- Old Park Star (Supreme: Cheltenham, 13.20) – 1pt each-way @ 11/4 (PricedUp)
- Talk The Talk (Supreme: Cheltenham, 13.20) – 1pt each-way @ 9/2 (Ladbrokes)
- Lulamba (Arkle: Cheltenham, 14.00) – 1pt win @ 7/4 (BetMGM)
- Mustang Du Breuil (McCoy Contractors Hurdle: Cheltenham, 14.40) – 1pt each-way @ 12/1 (Bet365)
- Jagwar (Ultima: Cheltenham, 15.20) – 3pts win @ 4/1 (Coral)
- Lossiemouth (Champion Hurdle: Cheltenham, 16.00) – 2pts ew @ 2/1 (Betfred)
- Zurich (Plate: Cheltenham, 16.40) – 1pt each-way @ 11/1 (Ladbrokes)
- Iceberg Theory (National Hunt Chase: Cheltenham, 17.20) – 2pts each-way @ 9/1 (Bet365Ladbrokes)
It’s here at last! The first of four fabulous days of jumping action starts on Tuesday, with the Champion Hurdle the feature.
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (13.20, Cheltenham)
Regular readers will know I advised Old Park Star prior to his Haydock win in January, mainly because I felt he’d win that day and, therefore, his price on betting sites would shorten. All of that has played out, so hopefully you’re holding an each-way voucher on him.
Nicky Henderson knows how to win this race and the type that it takes to do so. I’m not sure Old Park Star is as nippy as some he’s sent this way but he’s definitely not slow and I think he’ll get the strong pace he needs to enable him to do his best work up the hill. Hopefully that can prove decisive.
I’d also added in a second each-way play on Talk The Talk, in the belief that he’d eventually come here. I think he’d be 4-4 over hurdles but for that stumble after he’d jumped the last at Leopardstown in front and if anything beats Old Park Star, it could be him, for all the recent support for Mighty Park.
Cheltenham tips: Old Park Star (Supreme: Cheltenham, 13.20) – 1pt each-way @ 11/4 (PricedUp)
Cheltenham tips: Talk The Talk (Supreme: Cheltenham, 13.20) – 1pt each-way @ 9/2 (Ladbrokes)
Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase (14.00, Cheltenham)
He’s barely put a foot wrong and he’s officially 5lb superior to the favourite Kopek Des Bordes, and I am still happy to be with Lulamba in the Arkle. He impressed with his jumping at both Exeter and when winning the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown.
Despite being reported to have struck into himself, he was still far too good for them in the Game Spirit at Newbury and showed further improvement there. His only defeat came here by a neck to Poniros in last year’s Triumph and I think it will take a very good performance to beat him.
Cheltenham tips: Lulamba (Arkle: Cheltenham, 14.00) – 1pt win @ 7/4 (BetMGM)
McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (14.40, Cheltenham)
I notice there’s been a further nibble at Manlaga on horse racing betting sites on Monday and I do think Nicky Henderson’s charge has claims in this juvenile handicap. However, as mentioned in a previous column, his stablemate Mustang Du Breuil is twice the price and they are rated only 1lb apart on their form to date. That looks like value.
Both are JP McManus-owned, with the latter having won at Auteuil before joining the Seven Barrows team and then adding further success at Doncaster. I wouldn’t be too discouraged about him being a beaten favourite in the Dovecote at Kempton last time, as I think it got a little bit messy and I’d be very surprised if he isn’t significantly better than that.
Cheltenham tips: Mustang Du Breuil (McCoy Contractors Hurdle: Cheltenham, 14.40) – 1pt each-way @ 12/1 (Bet365)
Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase (15.20, Cheltenham)
Whichever way I look at this race, and there are a number who may well be well treated, I keep coming back to the favourite Jagwar. He loves it around here, those form figures of 1132 are clear evidence of that.
He was the comfortable winner of last year’s Plate (2m4½f) when he was one of the meeting’s worst kept secrets and although both those defeats this season were when he was favourite, they were also both improved efforts. So much so that, if he ran to the level of his head defeat by Donnacha on trials day, he’d still look at least half a stone ‘well in’ for this.
In addition to that, we can factor in some potential for improvement going up to this trip for the first time. I like his chance.
Cheltenham tips: Jagwar (Ultima: Cheltenham, 15.20) – 3pts win @ 4/1 (Coral)
Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (16.00, Cheltenham)
If she can’t win the Champion Hurdle this year, it’s never going to happen. Fortunately for us, she doesn’t have to, after I advised to avail yourself of the 6/1 on offer for her each-way on betting apps, some time ago.
Lossiemouth is unbeaten at this venue and is just such a consistent and reliable mare. Detractors will say that, at her best, she wouldn’t be good enough to beat a top Champion Hurdle winner. That may still be the case shortly after four o’clock on Tuesday but I think she’s definitely good enough to finish in the first three, to return a profit and it will only take one or two others to not quite hit the heights on the day and she can win it.
If it comes to a scrap, that should suit and the race has, of course, got easier in the sense that there’s no Constitution Hill around. I’m in agreement with the market that The New Lion looks the biggest potential danger but last year’s winner Golden Ace and Poniros are two others who’d have me looking over my shoulder.
Cheltenham tips: Lossiemouth (Champion Hurdle: Cheltenham, 16.00) – 2pts ew @ 2/1 (Betfred)
Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase (16.40, Cheltenham)
I wouldn’t say I’m mad about anything in this race, as there are plenty of holes to pick in plenty of form. However, a sporting selection at a double-figure price is the Henry De Bromhead-trained Zurich.
He’s got C&D winning form against his name, in what was presumably a reconnaissance mission for this race. He’s going into it 9lb higher than last November and he was beaten by Jordan’s Cross at Doncaster in his only subsequent start.
However, he showed a bit more improvement there and there’s no obvious reason why he can’t do so again in a true-run contest like the vast majority of Festival races provide. I also think he’ll be better for coming into this freshened up and he’s an each-way player.
Cheltenham tips: Zurich (Plate: Cheltenham, 16.40) – 1pt each-way @ 11/1 (Ladbrokes)
National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase (17.20, Cheltenham)
The trip is usually the unknown for participants in this marathon contest but we’ve seen the winner of this go on to contest top staying chases down the years and that could be the case again with my selection, Iceberg Theory.
Trainer Paul Nolan doesn’t send his inmates to these shores if he doesn’t think they’ve a chance and I think he has too. He won at both Limerick and Cork to make it 2-3 over fences. He also looks well treated from a current mark of 133.
He saw out an extended 3m1f well when second on his chase debut and, since then, he won those two races over shorter. I think he’ll relish this step up to a significantly longer trip and the drying ground will also help him.
Cheltenham tips: Iceberg Theory (National Hunt Chase: Cheltenham, 17.20) – 2pts each-way @ 9/1 (Ladbrokes)
Gamble responsibly
Bettors should always gamble responsibly, especially during the Cheltenham Festival, with a number of offers and betting markets widely available.
If you’re planning on having a bet on any race at Cheltenham, you should remember to always stick to a budget and never exceed it.
Never chase your losses. Always remain in control of your time and budget.
Bettors should use responsible gambling tools provided by gambling sites, such as deposit limits, loss limits and self-exclusion among others.
These safer gambling principles should apply whether you are using online bookmakers, slot sites, casino sites, bingo sites, or any other gambling medium.
In the UK, there are a number of gambling addiction charities ready and prepared to help you with counselling, support groups and practical advice on how to help you recover if you do lose control:
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