talkSPORT betting tips – Best racing bets and expert advice for December Gold Cup Day at Cheltenham

It’s the second and final day of Cheltenham’s Christmas Meeting on Saturday and seven races scheduled at the Gloucestershire venue, with the December Gold Cup, a Premier Handicap Chase run over an extended 2m4f, the clear highlight.

As you’d expect, there is some excellent supporting action, including the Grade 2 Bristol Novices’ Hurdle and a handful of competitive handicaps.

Our expert, Colm Doyle, has a trio of selections on the card including one in the feature race, one in the opener and one in following novices’ handicap chase.

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Saturday’s Cheltenham tips

• 12.10 Cheltenham – One Horse Town @ 2/1
• 12.40 Cheltenham – Zertakt @ 9/2
• 13.50 Cheltenham – Imperial Saint @ 10/1

12.10 Cheltenham – One Horse Town @ 2/1

Harry Derham’s One Horse Town looks set to maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles in the opening Triumph Hurdle Trial.

The three-year-old has taken to hurdles like a duck to water this year, winning all four starts on a variety of surfaces, and is now as short as 14-1 for the Triumph Hurdle itself following an impressive all-the-way success in the Grade 2 Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle over course-and-distance last month.

He’s made all on his last two outings, but he doesn’t have to lead, as he showed when scoring by 14 lengths at Stratford in July (he raced in second), so shouldn’t be inconvenienced should Adam Nicol’s Minella Study be ridden forward.

The son of Threat carries a 7lb penalty for his Grade 2 win, but races off levels with Nicol’s representative, who has 4lb to find on the ratings (131 vs 127).

12.40 Cheltenham – Zertakt @ 9/2

Venetia Williams hasn’t had the start to the season that she’d have hoped for, but she’s landed a couple of notable prizes with the progressive Djelo and was on the scoresheet at Uttoxeter earlier this week, which suggests things are about to click for the handler.

Zerkakt is yet to win in six attempts over fences, but the ran a rock-solid race when runner-up on his seasonal reappearance at Newcastle at the end of last month and that ought to have put him spot on for Saturday’s assignment.

He was only picked off on the run-in at the Northumberland track following a mistake at the final fence and should be more than capable of defying a 2lb rise with fitness now on his side.

13.50 Cheltenham – Imperial Saint @ 10/1

The Philip Hobbs and Johnson White-trained Imperial Saint was a beaten favourite on his seasonal return at Aintree last month, but he was only 7lb off his peak Racing Post Rating of 148 and looks a major player with that run now behind him.

The seven-year-old is relatively lightly raced, having had only 13 starts under rules, though he’s already achieved a lot in those outings, winning five times and rarely finishing out of the money.

He was no back number over hurdles, but he’s taken his form to a new level since switching to fences in October last year, winning three times at Aintree off marks of 124, 128 and 137 and ending last season with a fine second to Cruz Control on Aintree’s Grand National card off 144.

He clearly loves Aintree, but he ran as well as he ever has done on his only visit to Cheltenham over course-and-distance in January, the gelding beaten two-and-a-half lengths into third.

He is 1lb lower here and represents excellent each-way value at double-figure odds.

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