Horse Racing Tips: Tanya Stevenson's Selections For Cheltenham And Doncaster

Tanya Stevenson's Selections For Saturday

• The Panel Selection 1: 14:25 Cheltenham - L'Homme Presse - Win - Evens With Bet365
• The Panel Selection 2: 15:35 Cheltenham - Gowel Road - Win - 4/1 With Bet365
• The Panel Selection 3: 15:15 Doncaster - Sure Touch (Nap) - Each-Way - 28/1 With William Hill

Tanya Stevenson Panel Tip 1: Ascot 14:25 - L'Homme Presse

All the metaphorical toys came out of the pram last Saturday as Latenightpass unseated at the first after stumbling on landing, only the second time in 32 races he failed to complete.  

And in a matter of 45 minutes, all selections had whimpered away. Yet on Friday, I had been poised at the keyboard for the declaration of Titan Discovery for Windsor on Sunday.

He was double figures at the time of typing, yet with the assistance of a Pricewise nod, that was a distant memory come post time. 

Robbie Llewellyn’s charge drew on all his reserves and under a canny ride from Liam Harrison, the toys were gathered up neatly, job done.

Firstly, I hope you are all ok after the gales, the wind's force and trail of destruction was evident on all the media outlets and my thoughts are with you as the breeze calms and the repairs begin.

This Saturday is in a contrast to last, as the conditions are bordering on fast for jumps as any rain that has fallen has been offset by the prevailing winds. 

In the Cotswold Chase, favourites have not had a great run recently. 

The only two to win since 2000 were Looks Like Trouble and Santini, but it's not all bad as nine winning jollies from 42 overall is not a disastrous record.

Nicky Henderson has won the race twice - the first ever running in 1980 with Raffi Nelson and in 2022 with the enigmatic Chantry House, who only won his first race since then on New Year's Day.

I believe Nicky was thinking about the Grand National for him and I wouldn’t dissuade him if he goes in again as the likes of West Tip, Neptune Collonges and Many Clouds are on the roll of honour. 

However, this race might not be run to suit. Paul Nicholls aims for a sixth win in the race with Stage Star, but he is still to recapture his ability.

Gentlemansgame is an intriguing visitor. He has a Charlie Hall win to his name, though he may not like Cheltenham as he pulled up in the Gold Cup.  

However, he adds a rich piece of form with an excellent third to Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase.

And let's not forget Delta Work, who has won five Grade 1s. In addition, there are three Cheltenham Festival wins and he has been placed twice in the Grand National. 

This race has a habit of reinvigorating racing's equine folk heroes. 

After that, my pick has to be the favourite L’Homme Presse, who has only had four races since unseating at the last in the 2022 King George.

Project 2024 was miraculous all things considered. Under the microscope, he ran three races in 54 days after a 391-day lay-off, they weren’t handicaps either. 

He won the Fleur de Lys from Protektorat and Iwilldoit. He went to take on Pic D’Orhy on the Nicholls runners’ terms and ran well, considering it was his second race back and then led the Gold Cup until two out and still finished fourth.  

Charlie Deutsch didn’t unduly give him a hard time when he started to fade and he was only beaten 15 lengths.

His latest run was in the King George which for him was run at the speed of a champion two-milers. He, like all the rest, could not lay up with Il Est Francais, but he crept into camera shot as Banbridge went for glory.  

Plus he hesitated into the last two fences. I expect him to try and make all with the protagonists stacking up behind waiting to pounce, although I feel he may just hang on from Delta Work.

Tanya Stevenson Panel Tip 2: Cheltenham 15:35 - Gowel Road

The Cleeve has a few imponderables. Firstly, will Crambo take to Cheltenham? He could only manage ninth at the Festival. Look what happened to Strong Leader at Ascot last time?  

That was certainly not his running, but it sowed the seeds of doubt. Ga Law had three options for Saturday and perhaps wisely has picked this one. This opens up the possibility of a run in the Stayers should he win.

However, he has only ever had three races over the smaller obstacles of which the latest was in November 2023 when he was last of six in the West Yorkshire Hurdle.

Of the 33 favourites on betting apps, 16 have won and of the races the market leader didn’t oblige, it generally went to the second or third in the betting.  

All things for me point to the dependable Gowel Road. I appreciate he hasn’t won since October 2022 and that was over fences.

His last five races have all been here at Cheltenham. He was sixth in the Pertemps at the Festival, then finished second to The Wallpark in October.

Doyen Quest in November gave him lumps of weight, Long Draw in December had been backed off the boards, and finally he split Lucky Place and Golden Ace in the Relkeel. 

He seems invisible, but this may be the time to make his mark again. 

What a book of rides for Sam Twiston-Davies Saturday with Guard Your Dreams, East India Dock, Torn And Frayed, Gowel Road and Potters Charm.

Tanya Stevenson Panel Tip 3: Doncaster 15:15 - Sure Touch (Nap) (Each-Way)

The Great Yorkshire Chase is a bit like the Cotswold Chase in that it hasn’t been good for the favourites in recent years. If In Doubt was the last favourite to win back in 2015. 

Since then there have been two 16/1 winners, two priced at 40-1 and 12 months ago I went for Charlie Uberalles each-way at 66/1.

He is back again and definitely in the mix after his win in December, when he held off both Docpickedme and Forward Plan.

There will be plenty of pace in the race courtesy of Docpickedme, Tightenourbelts and The Changing Man, but they could all burn each other off try to cover each other's moves.

I love Famous Bridge, but I thought he ran below par in the Tommy Whittle for a horse that appreciates heavy ground.  

On scrutinising the entries right up until declarations, he was on my shortlist but he pulled up in this last time after making a bad error early in the race.  

With the pace this is to be run at, any errors are punished and accentuated more than normal as you are left playing catch up.

I also think that if the ground quickens overnight and there is more good than soft, he might not run.  

However, he is classy and can loom large as they turn for home but has to be kicked on with four to jump. 

I respect Snipe for his Carlisle run behind Val Dancer and Sine Nomine for her efforts at Cheltenham, but she is prone to the odd error.

I'm going with Sure Touch again. I can’t get the vision of him almost 10 lengths behind the 10th-placed horse after just three fences in the December Gold Cup.  

He was still last with six to jump. He had two behind him, three out, and in the end was only beaten by 19 lengths, 10 of which were of his own doing just dawdling out the back. 

He is better than that and is given the chance to show it over three miles with James Bowen on board.

I thought he enjoyed the National fences when an excellent fifth, 13 lengths behind King Turgeon. Prior to that he won the Summer Plate at Market Rasen.  

He has won over 2m 7f at Taunton and I feel he will be run closer to the pace this time. Being dropped 3lb to 139 helps as well.  

Olly Murphy is operating at a 28% strike rate, so here’s hoping he can at least reach the frame.