The 2023 Cheltenham Festival: Five ante-post bets at big odds

Harry Allwood pinpoints five contenders chalked up at double-figure odds in the ante-post markets who are worth a second look for next year's Cheltenham Festival.

The build-up to the Cheltenham Festival seemed bigger and better than ever this year, and it was a joy to see crowds back at the home of jump racing last week.

Although there were plenty of stand-out performances, I would have to nominate Constitution Hill’s victory in the SkyBet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as the performance of the week. The fact he won the opening contest almost six seconds quicker than the time Honeysuckle recorded in the Unibet Champion Hurdle tells its own story, and that was on just his third start under rules.

He is also the highest-ever rated novice hurdler in Timeform history, and it will be a mouth-watering contest when he does clash with Henry de Bromhead’s unbeaten mare.

I know we are 12 months away from the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, but I’m sure plenty of jump racing fans, including myself, enjoy having a scan at the ante-post markets immediately after the Festival and I have found five at double-figure odds who I think will go off much shorter for the races they are priced up for at Cheltenham next year, if all goes to plan!

Race: Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Best odds: 20-1 (General).

I think you can swiftly draw a line through Redemption Day’s effort in the Champion Bumper given testing ground would certainly not have suited him.

Willie Mullins’ exciting youngster created a huge impression on debut and while he had a bit to find on the figures with Facile Vega and American Mike ahead of the Champion Bumper, he won without coming off the bridle when successful at Leopardstown.

He showed a high-cruising speed on that occasion and Patrick Mullins made no secret of how well Redemption Day works at home on the build-up to the Cheltenham Festival.

Facile Vega is now a best-priced 4-1 for the Sky Bet Supreme, while Redemption Day is available at 20-1, and if the latter takes to hurdling, then expect him to be a leading novice hurdler next season.

Race: Arkle.

Best odds: 10-1 (General).

It was always going to be a tough ask for Appreciate It to win the Champion Hurdle following a year off the track, but I thought he shaped well for a long way before the lack of a recent run took its toll.

He ended up being beaten a shade over nine lengths by Honeysuckle, which was a perfectly respectable effort under the circumstances, and he is sure to strip fitter for the outing.

Although it may not have been a vintage renewal of the Supreme that he won last year, it was hard not to be impressed with him and he is certainly built to be a chaser.

Chasing was the plan until he picked up an injury earlier in the season, which tempted connections to keep him over hurdles and preserve his novice status over fences for next season, and he was the ante-post favourite for the Arkle prior to his setback.

Providing he has a smoother prep, he is surely capable of developing into a leading Sporting Life Arkle contender next season.

Race: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

Best odds: 10-1 (William Hill).

American Mike produced some impressive figures when successful on his first two starts under rules this season and probably bumped into a future superstar in the Champion Bumper.

It looked a strong renewal of the race on paper beforehand and, although a lot of the contenders arguably failed to show their best due to the ground conditions, Gordon Elliott’s youngster shaped with an abundance of promise behind the impressive winner, Facile Vega.

I believe Willie Mullins’ charge will be aimed at the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle next season, especially as he has looked all speed in each of his three starts, and American Mike will step up in trip to contest the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

The former point-to-point winner is likely to follow the same route as Envoi Allen a couple of seasons ago, and he will be a hugely exciting novice hurdler next season.

Race: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Best odds: 20-1 (General).

This six-year-old was the ante-post favourite for the Albert Bartlett before he was ruled out of the race due to a pulled muscle a week before the Cheltenham Festival.

He had caught the eye on more than one occasion prior to that this season, including when a staying on second behind Minella Cocooner in a Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival.

That rival was given an astute ride from the front there and finished runner-up in the Albert Bartlett on his next start, which certainly provides a form boost to Minella Crooner who was unlucky not to finish closer to Willie Mullins’ charge at Leopardstown.

Minella Crooner impressed when stepped up to three miles on his previous start, and the way he has shaped this season suggests that will be his optimum trip.

He has been described as a “staying chaser in the making” by his trainer, Gordon Elliott, and based upon his efforts over hurdles this season, it is likely the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase will be the ideal test for him next season.

Race: Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Best odds: 20-1 (General).

This selection may raise a few eyebrows given Bob Olinger was set to be put firmly in his place before Galopin Des Champs fell at the last in the Turners Novices’ Chase.

I certainly don’t think he was at his best at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, though, and I would be surprised if something does not come to light for his below-par effort. His connections were also shocked at how easily he was brushed aside heading into the home straight and Rachael Blackmore reported (via Henry de Bromhead on Luck On Sunday) that he made a noise after the fourth-last, so it may be that his breathing is the issue.

Admittedly, he does have room for improvement in the jumping department, but he is still a novice, and I expect he will be stepped up in trip next season which will hopefully help him get into a better rhythm over his obstacles.

That makes the 20-1 on offer for the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup attractive as I have no doubt that he has bundles of improvement left in him over fences given the huge impression he created in last year’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, and the esteem his connections hold him in.

He’s still relatively lightly-raced, too, and I’m willing to chance that he will take a big step forward over the larger obstacles next season and develop into a leading Gold Cup contender.