The three most backed horses for Tuesday at Cheltenham post final declarations combine for a best price 17/2 treble through oddschecker.
Facile Vega – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
The son of wonder mare Quevega followed in his mother’s footsteps when landing the Champion Bumper 12 months ago and will attempt to double his Cheltenham tally in the Festival curtain raiser.
The exciting six-year-old has been favourite for this contest ever since the ante-post markets were produced, rubberstamping his position by dispatching stablemates Il Etait Temps and Ashroe Diamond at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Il Etait Temps reversed that form at the Dublin Racing Festival last month as Facile Vega could only finish fifth, although he was found to be lame following the race, which perhaps explains a performance that was too bad to be true given what we’d seen before.
It is the only blemish on an otherwise impressive CV, which may include a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle win by tomorrow afternoon. More than 25% of the bets on the Supreme since final declarations were made on Sunday have gone the way of Facile Vega.
Constitution Hill – Champion Hurdle
Constitution Hill set a course record when making light work of his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle rivals 12 months ago and he has looked near unbeatable in two outings this term, when landing the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle and Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle respectively.
The unbeaten (under rules) six-year-old already boasts a rating of 173 which is traditionally a rating that would be reserved for a horse post Champion Hurdle success, such has been the impressive nature of his victories.
Barring accidents, it’s hard to see any horse matching his high cruising speed and decisive turn of foot, which saw him pull 22 lengths clear of stablemate and leading Arkle contender Jonbon at this meeting last year. Willie Mullins’ State Man is the likeliest contender.
No trainer boasts more Champion Hurdle victories than Nicky Henderson (eight) and all ground comes alike to his exciting charge. Almost 63% of punters betting on the win market for the Champion Hurdle since Sunday have backed Constitution Hill.
Gaillard Du Mesnil – National Hunt Chase
The experienced seven-year-old finished third in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 12 months ago and has continued to run well in good company since.
He placed third in the Irish Grand National last spring before reverting to novice company in the autumn, chasing home Turners favourite Mighty Potter in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase before going one better in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
Second season chasers have a fine record in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival so it’s easy to see why connections have chosen this route.
It’s also easy to spot the support from the oddschecker community – Gaillard Du Mesnil features in more than half (52%) of betslips for the National Hunt Chase.
