Ante-post Cheltenham betting picks: Weekend evaluation – March 5-6
A round-up of the newest Cheltenham Festival ante-post odds after some standout weekend performances at Kelso
With little more than per week until the tapes rise at the 2022 clues have gotten few and much between, with most of the Cotswolds-bound contenders safely tucked up and awaiting their big day.
However, there was a big victory for certainly one of Brian Ellison’s at Kelso on Saturday that has triggered dreams of a Festival bonus.
Cheltenham ante-post betting picks
Odds correct at time of publishing and could also be subject to alter.
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Kelso king Cormier sets up jackpot tilt
Brian Ellison shortly pinpointed the County Hurdle as the Festival target of alternative for CORMIER after he received the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Saturday.
Victory in the Borders showpiece entitles the winner to a £100k bonus from race sponsors Slot Online if he can go on and win any race on the Cheltenham Festival.
We don’t have to look far to see the possibilities. The Shunter gained last yr at Kelso earlier than occurring to bag the Paddy Power Plate in the Cotswolds for trainer Emmet Mullins.
Ellison has no intention of going chasing and has instead pinpointed the Grade 3 County Hurdle, the second race on the card for Friday March 18.
Its scheduling provides Cormier the maximum time to get over his efforts in Scotland at the weekend and, further boosting his hopes, it is run over the 2m 1f trip at which the enhancing six-year-old was victorious on Cheltenham Trials Day in January.
He had no bother defying a 4lb larger mark at Kelso and that course-and-distance form could presumably be essential as he goes for the bonus.
L’Homme Presse retains options open
The Turners Novices’ Chase on Thursday March 17 is being billed as a duel between Bob Olinger and Galopin Des Champs. Willie Mullins just lately hinted the latter is being aimed at the 2m 4f race rather than the 3m Brown Advisory on Thursday, organising a showdown with Henry De Bromhead’s runner.
Both have been Festival winners over hurdles final March and are major gamers however Venetia Williams’ L’HOMME PRESSE have to be thought of a menace to them.
The exciting younger chaser received the Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. He has since routed his rivals in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown in February, kind since advertised by Pic D’Orhy, the distant third, profitable a Grade 2 race at Kempton.
Williams retains choices within the Turners Novices’ Chase (2m 4f) and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (3m) subsequent week with L’Homme Presse. She suggested this weekend that ground situations, not the opposition, will decide the place her cost runs, saying of the strong Irish problem that: “If you run away from one, you run into one thing else.”
Make no mistake, L’Homme Presse could be one for Britain subsequent week, regardless of the Irish massive guns.
Galvin staff making constructive noises
The on Friday March 18 is broad open. Last year’s winner Minella Indo showed some form at the Dublin Racing Festival final month, whereas his stablemate at Henry De Bromhead’s yard A Plus Tard stays favourite to go one higher than final year.
Further evidence of the Irish stranglehold on the market is Al Boum Photo’s prominence within the odds, with trainer Willie Mullins issuing a optimistic update on his horse this weekend. Of course, only Kauto Star has accomplished what Al Boum Photo is making an attempt and regained the Gold Cup crown.
Minella Indo should prove he can replicate last year’s effort – though he does reserve his best for Cheltenham in March – while A Plus Tard needs to go against the grain if hoping to win a having previously missed out within the race.
GALVIN, of course, beat A Plus Tard within the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and Gordon Elliott is seemingly bullish concerning the eight-year-old’s chances.
Elliott is again after lacking Cheltenham final year and he says the Gold Cup is “tailor-made” for Galvin. “He stays rather well but he’s displaying us gears we never thought had been there,” the Irishman added.
With only one defeat in his earlier eight begins, Galvin is unquestionably primed for the race at this level in his profession and he is nicely value considering for the large one.
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