Ginger Joe Shares Three Cheltenham Ante-Post Tips and Predictions

Ginger Joe Racing | 11:05 Friday 6th March 2026

Ginger Joe picks out two solid Ante-Post betting angles for Cheltenham's Triumph Hurdle and Champion Chase.

Triumph Hurdle

Tip 1: MACHO MAN - 1.5pt EW (NRNB)

Best odds of 8/1 at bet365 while publishing.

The Triumph Hurdle looks like a fairly open contest this year, but I do still believe there are a few standout performers in the line up. Proactif, the current favourite for the race, looks a solid option and he did very little wrong when winning on his stable debut at Fairyhouse.

He travelled smoothly and his jumping was very slick, so you can see why he heads the betting. However, Macho Man, who finished second to him that day, makes serious appeal at a price of 8/1. When short-priced favourite Narciso Has was announced as a non-runner, I thought Macho Man would have been cut plenty more in the betting because he looks open to a lot of improvement.

When he finished second to Proactif, he looked really green. He took a bit of waking up early on, had a good look around at his hurdles, but despite all of that he stayed on really well to be beaten just over two lengths. The fact he did so much wrong and still managed to finish where he did was a major positive in my eyes, because this gelding is likely to improve a ton from his first start to his second for Willie Mullins.

The last thing to mention here is that the assumption seems to be that Paul Townend will ride Selma De Vary, who finished second to Narciso Has. However, I wouldn’t be of the same opinion. She is by Zarak, who as a sire has only had three horses reach a mark of 140 or higher, and I’m not convinced there is as much improvement to come from her as there is from Macho Man. If Paul Townend does decide to ride Macho Man, which I believe he will, his price will halve, so I think now is the time to back him at 8/1.

Champion Chase

Tip 2: QUILIXIOS - 1pt EW NRNB

Best odds of 17/2 available at AK Bets while publishing.

Marine Nationale sustaining an injury two weeks before the Cheltenham Festival is dreadfully unfortunate for Barry Connel,l and for racing fans who were looking forward to the clash with Majborough. However, with the field now looking weaker, Quilixios makes plenty of appeal as a bet at 17/2.

He ran a blinder in this race last year and was still going strongly when coming down two out while upsides Marine Nationale. A repeat of that performance would see him go very well here, and the fact that Henry De Bromhead is brining him here fresh by design, is a major positive I feel.

Majborough’s performance at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown was one of the best two-mile chasing displays I’ve seen, and if he reproduces that effort he would be extremely difficult to beat. That said, it was his first truly polished jumping performance, and backing it up at Cheltenham is far from guaranteed.

There’s little doubt that Majborough is the best horse in the race, but from a punting perspective Quilixios looks a fair bet at 17/2, especially with three places currently on offer.

Champion Bumper

Tip 3: KEEP HIM COMPANY - 1pt EW NRNB

Best odds of 9/1 at William Hill while publishing.

As mentioned previously, I’d initially narrowed the bumper down to two horses, and I’m happy to back both of them ahead of the Festival. I’ve already tipped The Irish Avatar as my number one this year, but the other horse I’ve been consistently talking about is Keep Him Company for Gordon Elliott.

They’re two very different types, but both are undeniably classy. Keep Him Company was a typical Gordon Elliott point-to-point purchase, winning what looked a strong race at Kildorrery before backing that up on his bumper debut at Fairyhouse, where he beat stablemate Generous Risk by three lengths. Next time out though, he was even better again.

That came at Leopardstown in a bumper full of potential, but Keep Him Company asserted himself as the clear best, with Passenger four lengths back and Royal Hillsborough the DRF runner up another four lengths further behind him. That form has worked out well, which only strengthens his credentials. What really appeals to me though, is what he does visually.

He looks ready made for racing and a proper powerful horse with a very professional attitude. That temperament is a big plus in bumper horses. You want one that’s switched on, rather than one being green or overly keen, and from what we have seen already, he seems to tick all the boxes.

He might not be the fastest horse in the race, but you won’t find many who’ll be finishing stronger, and that will give him a big chance in the bumper at a good each-way price