Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson's day-by-day betting guide to this week's Cheltenham Festival.
TUESDAY
As always, the Champion Hurdle is the feature race on the opening day of the Festival, but this year’s contest has fallen apart somewhat and Golden Ace can successfully defend the crown she claimed 12 months ago.
Last year’s race fell into Golden Ace’s lap with Constitution Hill and State Man both falling, but with neither of those rivals lining up this week, Jeremy Scott’s star mare can fend off the Irish challenge of Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead.
There appears to be huge Irish support behind Mighty Park in the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and it would dangerous to bet against the Willie Mullins-trained hurdler, albeit that Old Park Star, the best of the English, should provide stiff opposition.
Mullins look certain to have another successful Festival, and last year’s Supreme winner, Kopek Des Bordes, is taken to see off Lulamba in the Arkle Novices’ Chase.
There are now four handicaps on the opening day, with the Mares’ Hurdle having moved to later in the week, and the two best bets look to be Munsif at odds of around 10-1 in the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Hurdle and Madara in the Sun Racing Plate.
WEDNESDAY
The Queen Mother Champion Chase lost a bit of its lustre when reigning champion, Marine Nationale, was forced to pull out with an injury earlier this week.
In his absence, Majborough only has to jump round to win. That isn’t a given after he blundered his way to defeat in last year’s Arkle, but he was razor-sharp at his fences last time out at the Dublin Racing Festival and a repeat of that performance should be more than good enough here.
The Paul Nicholls-trained No Drama This End has been a strong ante-post favourite for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, but I’m not sure what he’s been beating this season. Preference instead is for another of Mullins’ novice hurdlers, the exciting King Rasko Grey.
The Brown Advisory Novices’ Hurdle looks wide open, but I’ll be taking on the favourite, Final Demand, with his stablemate Kaid d’Authie, who beat him fair and square last time out.
Stumptown can defend his crown in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, while Kopeck De Mee (20-1) looks a cracking each-way bet in the always-competitive BetMGM Handicap Hurdle.
THURSDAY
Can Teahupoo win a second Stayers’ Hurdle title? He’s short enough in the betting at around 9-4, but for all that there are a few younger faces on the scene this year, I fancy him to come out on top.
Fact To File is another returning champion in the Ryanair Chase, and while Banbridge would be interesting if the ground continues to dry out, it’s another race where it’s hard to look past the favourite.
It might be a day for favourite backers as last year’s Bumper winner, Bambino Fever, looks something of a shoo-in in the Mares’ Novices Hurdle.
The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase looks much more competitive, and a case can definitely be made for Jordans Cross (12-1) who was an impressive winner on trials day at Cheltenham.
The Mares’ Hurdle has been moved to the Thursday and assuming Lossiemouth runs in the Champion Hurdle, it’s hard to see anything toppling Wodhooh, who was a handicap winner at the Festival 12 months ago.
The Pertemps Handicap Hurdle is always a competitive betting heat, and it could result in a rare northern winner at the Festival courtesy of the Ruth Jefferson-trained Lavida Adiva.
FRIDAY
At 6-1 the field, this looks like being the most open Cheltenham Gold Cup for quite some time.
You could make a strong case for any of the top five or six in the market, with former winners Galopin Des Champs and Inothewayurthinkin likely to be big players again. The latter has been badly out of sorts this season, but the preview circuit chatter suggests he is coming back to form at the right time.
I fancy there’ll be a new name on the roll of honour though, and I’m going with last year’s Arkle winner, Jango Baie, who was just touched off in the King George but who will relish every yard of the Gold Cup trip.
The Triumph Hurdle picture changed when long-time ante-post favourite, Narciso Has, suffered an injury, and in his absence, Macho Man can further embellish Mullins’ strong record in the race.
There’s a load of handicap plots in the County Handicap Hurdle, but Storm Heart should have a good chance at double-figure odds, while Doctor Steinburg looks a very opposable favourite in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. I’d be more interested in an each-way dabble on the Gordon Elliott-trained Spinningayarn.
