Horse racing tips: Cheltenham, Uttoxeter, Wetherby, Lingfield and Wolverhampton – Steve Mullen’s top betting preview for Saturday, November 18
Steve Mullen guides you through Saturday's racing from Cheltenham, Uttoxeter, Wetherby, Lingfield and Wolverhampton
LOOK East in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham (2.25).
TULLY EAST has already proven himself at the home of jump racing when winning a big novice chase at this year’s Festival.
That victory came in a big field over this exact trip so we know it will be right up his street.
He was more impressive than a winning margin of just over a length suggests. He was cruising along and seemed to have another gear coming up the famous hill.
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Being trained in Ireland, it was a logical move to run him at Punchestown but he looked all wrong from the minute he stepped out on to the track.
He was never travelling and Denis O’Regan wisely pulled him up.
That’s a run to ignore — and it helps his price a little today too.
Connections have been canny with him this season and gave him a nice little comeback over hurdles last time.
Pipe-opener is the phrase that springs to mind as there was no interest in the betting ring and he came home in his own time.
That should leave him spot-on fitness wise for this and he can make another bold bid at his favourite track.
Kylemore Lough has lots of ability and is dropping back into a handicap after some solid graded form last term.
He’s down the weights and has been heavily backed all week. The lack of a recent run is a worry though.
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The one that could be a bigger danger is Ballyalton. He won the same race at the Festival as Tully East — but 12 months earlier.
He’s had just two runs since then but the most recent was an encouraging effort over hurdles at Aintree three weeks ago.
He’s only 3lb higher in the handicap than his finest hour and looks a real contender.
MINELLA ROCCO was a surprise second in this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup and can go well in the 1.50.
Despite that stellar effort, his last win came back in 2016 — although this is only his sixth race since then.
That victory came at Prestbury Park too when he won the National Hunt Chase, seeing out the 4m really well.
It’s true to say that staying is his game and the near 3m4f today will take some getting, which brings him right into the reckoning.
Steve Mullen's TV tips
1.50 Cheltenham - Minella Rocco: 'Has easily the best form on offer after his brilliant second in the Gold Cup last season'
2.25 Cheltenham - Tully East: 'He should be spot-on fitness wise for this and he can make another bold bid at his favourite track'
3.00 Cheltenham - Thomas Campbell: 'Jumps well, travels strongly and proved his stamina with his last win at the track'
He wasn’t asked too many questions on his comeback run at Punchestown last month. He was kept around the outside and only crept closer in the closing stages to finish fourth.
That was an encouraging effort and it should leave him much fitter for this challenge.
Sometimes you just have to go with the favourite and that’s the case with THOMAS CAMPBELL in Cheltenham’s 3.00.
Nicky Henderson could have another star on his hands in the son of Yeats who blew his rivals away when scoring here last time out.
That was all the more impressive because he was coming back from a long break and kept pulling out more when challenged after the final flight.
The handicapper wasn’t napping and has shoved him 10lb up the weights — but excellent claimer James Bowen takes most of that off.
We know he jumps well, he travels strongly and proved his stamina with his last win. That makes him a potent combination.
CHELTENHAM
12.40 Gumball
1.15 Ballyoptic
1.50 Minella Rocco
2.25 Tully East
3.00 Thomas Campbell
3.30 Vivas
4.00 Grageelagh Girl
LINGFIELD
11.55 Rusper
12.25 Masaarr
1.00 Topmeup
1.35 Trotter
2.10 Shady McCoy
2.45 Boynton
3.15 Mazzini
3.45 Raashdy
UTTOXETER
12.20 The Sweeney
12.50 Captiva Island
1.25 Lastbutnotleast
2.00 Bob Ford
2.35 Flobury
3.05 Grams And Ounces
3.40 East Wing
WETHERBY
12.30 Cabaret Queen
1.05 Ami Desbois
1.40 Early Retirement
2.15 Doktor Glaz
2.50 Irish Roe
3.20 Poker School
3.50 Schiaparannie
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.45 Zapateado
6.15 Voicemail
6.45 Craving
7.15 Cirrus Minor
7.45 Wazin
8.15 Bleu Et Noir
8.45 Lydiate Lady
9.15 Top Offer