'He's seriously talented and has drifted all the way out to 66-1' - our Ultimate Cheltenham Preview panellists with their dark horses
The Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday, and experts from our Ultimate Cheltenham Preview Night have noted their dark horses ahead of the top-class action.
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Moray Smith
Walking On Air
National Hunt Novices' Handicap Chase, 5.20 Tuesday
He was well fancied at 7-1 in last season's Kim Muir, but disappointed due to an injury not discovered until he ran at Ayr the following month. He shaped with promise at Doncaster recently, when badly needing the race. Out of Refinement, he promises to stay the trip, and a lenient mark of 127 should see him sneak in towards the bottom of the weights.
David Jennings
No Walkover
Weatherbys Champion Bumper, 5.20 Wednesday
I haven't fully given up on him and he's drifted all the way out to 66-1 after getting stuck in the mud at Newbury. He's seriously talented and the form of his first two bumper wins is working out fine.
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Keith Melrose
Ben Solo
Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase, 2.00 Thursday
I think he is a handicap snip, and, while he might prove it somewhere other than Cheltenham, you can get 50-1 non-runner no bet for the Jack Richards so there's little downside in speculating.
Davy Russell
Jalon D'Oudairies
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, 3.20 Friday
He's a proper horse with loads of ability and I think he'll be bang there. If you go back through his form he was very good in bumpers and he got his act together to win by a long way at Naas the other day.
Paul Kealy
Jetara and Matata
Mares' Hurdle, 2.40 Thursday and Ryanair Chase, 4.00 Thursday
I think both might hit the frame at huge odds. Jetara was fourth last year and then third in open Grade 1s at Aintree and Punchestown, while Matata’s course win was impressive and loads of horses ahead of him in the betting won’t turn up.
Donn McClean
Slade Steel
Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase, 2.00 Thursday
He hasn’t won yet over fences, but there has been mitigation, and three miles on heavy ground at Navan last time probably stretched his stamina beyond its limit. He should be happier back on better ground and at an intermediate trip. He's a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner and his British chase mark of 146, 5lb lower than his Irish hurdles mark, could underrate his ability considerably.
Harry Wilson
Forty Coats
BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle, 2.40 Wednesday
There could be a big run lurking in this seven-year-old, who was put up as a dark horse in Henry de Bromhead’s stable tour in October. He had some smart form last season, including finishing fourth in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and is likely to take a step forward from his two runs this season.
Ross Brierley
Full Of Life
Mares' Novices' Hurdle, 1.20 Thursday
She set rock-solid fractions and then quickened away well in a Grade 3 at Down Royal in October and hasn’t been seen since, but Henry de Bromhead has pulled lesser rabbits out of bigger hats in the past. The form looks very good and last year's winner for the same yard ran at the same track then had a break too.
Gary Wiltshire
Leader D'Allier
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 1.20 Tuesday
Johnny Dineen, with whom I've had many battles down the years and who is a breath of fresh air for racing, put him up for the Supreme at 20-1 a couple of weeks ago on Upping The Ante. Johnny certainly knows the time of day and I managed to get £50 on him. If we can get that one home, in the words of Bamber Gascoigne, it'll be a nice starter for ten! Be lucky and let’s hope we all come home safely on Friday night.
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Published on inThe Ultimate Cheltenham Preview Night
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Copy- Who does Paul Kealy think has ‘a mighty tempting mark’? Our preview experts put up their Cheltenham Festival best bets
- 'He has a lot of strong Cheltenham Festival form and is undeniably well treated in the Kim Muir'
- 'I've done my brains at Cheltenham as a bookie - but I'll be laying all the big names here and I fancy getting a result'
- 'This horse made the spine tingle last time - and I'm hoping he can do something very special in the Jack Richards'
- 'There could be a big run lurking in this horse - the 40-1 is huge'
- Who does Paul Kealy think has ‘a mighty tempting mark’? Our preview experts put up their Cheltenham Festival best bets
- 'He has a lot of strong Cheltenham Festival form and is undeniably well treated in the Kim Muir'
- 'I've done my brains at Cheltenham as a bookie - but I'll be laying all the big names here and I fancy getting a result'
- 'This horse made the spine tingle last time - and I'm hoping he can do something very special in the Jack Richards'
- 'There could be a big run lurking in this horse - the 40-1 is huge'