Steve Ryder looks ahead to the 2027 Cheltenham Festival and picks his
The beauty of antepost betting these days is that less than a week after the Cheltenham festival has finished, the markets for the 2027 festival are already formed.
I had a shortlist of four horses to back for the festival at this stage but will add just one to the list at this stage.
Steve Ryder's Chelteham 2027 Shortlist
Bambino Fever (Mares’ Hurdle at 20/1)
Was a disappointing favourite for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle this year but that performance was too bad to be true based on her collateral form with Oldschool Outlaw who finished 2nd. Willie Mullins blamed the ground for it and that will be a concern next year but more worryingly was the fact she was fitted with a first-time tongue tie. She is likely to prove the stable number one following her win in the Champion Bumper last season but there are enough doubts to wait at current odds.
Jade De Grugy (Mares’ Chase at 10/1)
Finished 2nd for a second year in a row in the Mares’ Hurdle and I wonder if she may take her chance in the Mares’ Chase next year. She had shown good form over fences on her first two starts behind Kala Conti and The Big Westerner before winning at Thurles by 18 lengths. With Lossiemouth heading to the Champion Hurdle instead, she reverted back to hurdles where she was only beaten a length by Wodhooh. A return to chasing would come as no surprise and she looks the biggest danger to Dinoblue.
Jasmin De Vaux (Stayers’ Hurdle at 16/1)
Had to miss last season through a small setback but he looks the much-needed new blood in the division. The Willie Mullins trained seven-year-old won the 2024 Champion Bumper and overcame jumping frailties to win the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the 2025 festival. He beat Honesty Policy by ½ length at Punchestown on his final start last season despite Paul Townend losing his irons. Connections were said to be undecided about whether to stick to hurdling or go novice chasing but after a year off, this is more likely to be the target.
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Cheltenham 2027 Ante Post Tips
Ryanair ChaseSee All Odds
Cheltenham 2027 Antepost Selection- Koktail Divin (Ryanair Chase) 20/1 (1pt win)
All three of those on the shortlist may have alternative targets at the festival but KOKTAIL DIVIN (best priced at 20/1 for the Ryanair Chase) looks sure to be targeted at a race that Henry De Bromhead has a good record in. Heart Wood won the race this year having finished 2nd in 2025 and prior to that Envoi Allen had won it in 2023 and finished 2nd in 2024 and 3rd in 2025.
Koktail Divin was a smart novice hurdler and like many of his yard’s runners improved for going novice chasing. He finished 2nd behind Romeo Coolio prior to him winning 3 Grade 1s and then looked a non-stayer over 3 miles when finishing 2nd behind Oscars Brother who went on to finish 4th in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
A 21 length win over Kiss Will, who finished 5th in the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase, in a race previously won by Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown at Christmas, was hugely impressive and resulted in connections aiming for Grade 1 glory at the Cheltenham Festival. He looked a non-stayer over the 3m1f trip when fading into 6th late on but also lost a shoe and came back sore after. The test of a Ryanair Chase would suit perfectly and a reappearance in the John Durkan Chase surely awaits.
