Ahead of the game: Ten ante-post bets for the 2021 Cheltenham Festival

Some folk bemoan the build-up to the Cheltenham Festival getting longer and longer. But in these troubled times we all need something to look forward to, don't we?

There’s only 358 days until the 2021 Festival and the bookmakers are dangling some tasty carrots. It would be rude not to grab one or two.

Ante-post betting is not for everyone - and probably even less after the late sick notes produced by Altor and Chacun Pour Soi last week - but a dozen of the victors had run at the Festival before and it will no doubt be a big factor next year, too.

There’s gallons of water to flow under the bridge but here are ten suggestions for Cheltenham 2021.

It was a story of what might have been for Elixir D’Ainay in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Travelling well up near the pace, minding his own business, he had just nosed into the lead two out only for the wayward Asterion Forlonge to again veer violently right and cause him to fall.

We will never know what would have happened had Elixir D’Ainay not been made to resemble an equine skittle.

My guess is he would have been no worse than third behind Shishkin and Abacadabras, who ended up pulling 11 lengths clear of Chantry House.

Elixir D’Ainay’s earlier efforts this season included chasing home Envoi Allen in the Grade One Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle.

He looks the part for chasing and fences surely beckon with JP McManus, his owner, already having Epatante and Buveur D’Air among his Unibet Champion Hurdle aces.

Chantry House is a top-priced 20-1 for the Arkle, suggesting Elixir D’Ainay is 30 points bigger merely because last week he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I was initially also going to put up Shishkin for the Arkle at a general 5-1; then noticed William Hill are offering the same price about him triumphing in any race at the meeting. So that has to be the way to go, given he could end up in the Champion Hurdle (if he doesn’t take to chasing) or possibly the Marsh Chase (unlikely).

The Arkle is at the top of his agenda and, provided he takes to the bigger obstacles, he could go to the top.

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for him in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but he still managed to get the job done. Overcoming adversity is a sign of all great champions and, physically, he looks all over a chaser.

After Shishkin won last week, comparisons with his stablemate, Altior, were inevitable. For what it is worth, the latter went off at 1-4 when he won the Arkle.

I’m not suggesting Shishkin will go off long odds-on. Equally, if all goes to plan the 5-1 could look something of a gift.

The two-mile hurdling division is crying out for fresh faces and Abacadabras has all the attributes to make a significant impact next season.

Shishkin touched him off by a head in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but he pulled 11 lengths clear of the rest and was possibly unlucky, travelling so powerfully that he got left in front before the last under a motionless Davy Russell.

His only previous defeat over jumps has been inflicted by Envoi Allen, and the way he jumps and travels points to him being a big player in whatever races are chosen for him going forwards.

Gordon Elliott suggested afterwards that the Champion Hurdle would be the aim next season. With the obvious exception of Epatante, the title holder, who won an ordinary renewal of that race this term, there is little for him to be afraid of, especially with more improvement on the cards.

The other top novice hurdlers, Shishkin and Envoi Allen, look set to go over fences.

Incidentally, this year’s Champion Hurdle was run in a time only about a second quicker than the Supreme. And it did not include a front-runner (Asterion Forlonge) causing havoc throughout.

There was much to admire about that way Ferny Hollow came from last to first in a strong renewal of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

He traded at 149-1 in-running on Betfair but he tanked through the contest before brushing aside Appreciate It, his better-fancied stablemate, and Queens Brook, who had romped home on her debut for Gordon Elliott.

You only have to look back at last year’s renewal of the Bumper – when Envoi Allen, Abacadabras and Thyme Hill were three of the first four home – to realise what a bearing the race can have on top events going forwards.

Ferny Hollow showed plenty of stamina and the Ballymore, rather than the Supreme, seems likely to be the best fit for him. The 16-1 about him emulating Envoi Allen is way too big to resist.

Those wanting a safety net should note that William Hill make Ferny Hollow 10-1 to win any race.

Odds-on backers had a bruising time at the Festival with Benie Des Dieux, Carefully Selected, Tiger Roll and Paisley Park all fluffing their lines.

The one ray of light for them was Envoi Allen, who enhanced his already towering reputation with a brilliant display in the Ballymore.

It was a flawless exhibition and how he is campaigned next season will be fascinating.

He’d obviously be a major Champion Hurdle player but his owners, the Thompsons, purchased him with the Gold Cup in mind and keeping him over the smaller obstacles for another season would make no sense is helping them achieve that dream.

