BEST of the BETS

Day 1

1:20 Romeo Coolio (ew) - Kopek Des Bordes could be anything, but he's worth a bet against.

2:20 Broadway Boy - just might be best here,

3:20 Jade De Grugy - hopefully Lossiemouth lands here, each way would be best.

4:00 Brighterdaysahead - Constitution Hill may be too good, but is worth taking on.

4:40 Total Look - worth a small punt in a wide open race.

5:20 Captain Cody - Mullins novice with a big chance.

No NAP or best bet on Day 1 1 point win and ew to get started.
I'm leading up to bigger days by Friday.

Good luck, everyone!! :cool:

TUESDAY


1.20 Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle (2m½f)

Michael O’Sullivan is mourned and celebrated first, forever young having triumphed on Marine Nationale in this race in 2023. The same yard of Barry Connell is represented by William Munny, who won his latest start with such ease that he could conceivably be in the same bracket.

Easily the most stardust, however, surrounds the Willie Mullins-trained Kopek Des Bordes. “We’re looking at a good ’un here,” was commentator Jerry Hannon’s unassailable observation on the run-in for last month’s Grade 1 at Leopardstown.

Kopek Des Bordes jumped vastly better than on his previous start and if settling was still not his first inclination, similar charges could be levelled at many of his rivals. Supporters of William Munny, Workahead, Romeo Coolio and Salvator Mundi might, nevertheless, believe there is a chink to exploit. There were only two British horses at even the six-day entry stage, notably Tripoli Flyer.

Selection: Kopek Des Bordes

STAT-----No horse wearing any type of headgear has won since Flown in 1992 if thinking getting your betting bank for rest of meeting on fav in first wears a hood mybe 34 time lucky



2.00 My Pension Expert Arkle Chase (2m)

Majborough won last year’s Triumph in the absence of Sir Gino and the same scenario presents itself again. That’s not to knock Majborough’s chase form or what looks his superior engine and scope, but there is a concern that he will knock some of the fences.

There could be four odds-on favourites on this card and he has been the shortest odds, which is all the more reason to take a close look at his fast-jumping, British-trained rivals L’Eau Du Sud and Jango Baie.

Selection: L’Eau Du Sud (nap)

2.40 Ultima Handicap Chase (3m1f)

Strange to relate, there’s been no Irish winner since 2006. Sequestered, though, is highly respected in his bid to put that right. Those endeavouring to keep the home fires burning include Henry’s Friend, Broadway Boy, The Changing Man, Katate Dori, Myretown and Whistle Stop Tour. Second when favourite in 2021, the lightly raced Happygolucky is still trying to win the money back and made an encouraging reappearance.

Selection: Sequestered (nb)

3.20 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (2m4f)

The realisation dawns again that what looks a fantastic and vital race for racegoers, television viewers, the festival and the whole sport itself need not be the most attractive proposition for racehorse connections. Lossiemouth again runs in the Mares’ Hurdle instead of the Champion Hurdle.

Cheltenham and the Jockey Club need full marks for already clocking that all was not sweetness and light with the meeting, and the changes they have instituted since last year are mostly welcomed, but the integrity (sanctity in my book) of the Champion Hurdle remains in jeopardy. It’s a crying shame.

Lossiemouth had a thoroughly earned place in the Champion Hurdle line-up. It’s simplifying things but, on Racing Post Ratings with her sex allowance, if she’d produced last year’s Mares’ Hurdle performance in the Champion 40 minutes earlier, Lossiemouth would have won it.

If running in this race again is a sign that they don’t think she’s on song, it may be best to turn elsewhere.

Unable to live with Golden Ace in a sprint finish to the 2m1f mares’ novice event last year, Jade De Grugy has since won well in two 2m4f races. July Flower won convincingly after her arrival at Henry de Bromhead’s from France, while Joyeuse and Dysart Enos could still be capable of better.

Selection: July Flower

4.00 Unibet Champion Hurdle (2m½f)

We are immersed in an era of the 'supertrainer', those superpower strings with their supertanker capacity, but this year’s festival could also be the year of the 'superhorse'. Superheroes Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle and Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup represent two of those top stables, naturally, but this sort of talent can’t just be rolled off any production line and the extra layer of achievement they could record this week would put them in rarefied company.

