National Hunt racing fans always have one eye on the Cheltenham Festival but it will soon be two, as the four-day extravaganza is a little over a month away.
There are no fewer than 13 Grade 1 races to look forward to across the four days and plenty of betting opportunities.
Our expert has picked out three of his strongest ante-post Cheltenham Festival selections, including one at a double-figure price in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase on Day 2.
talkSPORT BET betting offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets*
Cheltenham Festival ante-post tips
- Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Romeo Coolio
- Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – Better Days Ahead
- County Hurdle – McLaurey
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Romeo Coolio
Gordon Elliott decided to swerve the Dublin Racing Festival and wait until Cheltenham to take on the might of Willie Mullins. Romeo Coolio was runner-up in the Champion Bumper last year but appears to be a much-improved horse over hurdles.
Kicking off his season with a very dominant display in a Down Royal maiden hurdle in November, Elliott’s gelding took up the running three out and the race was over from that point on and the 18-length margin understates his dominance.
He suffered a shock defeat in Grade 2 company at Fairyhouse next time but bounced back in fine style to emerge from the gloom and take the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown by nine lengths over Christmas.
Willie Mullins’ Kopek Des Bordes is the worthy favourite after his Dublin Racing Festival demolition job, but there’s no value in the price and if Romeo Coolio can improve again, he has the ideal profile for this race.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – Better Days Ahead
Better Days Ahead won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Festival in 2024 and he saw the extended 2m4f trip out well that day on pretty soft ground. He looks like a staying chaser and his form so far this season is up there.
That race has a good record for producing useful staying chasers, including the great Galopin Des Champs, who won it in 2021 off a mark of 142. While Better Days Ahead isn’t quite at that level he remains a smart prospect for staying chases.
Gordon Elliott’s seven-year-old only just failed to get up when second by a neck in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown on Boxing Day and the strong test of stamina that the Brown Advisory provides will be right up his street on that evidence.
County Hurdle – McLaurey
Several horses made a big impression at last weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival, not least among them the Emmet Mullins-trained McLaurey.
His excellent win in what looks like a very competitive Listed handicap hurdle led to him shooting to the top of the market for the County Hurdle on Day 4.
JP McManus snapped him up after winning an Irish point by eight lengths in November 2023 and connections have been very patient. Improving with every start over hurdles, he won a maiden hurdle comfortably at Limerick on his penultimate start.
The handicapper is obviously going to have his say but Mullins knows how to train handicap winners at the Cheltenham Festival and this lightly raced sort could still have plenty in hand going into the big one.
Cheltenham ante-post tips
- Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Romeo Coolio
- Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – Better Days Ahead
- County Hurdle – McLaurey
talkSPORT BET betting offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets*
*all odds correct at time of writing and subject to change
18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10+ via mobile on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org
