The anticipation of the Cheltenham Festival, a highly significant occasion in British horse racing, grows as the snow melts and spring flowers bloom.
Anyone interested in seeing thoroughbreds gallop towards glory (and a rapidly increasing bankroll) is rushing to get their hands on the finest day Cheltenham tips.
To provide useful wagering insight, we have compiled a list of this year’s festival’s leading information and dark horses so you can keep an eye on which worthy steeds to ensure success.
But first, everyone’s favourites
Before we jump into the outsiders with juicy odds, it would be rude not to mention the most prolific horses entering the Cheltenham Festival that are expected to live up to their hype.
Galloping into the Cheltenham Festival with a rousing ovation and the sound of their name resonating through the stands is a dream come true for some horses. Notable figures in the business often train these stallions, and they have a track record of success.
The bookies had Galopin Des Champs, a past winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, pegged as the favourite for 2024’s main event. But don’t neglect Fastorslow and Hewick, another two additional strong contenders for the main event.
Look at Marine Nationale to win the Champion Hurdle if Nicky Henderson opts to transition to chasing. At the same time, Constitution Hill is another solid choice if Nicky Boy keeps the horse in hurdles.
Cheltenham Festival 2024 Antepost Outsiders Day 3
Pertemps @ 2:10 PM
The four-day festival provides a plethora of options for bettors, but regarding outsiders, the Pertemps Final on March 14th presents an interesting history.
Eleven horses have prevailed in this event at odds of 14/1 or higher in the last 20 years; five were 20/1 or higher, and two were willing at odds of 50/1. With such a huge field handicap, favourites rarely make a splash.
Some helpful trends and data from Pertemps are as follows:
- Nine of the past ten champions were six or seven years old.
- Among the 10 champions, 8 had weights of 11 stone, 4 pounds or less.
- 138 or higher was the rating for nine out of ten winners.
- Seven out of ten winners had odds of 10/1 or higher at Cheltenham.
Anna Bunina, trained by John McConnell, had an impressive performance by securing fourth place in the Pertemps Qualifier in Musselburgh on February 4th. She’s tipped at 66/1 for the Mares’ Hurdle, but with a huge doubt that she’ll enter that race, Pertemps is the probable race, and at 33/1, it’s a no-brainer for an each-way selection.
Out of her 48 outings, Anna Bunina has emerged victorious in 10 races, including the Scottish Champion Hurdle in 2022. Additionally, during the previous year’s Cheltenham Festival, she kept pace with the eventual winner in the County Hurdle.
Stayers Hurdle @ 3:30 PM
The odds keep dropping – even more so with recommended Cheltenham new customer offers across the UK – and while Irish Point isn’t exactly an underdog for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, I love this 5/1 price we’re receiving.
Under the tutelage of Gordon Elliott, the six-year-old horse has not yet competed at Cheltenham. However, he made a remarkable debut in the stayers’ category by securing an outstanding win at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Transitioning to longer races for the first time, he confidently won the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle by a significant margin of 11 lengths, solidifying his position as a strong contender in the betting for the Cheltenham Festival. In addition, he achieved victory in a Grade 1 race last year.
Jockey Jack Kennedy may have difficulty deciding whether to ride him or the esteemed stablemate and betting favourite for the race, Teahupoo.
The Big One: Day 4 Gold Cup Festivities
The last day of the Cheltenham Festival is referred to as Gold Cup Day. Both attendees and watchers at home may enjoy these events, which usually serve as a magnificent finale to an extraordinary week of racing which include:
- County Handicap Hurdle
- Triumph Hurdle
- Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Handicap Hurdle
- Novices’ Hurdle
- Mares’ Chase
- Challenge Cup
Most bookies will naturally take most of the four-day betting action on the Gold Cup, and the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs is a strong favourite to take his second success in this race.
Galopin Des Champs, under the training of Mullins and ownership of Audrey Turley, was victorious in an exhilarating Cheltenham Festival race. Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame cleared the last gate together, but Galopin Des Champs surged ahead up the hill, ultimately winning by a margin of seven lengths.
However, with the odds sitting at 1/1, we aren’t here for that. We want outsiders, and while it’s a genuine longshot, There aren’t many underdogs good enough to spoil the party.
A Nicky-Henderson-trained Shishkin at 10/1, though, offers some minor intrigue. Henderson thinks that Shishkin can fight Galopin De Champ for the remaining division title this season and, ultimately, have a shot at winning the Gold Cup, the top award in the sport.
In April, a revitalised Shishkin held his own to win the Aintree Bowl Chase, and he continued to show signs to connections that he may be a serious contender in future races over three miles.
Galopin De Champs may only have competition from two formidable contenders—possible superstar Gerri Colombe and class act Shishkin—if Bravemansgame continues to underwhelm as expected.