Constitution Hill has already registered the highest-rated Champion Hurdle-winning performance in Racing Post history, two years ago. To win the race for a second time would give him a record that’s more in keeping with that status, but none of his four ratings in the 170s were since March 2023.

The aim is to win, not achieve high ratings, and two absences with various sick notes did not help the cause, but taking the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton from Lossiemouth and Burdett Road saw him receive a reminder behind the saddle for the first time since his novice days, and his Cheltenham win one month later proved very little except that no-one will be counting their winnings on him until he has safely jumped the final hurdle.

Appearing in two minds at that flight was something new. He is the supreme athlete among hurdlers and stretching the point by going too long at a flight has previously been what placed hearts in the mouth.

It is 40 years since See You Then won his first Champion Hurdle to set Nicky Henderson on his way as the pre-eminent British trainer in festival history. Constitution Hill is 10-10 as a hurdler and odds-on, but he faces two rivals of serious stature. State Man was nine lengths adrift in 2023 but the beneficiary when Constitution Hill was absent in 2024 and unbeaten in Ireland for almost three years until Brighterdaysahead battled back to deny him in November. Defeat on a vastly larger scale at her hands in December remains unexplained, while his completing when Lossiemouth didn’t makes the merit of his third Irish Champion Hurdle hard to assess.

Lossiemouth lamentably dodges the Champion for a second time. Two who are taking up the challenge, praise be, are Brighterdaysahead and Golden Ace. Brighterdaysahead was beaten by Golden Ace in last year’s mares’ novice event, but in Ireland they have seen her only in victory. This season she has those two verdicts over State Man, the latter when she won by 30 lengths. Connections know her strengths now, so there will be no hanging about as there was 12 months ago.

Fingers crossed, but a terrific Champion Hurdle remains in prospect. Constitution Hill might still be a class apart, but if there’s been one performance this season that would deliver a Champion Hurdle win, it was from Brighterdaysahead.

Selection: Brighterdaysahead

4.40 Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2m½f)

Six of the first seven last year were Irish and the other one was French. French-trained Stencil is favourite, having been the only one who could keep tabs on leading juvenile East India Dock turning for home here in January. Slurricane and Out For A Stroll were first and second at Punchestown six weeks ago but Total Look, the slow-jumping, never-nearer third, is the one punters have latched on to. He is due to try cheekpieces.

Beyond Your Dreams produced strong finishes against two of those rivals earlier in the season. Murcia was the eyecatcher from the Naas race which has so often proved a key pointer, while Hot Fuss is the shortest-priced British candidate.

Selection: Beyond Your Dreams

5.20 Princess Royal National Hunt Chase (3m6f)

Attaching the Princess Royal’s moniker should presumably ensure the National Hunt Chase has a future, in name at least, but what else will remain of a once cherished institution? It had run its course in its most recent form and, consequently, this year has metamorphosed into a handicap and been opened to professional riders.

JP McManus has always loved a winner of the National Hunt Chase but many others should now get a look-in. In theory! Aworkinprogress and Hasthing are tempting propositions for the perennial champion owner, but the market leaders are Now Is The Hour, Haiti Couleurs, Transmission and Captain Cody. Others to consider include Gericault Roque, Will Do and Jupiter Allen, so it’s a vastly more competitive National Hunt Chase than we’ve been used to.

Selection: Transmission



WEDNESDAY


1.20 Turners Novices' Hurdle (2m5f)

Willie Mullins took the last three runnings by an aggregate of 23 lengths, his winners increasingly imperious, and Willoughby Court (2017) is getting lonely as the only British winner in the last 11. Enter The New Lion, who has done so much on the bridle, including almost every yard of the Grade 1 Challow, that he disputes favouritism.
The Mullins heavyweight is Final Demand, who was pushed out firmly to take his Grade 1 over 2m6f at Leopardstown and did so by 12 lengths. Will the Irish form hold sway again, or will conditions favour what might be the pacier horse ahead of the galloper?

