Cheltenham Festival 2023

Last Updated: 16:35, 18/02/23

Ballyburn slashed for the Champion Bumper

16:35 Sunday

Following the win in the 16:20 at Punchestown, Ballyburn has shortened from 25/1 to as short as 7/1 for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

Another impressive performance for a Willie Mullins trained horse, and Ballyburn can now be found at a best price of 12/1 for the Champion Bumper.

Famous Clermont to miss Cheltenham?

15:40 Sunday

Following Famous Clermont's win yesterday in the 17:00 at Haydock, who is currently best priced at 8/1 for the Hunters Chase at Cheltenham, trainer Chris Barber has said "I think we're probably going to swerve Cheltenham and maybe the plan will be to go for Aintree."

Famous Clermont is currently still a best price of 8/1 in the Hunters Chase in March.

Minor setback for Blazing Khal 

10:09 Sunday

Blazing Khal, the favourite for the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham, has suffered a minor setback, confirms trainer Charles Byrnes. He said "It is not ideal but we've had worse setbacks!"

Blazing Khal has drifted slightly as a result, but can be found at a best price of 11/4 for the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Big movement in the Ryanair Chase after Shishkin's win

15:52 Saturday

Big movement in the Ryanair Chase grids due to Shishkin's win at Ascot. 

Shishkin wins the Ascot Chase and now on to Cheltenham

15:47 Saturday

Shishkin put in a monstrous performance to win the Betfair Ascot Chase. This a statement win for the nine-year-old with this race also including potential Ryanair rivals Pic D'Orhy & Fakir D'Oudairies. Nicky Henderson's Shishkin is now 6/4 favourite for the Ryanair Chase.

Haut En Couleurs fails to make a statement before Ryanair Chase

15:38 Saturday

Janidil was able to beat Haut En Couleurs and because of this victory Willie Mullins' nine-year-old has shortened from 20/1 to 5/1 for the Ryanair Chase. Haut En Couleurs has drifted to 14/1 with one bookie at the time of writing. 

Johnson's Blue wins Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Haydock

15:34 Saturday

Johnson's Blue wins the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Haydock meaning qualification for the Pertemps Network Hurdle in March is secured. The six-year-old was 100/1 to win the Pertemps Network Hurdle he has now shortened to 25/1.

The Changing Man, Mill Green and Hardy Bloke also qualified for Pertemps as well. Hardy Bloke was 33/1 before the race began for the event in Cheltenham he has now shortened to 14/1. 

Sharjah beaten by Fil Dor in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park

14:30 Saturday

Fil Dor fends off Sharjah to win the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park. Fil Dor has now moved from 14/1 to as short as 10/1 for the County Hurdle at Cheltenham. Sharjah has now drifted to as far as 33/1 for the Stayers Hurdle after that defeat today. 

Oscar Elite surprises Bold Endeavour in the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot

14:02 Saturday

Bold Endeavour was 4/9 favourite for the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot but Oscar Elite surprised the seven-year-old with a victory today. Bold Endeavour is expect to run in the Plate Handicap where you can back him at 14/1.

Can Shishkin bounce back?

10:29 Saturday

Today is an important day for Nicky Henderson's Shishkin who will be hoping to boost his Ryanair Chase credentials today with a win at Ascot. The nine-year-old is currently the best price of 2/1 for the Ascot Chase and 4/1 for the Ryanair Chase.

Unbeaten novice still eyeing Albert Bartlett tilt?

16:05 Friday

The seven-year-old is a best price 50/1 for the Albert Bartlett next month (worst price 33/1).

Big Cheltenham stories to watch over the weekend

13:20 Friday

  • The battle for Ryanair Chase supremacy in the Betfair Ascot Chase
  • Bold Endeavour tests Plate Handicap credentials in the Reynoldstown
  • Latest Pertemps Final qualifier at Haydock featuring 33/1 Festival chance
  • County Hurdle implications in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park
  • Haut En Couleurs to win and earn Ryanair supplementary fee?

 

Who will emerge as the Ryanair Chase leader?

11:05 Friday

You Wear It Well cut for Mares' Novices' Hurdle

15:01 Thursday

Hiddenvalley Lake drifts after hard outing at Clonmel

14:34 Thursday

A tough outing for Hiddenvalley Lake, who finishes 2nd after a hard race at Clonmel just over three weeks out from the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. He drifts out to a best price 10/1.

