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How To Bet £20 ante-post at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day

Last Updated: Thu 21 Dec 2023

Andy Stephens made a profit of £580 with his ante-post columns in 2021 with his winners including Cloudy Glen (40-1), Dans Le Vent (25-1) and Lord Du Mesnil (12-1). King George VI Chase third Saint Calvados (25-1) was his latest each-way selection.

There’s not many better ways to start the New Year than being at Cheltenham for a competitive card but it also helps if you can find a winner or two.

The Paddy Power Novices’ Chase and Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle share top billing on the card and it’s the former, better known as the Dipper, which makes most appeal as an ante-post betting medium.

L’Homme Presse heads the betting at about 7-4 after his impressive win at Ascot a couple of weeks ago and the manner in which the six-year-old shifted left at many of his fences suggests he will be even more effective going in this direction.

He didn’t look to be extended but the time was swift – an indicator that he had to put in a decent shift - and this will be his third race in a month. Given his overall lightly-raced nature, I just wonder if this will come a bit quick for him, plus this will be his first experience of undulating Cheltenham.

At the early prices, I’d much rather be with the Alan King-trained The Glancing Queen, who looks a solid each-way alternative at the 9-2 offered by William Hill, especially as they are offering three places and the race may well cut up. Only once since 2002 has the Grade Two affair attracted more than seven runners.

A useful bumper and novice hurdler, she has run creditably at the past three Festival meetings, including when a staying-on fifth in the 2019 Champion Bumper behind Envoi Allen, Blue Sari, Thyme Hill and Abacadabras. And her two emphatic wins over fences this term, coupled with her ability to handle any ground, suggest she will be well worth her place in the Mares’ Chase come March.

warwick

14:00 Warwick - Thursday December 9

The Glancing Queen gives weight and a beating to the opposition at Warwick

The Glancing Queen won a Listed contest in decisive style with her ears pricked on her chasing bow at Bangor and the well-beaten third, Vienna Court, franked the form when bolting up at Cheltenham next time and is now rated 135.

Upped to 2m4f in the same grade at Warwick last time, she was not extended to give weight and a beating to seven rivals. Her main market rivals did not seem at their best but The Glancing Queen again impressed with her proficient jumping and the way she went about her business.

This looks an obvious next step and her mares’ allowance means that all her prospective dozen rivals will have to concede weight.

Alan King has also entered her for a novices’ chase at Plumpton on Sunday and, if successful in that, she would be eligible for a £50,000 bonus if going on to glory at the Festival in March.

But first prize for the Dipper is worth about £25,000 more than what’s on offer at Plumpton, plus trainer Alan King will no doubt recognise an opportunity for The Glancing Queen to get some experience of the Cheltenham fences.

I’m encouraged that Tom Cannon’s name is already pencilled in next to hers and, provided she does line up, and avoids mishaps, I can’t see her going off anywhere nears as big as 9-2 or not finishing in the first three. Bet365 offer 14-1 for the Mares’ Chase, which also looks worth a dabble.

The other with a leading chance in this weekend’s race is Millers Bank, who has the best hurdling form among those entered and would probably have won in Grade Two company at Newbury last time but for unshipping his rider two out.

However, he’s raced mainly on flat tracks and, like L’Homme Presse, this will be his first look at Cheltenham. He’s also in that Plumpton contest and, after failing to complete last time, perhaps trainer Alex Hales will be tempted to venture to Sussex for what could be easier pickings.

If the ground gets really testing, then the other who might enter calculations is Come On Teddy, who finished third in the Pertemps Final in March and looked like winning a little way out before edging home on his recent chasing bow at Uttoxeter.

He almost certainly wants 3m-plus to be seen at his best and was also entered for the 3m2f handicap chase on the card, only to not be qualified. His connections would risk jeopardising his present rating of 138 if taking the plunge, but perhaps they will be tempted if it looks like his stamna will be drawn into play. Ladbrokes quote him at 12-1.

How To Bet £20 ante-post on New Year’s Day

£8 each-way on The Glancing Queen at 9-2 with William Hill in the Paddy Power Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham (three places)

Also £2 each-way on The Glancing Queen at 14-1 with bet365 for the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March

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