Adam Williams presents his prediction for the Cheltenham 3m1½f Betfair Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) (5yo+) horse racing event.
Last year’s winner L’Homme Presse has had just one run this season. He finished second in the Turners Handicap Chase, a Premier Handicap, where he beat two joint favourites. None of the other runners took part in this race twelve months ago.
Spillane’s Tower signed off last season with a runner-up finish in the Punchestown Gold Cup. This term he has had only two quiet warm-up runs over hurdles in Ireland. This marks his return to chasing. Overall, it is just his second appearance in Britain. His previous visit came in last season’s King George VI Chase, where he finished fifth as favourite. A return to fences could suit Spillane’s Tower, and there is hope he can rediscover his best form.
Stellar Story has run twice this season, finishing third in the Betfair Chase (Grade 1) and only eighth in the Savills Chase (Grade 1). He has just one chase win to his name, which came on debut last season in the Boodles Florida Pearl Novice Chase (Grade 2), where he beat only two stablemates. In this field, victory looks a tall order.
Flooring Porter is something of a dark horse. He has not raced since September 2024, when he won the Guinness Kerry National Handicap Chase (Grade 3). Prior to that, he mixed hurdling and chasing with reasonable success. He finished second in the Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) at Cheltenham and earlier third in a Grade 1 Novice Chase at Leopardstown. The trip should suit, but the long absence and strength of opposition count against him.
Grey Dawning justified favouritism by winning his sole start of the season in the Betfair Chase (Grade 1) at Haydock. Last campaign he finished second in the Bowl Chase (Grade 1) at Aintree, having earlier landed the Premier Chase, a Listed race. He looks the most convincing option in this line-up and is our selection.
