Best bets for the horse racing this weekend Saturday 25th January including Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes

It is Festival Trials Day at you guessed it, Cheltenham this weekend. In fairness to it as a ‘trials’ day 2019 saw three winners from this day that went on to win at the festival: Frodon, Paisley Park and Siruh Du Lac. It is well worth a watch. I am having one bet at the meeting.

The Grade Two Paddy Power Cotswold Chase over 3m1f at 2.25 is the main dish of the day at Cheltenham and an old friend of mine runs. Nine-year-old Bristol de Mai is a big favourite of mine and I think he can lead this lot a merry dance and finally get a win here. Third in the Gold Cup back in March if he can get in a nice rythmn up front he could run these into the ground on soft going. At 5-2 he is worth a punt. Santini is feared.

As ever I have my eye on the horse racing world and across the pond at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida we have the $3 million Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus World Cup Turf. I am involved in both races.

The first up at 9.49 is the 1m1½f Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes presented by Runhappy, the going on the Turf track is firm. I tipped up Without Parole more than once when he was with John Gosden. He moved to Chad Brown at the back end of last season and was third in the B.C. Mile in November. Frankie Dettori renews his partnership with the horse for the big race. Little miss consistent Magic Wand has been shipped out stateside for a tilt at another big prize. She was second to Bricks and Mortar last year, was also second to him in the Arlington Million, which is no disgrace. I think none of the home team this year are as good as that colt and the mare appears as well as ever which suggests to me she can win this. She gets the 5lb sex allowance and as 7-2 is about I suggest grabbing that.

At 10.34 it’s the 1m1f Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes presented by Runhappy on the Dirt. Omaha Beach is not running sadly but this does make it a wide-open affair. Seeking The Soul was fifth in this in 2018 and second last year but doesn’t look the same horse at the moment. Higher Power has been chasing home some good ones, as when third in the Breeders Cup Classic in November. I think he can prove too strong for this field and have the 3-1.

Be lucky