UK Horse Racing Tips: Cheltenham

Willie Mullins saddled the winner of this contest 12 months ago and appears to have a cracking chance this time around, firing four bullets at the race. The form of Champ Kiely's Lawlor's Of Naas success took a timely boost when the runner-up, Irish Point, struck at Naas on Sunday and he is in danger of going under the radar, while Gaelic Warrior impressed in handicap company at the Dublin Racing Festival and should go well, although his tendency to jump right is an obvious concern. The vote, however, goes to unbeaten gelding IMPAIRE ET PASSE. This French import made a big impression when scoring on his Irish debut at Naas in December and took a step forward when readily winning the Moscow Flyer at Punchestown a month later. Mullins often runs a Supreme Novice hope in that contest, but the selection was very strong at the line that day and today's extra yardage looks a positive. There has been plenty of positive talk surrounding him in the build-up to this year's Festival and he looks like the one they all have to beat. Of the home challenge, Hermes Allen has done nothing wrong in three hurdle appearances and shouldn't be underestimated. He brings winning C&D form to the table and is versatile in terms of ground. Good Land comfortably won a Grade 1 contest at Leopardstown last month and is by no means out of this either.
Prediction : 1st Impaire Et Passe 2nd Champ Kiely 3rd Hermes Allen

Trends can play a key part in selecting the winner of the Brown Advisory and, given the past 21 winners had all contested a Graded novice chase, Bronn and Sir Gerhard can be eliminated from the list having failed to tick this stat. 23 of the past 27 winners also only spent one season hurdling, meaning both Thyme Hill and The Real Whacker come off the shortlist. Given 15 of the last 16 winners of this contest have finished first or second in a Grade 1 or 2 novice chase, the only two to meet this trend are Galia Des Liteaux and GERRI COLOMBE, with preference going to Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old. Unbeaten in all three chasing starts, including twice in Grade 1 company, he certainly fits the profile for this contest and rates the one to beat having seen off the reopposing Thunder Rock into third on his most recent outing. Although Elliott hasn't enjoyed much luck in this event, especially with Farouk d'Alene coming to grief two from home last year, it would be surprising to see his gelded son of Saddler Maker out of the picture and he is taken to extend his unbeaten record here. Galia Des Liteaux is probably feared most having bolted up in the Hampton Novices' Chase at Warwick last time out, while Adamantly Chosen adds further spice to the mix.
Prediction : 1st Gerri Colombe 2nd Galia Des Liteaux 3rd Adamantly Chosen

There have been some good weight-carrying performances in recent renewals of this race, which bodes well for RUN FOR OSCAR, who is in the right bracket as he bids to give his trainer, Charles Byrnes, a first winner in this race. Having romped home in last year's Cesarewitch, the gelding has high-class form under both codes of racing and, considering he was third in the Grade 3 Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on his penultimate start, he offers strong appeal at this level over a more suitable trip. His chance is enhanced with Philip Byrnes taking 5lb off with his claim. The unexposed Hms Seahorse also has a viable chance having proven his stamina with a win over 2m4f at Navan in January and he is also high on the shortlist. Benson has the chance of picking up a 100,000-pound bonus after winning a quality handicap at Kelso 11 days ago. He's got a 5lb penalty to shoulder but is a consistent enough performer to suggest he's capable of going close. Camprond was fourth in this race last year and is dangerous to ignore from a 2lb lower mark, while Beacon Edge, who was fourth in the 2021 Stayers' Hurdle, is another with the class to figure prominently. Fil Dor looks the pick of Gordon Elliot's five acceptors, while Captain Conby is yet another with scope for improvement and could be good value to at least make the frame.
Prediction : 1st Run For Oscar 2nd Hms Seahorse 3rd Benson

Arguably the most exciting race of the Cheltenham Festival, this year's renewal promises much with the first three in the betting reopposing from their clash in the rearranged Clarence House here in January. Editeur Du Gite belied his odds when coming out on top on that occasion, having pretty much made all, but the one to take out of it was surely EDWARDSTONE (second), who made up plenty of ground in a short space of time to challenge after the last before being narrowly denied close home. Dropping half a furlong in trip should be right up his street on this occasion and he is taken to gain revenge on the winner. Last year's Arkle hero took his form to a new level when dominating in the Tingle Creek and he should be cherry-ripe for this assignment as he looks to overcome last year's impressive winner Energumene. Willie Mullins' charge may have had excuses for his lacklustre effort in the Clarence House but the way he finished that race was worrying, despite having an excellent record over fences overall. At bigger prices, Nube Negra (second) and Greaneteen (fourth) ran very well in this two years ago and cannot be ruled out completely.
Prediction : 1st Edwardstone 2nd Energumene 3rd Editeur Du Gite

DELTA WORK looks to make it back-to-back victories in this race, as he held his stablemate Tiger Roll last year in a thrilling finish when gamely winning by just under a length. This season he showed his well-being when not beaten far off top weight over C&D in January and Gordon Elliott's 10-year-old is very much fancied to give his trainer a fifth winner in this contest in seven years. His main danger may come in the shape of stable companion Galvin, who proved his stamina for this trip when winning the Challenge Cup here in 2021, but he is tackling these Cross Country fences for the first time today. An interesting contender that could present some value to hit a place is Francky Du Berlais, who was still well in contention jumping the last over track and trip in January and he is 5lb better off with the winner, Back On The Lash, from that effort.
Prediction : 1st Delta Work 2nd Galvin 3rd Francky Du Berlais

A fiercely-competitive handicap with only 16lb covering the whole field, but the Henry De Bromhead-trained COEUR SUBLIME is having his first run outside Graded company since January last year and looks primed for big run. Although he was a beaten favourite at Naas last month behind Rebel Gold, who got first run on him that day, the nature of this race should suit better and Ben Harvey's 5lb claim looks another positive. The versatile Final Orders has racked up it five wins on the spin, including over 3m at Down Royal in November and most recently winning the Paddy Power Handicap Chase in impressive style at the Dublin Racing Festival over 2m1f. Dinoblue was sent off 11/8 favourite for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle here last year and although she failed to land a blow that day, chasing looks her game and she may be worth another chance today.
Prediction : 1st Coeur Sublime 2nd Final Orders 3rd Dinoblue

Willie Mullins has farmed this race in recent years, winning four of the last five renewals, and It's For Me, who bolted up at Navan on his racecourse bow, would appear to be his best hope this time around. A Dream To Share remains unbeaten having landed a Grade 2 at last month's Dublin Racing Festival and he's likely to be thereabouts, along with Fun Fun Fun, who landed the Grade 2 mares' contest that same weekend. However, a chance is taken on the Oliver Sherwood-trained QUEENS GAMBLE. She hacked up in a Listed event over C&D in November, and was perhaps unfortunate to bump into a promising type when finishing second at Market Rasen on her latest outing. Like the majority of these, she remains open to further improvement and with no doubts as to whether she'll stay on up the hill, she might get back to winning ways. Others to note include Fact To File, Better Days Ahead, and Encanto Bruno.
Prediction : 1st Queens Gamble 2nd Its For Me 3rd A Dream To Share