The second in our Road to Cheltenham series, featuring an ante-post selection for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
Cheltenham 2024
We now have the early entries for the Grade 1 hurdles at Cheltenham 2024 - the Champion Hurdle, Mares' Hurdle and Stayers' Hurdle.
Cheltenham Festival 2024 Entries
The huge ante-post favourite, Constitution Hill, heads 22 entered for the Champion Hurdle at a best price 1/3 on BetMGM (75% implied chance).
Lossiemouth (11/4) is the ante-post market leader among 25 entered in the Mares' Hurdle. Gala Marceau, beaten by Lossiemouth into second in last year's Triumph Hurdle, is 6/1 second favourite.
Meanwhile, there are 36 entered in a wide-open looking Stayers' Hurdle, headed by last year's third Teahupoo and French raider Theleme (9/2 best price on Betfred).
Stayers’ Hurdle Odds
| Stayers' Hurdle Winner | Best Odds | Worst Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Teahupoo | 4/1 | 7/2 |
| Theleme | 9/2 | 7/2 |
| Irish Point | 6/1 | 4/1 |
| Impaire Et Passe | 8/1 | 5/1 |
| Crambo | 9/1 | 6/1 |
This Week's Road to Cheltenham Preview
The first weekend of January is often a vapid weekend of racing, yet this year was particularly dreary. With the Tolworth moved from Sandown, the Sandown meeting subsequently scrapped and the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas also postponed, punters were sat twiddling their thumbs.
Yet next weekend bears sweeter fruits, the likes of which punters will want to get their teeth stuck into as we move forward on the road to the Cheltenham Festival 2024. A reminder you can read Architect Tips’ Cheltenham Gold Cup preview here.
Firstly, we are welcomed to a boosted Friday card, with the rearranged Lawlor’s of Naas due to be run on Friday. Won by festival heroes Bob Olinger and Envoi Allen, notebooks and stopwatches will be at the ready. Saturday hosts four fearsome meetings.
At Kempton, Edwardstone’s potential step up in trip in the Silviniaco Conti at Kempton will shape the Ryanair Chase market whilst the Lanzarote handicap hurdle run 35 minutes later will affect the Martin Pipe one. Both Warwick and Wetherby have a Grade 2 Novice Chase, whereas Warwick also treat us to the Classic Chase before another Pertemps Qualifier.
Across the Irish Sea, Fairyhouse host a card which saw both Blood Destiny and Corbetts Cross winning on it last year, before Punchestown’s Sunday card includes the Moscow Flyer, won by Impaire Et Passe (as well as Min, Douvan and Vautour) as well as a Grade 3 Novice Chase that has been won by Impervious, Bob Olinger and Envoi Allen in the last three years. Buckle in, because it’s going to come thick and fast!
Which Cheltenham Festival entries will we get this week?
Before any of that even begins, Tuesday treats us to Champion Hurdle, Mares’ Hurdle and Stayers’ Hurdle entries. Both Constitution Hill and State Man won Grade 1’s impressively over Christmas and look set to be given entries to the former,
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if Impaire Et Passe, whose bubble has been burst over the minimum trip, is given an entry in the latter stayers’ race.
Dual festival winner Sir Gerhard, having been returned to hurdles, got back to winning ways at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve. It will be interesting if he’s given a Stayers’ Hurdle entry.
We have seen neither Lossiemouth nor Gala Marceau, the top two in the betting for the Mares’ Hurdle, since the spring, but both are expected to be given entries whilst it will be interesting to see what is decided for Marie’s Rock who has been beaten twice this year after a very promising run when stepped up to 3 miles in Aintree’s Liverpool Hurdle in April.
It will be worth noting whether French raider Theleme, who is expected to make the journey across, is given an entry for the Stayers’ as well.
Cheltenham Festival 2024 Tips
The Brown Advisory market seems to be falling apart week by week, and I think it’s time to step in to make a selection. The beyond impressive Il Est Francais was confirmed not to go, Gaelic Warrior might not even run at left handed Cheltenham, let alone back over 3 miles, Corbetts Cross was beaten again whilst Giovinco and Flooring Porter also disappointed. Klassical Dream was also ruled out over Christmas, with both Maximillian and Iroko already side-lined.
Regarding the rest, Apple Away was beaten on debut and the sharper old course wouldn’t suit this thorough stayer either, whilst Fact to File’s form doesn’t stand out after getting beat by American Mike (subsequently beat 25 lengths) before beating chasing debutant Zanahiyr, who jumped sloppily.
If you take out one month of his career, Grangeclare West is unbeaten and he takes his fences well. Yet, I’m unconvinced he deserves to be 7/2 on his form (4/1 on BetMGM UK), and 2023 Albert Bartlett winner STAY AWAY FAY looks a better bet at 5/1. Already beaten twice in six starts, he’s no superstar, but he’s honest, and has never been out the frame.
Although coming off the bridle before Lucinda’s horse, the sectionals over the Pond fences showed he wasn’t short of pace at all. He likes to lead, which is a big positive around the old course, e.g. The Real Whacker, and he should go very close.
Despite being a huge fan of Stay Away Fay, I want to put up AFFORDABLE FURY as the main bet at 33/1. His Dam’s Sire, Choisir, won the Kings Stand on Good to firm ground, while his sire, Affinisea, won his Maiden on good.
It was no surprise, therefore, to see Affordale Fury’s best two runs come in the Spring, finishing 2nd behind Stay Away Fay in the Bartlett, before running 2nd behind Gaelic Warrior at Punchestown.
He’s a year younger than Stay Away Fay and I’m hoping he can close the gap this year. He didn’t jumped too fluently on chasing debut, when beating Favori De Champdou, and he latterly blew out behind that horse in the Florida Pearl.
However, both runs were on heavy ground, and he bombed out in the Lawlor’s of Naas last year on soft before finishing 2nd at the Festival. He needs to improve his jumping, but when faced with better ground, he can make 33/1 look very generous.
This is the second of 10 Road to Cheltenham round-ups running each Monday from 1st January until 4th March, featuring ante-post tips every week! For last week’s tips selections, click here.
This Week’s Cheltenham Ante-Post Tips
- Stay Away Fay @ 5/1 (1pt Win) – Brown Advisory
- Affordable Fury @ 33/1 (0.5pt E/W) – Brown Advisory
