talkSPORT betting tips – Best racing bets and expert advice for Cheltenham Festival Trials Day

Cheltenham host their Festival Trials Day card on Saturday afternoon, the final day of racing at the Cotswolds layout before the main event in March.

The Trials Day offering is full of quality, with eight races from 12.05-4.10, including five graded events as the likes of Champion Hurdle favourite Sir Gino and leading Gold Cup contender Grey Dawning strut their stuff for Nicky Henderson and Dan Skelton respectively.

That star duo are odds-on to land their Trials Day targets at Cheltenham and we’ve picked out three alternatives on the card for punters at more generous odds.

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Cheltenham Saturday selections

• 13:15 Cheltenham – Jagwar @ 15/8
• 13:50 Cheltenham – Final Orders @ 7/2 
• 16:10 Cheltenham – Heads Up @ 9/2 

13:15 Cheltenham – Jagwar @ 15/8

JAGWAR was denied as favourite in the December Gold Cup over track and trip last time, but the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero inmate can atone here.

That was his first start since he won the Festival Plate here in March, making it four wins from five runs over fences at the time.

He didn’t jump as well as might have been hoped early in that race and was shuffled back as a consequence. He warmed to the task, however, and stayed on really strongly up the hill to finish a never-nearer third as Glengouly made all to win at 33/1 under a super Sean Bowen ride.

Jagwar was nudged up a pound in the ratings, but he still very much leaves the impression there is more in him, especially if he fences efficiently.

13:50 Cheltenham – Final Orders @ 7/2

Keith Donoghue underscored his status as the go-to rider for Cross Country races here as he won on FINAL ORDERS last month, dictating matters for much of the race and coming home strongly to win.

That was at a time when the Gavin Cromwell yard were struggling to find their best but, after Thursday’s Gowran Park treble culminating in a Thyestes Chase win, the Gold Cup-winning handler is seemingly turning a corner with the major spring festivals on the horizon.

Final Orders really took well to this unique challenge and, while runner-up J’arrive De L’est is 6lb better off on the revised terms, he may do well to turn things around.

The Cromwell inmate showed as a novice over regulation fences that he can be quite a force when he gets on a roll – winning five on the bounce – and he looks up to making it 2-2 over the Cross Country course.

16:10 Cheltenham – Heads Up @ 9/2

The Grade 2 AIS Novices’ Hurdle closes the action and it could see HEADS UP shining for the John McConnell team.

The Listowel maiden hurdle winner ran a good second in this grade over 2m5f here in November, finishing second-best behind No Drama This End.

The Paul Nicholls inmate remains unbeaten after two further hurdles starts, including the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

Heads Up hugged the inside rail that afternoon, which wasn’t necessarily an advantage, and the booking of Danny Mullins now looks a real positive for him, with the form of that course run having worked out so well after Moneygarrow (fifth) won a graded contest at Windsor last weekend.

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