Andy Holding's Ante-Post Tips for Cheltenham 2024 | Novice Hurdle Tips

Heading into one of the most informative periods of the National Hunt season, the landscape for the big novice events at the Cheltenham Festival will become a good deal clearer after Christmas and into the new year, so now is not a bad time to look at some of the ante post markets to see where the value lies.

Cheltenham Ante-Post Tips 2024

The two-mile novice division has yet to really take off yet, backed up with the fact we have still to see current market leaders A Dream To Share and Mirazur West set foot on a racecourse this season.

Even if the former does show a proficiency for hurdles, he must break the trend of desperate results for previous Champion Bumper winners in the curtain raiser at the festival and at this stage, he makes little to no appeal at his current price.

The same can be said about the latter as the form and time figure of his only start to date at Naas just don’t stack up. Only those who jump aboard the hype wagon would consider him at 8/1.

As far as Jeriko Du Reponet is concerned, at least we have seen evidence of the potential he harbours but as for the form of his Newbury win, it’s not worth the paper its written on.

Firstly, the time figure and final circuit sectionals were poor (slowest on the card), and the proximity of 108-rated King William Rufus also casts a large shadow over the strength of the form. As low as 5/1 with some firms, you’d have to be a total madman to be thinking of taking such an absurd price at this stage.

Staying with Nicky Henderson and his stable mate Willmount looks a far more appealing prospect of the pair at this stage and it’s worth pointing out he beat King William Rufus by 36 lengths over the same C&D at the Berkshire venue and in a much faster time figure.

Withdrawn from his latest engagement at Sandown due to unsuitable ground (heavy), he rates the best of the home contingent at this point of the season.

Farren Glory rates the pick of the Irish so far based on his Grade 1 success in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse recently. That said, this year’s renewal didn’t look the strongest on paper beforehand and the fact he is still available to back at 33/1 (80/1 on exchange land) for the Supreme probably tells its own story. He could be in line for a step up in trip which would go a long way to explain his seemingly tall odds.

Of those yet to race at Graded level over hurdles, Firefox comes across as the most promising and his victory over the highly regarded Ballyburn at Fairyhouse recently was achieved with a decent amount of swagger. Even though there is the potential for him to stretch out in trip, he has enough boot for two miles at present, and he might be allowed to stay in this division until proven otherwise.

The runner-up from the Co Meath clash might have to go up half a mile to be seen to full effect but until that possibility becomes reality, a circumspect view on him in the best option.

Daddy Long Legs created a favourable impression when never breaking sweat on his Irish debut and using third-placed Irish Panther (previously chased home Farren Glory at Gowran) as a guide, it was a decent starting point for Willie Mullins’ inmate. Sure to be upped in grade next time, we will find out more about him in due course.

It’s For Me Is another name to join the conversation following his opening success at Punchestown and with the runner-up, Caldwell Potter, doing the form no harm subsequently, bigger and better things can be expected of him further down the line. A keen going sort, it’s worth noting the hood was in operation for the first time at the Co Kildare venue and if there is going to be one thing that will hold him back at the highest level, it’s his inability to settle.

As for Caldwell Potter, his victory at Navan the other day was backed up by a very smart time figure and even though connections tried to keep expectation levels low in the post-race chat, time may tell they might have to pitch him into Grade 1 company sooner than desired.

Many names mentioned in the two-mile category, also appear towards the top of the pile in the betting for the Ballymore (2m4f), so much so, you must go down to Slade Steel before you find the first bona fide contender proven over the trip.

Having landed a useful maiden hurdle in a fast time on his hurdling debut, Henry de Bromhead’s gelding was pitched into a Grade 2 at Navan on just his second start and having travelled well throughout, he got the job done with a bit up his sleeve.

Not short of a gear and seemingly just as good over the intermediate trip, the son of Telescope has the potential to follow in the footsteps of stable mate Bob Olinger, who took the Grade 1 opener on day two of the festival two years ago. Quotes of 16/1, therefore, look more than fair for him at this stage.

No doubt the pecking order for each event will work itself out during the next few months or so and with Willie Mullins seemingly having an embarrassment of riches to choose from, he, more than most, will have a job working out who goes where.

Take Ile Atlantique for example. Campaigned in bumpers at the highest level, his profile suggested he could elevate his game even further once upped in trip yet on the evidence of his opening gambit over hurdles, he showed a decent amount of all-round pace over two miles. Whether he can maintain the sort of pace he showed at Gowran over an extra half a mile only time will tell but he remains one of the most intriguing horses in this division all the same.

On the same card Ile Atlantique was strutting his stuff, Beckett Rock was making his racecourse debut and if anything, he was the more impressive of the pair. Travelling well throughout a well-run affair, de Bromhead’s inmate exhibited a smart turn of foot to pull clear of his rivals and it’s worth pointing out his time figure was easily the best of the races on the hurdles course.

Clearly a horse with a big engine on the evidence of his initial display, the son of Kayf Tara will surely be asked to take on graded company sooner rather than later and he is one UK punters need to keep on side.

Another ‘dark’ one for this category could turn out to be Gidleigh Park, who ran out a hugely impressive winner on his hurdling debut at Exeter. An easy winner of a Chepstow bumper on his only start last term, Harry Fry’s inmate was a warm order to make an immediate impact in his new vocation and the way he powered his way to the line following a strongly run affair suggests he has a very bright future.

With the runner-up going on to boost the form next time, his performance looks a believable one and if there is to be one from this side of the Irish Sea to make the grade over 2m4f, this son of Walk In The Park might well be it.

History dictates we have likely seen the Triumph Hurdle winner already and while the likes of Salvator Mundi and Sir Gino might have something to say about that, there are several who have put down reasonable markers to suggest they are worth backing at their current odds.

Mighty Bandit is one for the shortlist even at this early stage as Gordon Elliott’s inmate couldn’t have been any more impressive at Punchestown on his hurdling debut. Despite having never raced before, he showed a tremendous turn of foot to pull right away from his opposition after the last and with any amount of improvement to come, he could develop into a top-class juvenile.

Not only was his time figure more than respectable (compared favourably with State Man over same C&D), the third home went a long way to enhance the form next time and hailing from a yard who has landed the Triumph twice in the recent times (Quilixios would have made in three but changed yards) it’s highly likely his current odds of 10/1 will continue to contract once everyone cottons on to how good he is.

The race won by Lossiemouth last year produced a rousing finish this season and the numbers achieved by Nurburgring in landing a competitive Grade 3 at Fairyhouse put him at the top of pile of the juvenile division at this stage.

Having lowered the colours of the useful mare Wodhooh at Listowel previously, it was somewhat of a surprise to see him sent off 17/2 at the Co Meath venue but despite his market unease, he proved equal to the task, staying on strongest of all to claim the prize close home.

A strong stayer at the trip based on the figures he posted compared to the likes of Farren Glory and Teahupoo, his current top price of 25/1 seems remarkably insulting and with the strong possibility he will come over this side of the Irish Sea before March, a positive outcome in one of the main trials will see his odds shorten accordingly.

Andy Holding's Cheltenham Tips

• Mighty Bandit – 1-point win @ 10/1 Triumph Hurdle
• Nurburgring – 1-point win @ 25/1 Triumph Hurdle