The RSA would be a natural stepping stone towards the 2022 Gold Cup. It looks like being a strong division but Envoi Allen is a cut above his peers and last week shaped like he could win over any trip.

The Tizzard team had a challenging time at the Festival with their 17 runners all beaten.

Lostintranslation ran a cracker to be third in the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, though, and The Big Breakaway was a creditable fourth to Envoi Allen in the Ballymore.

He lacked the gears to live with the first three home but, to his credit, he stuck to his task on what was only his third start – and his first for almost three months.

Easy winner of his only point start in Ireland, chasing seems certain to show him in an even better light with a step up to three miles also likely to suit.

William Hill make him 20-1 to win any race at the meeting but I’d prefer to back him each-way at 33-1 for the RSA, which looks his most logical target.

I don’t need to say much here, do I? The French challenger has what it takes to dominate this sphere for years to come after hammering Tiger Roll by 17 lengths, with the third home another 18 lengths back.

He’s just six, and is only going to get better. Tiger Roll probably found the ground too deep and has been playing catch-up in terms of reaching full fitness after his surgery in December, but I can’t see him turning the tables 12 months from now.

I asked Frank Berry, racing manager for JP McManus, if they might have grander plans for Easysland next year – the Grand National perhaps? – but he said the cross country would again be the No 1 aim.

Taking 2-1 almost a year in advance goes against the grain, but what price would you be happy to lay?

Was A Plus Tard quite on his A-Game in the Ryanair Chase last Thursday? I’m not convinced, even though he finished a close third behind Min and Saint Calvados after going off the well-backed 7-4 favourite.

He did little wrong but there were just small signs that being off since Christmas – when he beat Chacun Pour Soi – perhaps did not help him. A planned run at the Dublin Racing Festival in February was aborted because of the drying ground.

Only six, and having had only eight runs over fences, there should still be more to come. And it is difficult to see him dropping back in trip for the Champion Chase or going over further in the Gold Cup. So, again, it will be all about the Ryanair.

Min is the general 10-1 favourite but this year’s strong running of the Ryanair went perfectly for him – he could not have jumped any better – and I fancy the three years younger A Plus Tard is a decent bet to turn the tables.

He was the banker of the meeting for many when defending his Stayers’ Hurdle crown last week, and with good cause, but he was palpably below-par and trailed home seventh at 4-6.

He ran too bad to be true and it was subsequently revealed that he had an irregular heartbeat.

The problem appeared to have rectified itself by Friday morning and trainer Emma Lavelle revealed on Monday that, thankfully, scans had divulged nothing sinister.

So let’s put a line through last week and remember that Paisley Park had looked near invincible going into the race. And after doing that, focus on the fact that he’s a double-figure price to regain his crown with Betfair.

That looks a massive over-reaction, not least because new challengers remain thin on the ground.

The quarter who fought out the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle may all be switched to fences, while dual Pertemps winner Sire Du Berlais would have to improve another chunk to beat him.

The RSA Chase was the most exciting race of the Festival, with Champ swooping from the clouds after Minella Indo and Allaho had traded punches almost from the outset.

The trio are all top-class novices but Champ is going to have to brush up his jumping if he is to become a Gold Cup contender, while Allaho would not be certain to stay the longer trip. It could be that a bare three miles will suit him best, so keep him in mind for the King George VI Chase.

Distances in excess of three miles should not be an issue for Minella Indo, who might well have won the RSA had he not bungled the last having locked horns with Allaho some way out.

His jumping, overall, had been a great asset and the impressive 2018 Albert Bartlett winner was having only his third start over fences.

Minella Indo is open to plenty more improvement and I’d imagine the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup, both at Leopardstown, will be targets next winter before he returns to Cheltenham.

Happy Diva went close last week and looks tailor-made for the new Mares' Chase next yearew

Nobody knows when the Mares’ Chase is going to be run next year, so I’ve slipped it in an at the bottom.

A relatively small field seems likely, with Willie Mullins likely to hold the key as he is always so strong in the mares’ department.

A tilt at the new race has to be on the cards for Happy Diva, as it will be over her optimum trip (two and a half miles) and on a track where she has run her best races.

Winner of the BetVictor Gold Cup in November, her mark will climb up the low 150s after her near-miss in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate last week.

There seems unlikely to be many other mares with a rating that high in the race. Throw in her established effectiveness over course and distance, and she becomes even more attractive.