There are plenty of opportunities to win — and lose — during the Cheltenham Festival this week (15-18 March). H&H hopes to guide you straight to the front of the bookies’ collection queue with these Cheltenham tips from those in the know…
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Robert ‘Choc’ Thornton, former Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey and captain of the British team for the BetBright Cup (awarded to the country with the most wins at this year’s Festival)
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More Of That (pictured above): RSA Chase (16 March)
“He has already answered questions around Cheltenham, he is well priced and definitely a good chance for team Great Britain — the British-based trainers — and of course it would be great for his own trainer Jonjo O’Neil.”
Let’s Dance: JCB Triumph Hurdle (18 March)
“An upbeat filly trained by Willie Mullins who looks a good prospect for the Triumph Hurdle. Finished third to Footpad at Leopardstown in February when they went a hell of a gallop in desperate ground. She will need better ground than that day to win but I really liked the look of her.”
Lee Mottershead, Racing Post journalist
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Holywell (pictured above): Ultima Handicap Chase (15 March)
“The winner of the 2014 Ultima Handicap Chase has been given a realistic chance of winning it again having dropped this season to a rating of 153, only 8lb more than he scored off two years ago. That success was followed by a devastating Aintree triumph that made Holywell look like a serious Gold Cup aspirant.
“He proved unable to live up to that billing, while his recent efforts have been appalling, but this is a spring horse who loves to race on ground with a little life in it. If trainer Jonjo O’Neill is able to revive him, Holywell can win at the festival again — and after that he might win the Grand National.”
Yanworth: Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (16 March)
“You won’t become rich by backing hot favourite Yanworth but by the end of his race you should at least be a little richer. Trainer Alan King has always adored the J P McManus-owned six-year-old — and you could see why in his latest race.
“Jockey Barry Geraghty barely had to move to win a high-quality contest staged at Cheltenham on heavy ground. The likelihood is quicker conditions will suit him and this time next year we could be talking about him as a leading Champion Hurdle contender. Yanworth can win the Neptune first.”
Marcus Armytage, Horse & Hound’s racing correspondent
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Altior (pictured above): Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (15 March)
“He’s the complete package when it comes to Novice Hurdle horses and his trainer Nicky Henderson has hit the post with extreme regularity in this race over the years.”
Our Kaempfer: Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (17 March)
“Trained by Charlie Longsdon who is yet to have a win on the board at the Festival. He hasn’t run this horse for a while because he is well handicapped and he wants to keep it that way.
“The trainer is very pleased with how he is working at home and he recently worked well during a racecourse gallop at Kempton. I’d say he’d be a good each way shot and he may be the horse to get Charlie off the mark at the Festival.”
Josies Orders: Glenfarclas Cross-country Chase (16 March)
“He will be ridden by Nina Carberry who, as a previous winner of the race, knows her way around Cheltenham’s cross-country course very well. The Enda Bolger-trained gelding from Ireland is my banker of the Festival — he’s a proven cross-country horse having won two previously.”
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| *Sponsor’s message*
Image may be NSFW. Cheltenham is almost upon us and here at William Hill we’re extremely excited! The big kick off is on Tuesday 15 March, when we will strap in and get ready for four days of thrilling horse racing action. Faugheen may be injured, but we are still going to be treated to the likes of Annie Power, Vautour and Sprinter Sacre in top Festival action. Big races like the Champion Chase (Wednesday 16 March) and World Hurdle (Thursday 17 March) are set to get the pulses racing. There is also the prospect of a thrilling Gold Cup race on Friday 18 March, with runners including Don Cossack, Cue Card, Djakadam and Vautour. If you want to get the most out of the 2016 Cheltenham Festival check out William Hill online, where you’ll find a tasty Cheltenham bonus offered. It is only days away — we can already hear that famous Cheltenham roar! |
Tanya Stevenson, Channel 4 Racing‘s betting presenter
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On The Fringe (pictured above) — St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase (18 March)
“The race was a procession for him 12 months ago when winning under Nina Carberry. His return run at Leopardstown was disappointing but this is his target and he’ll be very hard to beat.”
Min: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (15 March)
“Trainer Willie Mullins is on course for a fourth straight Supreme. This horse has looked impressive on both his starts this season. I’m also very taken by Altior who thrives in a battle and is unbeaten in four races so far.”
Limini: Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (17 March)
“Also trained by Willie Mullins, she could put her name in the history books by becoming the first winner of this inaugural race at the 2016 Festival. She’s had two wins from two runs on Irish soil and was an 11-length victor last time.”
Sue Montgomery, Horse & Hound‘s bloodstock correspondent
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Clik here to view.![Cheltenham Festival Day 1 10 03 20151:30 - Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle Grade 1]()
Douvan (pictured above): Racing Post Arkle Chase (15 March)
“Twelve months ago he produced a simply breathtaking performance to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and is odds-on to repeat the feat in a two-mile novice chasing crown. The French-bred six-year-old, who jumps as if on springs, has won his three races over fences by an aggregate 42 lengths. He is one of an extraordinary 60 Festival contenders from Willie Mullins’ yard.”
Supasundae: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (15 March)
“The Henry de Bromhead-trained five-year-old was among the best of last year’s bumper performers and has made a promising start over hurdles, as he showed once the penny dropped at Leopardstown in December. He is bred to win at Epsom rather than Cheltenham, incidentally, being by Galileo out of a half-sister to six Group One winners, including Nathaniel and Great Heavens.”
Connetable: JCB Triumph Hurdle (18 March)
“The season’s top four-year-old contest is inevitably a hurly-burly affair and Connetable will be one of the most experienced in the field, with two runs over obstacles in his native France and two in Britain, including a determined defeat of some smart older horses at Sandown last month. May prove the best among Paul Nicholls’ strong hand of juveniles.”
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Cause Of Causes: Kim Muir Challenge Chase (17 March)
“For those seeking a horse for a course, Cause Of Causes is the one. In his past two visits to the Festival, he won last year’s National Hunt Chase and probably would have won the 2014 Kim Muir Chase with a clean jump at the last. One of the strong Gordon Elliott team, the eight-year-old will bid to go one better in the amateur’s contest over the Gold Cup track.”