Scottish Cheltenham Trials Raceday Betting Preview
It’s a big Saturday on the horse racing front, with high-quality action from England, Ireland, and Scotland. The opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival looks as high class as ever, whilst the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase lights up an excellent card at Sandown.
Looking north of the border, we find one of the most anticipated National Hunt fixtures of the year in Bonnie Scotland, as Musselburgh stages the 2025 edition of the Scottish Cheltenham Trials Raceday.
Featuring a Scottish Triumph Hurdle, Scottish County Hurdle, and a Scottish Champion Chase, the meeting is like a tartan-clad, lower-class version of the March showpiece. Nothing wrong with that of course, and here, we pick out our best three bets on what promises to be an entertaining afternoon of action.
1:42 bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle
The youngsters are first up, as a field of 10 four-year-olds does battle over 1m7½f. The hattrick-seeking Maitre En Science heads the betting on his first start for Harry Derham. His winning form from France merits respect, but whether it entitles him to be as short as 5/2 here, we aren’t so sure.
In common with many British contests, the eye is immediately drawn to anything making the trip over from the Emerald Isle. Luker’s Tipple and Solar Drive fit the bill, with the latter, in particular, making some each-way appeal at a double-figure price.
However, the standout contender is the Paul Nicholls entry Nardaran. Having won four of the past eight editions, Nicholls knows the sort needed to prevail and looks to have another likely candidate in this attractively bred sort. By Arc winner Waldgeist and out of the Group 3 winning mare Narniyn, Nardaran has an appealing pedigree for the flat. He ultimately didn’t quite have the pace for that, even at 1m4f, but suggested stamina may be his forte when staying on at the end of that soft ground event at Saint-Cloud. A fourth-place outing at Kempton on yard debut in May should have blown away the cobwebs, whilst first-time cheekpieces may spark improvement. In a tricky opener, he is appealingly priced to at least make the frame.
Recommended Bet: Nardaran each way @ 7/1 with bet365
2:17 bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle
The first of the day’s handicap contests has attracted a typically competitive 12-runner field. Course winner Florida Dreams should find this one of his more realistic assignments, having bumped into Jango Baie and Burdett Road in recent years. He makes this shortlist, as does the improving Balhambar, who caught the eye when keeping on for second at Southwell last time.
Overall, we hope to see this event go the same way as the opener. Paul Nicholls also boasts solid claims in race 2 on the card, as 2024 champ Afadil returns to defend his crown. Having also won the Scottish Triumph Hurdle in 2023, he tends to go well at this track at this time of year and is 4lb lower than when scoring by 1½l twelve months ago. We would like to have seen a little more in his four outings this season, but he has had legitimate excuses on a couple of occasions (unsuitable ground, hampered by faller). Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives, and he looks like the one to be on.
Recommended Bet: Alfadil to win @ 7/2 with bet365
2:50 bet365 Scottish Champion Chase
Doncaster scorer the Kalooki Kid makes obvious appeal in the headline handicap. A 7lb higher mark appears fair for that 5½l success, but the fact that he has yet to win over quite this far just puts us off.
Defending champ Corrigeen Rock would be our pick of those available at double-figure prices. Only 3lb higher than when winning what looked like a stronger renewal, the Lucinda Russell runner is handicapped to go close. However, his jumping fell to pieces when pulled up over this track and trip in January, which isn’t ideal preparation.
The solid selection here is Marble Sands, who represents the training duo of David Killahena & Graham McPherson. Boasting form figures of 132 in his past three outings in Listed and Grade 3 handicaps, he arrives in decent form and may find this a little easier. His only previous visit to Musselburgh saw him land the Novice Handicap over this course and distance at the 2024 edition of this meeting. 3½l too good for the field that day, he’s only 2lb higher here and shouldn’t be far away.
Recommended Bet: Marble Sands each way @ 9/2 with bet365
A £1 each-way patent on the above selections at the recommended prices returns £346.37 with bet365 if all three runners win, and £25.62 if all three only hit the frame.
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