menu

17th Mar 2016 | Cheltenham Festival

JLT Novices’ Tip: Garde La Victoire

JLT Novices’ Tip: Garde La Victoire

Visually unimpressive in heavy ground last time but his performance deserves a big upgrade because he went too fast in testing conditions.

Often in racing what your eyes tell you can be deceptive and Garde La Victoire is a perfect case in point. His win at Ludlow was the least visually impressive of his three victories yet on the clock, it was the best.

Richard Johnson tracked the strong pace set by Gino Trail on desperate ground (official description heavy) and tired badly at the finish, allowing Doctor Harper to gain from the rear.


Garde La Victoire’s finishing speed was 86% of his average race speed, which meant he was finishing much slower than par for the track. It’s too his credit he still won comfortably and a reasonable speed rating gets a hefty sectional upgrade to 138.

To run a good time figure on unsuitable ground is encouraging because it means there is better to come. It also allays some stamina fears as he steps up from 2-miles to 2m4f for the JLT (1.30).

At 4/1 he is a solid bet with Skybet refunding up to £25 as a free bet if you back a loser in the race.

*Horse lost money back as a free bet up to £25.

Odds correct at time of publishing: 01:01 17th Mar, 2016 but subject to change

Best Free Bets