Last Updated: 19:45, 21/02/22

Previous Weeks

 

Albert Bartlett second favourite not certain to run at the Festival

19:45 Monday

Henry Daly on Hillcrest: "If he's not ready for Cheltenham, he won't go there."

Over the weekend, Hillcrest's Albert Bartlett price was halved after he galloped his rivals into submission in the Grade 2 Prestige Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock.

Which way is Henry de Bromhead "leaning" for Envoi Allen?

19:26 Monday

Envoi Allen is best price 20/1 for the Champion Chase, with Shishkin the clear race favourite at 4/5.

Architect Tips: Can Porticello challenge Triumph Hurdle favourites?

11:39 Monday

"Over at Haydock Park, the leading British-trained Triumph Hurdle hopeful Porticello strengthened his claims (best price 12/1) for Friday’s feature at the Cheltenham Festival when making light work of his rivals in the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle.

"Ridden by Jamie Moore’s brother Josh for the first time, he was sent off 3/10 favourite and justified favouritism with an easy 17-length success, never looking in trouble at any stage once taking the lead at the halfway stage and jumping boldly throughout."

Click here for more weekend reaction.

Architect Tips: Weekend Preview Revisited

08:54 Monday

Fakir D’oudairies, Hillcrest and Porticello were indeed worth watching over the weeekend, as predicted by Architect Tips in his weekend preview.

Fakir D’oudairies has come in from 20/1 to a best price 12/1 for the Ryanair after winning the Betfair Ascot Chase, while Hillcrest (now 14/1 for the Ballymore was a comfortable winner at Haydock and Porticello has been clipped from 16/1 to 12/1 for the Triumph Hurdle after short price success in the William Hill Super Odds Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at the same venue. 

Nicholls realistic over Cheltenham Festival hopes

08:32 Monday

Bravemansgame (best price 3/1 in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase) leads the charge for Paul Nicholls, but the trainer has admitted that it will be tough taking on the Irish horses again this year. The final Prestbury Cup standings from 2021 revealed a landslide 23-5 win for Ireland.

As part of the Racing Post's Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour, Nicholls said: "Too much is made of what happened last year – and it's going to be tough taking on the Irish horses again this year – but you can only run the team you've got, run them in the best races you can and have them as well as you can," he said. "We have some nice horses to run and I've always said it's nice to get one Cheltenham winner and anything on top of that is a bonus. 

"As you learn and get more experience you don't want to be going there with social runners, you want to be going there with chances and you have to be realistic. If the horses are good enough to go there then you sift those out and target them at it, and the others you want to find places elsewhere where they are going to win. It's as simple as that."

Handicap scene set to become clearer tomorrow

08:14 Monday

 

Jamie Codd bullish about American Mike's Champion Bumper chances

16:20 Friday

It's been confirmed that Jamie Codd will keep his ride on American Mike at Cheltenham next month. The Gordon Elliott trained five-year-old is currently a best price of 3/1 to win the Champion Bumper behind Facile Vega who is the favourite at evens.

Despite the odds, Codd likes his chances having won this race reviously in 2019 on Envoi Allen and in 2017 on Fayonagh.

Speaking to the Racing Post he said: "He's [American Mike] certainly not going to follow Facile vega around."

Willie Mullins' horses have been in exceptional form this season and Facile Vega has been one particularly eye catching performer. The five-year-old won the Goffs Future Stars at Leopardstown in impressive style and the 2022 Champion Bumper is shaping up to be a competitive renewal.

Walking On Air takes "unconventional route" to the Ballymore

15:40 Friday

Walking on Air, entered to run in tomorrow's Novice Hurdle at Ascot earlier this week, will now 'probably' go straight to the Ballymore (best price 9/1) at the Cheltenham Festival, said trainer Nicky Henderson. The five-year-old has had just one run over hurdles - a win at Newbury last month.

Henderson said: “I must admit it is a rather unconventional route, but Nico (de Boinville) agrees and it seems the most sensible thing to do.”

Can El Fabiolo challenge the 'big four' in the Supreme?

08:46 Friday

Grand National stepping stone for Secret Reprieve

14:57 Thursday

Last year's Grand National Trial winner Lord Du Mesnil and three-time Betfair Chase hero Bristol De Mai head the weights for this year’s renewal (14.40pm), but Evan Williams’ Secret Reprieve is the current 11/4 favourite for the extended 3m4f Grade Three feature.

