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'A double-figure price is too good to resist' - our Ultimate Cheltenham Preview panellists give their festival best bets
The Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday, and experts from our Ultimate Cheltenham Preview Night have come forward with their best bets for the week.
Read on to find out who they fancy and don't miss the final instalment with Tom Segal, available now exclusively for Racing Post+ Ultimate subscribers.
Mark Holder
The Wallpark
Stayers' Hurdle, 4.00 Thursday
His finishing speed is exceptional and, in his last two starts at Cheltenham and Ascot, not a single hurdler on either card finished faster than him. My only concern is that connections might alter their tactics. He should be held up regardless of the pace, even if it means sitting off a slow gallop. Hold-up tactics suit him and there’s no reason to change a strategy that plays to his strengths.
Patrick Mullins
Final Demand
Turners Novices' Hurdle, 1.20 Wednesday
His temperament is going to be a huge advantage in the Turners and he looks the most straightforward of our favourites.
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David Jennings
Caldwell Potter
Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase, 2.00 Thursday
His price tag means he will never live up to the hype but there is no way he should be 14-1 for the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase. His three runs for Paul Nicholls are not half as bad as they are made out to be and I could see him going off 8-1 or shorter. He'll never win a Gold Cup, but he's well up to winning a handicap off 147. It's almost as if this race were invented for him.
Nick Luck
Haiti Couleurs
National Hunt Novices' Handicap Chase, 5.20 Tuesday
I've loved what he's done over fences this season and he's already a course winner, while his last run over hurdles was very good too. He's got a good mark and should thrive over this staying trip.
Robbie Wilders
Be Aware
Dan Skelton is the top dog in handicap hurdles and I get the impression Be Aware has been laser-targeted at this race since his eyecatching second to Burdett Road in the Greatwood in November. That’s an excellent piece of course form and he’ll eat up this extra half-mile.
Richard Hoiles
Iceo Madrik
Cross Country Chase, 3.20 Wednesday
The French form in this discipline looks to have been consistently under-appreciated by the handicapper, which didn't really matter when you had the likes of Galvin and Delta Work lining up at level weights, but that has changed. Iceo Madrik was sent off as short as 11-2 behind Stumptown at Cheltenham in December and is better off at the weights this time. A double-figure price is too good to resist.
Kevin O'Ryan
Sixandahalf
Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle, 1.20 Thursday
She is a good filly on the Flat and I was very impressed with how she jumped on her hurdles debut at Fairyhouse. She has a big chance.
Paul Kealy
Absurde
Absurde will surely take some stopping in the County Hurdle for the second year running. Willie Mullins managed to get him so well handicapped last year based on his Flat form that he was able to win looking as though he'd just joined in at the last despite heavy ground. He has since run even better in the Melbourne Cup than the year before and will surely have too much class for his rivals on better ground.
Neil Channing
Katate Dori
Ultima Handicap Chase, 2.40 Tuesday
I love the handicaps and my favourite race is the Ultima. I've had a good look at it and trends that are really important are ten-year-olds and above have a terrible record, as do the Irish. The Old course is more suitable for hold-up horses than the New course and stamina really counts in this. I've backed two in the race, but the one I really fancy is Katate Dori. Sam Thomas is a brilliant trainer who didn't have a great season last term, which means his horses are really well handicapped, and if you backed his runners this year you'd be smashing it out of the park. This horse has gone up in the weights but he's improving up the handicap, which is much easier to do as a hold-up horse.
Johnny Dineen
Dinoblue
Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase, 2.40 Friday
I still think there is a bit of juice in her price. She was ridden to get the trip in the Mares' Chase last year, but she proved she stays there and I think they can be more forceful with her this time. When you look down through the field there isn't much to scare you, is there? It's a poor race and she's just better than them. She's the one favourite bigger than evens who I think is value.
Keith Melrose
Jagwar
Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase, 2.00 Thursday
A few weeks ago, I would have said Jagwar was a bit obvious for the novice handicap chase and I would not have trusted the JP McManus operation not to shuffle the pack and send him to the Plate. With the novice race now looking much more likely, and bookies edging him out even so, he looks a better bet all the time. He is rated 139 but I expect him to run in a Grade 1 at Aintree.
Davy Russell
Ballyburn
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, 2.00 Wednesday
Jesus, I'd love a go on him. He's a gorgeous horse, a real old-fashioned type of chaser and, if I were riding him, I would drop him in. I wouldn't get involved in anything for about two miles and then creep my way into him. Give him a chance to relax and let him jump away. I genuinely can't see him beaten and I'm even more confident now that all these pundits keep opposing him at preview nights. The more negative they are, the more positive I am! Mark my words, Ballyburn is the bet of the week.
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Published on inThe Ultimate Cheltenham Preview Night
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Copy- 'He has a much better chance than his price suggests - and I'm not convinced by the Willie Mullins team against him'
- 'He's 40-1 but could take a bit of catching' - our Ultimate Cheltenham Preview panellists with their dark horses
- 'The more pundits keep opposing him, the more I fancy him! Mark my words, he’s the bet of the week’
- 'He's been campaigned like a cocky student who doesn't think they need to revise - and this is the one to beat him'
- 'This Mullins mare could be very good - she looks uncomplicated, has Grade 1 form and she'll do for me'
- 'He has a much better chance than his price suggests - and I'm not convinced by the Willie Mullins team against him'
- 'He's 40-1 but could take a bit of catching' - our Ultimate Cheltenham Preview panellists with their dark horses
- 'The more pundits keep opposing him, the more I fancy him! Mark my words, he’s the bet of the week’
- 'He's been campaigned like a cocky student who doesn't think they need to revise - and this is the one to beat him'
- 'This Mullins mare could be very good - she looks uncomplicated, has Grade 1 form and she'll do for me'