Dave Nevison's top tips for day one of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival
By Dave Nevison
Last Updated: Thu 21 Dec 2023
The 2020 Cheltenham Festival is finally upon us and has thankfully beaten off all obstacles to get the go-ahead, so I cannot wait to get stuck in to what is the most exciting meeting of the year for punters.
Bookies will have a heap of offers on this week. Take advantage of the best ones and be careful not to be seduced into too many. Each one of my bets is recommended each-way all week and all of them with the maximum number of places you can get.
This is a long week and it is staying in the game that is important. As a rule, I would rather miss the top price in order to get an extra place on my side.
2.10 Cheltenham: Maire Banrigh at a general 12-1
Dave Nevison
Finished: F SP: 16/1
huntingdon
15:05 Huntingdon - Friday January 24
Watch how Maire Banrigh scored at Huntingdon last time out
I have decided that a theme of my Festival bets this year is based on my belief that a very good mare is more than capable of beating her male rivals with a generous 7lb allowance, and hopefully this extremely useful eight-year-old will get me off the mark for the week.
She has an impressive line of '1's by her name - her victories have been over fences and hurdles - and perhaps produced her most impressive performance on her penultimate start at Doncaster where, typically, she made the running and jumped superbly plus soon had the race won.
The extra half-mile might have stretched her last time out, but she still won and the stamina test over two miles that the Arkle provides might just be the perfect trip for her.
2.50 Cheltenham: The Conditional at a general 8-1
Dave Nevison
Finished: 1stSP: 15/2
This is my best of the day and I can’t see him out of the frame, especially when considering the extra places on offer.
His stamina gave way last time at Warwick, where in any case he did not get the best of runs and I am happy to put a line through that effort.
Prior to that run he had produced a cracker in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury after winning over this course and distance in November. This is a seriously progressive chaser trained by David Bridgewater who does know when he has got one good enough for this meeting.
The Conditional has made one fairly significant error in each of his last three good efforts, but he generally jumps well and is young enough to still be learning.
If he does get his jumping right all the way round here, I think he might win this well.
3.30 Cheltenham: Epatante at a general 100-30
Dave Nevison
Finished: 1stSP: 2/1
Nicky Henderson discusses his Champion Hurdle contenders
I apply the same views about mares' allowances for this one and I think that is likely to tip the balance for Epatante, who has been more impressive with each of her runs over hurdles.
All of the field deserves to run in the Unibet Champion Hurdle, but few of them have actually looked like a champion this season. However, the way that Epatante won at Kempton, and previously at Newbury, looked championship class to me on both occasions.
Her disappointment at this meeting last year has to be considered, but if she had won that impressively she would be odds on in this and it is the choice you have to make as a punter.
I am happy to take the chance it won’t be the track that beats her.
4.50 Cheltenham: Espoir De Guye at a general 9-1
Dave Nevison
Finished: PU SP: 8/1
Espoir De Guye went up a stone in the handicap for his latest victory, but that was no surprise given the style of his victory.
He could well have contested a championship novice contest on that run, but I think waiting for this may well prove a smart move.
Even though this is a novice event, a lot of his rivals have done a lot of racing in handicaps and might well have reached their ceiling, or close to it.
That definitely does not look the case with my selection. The relatively long absence is no longer any sort of an issue for me at this meeting, either.
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