Cheltenham Festival ultimate betting guide: This is how you can win BIG this week as our experts reveal all their unmissable best tips and inside information
It’s the week for dreaming and speculating and nowhere is a winner celebrated more than Cheltenham.
You might have some of your picks lined up but what do our experts think?
ED CHAMBERLIN, STEVE RYDER, CHRIS BAKER and DOMINIC KING delivered plenty of big-priced successes at the big flat meetings last summer at Royal Ascot, Goodwood and York.
We’ve asked the four tipping masters to get together and see what they can unearth over the next four days…
Paul Townend celebrates winning last year’s Gold Cup on Galopin des Champs
Townend with winning trainer Willie Mullins and the Gold Cup last year
NAP OF THE MEETING
DOMINIC KING: Here we are, then – 28 races ahead of us and I don’t think I’ll be alone in dreaming that I’ll back 28 winners between now and Friday.
ED CHAMBERLIN: Yes, then you’ll wake up and realise you won’t get anything in the frame. And don’t remind me for the umpteenth time that you tipped Goliath to win the King George at Ascot last summer! Come on, Steve – you’re the brains here. What’s your best bet?
STEVE RYDER: That’s very kind of you to say, Ed! I’m going for BROADWAY BOY in the Ultima Handicap (2.40, Tuesday).
He finished third at the course on his reappearance in October before finishing second in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury off a mark of 148. He was fourth on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham but he’s been freshened up since and hits a lot of trends.
Broadway Boy has been freshened up and hits a lot of trends ahead of this week
Ballyburn is another to keep an eye on in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase on Wednesday
EC: I knew there was a good reason to start with you – you’ll see why in a minute. Over to you, Chris…
CHRIS BAKER: I don’t normally get too involved at short prices but I’m making an exception for BALLYBURN in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (2.00, Wednesday).
Hugely impressive Grade One novice winner at last year’s Festival and is 2-3 over fences this season. His only defeat came when dropped to two miles against the mighty Sir Gino. He’s my best bet of the week.
EC: Wednesday looks a good day for punting and I hope my nap will have obliged 40 minutes before you. I’m with THE NEW LION in the Turner’s Novice Hurdle (1.20, Wednesday). He could be a Champion Hurdle next year and I believe he is a certainty.
DK: And I believe you need certifying. He won’t get anywhere near Final Demand. I’m not going to put him up as my nap, though.
No. That tag goes to the same horse who carried this burden 12 months ago. FACT TO FILE will not be beaten in the Ryanair Chase (3.20, Thursday). I know Il Est Francais is good but I also know how highly they regard Fact To File. He wins this by three lengths.
NEXT BEST
EC: So, Steve, back to the sensible side of the discussion. I knew great minds were think alike because I love Broadway Boy and everything I have heard over the last couple of weeks tells me the Twiston-Davies team really fancy him strongly. He’s a fantastic each-way bet.
SR: I’d say the same about my next best LARK IN THE MORNIN’, who is going for the County Hurdle (2.00, Friday). How good was he when he won the Fred Winter at the Festival 12 months ago? Joseph O’Brien is a genius at plotting these raids and he’ll do for me. How about you, Chris?
Chris Baker is tipping Il Est Francais to outgun Fact To File in the Ryanair Chase
CB: Sorry, Dom, but IL EST FRANCAIS will outgun Fact To File. He was narrowly denied in the King George on Boxing Day but it was a joy to watch him bowling along from the front.
He should relish this drop back to two-and-a-half miles on drying ground, and he will take some beating if he gets in to a rhythm out in front. He had several Festival options but connections clearly see the Ryanair as the most winnable one. I agree!
DK: And we can agree to disagree! I might be going a bit leftfield, here, but I’m taking one of the hotpots on.
I’m fascinated by LUCKY PLACE in the Stayers Hurdle (3.40, Thursday) – as much as I respect and admire Teauphoo, who is owned by great people, I love Lucky Place’s profile and I feel he’s going to be one of Nicky Henderson’s winners this week. He’s progressing quickly.
LONG SHOTS
DK: If we are talking long shots, can I just remind you that…
EC: No! Steve, the floor is yours again…
SR: Course form is always a big thing for me at Cheltenham and that’s why I’m going for FUGITIF in the Trustatrader Plate (4.40, Thursday).
He was third in the December Gold Cup off a mark of 150. He has now dropped to a mark of 148 and can be the third 10-year-old to win this in a row. The booking of Sean Bowen, champion jockey elect, is a huge positive.
EC: I didn’t want to take you on but, in the same race, I’ve got a feeling for LIFE IN THE PARK (4.40, Thursday) – it might take a bit of imagination but I’ve been following markets and he’s been nibbled at from 50-1 into 33-1. He’s trained by Henry de Bromhead, who always conjures a winner. That’s what we can say about you, isn’t it Chris!
Gavin Cromwell is red-hot and Dominic King is backing him to go close with Al Gasparo in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle
Let’s hope it’s a big week for everyone – especially Mail Sport readers!
CR: I hope so! My long shot is WENDIGO, in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle (3.20, Friday). He was second to The New Lion in the Grade One Challow Novices’ Hurdle, then went on to run out a very easy winner at Wetherby at short odds. He has a good profile for this race and should run well at double figure odds.
DK: Always a race for a shock, is the Albert Bartlett. You could say the same about the Coral Cup and the angle I’m taking with this is the trainer.
Gavin Cromwell is red-hot – he’ll win the Mares Novice Hurdle with Sixandahalf (Thursday, 1.20) – but he’ll go close with AL GASPARO in this big handicap (2.40, Wednesday); he’s battle-hardened, he’s got a great profile and he’ll do for me!
EC: Great stuff! Best wishes to you – and to all our readers. Let’s hope it’s a Festival to remember.
