Cheltenham ante-post betting picks: weekend evaluate, 1-2 January
A round-up of the latest Cheltenham Festival ante-post odds after some standout performances in the festive meetings at Kempton, Chepstow and more
It has been quite the fortnight of racing action since our earlier ante-post weekend evaluate just earlier than Christmas.
The Festive conferences from the likes of Kempton, Chepstow, Leopardstown and Limerick introduced a multitude of top-class action, whereas more recently we had Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day fixture.
There has been so much to digest. Here is a trio of runners from current weeks that could be value adding to the trackers for March.
Cheltenham ante-post betting picks
Odds right at time of publishing and may be subject to vary.
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Bravemans’ efficiency stands out
BRAVEMANSGAME delivered a Boxing Day masterclass within the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton when seeing off Ahoy Senor. So good was he that champion trainer Paul Nicholls was shortly touting him for the King George itself again on the similar venue in 12 months’ time.
In the interim, Bravemansgame could have the leading novices’ chases at the spring festivals in sight and he was as short as 11/4 for the Brown Advisory after his Kempton win, where he stalked Ahoy Senor the entire way round earlier than dashing away from him in a matter of strides as quickly as asked by Harry Cobden to do so.
His leaping stays exemplary for a novice and this win had actual substance, given the Lucinda Russell-trained runner-up had been so exceptionally good himself in his previous Newbury Grade 2 success.
He was usurped, nonetheless, within the Cheltenham ante-post market by Galopin Des Champs once Willie Mullins’s star had swatted away his rivals in a Beginners’ Chase at Leopardstown over 2m 5f a couple of days later. That was spectacular for sure however, for now, the substance stays with Bravemansgame’s type line.
At the costs, and with Nicholls now seemingly eager to head for Cheltenham with a horse that he thinks the world of, Bravemansgame stays the value in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase market.
Selection: Bravemansgame to win the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase @
Presse on with Williams cost
The standout performance at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day came from the Venetia Williams-trained L’HOMME PRESSE within the Dipper Novices’ Chase.
The French import recorded his third chasing victory within the area of a month and did so with one other really polished performance.
He appeared good at Ascot earlier than Christmas, though there were quibbles that some of his rivals perhaps underperformed.
This time around with no pace early, Charlie Deutsch forged on and L’homme Presse made the running with the likes of The Glancing Queen, Fantastikas and Millers Bank in close attendance.
Their chase would prove to be in useless as L’homme Presse jumped beautifully nicely and turned the screws once they started to run downhill for residence. Miller Banks and Gladiateur Allen crashed out, whereas The Glancing Queen, 2-2 herself previously, couldn’t land a blow regardless of getting the mares’ allowance. Make no mistake, this French-bred bay gelding by Diamond Boy out of Romance Turgot is proficient.
With Bob Olinger strong available within the market at 11/8, he’s prone to lead the British challenge in the Turners Novices’ Chase over the intermediate distance and whereas Henry de Bromhead’s Festival winner is way revered, L’homme Presse is viable at the costs given the way that he’s progressing.
Selection: L’homme Presse to win the Turners Novices’ Chase @
Asterion not quite a forlorn hope
The Cheltenham Gold Cup market now seems broad open after a Christmas the place there were more questions raised than solutions found.
On Boxing Day, Tornado Flyer brought on an upset in profitable the King George for Willie Mullins at Kempton. Last year’s Blue Riband hero Minella Indo was a big disappointment that day.
Soon after, his stablemate A Plus Tard, so good within the Betfair Chase, was nabbed late in the Savills Chase by Galvin beneath a stunning Davy Russell ride. They at the second are the shortest-priced pair within the Gold Cup betting, A Plus Tard uneasy at 7/2 and Galvin trimmed to 7/1.
Former twin champion Al Boum Photo, meanwhile, was not totally convincing in his common Tramore comeback on New Year’s Day.
It could additionally be a leap of religion to suggest similarities between Al Boum Photo and his fellow Mullins-trained, Mrs J Donnelly-owned stablemate ASTERION FORLONGE, but their cases usually are not entirely totally different both.
Al Boum was a Cheltenham Festival faller in 2018, breaking Ruby Walsh’s leg, earlier than famously taking the wrong course underneath Paul Townend that same spring at Punchestown. Some might have labelled him a rogue by that time.
Asterion Forlonge was a Grade 1-winning novice hurdler however has proven wayward tendencies as a chaser. He is, essentially, a great jumper however vulnerable to main errors of judgement – and so they have been expensive.
The latest was in the King George when he approached the final fence because the last challenge to Tornado Flyer solely to crash out. He unseated earlier in the month within the John Durkan when seemingly coming to say Allaho.
If he had stood up at Kempton on his first go at three miles, it might certainly have resulted in a profession greatest, either in first or second, and maybe there is mileage in him at staying journeys.
Walsh, in his pundit position, produced a fantastic monologue after Kempton, pondering the dearth of lessons learnt from Asterion Forlonge for his previous misdemeanours – and there could be no doubting that he needs to change that pattern quickly.
When he does put it together, as at Punchestown last season, he has got talent to burn and perhaps he may emulate Al Boum Photo by fulfilling his destiny on the grandest stage of all. At the costs in such an open renewal, he could presumably be worth an opportunity.
Selection: Asterion Forlonge to win the Gold Cup @
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