In this article, we review the five horses that attracted the most ante-post bets for the Cheltenham Festival during the festive period and analyse how their odds have shifted for their respective races. 

If you had backed the five horses in an accumulator before the festive period, the five-fold would have been priced at 4,000/1. As of now, the same accumulator is priced at just 73/1. 

Constitution Hill – Champion Hurdle  

After a year away from the track due to a series of setbacks, Constitution Hill returned in emphatic fashion in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day. Nicky Henderson’s superstar reminded the racing world why he is the hurdler to beat, comfortably dispatching Ireland’s best, Lossiemouth, by 2½ lengths at Kempton. The victory marked his eighth Grade 1 win and positioned him as the front-runner to claim a third consecutive Champion Hurdle title in March. 

Following the win, Constitution Hill’s odds for the Champion Hurdle were cut from 2/1 to 4/6. He currently tops the betting market, with Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead joint-second favourites at 5/1. Since Boxing Day, 51% of all Champion Hurdle bets on Oddschecker have backed Constitution Hill. 

 Pre-Christmas Odds - 2/1 

Post-Christmas Odds - 5/6  

Sir Gino – Arkle Chase 

Nicky Henderson arguably had the best festive period of any racing trainer. Just a day after Constitution Hill’s return, Sir Gino cemented his status as the Arkle Chase favourite with an impressive 7½-length victory over Ballyburn in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase.

Bookmakers promptly reacted, slashing Sir Gino’s odds from 3/1 to 10/11 for the Arkle. Since that win, 71% of Arkle bets placed through Oddschecker have been on Sir Gino to triumph at Cheltenham.  

Pre-Christmas Odds: 3/1 

Post-Christmas Odds: 10/11 

Galopin Des Champs – Gold Cup 

After missing out on victories in the aforementioned races at Kempton, trainer Willie Mullins clinched a major win in Ireland as Galopin Des Champs reversed previous form to defeat Fact to File in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

GDC delivered a stellar jumping performance to secure his ninth Grade 1 win, cementing himself as the favourite for the Gold Cup in March.

The nine-year-old’s odds shortened dramatically from 3/1 to 6/4 after the Savills Chase. Since December 28, 61% of bets on Oddschecker have backed GDC for Gold Cup glory. 

Pre-Christmas Odds: 3/1 

Post-Christmas Odds: 6/5 

The New Lion – Turners’ Novices Chase 

Recently purchased by JP McManus from Darren Yeats for a reported £1 million, The New Lion ranks as the fourth most popular bet.

The unbeaten runner made it four wins from four with a victory in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury on December 28.

Following this performance, his odds were slashed from 16/1 to 3/1 for the Turners’ Novices’ Chase. Since the Challow Hurdle, 50% of bets on the Turners’ market have backed The New Lion. 

Pre-Christmas Odds: 16/1 

Post-Christmas Odds: 5/2 

Lossiemouth – Mares’ Hurdle 

The only horse in this list without a festive victory, Willie Mullins’ Lossiemouth, nonetheless finds herself among the top five.

After being comprehensively beaten by Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle, her Champion Hurdle odds drifted from 15/8 to 5/1.

However, betting interest has shifted toward Lossiemouth competing in the Mares’ Hurdle instead. Her odds for that race were cut from 4/1 to 7/4 over the festive period, making her the marginal second favourite behind Brighterdaysahead. 

Pre-Christmas Odds: 4/1 

Post-Christmas Odds: 7/4