30 That’ll Do Moss

2.05 Deep Cave (trb)

2.38 Paddy O’Mahler

3.13 Milan Tino

3.48 Elderflower Tonic

UTTOXETER

12.47 El Jefe

1.22 Tales Of Brewery

1.57 Sunnyvilla

2.32 Master Breffni

3.06 Gege Ville

3.41 Jo Coko

4.18 Richardson

LINGFIELD

11.58 Sands Of Havana

12.33 Star Of Albion

1.08 Far Too Fizzy

1.43 Sam’s Xpress

2.14 Voix De Bocelli

2.48 My Boy Harry

3.26 Mighty Ruler

4.00 Watermelon Sugar

NEWCASTLE

4.05 Star Cast

4.35 Bishop’s Glory

5.05 Million Gold

5.35 Quinault

6.05 Raatea

6.35 Ana Emaraaty

7.05 Balqaa