Alternatives are The Yellow Clay, whose Grade 1 came by eight lengths over 2m4f at Naas, and James’s Gate, who is at last building on his third in the 2022 Champion Bumper. Mercifully, with Sixmilebridge and Potters Charm, as well as The New Lion, the British cupboard does not look as empty as in the Supreme Novices’.

Selection: The New Lion

2.00 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (3m½f)

Ballyburn won the preceding race on this card last year with swaggering ease, when Mullins trained the first five in a seven-runner race. That image is still pertinent and his latest performance over fences (at an extended 2m5f) was easily his most persuasive. He is unraced over 3m under rules and stamina is at a premium in this race, but his pedigree and that latest display augur well.

Better Days Ahead (Martin Pipe) and Stellar Story (Albert Bartlett) also won over hurdles at the 2024 festival. That Gordon Elliott pair have loudly proclaimed their stamina over fences, as has Dancing City, while Gorgeous Tom is fascinating given his strong finishes at 2m4f. It’s surely all about the Irish.

Selection: Gorgeous Tom

2.40 Coral Cup (2m5f)

Finally, we can discount a miraculous revival from Langer Dan in the Coral Cup, as this year it will have to come in the Stayers’. He’s helped Dan Skelton to a fair old reputation in these handicap hurdles, however, and the trainer’s Be Aware is clear favourite here.

Ballyadam came from the back to take second last year and my ambitious hope is that Jipcot can now do the same but go one better. Al Gasparo and Park Of Kings left favourable impressions when they met at Leopardstown. Karafon, Impose Toi and Beat The Bat are considered, but that’s far from an exclusive list and, although I'm keen on Jipcot, a final summing up will have to wait until declaration day.

Selection: Jipcot (each-way, nap)

3.20 Glenfarclas Chase (3m6f cross-country)

Happy 20th birthday to the Cross Country! For many of those years I was such an enthusiast that the 2024 race may well have become my favourite (it was abandoned). The event is undoubtedly a spectacle and this should be a heightened one because it’s now a limited handicap.

The hard-held aspect of Stumptown’s win over Mister Coffey here in December has seen the handicapper give him an extra chunk, but they are two of the chief players again. Galvin, Vanillier and Roi Mage complete my shortlist.

Selection: Galvin

4.00 BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (2m)

Jonbon has been priced at 8-11 but Nicky Henderson will not be counting any chickens. No trainer has had more winners of the race than his six, but Altior was a late withdrawal in 2020 and 2021, Shishkin failed to go a yard in 2022 and Jonbon, along with most of his festival team, was kept at home in 2024.

Just how unlucky he was with Jonbon will now be put to the test. Jonbon has a 2-5 record at Cheltenham compared with 15-15 elsewhere, but the only substantial criticism in that statistic is the race last season in which there was an enforced jockey change. Jonbon can still get a fence wrong, but that’s part of the deal with top 2m chases.
The 2024 winner Captain Guinness requires a huge turnaround in this season's form and dual winner Energumene needs the clerk of the course to overdo his watering, so principal Irish hopes seem to lie with Marine Nationale and Solness. Those two are listed in betting order but they finished the other way round at Leopardstown on their last two starts. Marine Nationale is now improving as a chaser. The other jockeys will presumably be ultra-sensitive to Solness being allowed clear water up front, but he has had a fire in his belly with those forcing rides and the possibility persists that he will be underestimated. Libberty Hunter remains capable of better on ground softer than good.

Selection: Jonbon

4.40 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (2m)

Unexpected Party is less unexpected after last year’s win but the best of the British may be a surprise package in General Medrano. Gavin Cromwell has a strong hand, including with The King Of Prs and the half-brothers My Mate Mozzie and The Other Mozzie, while Paul Nolan has an appealing option in An Peann Dearg and a characterful second string in Conyers Hill.

Selection: General Medrano (nb)

5.20 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (2m½f)

Mullins and Elliott have had this between them for seven of the last eight years and provided the first seven home in 2024. Brace yourselves for a dose of Barry Manilow because Copacabana, for Mullins, has been made favourite. Gameofinches, Bambino Fever and Aqua Force are three of his stablemates, while Kalypso’chance sticks in the mind among the Elliott squad.

