Your holiday from work is booked. You’ve warned the wife/husband. You’ve told visitors to stay away. The Guinness is piled high in the fridge and you’ve taken advantage of all the fantastic offers available from SkyBet, Betfair Sportsbook, Paddy Power and Bet 365 to name but a few. You’re all ready for The Cheltenham Festival and now you just need to know one vital thing. Who on earth should I back to win? Let us guide you through some of my recommendation bets of the week for what is the toughest and most exciting betting phase of the year!
Another Mullinator for Day One?
The first day is similar to last year. Willie Mullins has another potential accumulator bonanza on the cards, which last year would have had some bookmaker firms on their knees had it not been for the fall of Annie Power in the Mares Hurdle. I see no harm in chancing it again. For the first leg in the Supreme Novices , it is clear that Min is not exactly in the same class as last year’s winner Douvan, but I think he’s good enough to land this at 2/1. Two runs so far, both won convincingly, should improve for that. The main danger is Yorkhill who has been the subject of some recent betting activity.
A mishap of Annie Power Cheltenham 2015 proportions is the only thing that is going to stop Douvan winning the Arkle in the second leg. That’s all that needs to be said. Annie Power is more than good enough to win The Champion Hurdle although the drop back in distance might be a concern. She’s got a great finishing action that is vital in this type of race and the apparent dangers in the form of Nicholls Canyon, The New One and My Tent Or Yours based on the ratings, are well within her scope. The New One has plenty to find on recent form, Nicholls Canyon is still riding the wave of beating Faugheen last autumn but was well beaten in the Irish Champion Hurdle. My Tent Or Yours should be feared but is returning after a long absence.
For the fourth leg, Vroum Vroum Mag has won all her starts comfortably this season and will take all the beating in the Mares Hurdle.
So to recap..
1330 Cheltenham: Min 2/1 (Skybet, Betfred)
1400 Cheltenham: Douvan 2/5 (Betfred)
1530 Cheltenham: Annie Power 9/4 (Bet365, Paddy Power)
1610 Cheltenham: Vroum Vroum Mag 11/10 (Betfred, Paddy Power)
If the relatively short prices put you off, bolster it up to a 5 timer with one of the longer priced shots from the Ultima Handicap Chase..
Colin Tizzard may get all theatrical in the Ultima..
Colin Tizzard has had a superb season and I think he can strike in the Ultima Handicap Chase with the progressive Theatre Guide. The horse was a 15 length second to Smad Place in the Hennessey Gold Cup and looked impressive when winning at Kempton last time out. Not a great rise in the weights for that and should put in a bold show. Best priced 14/1 with SkyBet and Paddy Power.
Gift Horse in Minella Present?
With the ground steadily drying up, one horse who will definitely appreciate it is the Neil Mulholland trained Minella Present. The Mulholland team are in great form at the moment and Minella could run a great race for them in the Close Brothers Novice Handicap Chase which closes Day One. 16/1 best with SkyBet and Betfred.
Neck on the line with The Coral Cup!!!
The Coral Cup (Wednesday) is one of the most exciting betting heats of the week and presents an enormous challenge in even picking a horse to make the frame. Nonetheless, I like the look of the Gary Moore trained Ubak who ran a great race behind the very tough Lil Rockefeller at Fontwell last time out. Lil Rockefeller is entered for The Champion Hurdle so if he runs well there it may be a pointer to how Ubak will perform. Ubak also hacked up in a Grade 2 novices hurdle event at Aintree last spring . Ubak is priced best 40/1 with Betfred and William Hill.
Thistlecrack
We’ve already mentioned Thistlecrack in detail here and I stick by this as the banker of the week. Very difficult to see him being beaten, and his best priced at 6/5 with William Hill here!
Zubayr aiming for Triumph
Paul Nicholls’ horses are starting to come to the fore just at the right time after a desperate autumn, and Zubayr looks a decent sort to win in the Triumph Hurdle. He’s gutsy and trainer Paul Nicholls has compared him favourably to Zarkander who won this in 2011. Best 5/1 with Bet 365 and SkyBet.
Where is Yorkhill going??
Yorkhill, who is possibly Min’s best rival in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, is still declared for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle and can be grabbed at a thumping 12/1 with Stan James. Definitely worth an each way punt NRNB at this price.
The Gold Cup
We’ve already mentioned our choices here for The Gold Cup and despite the “big five” vying for favouritism, Smad Place is by far the best each way choice there at 12/1 (Bet 365, Betfred).
Final word
The weather has been relatively dry in the last several days and set to continue. I predict the going to be good-good/soft over the Festival. Most horses have been running over very soft ground over the last few months which may make a mockery of the form book. Some earnest homework, therefore, would be useful to find those who prefer livelier ground.
Good luck everybody and have a fantastic Festival!
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