With only three weeks to go now until the betting bonanza that is the Cheltenham Festival lights up our lives once again, and the final fields beginning to take shape, now seems a good time to take a look at the ante-post markets. Here we pick out three of our best bets. You can find all of our ante–post betting tips from our Cheltenham Festival previews here:
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Tuesday 13th March 1:30
It’s always nice to get the festival off to a flyer in the very first race, and we will be hoping to just that in 2018 as our first ante-post punt comes in the curtain raiser.
Amy Murphy’s Kalashnikov rocketed towards the head of the market for this following his romp in the Betfair Hurdle, and whilst we like his chances, the value seems to have been swiftly gobbled up.
There is however a horse in here who beat Kalashnikov all ends up at Sandown in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle in January, and yet is available at around double his price. That horse is the Tom George runner, Summerville Boy. 4 lengths too good for Kalashnikov in that heavy ground contest, he looks likely to be at least as good – if not even better – on a quicker surface. The key to this son of Sandmason putting his best foot forward is a strongly run race, and if there is one contest in which that is guaranteed, it is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
At 14/1 with Betfred, he is the standout each way bet in the race.
5:30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper, Wednesday 14th March
This can often be one of the toughest races of the Festival to call and looks as competitive as ever this year. Blackbow, Alighted and Acey Milan have all made most favourable impressions to date, and there are no doubt one or two lurking lower down the list.
All that said though, we have been hugely taken by the performances of the Nick Gifford runner Didtheyleaveuoutto in his two starts to date. This son of Presenting is a close relative to the mighty, Denman, and whilst he has a long way to go before he can match the exploits of that jumping titan, he does look worth following in this sphere for now. Two from two in bumpers to date, including at Listed level last time out, the manner in which he has travelled and quickened have marked him out as a potentially very smart horse.
Unlike a number of his main market rivals, whose wins have come on soft or heavy ground, this one has already shown an ability to handle good to soft. That counts for plenty here and we expect the JP McManus runner to utilise his excellent turn of foot to good effect once again. Take the 7/1 with PaddyPower.
2:50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, Friday 16th March
A couple of Irish trained runners head the betting here in the form of Gordon Elliott’s Cracking Smart and the Willie Mullins inmate, Next Destination. The pair are closely linked on form and given the record of the Irish in general and Mullins in particular at the Festival they are certainly to be feared. However, we will be backing the home team to take this prize.
Nicky Henderson’s Santini is the one to be on. This imposing son of Milan will likely be just about the biggest runner in the line-up and we suspect he may also be the best. Unbeaten in a point to point and two starts under rules, his verdict over Chef des Obeaux – by an unextended 4 ½l – at Newbury has been strongly franked, with that horse winning all three starts since, including a Grade 2 by 15 lengths last time out.
Santini recorded a Grade 2 success of his own in his most recent outing, with that run significantly coming at this track. Travelling like a good thing throughout before mowing down the useful, Black Op close home, he looked a horse firmly on the up. The big plus in regard to this race though is the step up to 3m for the first time under rules. Having been doing all his best work late over 2m4f, he seems sure to thrive for the additional distance and can put these to the sword coming up the hill. Get on at 8/1 with Coral.