Hi all,
As promised, here’s another Cheltenham Festival ante-post betting preview. So far, have got Defi Du Seuil (10/1) for the Champion Chase and Global Citizen (20/1) for the Arkle Novices Chase.
Today, I’m adding another two each way selections to the Cheltenham Festival portfolio.
Cheltenham Festival 2020 Ante Post Selections
Wednesday March 11th
Champion Bumper
On Monday December 30th the going at Haydock wasn’t as testing as the official going description and the times suggests it was good to soft, rather than soft.
The final race of the card was the NHF race and produced a taking winner in Ask A Honey Bee. The 6-year-old, trained by Fergal O’Brien, was having first start since winning a Southwell bumper 240-days previously. He ran out an easy winner in a good time. He will make up into a good hurdler but surely connections will keep him to bumpers for now. Give the time he produced; connections will surely have one eye on the Champion Bumper for the horse.
I have had a nibble at 50/1 for the Festival and that price is still available with Bet365. Ladbrokes were clearly more impressed with the selections performance as they have him at only 16/1. There will be worse 50/1 shots at this years festival.
1pt each way – Ask A Honey Bee – 50/1 @ Bet365
Sunday January 5th saw the latest renewal of the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Novice Hurdle at Naas.
It’s a race where the form normally can be relied on although the last ten winners who raced in a Grade 1 on their next start all lost. Which might concern supporters of the winner of this years race.
On the other hand, if you had backed the first three home on their next start you would have made a profit of £9.86 to a £1 stake and seven went to win on their next start in Grade 1 & Grade 2 company.
This year’s race was won by exciting novice and unbeaten Envoi Allen. The 6-year-old’s win divided opinion. Some pundits were not impressed whilst others, me included, feel he only seems to do what’s required to win his race.
I also think the first three home are all top class. The runner-up Elixir D’Ainay is also top class, beaten 3 ½ lengths, he gave the winner a real race and was only seen off at the last. I wouldn’t be surprised if connections try to avoid Envoi Allen and drop the horse in distance and head for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Festival.
Seven lengths, behind the winner, in third was Longhouse Poet. The 6-year-old was done for a bit of pace when Elixir D’Ainay & Envoi Allen went for home coming to three out. However, he stayed on well all the way to the line. A step up to 3m looks the way to go with the son of Yeats. A winner of a point over 3m he’s also closely related to two winners at around 3m. He looks an ideal type for the Albert Bartlett.
Verdict: I think this year’s Lawlor’s Hurdle was a strong race and the best novice hurdle we have seen so far this season in Britain & Ireland. Envoi Allen will take some beating in the Ballymore Hurdle at Cheltenham. For which he is a short-priced favourite. I want to be with Elixir D’Ainay going forward but it’s hard to say which race Willie Mullins will go for with this lad. That leaves the third Longhouse Poet who looks and ideal contender for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle for trainer Martin Brassil who trained last years Ballymore winner.
Friday March 13th
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
1pt each way – Longhouse Poet – 25/1 @ Bet365 & William Hill
There will be more additions to the portfolio over the coming weeks.
Cheers
John