Brandy Love entered in the Quevega Hurdle at Punchestown

14:11 Thursday

The seven-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, is the 9/2 best price (7/2 worst) fourth favourite for the Mares' Hurdle at the Festival next month.

Corbetts Cross yardstick taken from Hiddenvalley Lake run

10:42 Thursday

Hiddenvalleylake gets final Cheltenham prep run at Clonmel

09:21 Thursday

The best price 11/2 (worst price 4/1) favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, Hiddenvalleylake, goes in the Grade 3 novice hurdle at Clonmel later today (2:15).

The six-year-old, trained by Henry de Bromhead, was one of Andy Holding's four ante-post Cheltenham tips published before Christmas.

Holding said at the time: "HIDDENVALLEY LAKE parachuted into my list late alongside the other three. He was so impressive at Cork in a good race and ran a proper graded time. I like the fact that he was just off the bridle turning for home but he found something to win the race. 

"You need a grinder or a horse that stays really well to win the Albert Bartlett and he's proven over 3m on soft ground at graded level. He (de Bromhead) has already said that he'll go to the Clonmel race that he used for Monalee and Minella Indo. He knows how to win the Albert Bartlett."

Gordon Elliott names Cross Country Chase for Galvin

16:48 Wednesday

Bookmakers have responded to news that Galvin will be trained for the Cross Country Chase by cutting odds to a best price of 5/1 for the race.

The nine-year-old can be found as short as 3/1 with bookmakers offering Non-Runner No Bet.

Elliott remarked: "We've been doing some cross country work with him. It's day by day at the moment so we'll see how everything shapes up." 

The current favourite for the race is Delta Work who can be found at a best price of 11/10.

Irish rating changes from Saturday at Naas

11:41 Wednesday

Byker remains the best price 10/1 second favourite for the Boodles at Cheltenham (worst price 8/1) despite finishing 3rd of six at Naas - Sir Allen won the race but shares the 10/1 price.

Ryanair clues in the Red Mills at Gowran?

16:13 Tuesday

Impervious: Close to Festival NAP for Ryan Summerville

14:13 Tuesday

@OnTheHuntPod podcaster Ryan Summerville didn't sit on the fence in the Impervious vs Allegorie De Vassy debate for the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham.

He said: "Impervious is very close to being my NAP of the whole Festival (current best price 7/4). I think the pair of Allegorie de Vassy and Impervious are both potentially as good as Colreevy and could both have a chance against the boys if they wanted to. 

"However, I much prefer Impervious over the Mullins mare. We saw last year how important experience was in this race, Concertista was sent off favourite but made too many jumping errors and found the race too hot against much more experienced mares at that level. 

"Allegorie de Vassy is arguably a better horse, but she’s won two nothing races at 1/2 and 1/8 beating horses who would get lapped at the Festival. 

"Impervious, meanwhile, has had the extra run, but not only that she’s competed at a much higher level. She’s comfortably beaten the 135 rated Cayd Boy, 140 rated Dinoblue and even beat the boys carrying a penalty last time. 

"That run, beating the 145 rated Journey With Me and 142 rated Minella Crooner is head and shoulders to what Allegorie de Vassy has done and she did it giving them weight too.

"Not only was it a good run, but she was educated throughout the race, something Allegorie de Vassy hasn’t experienced yet. She was held up, taught to race behind the bridle in a strong race, she came between horses and then put the race to bed well with a strong finish. 

"Experience and education is something that caught Concertista our last year and I think it will catch Allegorie de Vassy out this year with more proven experience and stamina on the side of Impervious."

Everything you need to know about today's scratchings

12:43 Tuesday

Luccia remains in 42 for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle

12:36 Tuesday

Luccia, the sole mare left in the Supreme after today's scratchings has - as expected - been entered for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, for which she is a hot 7/4 favourite. 

Andy Holding told us: "There’s little doubt that Luccia has the biggest engine based on what we’ve seen so far in this division and providing the errors that have been a feature of her two rounds of jumping so far can be ironed out in the schooling grounds, she is the one they’ve all got to beat."

Click HERE to sign up to oddschecker for free and gain access to our Super Service featuring Andy Holding's weekly 'Clock Watch' column for Cheltenham.

Allegorie De Vassy & Impervious head 17 for Mares' Chase

12:30 Tuesday

The two favourites share a best price of 7/4 for next month's race.

Only three of 12 remain for Mullins in the National Hunt Chase

12:13 Tuesday

Gaillard Du Mesnil is the 7/4 ante-post favourite for the National Hunt Chase, with Ramillies the 11/2 second favourite (5/2 worst price).

