Plenty to look forward to this weekend as we've one of the jump season highlights this Saturday with Cheltenham's final day of their December Meeting (The International). A bumper day at Prestbury Park with the December Gold Cup and the Unibet International Hurdle two of the highlights – the ITV4 cameras will be showing us four LIVE races from Prestbury Park.
The LIVE ITV action doesn't end at Cheltenham though as they are also at Doncaster to take in three races so we'll be praying the worst of the weather also bypasses them.
So, as always, we've got it all covered here on RACING AHEAD with all the key trends, plus our verdict, on each of the LIVE ITV races – we're confident these trends will point you in the direction of a few winners, or at least help narrow down some of the field to highlight the horses that fit the best profile of past winners – So, let's get going!
Cheltenham Horse Racing Trends (ITV/RacingTV)
1.50 – Ais December Gold Cup (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) Cl1 2m5f ITV4
19/20 – Aged 8 or younger
18/20 – Ran within the last 6 weeks
16/20 – Had won over at least 2m4f (fences) before
15/20 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
15/20 – Went onto run at the Cheltenham Festival later that season (2 winners, Frodon – Ryanair Chase and Coole Cody – Plate)
15/20 – Had won between 2-4 times over fences before
14/20 – Had raced at Cheltenham (fences) before (6 won)
13/20 – Returned 9/1 or shorter in the betting
13/20 – Officially rated 141 or higher
12/20 – Aged 6 or 7 years-old
12/20 – Unplaced favourites
11/20 – French bred
9/20 – Carried 10-12 or more
9/20 – Ran at Cheltenham last time out
9/20 – Ran in the Paddy Power (Nov) Gold Cup last time out (1 won)
6/20 – Finished in the top 5 in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last time out
5/20 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
5/20 – Won last time out
3/20 – Trained by Nicky Henderson
3/20 – Went to an Irish-trained horse
2/20 – Trained by David Pipe
2/20 – Ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies
1/20 – Winning favourites
The average winning SP in the last 20 runnings is 10/1
2.25 – Unibet International Hurdle (Grade 2) Cl1 2m1f ITV4
19/19 – Raced over hurdles at Cheltenham previously
17/19 – Placed in the top 3 in their latest race
17/19 – Raced within the last 6 weeks
16/19 – Won over 2m1f+ (hurdles) previously
16/19 – Won 4 or more times over hurdles previously
15/19 – Won by a horse aged 7 years-old or younger
14/19 – Ran in the Champion Hurdle later that season (5 placed)
13/19 – Favourites placed
12/19 – Favourites that won (1 joint)
12/19 – Priced 5/2 or shorter
11/19 – Won their latest race
11/19 – Won over hurdles at Cheltenham previously
10/19 – Won by a horse aged either 4 or 5 years-old
9/19 – Rated 162 or higher
7/19 – Winning distance: 4+ lengths
6/19 – Won the Greatwood Hurdle (Cheltenham) last time out
5/19 – Won by a French-bred horse
5/19 – Won by trainer Nicky Henderson (3 of the last 5)
5/19 – Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies (4 of the last 9)
4/19 – Ridden by jockey Sam Twiston-Davies (4 of the last 9)
3/19 – Trained by Paul Nicholls (2 of the last 10)
3/19 – Trained by Philip Hobbs
3/19 – Won by an Irish-trained horse
1/19 – Won the Champion Hurdle later that season (Rooster Booster 2002)
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 7/2
3.00 – Albert Bartlett Novices´ Hurdle (Registered as The Bristol Novices´ Hurdle) (Grade 2) Cl1 3m ITV4
18/18 – Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
17/18 – Raced within the last 6 weeks
16/18 – Had won between 1-2 times over hurdles before
16/18 – Aged 6 or younger
15/18 – Winning distance 1 ¼ lengths or more
14/18 – Placed favourites
14/18 – Returned 4/1 or shorter in the betting
13/18 – Went on run in the Albert Bartlett (3 won) at the Cheltenham Festival
11/18 – Winning favourite (1 co, 1 joint)
11/18 – Ran at Cheltenham last time out
11/18 – Won last time out
11/18 – Irish bred
10/18 – Returned 2/1 or shorter in the betting
9/18 – Went onto finish in the top 4 in a Cheltenham Festival race that season
9/18 – Had won at Cheltenham before
8/18 – Won over 3m (hurdles) before
3/18 – Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies
2/18 – Trained by Jonjo O'Neill
10 of the last 13 winners returned 3/1 or shorter in the betting
9 of the last 11 winners were aged 5 years-old
3.35 – Molson Coors Mares' Handicap Hurdle Cl2 (4yo+) 2m4 1/2f ITV4
Just 7 previous runnings
All 7 winners returned 4/1 or shorter in the betting
6/7 – Winners carried 10-11 or more
5/7 – Aged 7 or younger
5/7 – Aged 5 or 6 years-old
2/7 – Winning favourites
Martello Sky won the race 12 months ago
Trainers, Lucy Wadham (2), Nicky Henderson, Dan Skelton, Noel Williams (2), Anthony Honeyball
Doncaster Horse Racing Trends (ITV4/ATR)
1.30 – Bet365 Summit Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (3yo) Cl1 2m110y ITV4
11/11 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
9/11 – Carried 11-2 or more in weight
9/11 – Favourites placed in the top 3
8/11 – Had won just once before over hurdles
9/11 – Raced in the last 5 weeks
8/11 – Irish (3) or French (5) bred
7/11 – Won last time out
5/11 – Winning favourites
3/11 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
2/11 – Ran at Market Rasen last time out
2/11 – Ridden by Harry Cobden
2/11 – Trained by John Quinn
2/11 – Trained by Nicky Henderson
Peace and Co won the race in 2014 and went onto with the Triumph Hurdle
2.40 – Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap Chase (Go North Monet's Garden Series Qualifier) (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-120) 2m3f ITV4
8/8 – Carried 11-0 or more
8/8 – Returned 8-1 or shorter in the betting
7/8 – Returned 9/2 or shorter in the betting
6/8 – Carried 11-5 or more
6/8 – Aged between 5-7 years-old
2/8 – Trained by Jonjo O'Neill
2/8 – Ridden by a claiming jockey
1/8 – Winning favourite
3.15 – bet365 Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-115) 2m3 1/2f) ITV4
7/7 – Returned 9/1 or shorter in the betting
7/7 – Aged between 5-7 years-old
5/7 – Carried 11-10 or more in weight
3/7 – Winning favourites
2/7 – Trained by Alex Hales
2/7 – Ridden by a claiming jockey
The average winning SP in the last 7 runnings is 7/2
