ITV Racing Preview: Can Goshen slay his Cheltenham demons?

Odd and preview for Saturday’s live ITV races

The ITV cameras will be in place for Day Two of Cheltenham’s International meeting, as well as the best action from Doncaster.

We’ve got five Graded contests to look forward to across the two meets, including the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and the International Hurdle, and we’ve cast our eye over the highlights on the card.

Cheltenham

13:50 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (Grade 3)

14:25 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 2)

15:00 International Hurdle Race (Grade 2)

15:35 December Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Race

Doncaster

14:05 December Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 2)

14:40 Summit Juvenile Hurdle Race (Grade 2)

15:15 Handicap Steeple Chase

Cheltenham 13:50

Al Dancer will be out to make amends for being a beaten favourite last time out, with Sam Twiston-Davies aboard as usual. He ran nicely but couldn’t quite make up the ground on the leaders, staying on to finish third.

That display does offer optimism for this run, though Master Tommytucker and Windsor Avenue could push him all the way.

Master Tommytucker likes to hit the front and open up a gap, having won his last two races by a combined 27 lengths, but he’ll need to step up further in his first handicap. Windsor Avenue looked very promising after returning from a wind operation to finish second to Imperial Aura in Carlisle’s Colin Parker Memorial Chase last month.

Cheltenham 14:25

Ashtown Lad could take some beating here. He clinched his first hurdles win on his third attempt at Wetherby in October, then followed that up with a commanding handicap victory at Uttoxeter. Will he make it three wins on the bounce?

Danny Kirwan could be a serious rival after winning at Ascot over 2m 3 ½f last month. He’s stepping up in trip here but previous form suggests he should be up to it.

It may be worth keeping an eye on Wynn House too – Alan King’s five-year-old has delivered two wins from two races this season.

Cheltenham 15:00

The spotlight will be on Goshen here, following his fall at the final hurdle in the Triumph Hurdle on his last Cheltenham appearance. After two runs on the flat since then, he makes his hurdles return, looking to put himself into Champions Hurdle contention.

Sceau Royal could be another to watch, having won two of his four runs here. He’s done especially well over obstacles this season, winning Ffos Las’ Welsh Champion Hurdle and the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

Song for Someone comes into this having won Grade 2 honours in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot last month. He saw off Call Me Lord and Laurina to romp home by five lengths.

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