With less than three weeks for the end and almost all races graduated in the Cheltenham Festival 2/1 or less … the appeal of ante-post bets for the jumping meeting of jumps has rarely had much less appeal.
The biggest problem is that the vast majority of warm favorites have been short prices throughout the season. There has been the strange gold pepita hidden under many rubble. Galpin Des Champs was momentarily 4/1 after his reversal to presenting at the John Durkan Memorial Chase. History suggests that a defeat at the beginning of the season in Punctown is nothing to worry remotely.
General 4/7 on him to win a third consecutive Gold Cup now looks like the theft of the century. However, there were valid reasons at the time of drift. The main one is that he lost to his stable companions to present, who was the main graduate of rookie persecution and the most exposed horse seemed to have the potential to overcome the reigning champion by improving even more.
Another undervalued point of view are the risks taken in the injection of posts. It is not easy to take the best horses to the best races in A1. Taking 4/1 four months in advance of a horse in the Cheltenham Gold Cup would really represent value on any land?
In a nutshell, prices are simply no longer there in the upper races. Nor is it the fault of betting runners. More and more races at the festival are becoming less competitive and are being looted by the same connections over and over again. It is not surprising that the betting corridors are covered when some money arrives for the usual suspects.
It also seems to be increasingly difficult to assume these short prices favorites, particularly those trained by Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins. They are rarely lost and with more potential rivals that fall on the road in preference for Aintree, so it is a case of sitting tight and formulating what probabilities are in the multiple weekly and which are not. Or that or find the place or forecast angle in an attempt to ensure the price of a working man.
Nurse Susan could be an interesting strange in the final race of the 2025 festival
Personal ambition is a progressive young horse that is overlooked for the dish
Third time Lucki has had injury problems, but it is well persecuted if it is in the song in the great annual
Finding the ante-post value in the best case is like finding a needle in a haystack. Today there seems to be more Paystacks. Yes, it may seem like a thing shouting booooooooommmmm in x when kopek des edges and Majborough win the two initial races on Tuesday, but if one of them is rhythm and you intend to mount the roller coaster in the short term throughout the week, then then You then instantly will be on the back foot. The silence of social networks would be deafenor and the whole 'oh good. In the following, 'Tweets will not disguise such an elegant success.
You will need deep pockets to win anything tangible going that route … and a lot of bottle. On the other hand, you can have some trivial plays at great prices and wait for the best. Yes, it is very optimistic, but it is less stressful with just over two weeks and if you can't dream at the Cheltenham festival, when can you?
There are three horses that deserve such far consideration. As expected, everyone is in disadvantages. The first is in the large annual (Wednesday, March 12, 4.40) and Third time Lucki (50-1 on each path, Sky Bet) Catch the eye in the persecution of two mile disability.
Yes, a lot should be taken in trust since the three races this season have left much to be desired from 584 days outside the track. The property changed to £ 170,000 and moved to Fergal O'Brien Yard after the 2022-23 season. He finished fourth in the Great Annual of Off 149 two years ago. Although the ten -year -old has not been close to that level, his disability rating at least reflects it. He entered here with 15 pounds below and 134 should see him sneak at the foot of the weights.
Their new owners have to do with the festival and bought it specifically during these four days in March 2023 before suffering an injury. It took shape well when it was a second beaten to Matata's now 161 in November during the course and distance. He has not managed to build on that when he hit the view in two disadvantages since then, but was mounted on the rhythm on both occasions and is much better when he hunt in the back. Reversing those tactics of a career brand in your career could be the spark that reaves the fire.
Look, it is much more likely that he is not the strength that once was, but it is worth discovering it in a speculative play at age 50 in a race that has provided many surprises (Coco Bay won this at 66/1 in 2019 and The last four large winners have been 12/1+) and the unplanned types near the top of the market currently do not have much attraction.
Unfortunately, we have to immerse ourselves in the 40/1 support for selection no 2 but but Personal ambition (40/1 each path, Betfair) It could well be criminally underestimated in the trustatrader Plate Handicap persecution (Thursday, March 13, 4.40).
Coach Ben Pauling, who won this race last year, told Racing Post this week: 'He has had his four races, which will qualify him to run on the plate. It will also have an entry into the rookie persecution (Jack Richards), but I think it would be good enough for the dish and I think the old course will adapt it better than the new course. He is improving all the time and it would be exciting to see.
Dan Skelton trains the nurse Susan and is not alien to the success of the Cheltenham Festival
Galpin Des Champs, winner of the Dual Gold Cup, is one of the many possibilities at the festival
A brand of 137, but this six -year -old boy is not exposed is well inside its compass. Gidleight Park hit him along two miles in Windsor, but he would have won the previous time in Ascot more than two miles and three furlongs if he did not make a disaster of the last.
He went well that day apart from that error in a small chase of decent qualified rookies and the trip of two and a half miles seems to be his preference that can unlock one more improvement. With the introduction of a similar race for rookie hunters this year, the dish is full of exposed horses. The last three renovations have been won by children ten years or older.
The track is a bit unknown, but it is a horse with potential in a race that seems quite little inspiring once again at the head of the market and five of the last ten dishes have had 14/1+ winners.
Last but not least is Nurse Susan (40/1 Ever-Way, Betfair) In the final race of the week, the Disability of Jockeys conditioned by Martin Pipe (Friday, March 14, 5.20).
Trained by Dan Skelton and in the famous colors of Langer Dan, nurse Susan is a talented mare that has won four of her six races for obstacles. The eight -year -old boy was quickly in the update and looked good at the graduated class before suffering an injury.
He has not been seen since January 21, 2024, but Nurse Susan has celebrated an obstacle entry of seas and that indicates how much it is by Skelton. However, the coach told Sky Sports Racing this week: 'You will probably see her run in the Disability of Convacacity of Conditioned Jockeys of Martin Pipe. I have not had enough time to prepare it for the obstacle of the mares, but she is a very talented mare. In normal circumstances, I would give her a great opportunity, but I have not had enough time with her. I think it will run, but I think it will improve for the race.
Perhaps that might not be a sounding, but Skelton is the most cunning operator and is offered the 50s, he could also take advantage of the opportunity. If you cannot do justice, then not run, but it is reasonably fit, then you have the ability to exceed your price. Third, Skelton could be maintaining her cards near her chest and nurse Susan could be much later than you think. After all, it is a disability of the Cheltenham festival and it would not be the first time that Skelton took a rabbit out of the hat. In 50/1, you don't need to invest much.
The Trixie is around 65,000/1 if you want to dream big on the back of small bets. That's what Cheltenham Festival grassing is about. A fun opportunity of massive money with replacement change.