Annie Power in 2015 and Benie Des Dieux in 2019; the pair reportedly saved bookmakers millions following their respective final-flight falls at the Cheltenham Festival, with both being the last leg of numerous accumulators for punters.
This year’s meeting once again sees a number of horses chalked up as short-priced favourites for some of the leading events at the track but who should you be putting your money on? Odds provided by Betfair
Horse: HONEYSUCKLE General odds: 1/2 Race: Grade One Unibet Champion Hurdle, Tuesday, 3.30pm - Banker
The first horse that has to be discussed is of course Honeysuckle, who is undoubtedly one of the stars of the meeting.
Unbeaten in 14 starts under Rules, she is a dual winner at the Cheltenham Festival and was a brilliant winner of the Champion Hurdle 12 months ago. With Henry De Bromhead’s string also hitting form at the right time, she should have too much class for Appreciate It.
Horse: ALLAHO General odds: 4/7 Race: Ryanair Chase, Thursday, 2.50pm - Banker
Another horse to bank on is Allaho. Trainer Willie Mullins has described Allaho as his banker of the meeting and it is hard to be dissuaded from that thought.
A relentless front-running performance in this event last term saw him record a stunning 22-length victory under Rachael Blackmore where he essentially ran his rivals into the ground.
Horse: SHISHKIN General odds: 4/6 Race: Grade One Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, Wednesday, 3.30pm - Banker
The supposed British banker of the festival is Shishkin in the Grade One Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday. Nicky Henderson has won this event with fellow short-priced favourites Sprinter Sacre and Altior and the Seven Barrows maestro would become the winning-most trainer in the race’s history with a seventh success in the two-mile chasing championship.
He’s unbeaten in seven starts over fences and there was plenty to digest from his defeat of Energumene in the Clarence House Chase.
But who should be avoided?
Horse: FACILE VEGA General odds: 10/11 Race: Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper, Wednesday, 5.30pm - blowout
Willie Mullins’ three former winners of the bumper he won at the Dublin Racing Festival have failed to go on to record victory in this event.
Team Cloustton also seem to have an embarrassment of riches in this division with Facile Vega’s likely rider Patrick Mullins very sweet on the chances of both Redemption Day and St James’s Gate.
Throw in the presence of Gordon Elliott’s American Mike and this looks a contest with plenty of strength in depth.
Horse: EDWARDSTONE General odds: 7/4 Race: Grade One Sporting Life Arkle Novices’ Chase, Tuesday, 2.10pm
Edwardstone bids to provide Alan King with a first victory at the Cheltenham Festival since Uxizandre in 2015.
A faller at Warwick on his chasing debut, the eight-year-old as not looked back, winning his next four starts, including the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.
He impressed when landing the Kingmaker at Warwick last time out and deservedly heads the market for the Arkle but a sounder surface is preferable according to King.
Whilst there appear to be few chinks in his armour, Blue Lord and Riviere D’etel are preferred for this one and offer too much of a challenge to back Edwardstone here. The pair enjoyed a brilliant tussle in the Irish Arkle and in the case of Blue Lord, that narrow victory may have made him a man and he gets the vote.
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