Hi all,
No joy for Echo Watt on Tuesday who’s jumping was rusty on his return to action at Uttoxeter.
There are no selections today although chase debutant Palmers Hill in the 2:15 at Taunton would be interesting at 11/4 or bigger.
It’s day one of Cheltenham’s International Meeting tomorrow so there should be some good betting opportunities over the next few days.
From today and each Thursday I will be sending out any ante post bets. The focus will be on building up my Cheltenham Festival betting portfolio but it will also be the place to get other ante post selections for upcoming big races.
There was a time when the edge seemed to have been take away from ante Post betting. However, in the last couple of seasons I think the wheel has turned full circle back in favour of this type of bet.
This long view betting of course comes with bigger risks than day to day betting, i.e., your selection may not run and you lose your stake. But the risks are mitigated by the potentially higher returns if the bets are successful.
Last season I shared my Cheltenham ante post portfolio with subscribers and to advised prices it made 56.60pts profit. In old money that’s £565 to £10 stakes and paid for four months subscription with tidy profit on top.
N.B. All the bets will be 2pts win or 1pt each way.
If last year is any guide It’s going to be an exciting ride so, let’s get started.
Cheltenham Festival Ante Post Selections:
I have had three Cheltenham Festival ante post bets. Interestingly the first two selections are in races that I wouldn’t probably have a bet in come the day.
Mares Novices Hurdle
Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon has a serious Cheltenham contender in Skyace. The 5-year-old picked up for just £600 from Willie Mullins has really improved on her last two starts. She caused a 66/1 shock when winning a Grade 3 Mares Hurdle at Down Royal two starts back and showed that success was no fluke when winning a 2m 4f Listed Hurdle in the fog at Punchestown on Sunday.
Now 4-8 over hurdles. If she still trained by Willie Mullins, she wouldn’t be a 25/1 shot for the Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival she would be single figure odds. Make no mistake this is a very good mare who won’t be disgraced if she takes her place in the race. Given her cost the daughter of Westerner is a fairy-tale in waiting.
1pt each way – Skyace – 25/1 @ William Hill & Sky Bet
Triumph Hurdle
An Aga Khan bred 3-year-old. The son of Nathanial won at the fourth time of asking on the flat in July when trained by Michael Halford. Now with Gordon Elliott the gelding made a winning hurdle debut at Ballinrobe. He had clearly learned from that experience when impressively winning a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse last month. There were just five runners in the race but it looked a strong renewal.
Previous race winners include Champion Hurdle winner Espoir D’allen who won the race in 2017 and 2012 Triumph Hurdle winner Our Conor. It’s the best performance we have seen so far by a juvenile. He got a RPR of 145 for his Fairyhouse win which is 3lb more than Goshen had achieved at the same point in his career. Of course, we may not have seen next year’s Triumph Hurdle winner yet but it will take a good one to beat Zanahiyr. Not much a of a price but even at around 4/1 he looks a bet.
2pts win – Zanahiyr – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
Ballymore Novices Hurdle
Star Gate a winner of an Irish point cost the Rucker’s £140,000 when bought out of the Cheltenham February Sales. Sent into training with Evan Williams he made an impressive winning hurdles debut at Chepstow in October (in a good time). Pitched into the 2m 4f Grade 2 at Sandown’s Tingle Creek Meeting. Due to heavy ground, he faced just two rivals. They went no gallop and the race turned into a bit of a sprint over the last two hurdles. The 5/4 favourite had to much for speed for his rivals and ran out an easy 8 ½ length winner.
Granted both his wins have come on soft & heavy ground so we must take on trust how good he will be on a sounder surface but make no mistake he’s a smart recruit to hurdling and would be shorter in the betting for the Ballymore if trained by Paul Nicholls or Nicky Henderson.
1pt each way – Star Gate – 20/1 @ William Hill & Paddy Power
Next week, I will have one for the Aintree Grand National and maybe one for the Welsh Grand National.
Cheers
John