Champ Kiely scratched from the Supreme

12:06 Tuesday

Champ Kiely for Willie Mullins, a 10/1 shot at the start of the day, has been scratched for the for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

However, the master trainer still has four major players at his disposal for the race. Find out who Andy Holding thinks is the safest ante-post play.

Handicap amends ahead of Cheltenham

10:30 Tuesday

Zanza is a best price 10/1 for the Plate Handicap Chase, Aucunrisque 12/1 for the Grand Annual and Guetapan Collonges 10/1 for the Kim Muir.

Fury Road could be the big beneficiary from Allaho injury

09:12 Tuesday

Steve Ryder (@SteveRyder13) shared his reaction: "The Ryanair market changed greatly on Monday with the news that Allaho will miss the race. Both Fakir D’Oudairies and Shishkin will stake their claim on Saturday in the Ascot Chase but the most solid horse at current prices appears to be Fury Road. 

"The Gordon Elliott trained nine-year-old has been running consistent well for the past year with form figures of 23133. He finished 3rd behind stablemate Conflated in the Savills Chase at Christmas before filling the same position behind Galopin Des Champs last time in the Irish Gold Cup. 

"He may have finished closer to the Gold Cup favourite without a mistake at the last and it is worth remembering that he finished only a neck behind Monkfish in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in 2020. 

"With Conflated heading to the Gold Cup (best price 12/1), he looks sure to represent the sponsors and he should hold strong claims at 6/1."

Mares' Chase & Novices' Hurdle entries this morning...

09:07 Tuesday

Fakir finds himself in the Ryanair spotlight

17:30 Monday

More than 5% of all ante-post racing bets through oddschecker today have gone the way of Fakir D'oudairies, the new favourite for the Ryanair Chase next month now that Allaho has been ruled out with an abdominable bleed.

Is Steal A March a live player for the Pertemps?

14:21 Monday

Steal A March qualified for the Pertemps Network Final with a win at Wincanton on Boxing Day. He is a best price 25/1 (worst 20/1) for the race in March.

Boom or Bust: A closer look at 10 of the favourites

12:31 Monday

Given the star power that will be on show at this year’s Festival, there is a possibility the number of favourites winning will be higher than last year. But not all of them will win (well, most likely anyway), so who will BOOM and who will BUST? Architect Tips takes a look. 

Ryanair favourite heads seven for Betfair Chase at Ascot

12:24 Monday

Fakir D'Oudairies is a best price 3/1 for the Ryanair at Cheltenham.

Abdominable bleed rules Allaho out of Cheltenham

11:21 Monday

Allaho drifting for the Ryanair on the exchanges

10:38 Monday

Luccia takes most Cheltenham bets this weekend

10:07 Monday

Luccia has come in from 11/4 with some bookies into 7/4 for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham having won at Exeter under Nico de Boinville, who landed a trio of winners on the day. 

Blazing Khal defies lay-off in the Boyne Hurdle

09:47 Monday

Having defied a 428-day lay-off to land the feature Grade 2 William Hill Boyne Hurdle at Navan, Blazing Khal is now 2/1 with some bookmakers for the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham (best 3/1).

American Mike disappoints at Navan

09:36 Monday

American Mike recorded a disappointing 4th placed finish despite being backed in for the Novice Hurdle at Navan. Gordon Elliott's charge is now a best price 14/1 for the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham having started the weekend at 10/1. Similarly, the six-year-old has drifted from 14/1 for the Albert Bartlett and can now be backed at 25/1.

Billaway support softens despite Naas win

09:20 Monday

Like Jonbon, Billaway was another Saturday runner to drift for Cheltenham despite winning. The 11-year-old can now be backed at 12/1 for the Hunters having been a general 8/1 going into the weekend. He is, however, as short as 6/1 with several bookmakers.

What might have been for Jonbon opponents

08:55 Monday

Jonbon touched 3/1 in running for the Kingmaker Chase at Warwick despite facing just one other runner. The seven-year-old has since lost favouritism for the Arkle at Cheltenham (15/8 from Evens in some places). El Fabiolo now heads the market at 11/8.

Sir Allen to continue recent Boodles trend?

08:30 Monday

Three of the last four winners of the four-year-old novice hurdle at Naas on Saturday went on to win the Boodles at Cheltenham. So, is Sir Allen ( in from 33/1 to 8/1 with some bookmakers after the weekend) now a live contender for the race? He is still a best price 12/1 through oddschecker.