Among the British entries, No Drama This End (Paul Nicholls) and Mossy Fen Road (Harry Derham) left striking impressions in their solitary bumpers.

Selection: Kalypso’chance

THURSDAY

1.20 Ryanair Mares' Novices’ Hurdle (2m1f)

Quevega won six Mares’ Hurdles, enough to have a bar named after her at Cheltenham racecourse. Now her third foal, Aurora Vega, is a leading contender in this race and follows her brother Facile Vega, who won the 2022 Champion Bumper. Forget about one bar, Quevega could soon be setting up her own chain.
This race has produced winners at wide-ranging odds, even in the years when it was a Willie Mullins closed shop. Maughreen and Karoline Banbou, as well as Aurora Vega and five others, could represent him this time.

Other leading Irish stables field Sixandahalf, Galileo Dame, Tareze and Air Of Entitlement, while Paul Nicholls is not alone in liking what he’s seen of Jubilee Alpha and Just A Rose.

Selection: Jubilee Alpha

2.00 Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase (2m4½f)

The 2m4f Grade 1 for novices has gone and a handicap returns. Fifteen trainers were responsible for the 16 winners in its previous handicap form. January’s course-and-distance winner Jagwar is favourite in front of Nurburgring and Asian Master, who both step up markedly in trip, as does Path D’Oroux.

Jordans has been noticed by the handicapper but he is one of the potential class acts. Answer To Kayf is one of the many good prospects who would have more to prove away from testing ground.

Selection: Jordans (nb)

2.40 Pertemps Network Final (3m)

Jeriko Du Reponet was described as “the forgotten horse” going into the 2024 Supreme Novices’ and he’s one you might like to forget judged on his races since, but he is on course to be favourite for the fourth time this season after a more encouraging latest outing.

The picture will be clearer, a little, when the declarations are made, but Karl Des Tourelles, Bugise Seagull, Win Some Lose Some, Will The Wise, One Big Bang and Long Draw are on my shortlist, with others probably to be added.

Selection: Karl Des Tourelles

3.20 Ryanair Chase (2m4½f)

The Gold Cup and Champion Chase’s loss is the Ryanair’s major gain. Starting with 2024 Brown Advisory winner Fact To File, who found Galopin Des Champs too strong on his last two starts. He was 5-1 for the Gold Cup and 6-4 for this when the decision was made, not that the latter price makes him a wildly appealing bet given the depth of opposition.

I don’t know how Il Est Francais will travel over from France but he was an absolute flyer in his Kempton 3m races on good ground at Christmas in 2023 and 2024, latterly when reeled in close home in the King George, and hopefully he will light up Cheltenham in the same dazzling manner – blood vessels allowing.

Last year’s Ryanair went like a dream for Protektorat (seeing off 2023 winner Envoi Allen) and he returned to his best last time out, while a review of the 2024 Gold Cup prompts interest in Jungle Boogie.

Djelo is one-all versus Protektorat this season and added a career best at Newbury last month, on which card Master Chewy won over 2m but was reported to be heading for this.
Gaelic Warrior has two seconds and a win from three visits to the festival, most recently with a performance of utter dominance in the Arkle, but that is 13lb clear of his other races on Racing Post Ratings. The absence of soft ground sees him back up in trip but his latest start heightened the suspicion that this warrior sometimes prefers to lay down his weapons.

Selection: Il Est Francais

4.00 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (3m)

Breaking recent trends, it looks as if tractors may this year not be needed in the car parks, and one of the many races on which benign weather could have an acute bearing is the Stayers’. Teahupoo is a hot favourite but would be a lot hotter on the soft ground which prevailed when he comfortably took this prize last year. It was soft or heavy for all six of his top ratings. He won well at Punchestown last May on yielding (good to soft) and Gordon Elliott seems unconcerned, but seeds of doubt have been sown.