However, he looked a bit laboured when fourth in his bid to become a back-to-back winner of the Welsh National last time and needs to get back on track.

Architect Tips said: "He’ll need to go very well here if he’s to cement himself as a leading fancy for the Grand National, where his trainer has a phenomenal place strike-rate in the main event."

Three Stripe Life drifts for the Supreme and looks more likely for the Ballymore 

Thursday 12:57

The Gordon Elliott-trained Three Stripe Life looks likely to be targeting the Ballymore rather than the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

The six-year-old is entered for both the events but has drifted in the Supreme to 22/1. He is said to be targeting the Ballymore, for which he can be found at a best price of 16/1 (as short as 8/1 in places). 

Architect Tips: Fakir D’oudairies to test Ryanair claims at Ascot

12:41 Thursday

"Fakir D’oudairies will be looking to book his return ticket to the Cheltenham Festival this weekend with a big performance in Ascot’s main event. 

"Last year's Ryanair Chase runner-up has seen the backend of Allaho twice this term since winning the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase on his reappearance but, without that rival in his way this weekend, trainer Joseph O’Brien will be hoping his star performer can land another big prize on British soil having won a Grade 1 at Aintree last year."

Fakir D’oudairies is still a best price 3/1 for the weekend’s highlight, but if he can pass the test with flying colours his price tag for the Ryanair (best price 20/1) could shorten. If you fancy him for Cheltenham, now is probably the best time to back him.

Boom or Bust - A closer look at the Festival favourites

12:08 Thursday

With less than four weeks to go until the Cheltenham Festival 2022, we look at how the favourites are shaping up for the biggest races of the week.

Most of the key form in the bag, so it’s a good time to assess the merits of the favourites in the biggest races of the week, firstly so we know who to include in our doubles, trebles and Lucky 15’s, but - just as importantly – so we know who best to avoid at short prices!

From Constitution Hill to Honeysuckle and A Plus Tard, which of the biggest Festival favourites will boom, and which will bust? Click here to find out!

Kim Muir second favourite shapes up for Grand National tilt

12:21 Wednesday

Andy Holding has written this article on why Longhouse Poet came out best from Death Duty’s Grand National Trial win at Punchestown last weekend.

Longhouse Poet won the Thyestes Handicap Chase on January 27th ahead of Franco De Port, with Mister Fogpatches third and Ontheropes (14/1 best price for the National Hunt at Cheltenham) in fifth. Coko Beach came sixth in the race, with Death Duty only seventh.

Andy Holding said: “There are several that are firmly on my shortlist for the Grand National, but out of the Thyestes pick of the pile would be Longhouse Poet."

Longhouse Poet is currently a best price 8/1 second favourite in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup on day three at the Cheltenham Festival.

“They’ll have to be good horses to beat him”

16:48 Tuesday

In-form jockey Charlie Deutsch joined Rishi Persad and Sam Turner on Racing Weekly to discuss another win for Funambule Sivola and his chances in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

Deutsch said: "I don't mind which race he goes for (at the Festival); it's up to Venetia (Williams), but it sounded like she was talking about the Champion Chase. They'll have to be good horses to beat him.”

Two of the Gold Cup favourites head Grand National weights

15:28 Tuesday

Gordon Elliott duo Galvin and Conflated, two of the leading contenders for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, have been handed joint top weight (11st 10lb) for the Grand National.

Last year's winner Minella Times, meanwhile, must defy a 15lb higher mark (now off 11st 4lb, official rating 161) for the big race at Aintree on Saturday 9th April.

Gordon Elliott enters The Tide Turns for Gowran Park to try and qualify for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 

Tuesday 13:44

One of the main takeaways from the Gowran Park entry list is the desire of trainer Gordon Elliott to get The Tide Turns qualified for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdles.

The Tide Turns claimed an impressive victory at Punchestown in his maiden hurdle debut in January but finished fourth in Leopardstown a couple of weeks ago. The four-year-old can currently be found at a best price of 12/1 for the Boodles Hurdle but this is almost certainly its last chance to qualify on Saturday.

Saturday's entry lists for Red Mills Day at Gowran Park

Tuesday 13:41 

Find entries via the tweet below for Saturday's at Gowran Park:

Short price Silver Forever not entered for Mares' Chase

13:22 Tuesday

Silver Forever, a 7/2 shot with some bookmakers for the Mares' Chase just this morning, does not feature in the 15 entries for the race at the Cheltenham Festival. Concertista is the 11/4 favourite.

