Cheltenham Festival 2012: Trials Day winners

The Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup site looks at the Trials Day results to see which horses are on top form for the 2012 Cheltenham Festival.

On Saturday, a number of Cheltenham Festival hopefuls took to the racecourse in preparation for the eagerly anticipated March event. The Trials Day gives trainers an opportunity to test out their horses to see if they are ready for the festival or if improvements need to be made in the upcoming weeks. What’s more, these preliminary races give horse racing bettors a chance to see which Cheltenham betting odds are likely to be the most lucrative.

Here, the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup site will take a look at the Cheltenham Trials Day winners and review their performances to see which horses stand a chance during the festival, and most importantly, if they are worth a bet.

The Argento Chase is eagerly watched by horse racing fans as it has produced a number of Betfred Gold Cup winners. During the 2012 Trials Day, Midnight Chase managed to notch another win this season with odds of 9/2. This is the horse’s fifth victory at Cheltenham, indicating that he has both the experience and skill to place first in the upcoming Gold Cup.

However, Midnight Chase will be running against the esteemed Long Run and Kauto Star. These horses currently have the shortest odds for the 2012 Gold Cup, and most betting experts believe that it will be a race between the two. Yet, Midnight Chase’s standout performance in the Argento Chase alongside his previous wins will give the racehorse a strong chance against the Gold Cup frontrunners.

Another horse to look out for at Cheltenham Festival following his Trials Day win is Big Buck’s. The horse worked hard to place first in the Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle - his strength and determination highlights that the horse has the ability to pull out another powerful performance in the upcoming World Hurdle, taking place on the Cheltenham Festival St. Patrick's Day. His slight struggle at the top of the hill might be something to take into consideration. However, Ruby Walsh seemed capable of pulling him through his rough patch, and should be able to do so again on the big day.</p>

For more 2012 Cheltenham Festival tips, visit the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup site – a bettor's guide to the March horse racing event.

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