Admittedly, if Teahupoo is not to win, this may look a headscratcher. Home By The Lee was sixth, fifth and third in the last three renewals and is now a ten-year-old, but he won his last two starts (on yielding) in some style. A long list of possibles could be drawn up and top of mine is Elliott’s second string The Wallpark, whose fourth win this season came at Cheltenham and whose minor honour in an Ascot Grade 1 confirmed he will come home strongly.

Crambo pipped Hiddenvalley Lake in that Ascot race and both could have more to give, while the progressive Lucky Place steps up in trip and dual Coral Cup winner Langer Dan is in serious contention too, provided he can prove himself over this longer distance and reprise his annual Lazarus act.

Selection: The Wallpark

4.40 TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (2m4½f)

Many of these names are in the Jack Richards. Perhaps this will be the destination for Springwell Bay, a class act over course and distance last time, and Thecompanysergeant on his second run for Gavin Cromwell.

Last year’s winner Shakem Up’arry is entered again and a return to better ground can help December’s course-and-distance winner Gemirande. The age-old question of who might suddenly return to form encroaches this year on many in the Paul Nicholls string, including Ginny’s Destiny.

Selection: Gemirande (nap)

5.20 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase (3m2f)

JP McManus had two thumpingly impressive winners in the amateurs’ races last year, neither of them an angel who was entertained unawares (12 months on they run in the Gold Cup). A stack of interesting novices this time round includes his Johnnywho, Sa Majeste and Aworkinprogress, with Nine Graces and Westerninthepark for other connections.

More experienced candidates include Stuzzikini, Manothepeople and Midnight Our Fred. There’s UF next to Sine Nomine's name this season, but she won last year’s hunter chase at the festival.

Selection: Nine Graces


FRIDAY

1.20 JCB Triumph Hurdle (2m1f)

There’s a remarkable look to the betting. None of the three at single-figure odds is trained by Willie Mullins and the two disputing favouritism are from Britain.

Lulamba was favourite even before his British debut, having overcome greenness at Auteuil in October. Sold to the Donnellys and joining Nicky Henderson, which are pretty good tips in themselves, he was edgy beforehand at Ascot in January but looked professional in his race, asserting with an unquantifiable amount in hand.

James Owen’s East India Dock is the chalk to Lulamba’s powerful French cheese. In the last year he’s had nine Flat races and three over hurdles, and he’s thrived. He won by daylight at Cheltenham on his last two starts and sets the form standard by a healthy margin.

Henderson also fields the big-money boy Palladium. This season’s Irish contingent have created less excitement than usual, with strong-travelling Hello Neighbour top of the pile in the Leopardstown Grade 1, in which he did not finish far in front of Galileo Dame or Lady Vega Allen.

Selection: East India Dock (nap)

2.00 William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (2m1f)

Decisions, decisions. Mullins has Kopeck De Mee (see the Martin Pipe) and ten others to choose from. Absurde, last year’s swashbuckling winner of the County and beaten just under two lengths in the Melbourne Cup, might just make the teamsheet. Kargese was second in her Triumph and Karniquet second in a Grade 1 novice last month.

McLaurey and Lark In The Mornin are other Irish names to note, with Kabral Du Mathan and Welsh Charger among the British. Valgrand is the sole representative for Dan Skelton, who has been winning the County almost as regularly as Mullins.

Selection: Welsh Charger

2.40 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (2m4½f)

There’s not a deep pool from which to supply this race but Gavin Cromwell is doing his best, including with Limerick Lace, who outdid Dinoblue to win it on soft ground last year, and Only By Night, who is unbeaten as a novice over shorter.

Cromwell also has Brides Hill, who gave weight when second at Huntingdon to Telepathique, whose upward curve looks like the north face of the Eiger. Allegorie De Vassy was second in 2023 and fourth in 2024.

Selection: Telepathique

3.20 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (3m)

One winner at single-figure odds in the last 11 runnings. The Yellow Clay would be the clear form pick in this, assuming he doesn’t run in the Turners and Final Demand does. Wendigo got going late in the Challow and Intense Approach keeps going, including at Cheltenham, while Jax Junior is a striking sort for Telepathique’s trainer Lucy Wadham.