Fil Dor scratched from the Supreme

13:11 Tuesday

Fil Dor has been scratched from the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but stablemate Pied Piper (best price 20/1) remains in contention.

Both horses remain entered in the Triumph Hurdle; Pied Piper is 9/4 joint favourite (with Vauban), while Fil Dor comes next in the market at 7/1.

Aintree the "stand out" option for Elle Est Belle connections

Tuesday 11:16

Jockey Harry Skelton has commented on how impressed he's been with Elle Est Belle and believes that Aintree could be a better fit. Therefore, he may swerve the Mares' Novices Hurdle where the six-year-old is currently a best price of 8/1 and third favourite behind Brandy Love and Allegorie de Vassy.

When speaking to Grosvenor, Skelton said, "We have a couple of options now going into the spring, but at the moment the option of running over 2m4f at Aintree stands out for us."

Eldorado Allen favouring the Ryanair Chase over the Gold Cup

Tuesday 11:07

Colin Tizzard is said to be favouring Eldorado Allen for the Ryanair Chase instead of the Gold Cup at Cheltenham. 

The eight-year-old put in an impressive win at Newbury on Saturday beating the likes of Royale Pagille and Clan Des Obeaux. Eldorado Allen is currently a best price of 16/1 for the Ryanair Chase and can be found at 25/1 for the Gold Cup. 

Third Time Lucki will likely head to Aintree

10:47 Tuesday

Following defeat in the Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick on Saturday Harry Skelton has indicated that the seven-year-old is likely to swerve Cheltenham in favour of Aintree.

When speaking to Grosvenor, Skelton remarked, "We’ll more than likely head straight to Aintree now."

Skelton praised the winner on Saturday, Edwardstone, who has since been cut to a best price of 2/1 for the Arkle.

Third Time Lucki's price for the Arkle has drifted significantly since Skelton's remarks, out now to a best price of 20/1.

Gerri Colombe scratched from the Albert Bartlett

10:41 Tuesday

The Gordon Elliot trained six-year-old has been scratched from the Albert Bartlett having previously been a 6/1 shot for the race in NRNB markets.

The current favourite for that race is Minella Crooner who has been clipped into a best price of 4/1 overnight.

Gerri Colombe had taken 9% of bets for the Albert Bartlett through oddschecker.

Missing Andy Holding already?

10:00 Tuesday

Well fear not, as our racing expert found time to answer some questions on Twitter before his pre-Cheltenham break, including NAPs for the Festival which starts one month today.

Just a reminder that he will be back with his daily column on Thursday 24th February. In the meantime, dive into his latest Cheltenham predictions for next month’s Festival.

NAPs for the Festival? Can Appreciate It challenge Honeysuckle? Galopin Des Champs vs Bob Olinger – who wins? Click here for all this and more.

Prengarde drifts to 11/2 for Cross Country Chase after Bolger comments

14:26 Monday

Prengarde is now a best price 11/2 on bet365 for the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival having been 4/1 with the same bookmaker earlier today.

It follows comments from trainer Enda Bolger for Irish Racing that he was "scouring the fixture list to get a run into Prengarde" before the Festival.

Tiger Roll has assumed favouritism for the race...

Ballymore Market Mover Alert: Walking On Air entered for Ascot

13:12 Monday

Enda Bolger weighs up a shot at the Glenfarclas Chase for Prengarde

10:55 Monday

Enda Bolger has revealed that he is looking to find a suitable prep run for French horse, Prengarde, whom he recently acquired from JP McManus.

The six-year-old has shown his class in France winning a number of cross-country races before joining Bolger's stable.

He's the current favourite for the Cross Country Chase at a best price of 5/1 despite being as short as 3/1 elsewhere.

The much-loved Tiger Roll is alongside him at the top of the market at a best price of 5/1 and is the most backed selection through oddschecker having taken 43.9% of bets.

Andy Holding: Edwardstone heads UK hopes for the Arkle

09:52 Monday

"Without doubt the best performance of the weekend was produced by Edwardstone in the Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick. Once again impressing with the way he jumped and travelled throughout, Alan King's gelding also recorded a very fast time to boot, and he now looks the main UK challenger to the Irish contingent in the Arkle (best price 2/1) in a month's time." 

For more from Holding on whether Bravemansgame can take the challenge to Galopin Des Champs in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, click here.