With several horses attracting plenty of support in the betting this week, I’ve taken a closer look at the five most popular bets currently on Oddschecker. These are the names taking early money in the market, but as we all know, popularity doesn’t equal value until they cross the finish line.

In this piece, I’ve broken down the form, conditions, profiles, and likely race setups for each runner to assess whether the market confidence is justified, and what we can realistically expect from them on the track. Some look solid, some look progressive, but all are worth a second look given the money and support for them in the markets already.

L’HOMME PRESSE - 13:50 Cheltenham (Fri)

Turners Handicap Chase 3m2f+

The first thing to say about the 10-year-old L’Homme Presse is just how great it is to see him back on a racecourse for Venetia Williams for another season. The 2022 Brown Advisory winner has had more than his fair share of injury niggles, but he has been a wonderful servant to the yard and deserves plenty of credit for everything he has achieved so far.

While his very best days are probably behind him now, he still showed last season that there is plenty of ability left under the bonnet. He finished a highly creditable third in the King George on his seasonal reappearance, before following that up with a win in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase on his next start. His final run at Ascot ended in disappointment when he was pulled up, but he never jumped with his usual fluency and found himself on the back foot early. I’m happy to draw a line through that run.

The fact that he lines up at Cheltenham on Friday has to be seen as a positive, as Venetia Williams is renowned for her patience and rarely runs her horses unless they are fit and ready to go. This week he takes his chance in the Turners Handicap Chase, where he has to give weight away all round, which is never going to be easy, especially over a trip he has yet to win over. I think he will stay, but his fitness will need to be spot-on, as he could be vulnerable late on in the race if he isn’t fully tuned up.

It’s a tough assignment at the weights as a horse that likes to go from the front, but while the Venetia Williams team haven’t been in sparkling form overall, it’s worth noting that her stable stars Djelo and Royal Pagaille have both run well, so there are at least some positives to her higher rated horses. He won’t be a betting proposition for me, as it’s hard to win these races off this weight from the front, but I’ll certainly be cheering him home.

KYNTARA - 15:00 Cheltenham (Fri)

Citipost Handicap Hurdle 3m

I really like the look of Kyntara this weekend, and it’s no surprise to see him shaping up as one of the most popular bets of the week. While he’s only won 3 of his 17 starts to date, those figures don’t tell the full story, because he’s finished second on seven occasions and third once, which just shows how consistently he runs his races.

That sequence of near-misses has probably been frustrating for his followers, but anyone who knows the horse well will understand why this weekend represents a strong opportunity for him to finally get back to winning ways. The main positive is that he is back over hurdles, which clearly suit him better than fences. His technique at the smaller obstacles is far superior, he is a slick, efficient jumper over hurdles, but he simply never took to fences last season. They didn’t look to suit him at all, and it’s easy to see why he remains winless in that sphere.

He returned to hurdles this season with a solid effort at Aintree last month, finishing just over three lengths behind Impose Toi, who is now being talked about as a Stayers’ Hurdle contender. That run should bring Kyntara on plenty fitness wise, and if he does take a step forward as expected, then a mark of 131 suddenly starts to look very workable.

I also like the way this race shapes up on paper. To my eye, a few of these look like they may be using this as a stepping stone, with bigger targets down the line, whereas Kyntara looks much more likely to be fully wound up and ready to go here. He has Cheltenham form finishing second in a Pertemps final, and the conditions and trip look ideal. He looks a very appealing proposition in this sort of race, and he has plenty in his favour this weekend. No surprise to see him popular.

KIM ROQUE - 13:50 Cheltenham (Sat)

December Gold Cup Handicap Chase 2m4f+

Kim Roque is a deeply intriguing contender for this weekend’s December Gold Cup, and his current mark of 125 looks there to be exploited at Cheltenham. He was purchased from the excellent Daniela Mele yard in France after showing strong form overseas, and his debut for Joseph O’Brien here at Cheltenham last month was importantly eye-catching.

The first thing that stood out was how well he handled the Cheltenham undulations. You don’t see many horses come over and adapt so quickly, but he travelled through the race with real ease. Even though he brushed a couple of fences, and pecked on landing twice, he quickly settled back onto the bridle, so it clearly didn’t trouble the five-year-old in the slightest. Another positive was the quality of opposition behind him. Horses like Jig’s Forge and Queensbury Boy give that form a solid look, and against that kind of company, Kim Roque more than held his own on his first British start.

At his age, you would expect him to be ahead of the handicapper, and although he technically goes into this race out of the handicap on paper, there is clearly plenty more improvement to come. It is also worth noting that Ronnie Bartlett was happy to purchase him, a positive sign in itself, and his pedigree only adds to the appeal.

He comes from the increasingly productive Beaumec De Houlle line, and the fact Joseph O’Brien is prepared to pitch him in here on only his second British start tells its own story. He could be thrown in this weekend, and it’s no surprise to see him attracting strong market support.

DAVID’S WELL - 14:25 Cheltenham (Sat)

Read Meg Nicholls Blog Handicap Chase 2m

Another very popular runner for this weekend’s action at Cheltenham is the Chris Gordon-trained 6-year-old David’s Well.

He remains a lightly raced prospect with just eight starts under his belt, but he has been notably progressive so far. He boasts an impressive 50% career strike rate and arrives here having won all three of his starts over fences, with the latest coming off a break of 330 days.

This weekend’s task represents a clear step up in class, and he also has to shoulder a 6lb rise in the weights, which won’t make life easy particularly around Cheltenham against stronger opposition. However, there are plenty of positives in his favour. One big plus is his Chepstow form, a track I always like to see on a horse’s CV when they’re heading to Cheltenham for the first time. The similarities are there with undulations, an uphill finish, and a requirement for balance and stamina. David’s Well thoroughly enjoyed himself there when winning on his penultimate start, which suggests Cheltenham should suit him just as well.

He’s also a very sound jumper, a huge asset around this track, and the fact that he still looks like he’s improving makes him a very interesting contender.

While there are plenty of rivals on workable marks, David’s Well still appears to be well treated himself. Add in good stable form and the booking of Harry Cobden, and it’s easy to see why he makes plenty of appeal this weekend.

CONMAN JOHN - 15:00 Cheltenham (Sat)

Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m

It comes as no surprise to see Conman John so well backed for his assignment this weekend, having already gone two-from-two over hurdles.

His debut victory at Kelso over 2m4f was a tidy, professional performance, but what he did next at Cheltenham when stepped up to three miles, was completely different. That run was seriously impressive, and it’s no wonder he’s already being talked about as a live contender for the Albert Bartlett (currently 20/1) at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Not only was the manner of the victory very taking, but the form is starting to work out strongly as well.

What I’ve liked most about both of his wins however, is that they both came on good ground. To my eye, he looks like a horse who will ultimately prefer softer conditions, and that suggests there could be plenty more improvement to come when he encounters that this weekend.

Of course, it’s no certainty that he will continue to progress, he still has to prove that on the track and keep climbing the ranks, but he looks raw yet talented, which is often the ideal combination at this stage.

He’s a very likeable type by Malinas, already has Cheltenham form in the book, and although he faces stronger opposition here, I’m very happy to be on his side this weekend.

He can be ridden from the back or prominently, and he has the look of a horse who could turn into something very smart indeed.