Cheltenham ante-post betting picks: Weekend evaluate – February 12-13
A round-up of the newest Cheltenham Festival ante-post odds after some standout weekend performances at Newbury, Warwick and Punchestown
There are simply 4 weeks left till the Cheltenham Festival in mid-March. On Saturday and Sunday there was one other cracking weekend of motion, with the main dishes coming in England after the Dublin Racing Festival took centre stage the earlier weekend.
The leading novice chasers on British soil will fancy their hopes of Cheltenham Festival glory despite the looming presence of Irish raiders.
Cheltenham ante-post betting picks
Odds appropriate at time of publishing and may be topic to vary.
Already used the ? Take a have a glance at more great bookmaker provides and the most effective.
Brave show a lift for Nicholls
After an actual lull in latest weeks – extreme enough for him to not have any runners at all final week before Saturday – it may need been with some trepidation that Paul Nicholls headed for Newbury on Saturday to unleash a few of his largest names.
While the afternoon didn’t bring every little thing the champion trainer might have hoped for, it did get off to a fantastic begin as BRAVEMANSGAME made it 4 wins from 4 starts over fences.
The seven-year-old will head to subsequent month’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase unbeaten and along with his place as Britain’s main novice chaser secure.
The looming spectre of a clash with the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs is a serious problem however Saturday was one other pointer to recommend this horse can pass the final word test.
Floored by Bob Olinger and Gaillard Du Mesnil in the Ballymore last March, Bravemansgame merely seems a greater chaser than he was a hurdler – and he was a Grade 1 winner in that sphere.
Nicholls in contrast him with Denman following his Challow Novices’ Hurdle win at Newbury in December 2020 and it was becoming that Saturday’s weight-carrying performance got here on the identical course that was the scene of two famous Hennessy Gold Cup wins under huge weights for ‘The Tank’.
Having gained the Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day – form since franked by runner-up Ahoy Senor and the third Kiltealy Briggs – Bravemansgame took on a Novice’’ Limited Handicap Chase on Saturday and conceded greater than a stone in weight to 3 rivals.
When he hit a fence within the residence straight – the one semblance of an error we’ve seen in his four begins – he was briefly headed by 143-rated Pats Fancy but Harry Cobden’s mount was quickly again within the lead and ran out a commanding winner after two glorious leaps late on.
Cobden spoke on Sunday of how he believes Bravemansgame shall be a better horse monitoring a lead in Cheltenham and he can present he isn’t just the best in Britain, however the best within the enterprise, by winning the Brown Advisory next month.
Selection: Bravemansgame to win the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase @
Don’t write off Lucki within the Arkle
Edwardstone was dominant in winning the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick on Saturday for Alan King and Tom Cannon, coming residence with greater than three lengths in hand over THIRD TIME LUCKI, however it was a a lot closer scrap than when they met within the Henry VIII at Sandown in December.
The winner is now 2/1 clear favourite for the Arkle, a uncommon British-trained jolly in a Festival Grade 1, and he deserves that status on his physique of work this season so far.
Dan Skelton’s Third Time Lucki has been pushed out to 20/1 for the two-miler on the opening day and perhaps that’s too dismissive.
The four-runner Warwick contest on Saturday wouldn’t have been perfect for Harry Skelton’s mount and the speculation has been around for some while that he may peak in the Arkle itself.
The Festival race is certain to be run at a fast pace and that may swimsuit Third Time Lucki right down to the ground. There are holes to be picked in Irish challengers similar to Blue Lord and Riviere D’etel at this point and the layers are maybe writing Third Time Lucki off in too much haste following Warwick.
Selection: Third Time Lucki each-way Arkle Novices’ Chase @
Bumper prize on playing cards for James
After JAMES’S GATE enjoyed a straightforward eight-length winning debut at Punchestown on Sunday, coach Willie Mullins confirmed that the spectacular five-year-old is one of three runners he intends to send to the Champion Bumper subsequent month, alongside Redemption Day and ante-post favourite Facile Vega. The list might grow additional, of course.
The last-named was ultra-impressive on the Dublin Racing Festival two weekends in the past, profitable the same race that Appreciate It and Kilcruit bagged in the earlier two seasons.
That pair both subsequently started favourites for the Champion Bumper but both finished second, overwhelmed by fellow Mullins-trained stablemates Ferny Hollow and Sir Gerhard respectively.
Mullins has gained eleven renewals of the race, including three of the earlier four (with Blue Lord second to Envoi Allen in 2019) but it’s not all the time a certainty that his first-string will prevail.
James’s Gate delivered an impressive first look on Sunday and may improve for it come March sixteen. Even permitting for the dominance of Facile Vega within the betting, it’s unlikely James’s Gate will go off a double-figure price on the day.
Selection: James’s Gate to win Champion Bumper @
Looking for more horse racing picks for today’s action?
Slot Betting brings you for every meeting every single day and they include for every race, with every horse’s possibilities given a score out of five.