The three most backed horses through oddschecker so far this year combine for a 3/1 treble for next week’s Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham Festival
Ballyburn
Ballyburn is the most backed horse ante-post through oddschecker so far this year, yet it still remains to be seen whether Wille Mullins will direct him at Tuesday’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle or the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday.
At the time of writing, 57% of the bets on Ballyburn are on the Supreme (best price Evens) with 32% on the Baring Bingham, but the gap has been closing over the last week.
Ballyburn was so impressive in the Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, winning by seven lengths from Slade Steel.
State Man
The second most backed horse this year is Constitution Hill, now ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival after failing to recover from a setback due to significant levels of mucus in his lungs.
Without him, the second most popular selection is the likeliest beneficiary of his absence in the Champion Hurdle, State Man.
His Irish Champion Hurdle win at the DRF last month sealed Mullins' total dominance of the event as the trainer won all the meeting's Grade 1 races.
The seven-year-old (second in last year's Champion Hurdle) justified his 2/5 price by repeating his 2023 win to finish over five lengths clear of 2022 Turners Novices' Chase winner Bob Olinger.
State Man is a best price 2/5 for the Champion Hurdle at the time of writing.
El Fabiolo
The third most popular selection has been Marine Nationale, who had established himself as the best novice hurdler last year by winning all three of his hurdle starts, culminating with a second win at the highest level in the Supreme at Cheltenham.
Like Constitution Hill, his Cheltenham hopes were dashed on a dramatic Tuesday seven days out from the Festival, opening a spot for the big Champion Chase favourite in our most backed treble.
A 5 1/2 length winner in the Arkle at last year's Cheltenham Festival, the seven-year-old is rated 66% likely to win the Champion Chase even at the best odds available on Sky Bet.
The Willie Mullins trained chaser has followed up his Festival win 12 months ago with Grade 1 wins at both the Punchestown Festival (Barberstown Castle Novice Chase) and the Dublin Racing Festival (Ladbrokes Dublin Chase).
