National Hunt racing judge Dave Massey is back with Cheltenham Tips ahead of the December Meeting, and has picked out his best bets from Prestbury Park. Read his exclusive tips, each and every week with kwiff.
Friday Cheltenham Tips: December 12th 2025
Cheltenham Tips: Brentford Hope (1:15)
Hasn’t taken them long to realise Brentford Hope (1.15) isn’t a chaser; just the two goes and we’re back over hurdles. Only a week since last seen, but he has run well after a quick turnaround here before, of course, that when three lengths behind Constitution Hill in the Unibet Hurdle (the old International) on Trials Day earlier in the year. He has his ground today, and taking Megan Fox’s 7lb into account, he does look nicely treated. Can rewards each-way support.
Cheltenham Tips: Fugitif (2:25)
I was with Eldorado Allen when he scored here last time out and whilst a 5lb rise for that all-the-way win is more than acceptable, part of the reason for fancying his chances was catching him fresh at a time when the yard could do little wrong. The yard are still very much in form, but he’s definitely going to face some pace pressure today; take your pick from Torn And Frayed, Courtland, Copperhead and Seddon, all of whom like to race prominently.
This surely sets up late for Fugitif (2.25). He was the other I fancied to run well in Eldorado Allen’s race here last month but he definitely needed the run, in retrospect, and ought to strip a lot fitter here. Now 7lb lower than when placed in this last year, he’ll have his ground, and all looks in place for a big run.
Cheltenham Tips: Placenet (3:00)
Worth pointing out that, as ever, the ground on the XC Course, which can’t be watered, is much quicker, riding “good, good to firm” at present. I’ve already had an ante-post bet here; the 20-1 about Placenet (3.00) looked very big earlier in the week, and I’ve taken a bit of that. I think the thinking was that David Cottin might only bring Iceo Madrik over, but Placenet looks a very strong second-string to me.
A winner in Belgium at Waregem last year, the course featuring a lot of XC-type fences, he was second in the same race this time around and he’ll have no issues with conditions. One slight word of warning; he has run out the once, so does have that party trick in his armoury, but all the same, I think he’ll run a big race here. Anything 14s and north of that is worth considering.
Cheltenham Tips: Kyntara (3:35)
Mel Rowley has taken time to find her stride this season but with three winners from her last six runners things are looking a lot rosier in the garden for her now, and that swings me towards Kyntara (3.35) here. A very useful handicapper on his day, he looked a lot happier back over hurdles on his reappearance at Aintree when fourth to Impose Toi, only weakening out of it after the last after he’d already rallied in game fashion after making a mistake three out.
That form is rock-solid, the winner going on to take the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his next start, and Kyntara is on the same mark today as when second in the 2024 Pertemps Final here. He ticks an awful lot of boxes when looking for the winner of this, and I’d have him at the head of the market.
By Dave Massey
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