Hi all,
My final Cheltenham Festival Ante Post article and completed earlier than expected.
I have also added at the end a list of my previous ante post selections including the price when advised. Next week I will email you with my Cheltenham Festival Lucky 15.
Last weekend’s racing at Newbury & Warwick witnessed some interesting performances. I will begin by highlighting a couple of horses from Newbury who I haven’t put up ante post, but I will be keeping onside.
I was impressed with Chantry House in the novice hurdle at Newbury on Saturday. Not sure whether he will go for the Supreme or Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. Although I haven’t advised him this week, he’s one I will be keeping on side whichever race he goes for at the festival.
Saturday’s Betfair Hurdle winner Pic D’Orhy doesn’t have much to find on my figures to go well in the Champion Hurdle. He must be supplemented for the race, but I will be surprised if connections don’t let the 5-year-old take his chance. In an open year he’s got each way claims especially if the going was good to soft or better.
Cheltenham Festival 2020 Ante Post Selections
Tuesday March 10th
Arkle Novices Chase
I can’t say this race is one I tend to have many bets in but this year I have already put up Global Citizen & Brewin’upastorm and I’m in for a third with Rouge VIf.
This is now one of the races at the Festival that I won’t be adding selections to, even on the day. Fingers crossed all three will run so there is no need to add anymore.
Rouge Vif put in an excellent jumping performance to win the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices Chase. Always in a good position behind the leader he took it up three from home and soon pulled clear of his rivals with favourite Nube Negra unable to catch him. This was a high-class novice chase performance which was run in a good time.
On my figures only Notebook has produced a better performance than Rouge Vif in the 2m novice chase division this season. The 6-year-old deserves to take his chance in the Arkle at Cheltenham after this run and, on a sound, surface would have a good each way chance.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s eyecatcher article the Kingmaker doesn’t hasn’t been a great guide to the Arkle in recent years, but trends are there to be broken.
1pt each way – Rouge VIf – 20/1 @ Betfair Sportsbook or 16/1 @ Ladbrokes & William Hill
Wednesday March 11th
Champion Chase
My main ante post bet in the race remains Defi Du Seuil but I wouldn’t back him now at the prices.However, I seem to be the only pundit who was impressed with Dynamite Dollars run behind Altior at Newbury on Saturday.
Returning from a 378-day absence. He looked in need of the run but ran a race full of promise, beaten just 3 ½ lengths.
The 7-year-old jumped well but didn’t have the change of gear to cope with the winner on the run in. If he comes out of the race well, he deserves to take his chance in the Champion Chase. The 33/1 I mentioned yesterday has gone but anything above 20/1 remains decent each way value to me.
1pt each way – Dynamite Dollars – 25/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes
Coral Cup
Another race where I already have got a couple of picks, but I have another selection for you now and I suspect there could be another one or two on the day. It’s one of those festival handicaps where you can easily have three of four running for you.
Dame De Compagnie, trained by Nicky Henderson, has won two of her four starts at Cheltenham so issues with track for the 7-year-old.
The mare returned from a 577-day absence to run a highly encouraging 5th of 14 in the Greatwood Hurdle here back in November. Over a 2m ½ f trip that would have been plenty short enough for her. Built on that promise when winning over 2m 4f at Cheltenham’s December meeting.
Up 10lb but she’s only had seven starts over hurdles and could be capable of the improvement required to win this. Given her aptitude for C&D this looks an ideal race for her.
1pt each way – Dame De Compagnie – 25/1 @ Bet365 & BetVictor (both paying 4 places ¼ odds)
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
I put up Palladium for this race last week and I’m putting up another one here. It’s another of those competitive Festival handicaps where you really need at least two or three onside.
Repetitio, trained by Nigel Hawke, proved steadily progressive in juvenile hurdles last year. A winner at Newton Abbot back in August. The gelding put in a career best when finishing with 9 ½ lengths of Triumph Hurdle ante post favourite Allmankind, in the Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham’s November meeting. He then matched that effort when taking advantage of his 3-year-old weight allowance to win a 2m 1f handicap hurdle at the December meeting, finishing ahead of the likes of Oakley & Never Adapt.
The trainer told the Racing Post at Cheltenham; “The Fred Winter has always been in the back of my mind and he had to win here or run well to vindicate it”. The handicapper raised him 5lb for that success which could underestimate the gelding who has a good attitude and handles big field handicaps.
1pt each way – Repetitio – 25/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 4 places ¼ odds)
Here are my previously advised selections.
Victor’s Cheltenham Festival Ante Post Portfolio
1pt each way – Defi Du Seuil – 10/1 – Champion Chase
1pt each way – Global Citizen – 20/1 – Arkle Novices’ Chase
1pt each way – Ask A Honey Bee – 50/1 – Champion Bumper
1pt each way – Longhouse Poet – 25/1 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
1pt each way- Alfa Mix – 33/1 – Coral Cup
1pt each way – Protektorat – 14/1 – Coral Cup
1pt each way – Brelan D’As – 20/1 – Grand Annual Handicap Chase
1pt each way – Lisp – 20/1 – Grand Annual Handicap Chase
2pts win – Asterion Forlange – 11/2 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
2pts win – Brewin’upastorm – 10/1 – Arkle Novices’ Chase
1pt each way – Darver Star – 33/1 – Champion Hurdle
1pt each way – The Big Getaway – 12/1 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
1pt each way – Palladium – 20/1 – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
2pts win – Itchy Feet – 7/1 – Marsh Novices Chase
2pts win – Column Of Fire – 10/1 – Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
1pt each way – Front View – 16/1 @ William Hill – Handicap Hurdle
That’s now twenty ante post selections (40pts staked), far and away my biggest ever ante post Cheltenham Festival ante post portfolio.
Cheers
John