Jet Blue for France has already run away with one course-and-distance race, while other positives are provided by the likes of The Big Westerner, Flicker Of Hope and Derryhassen Paddy.

Selection: Intense Approach


4.00 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (3m2½f)

In the space of seven runnings the Gold Cup could move from being regarded as Mullins’ unluckiest race to one in which he is jointly its most successful trainer, and Paul Townend could become its most successful jockey outright. Tom Dreaper, with five wins, is one ahead of Mullins, while it’s Pat Taaffe who is level with Townend on four. The added and unmistakable relevance is that three of the Dreaper and Taaffe wins were thanks to Arkle, and Galopin Des Champs bids for his own third Gold Cup on Friday.
Galopin Des Champs has beaten most of this field comprehensively, nearly all of those in the last year. The notable exceptions are Banbridge and Corbetts Cross, both of whom he’s never met. The latter, last year’s runaway winner of the National Hunt Chase, has not enhanced his reputation this season but will at least be well suited by this step back up in trip. On the other hand, Banbridge’s strong finish over 3m on good ground secured him the King George at Kempton (his first crack at the distance since he was a novice hurdler), but he now needs to cope with another two and a bit furlongs on a much stiffer track.

Among those vanquished by Galopin Des Champs, it is possible to find potential in the Irish Gold Cup fifth Monty’s Star. He was second in last year’s Brown Advisory to Fact To File, who had two chastening encounters with the champion at Leopardstown but would probably still have presented the chief threat in this had he not ducked out for the Ryanair.

In his place, Inothewayurthinkin has been supplemented. The 2024 Kim Muir winner fared worse than Fact Or File in their same two races against Galopin Des Champs but he did find some improvement, managing fourth in the Irish Gold Cup.

The remainder are Ahoy Senor, Gentlemansgame, Jungle Boogie, Royale Pagaille and The Real Whacker, who all appeared in either the 2023 or 2024 Gold Cup and one way or another came badly unstuck. The Real Whacker made most in 2024, showing that Galopin Des Champs does not need to have everything his own way up front.

Galopin Des Champs is generally a 4-9 shot. Banbridge is the only even semi-plausible threat, bar an uncharacteristic modest showing or bad luck. Anything can happen in racing, as they say, but a reduced field in the Gold Cup means it is more likely to happen in the Ryanair. Morse Code was beaten at 4-7 in a five-runner Gold Cup in 1939, but Galopin Des Champs can take his place in history alongside Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate in winning the race at least three times.

Selection: Galopin Des Champs

4.40 St James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Hunters’ Chase (3m2½f)

Kim Muir exploits see Angels Dawn dispute favouritism with last year’s runner-up Its On The Line. Paul Nicholls has found a fruitful level for Shearer, while Willitgoahead is the up-and-coming youngster. Ontheropes came from nowhere for fifth in the Scottish National, but was no match last time for Ryehill.

Coming at it from another angle, Fairly Famous is 2-2 at the Cheltenham hunter-chase meeting, at which What A Glance won easily last year and followed up in the Horse and Hound Cup at Stratford.

Selection: Fairly Famous

5.20 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (2m4½f)

The arguments and recriminations have started already over how the ex-French Kopeck De Mee could possibly be allowed such a lenient handicap mark. Weeks before the race has actually been run. Even if it’s true, his new trainer Mullins still has to choose the right opening for him, as he’s also favourite for the County.

On the face of it the yard's other entries here are less compelling than in the earlier race, perhaps headed by Bunting and Karafon. Gordon Elliott also has six, with Wodhooh second favourite and Mordor another to note, while Henderson trumps them numerically with his eight, including East India Express and Punctuation. Henry de Bromhead has Taponthego, but watch out also for Paul Nolan’s Park Of Kings.

Tony Martin’s Hamsiyann is 46th of 47 on the list, so waiting to see whether he gets in, and is joined by Kopeck De Mee, adds even more opportunity for festival thrills and spills. Have a great week.

Selection: Park Of Kings

You're previews are better than most tipsters.

Excellent Write-ups Good luck with them BTW