The Cheltenham Festival is fast approaching as attention already turns to the coveted meeting in March with top-class action from Tuesday 11th to Friday 14th.
There’s already some likely routes some horses will go this early on, while uncertainty around some of the big stars remain on which race they could go for or avoid the meeting altogether.
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It’s hard not to focus on the super stars for Cheltenham, Constitution Hill has been at the centre of a lot of jumps racing talk as he missed the Fighting Fifth Hurdle after a highly anticipated return.
The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding then came back on Boxing Day to land the Christmas Hurdle beating Lossiemouth comfortably.
Many anticipated he wouldn’t win and as such was close to evens, his highest price since smashing the Supreme in 2022.
The eight-year-old should be heading for the Champion Hurdle again, but one of the main questions is, who will be joining him in this renewal?
Lossiemouth could head there for a rematch, while Brighterdaysahead could also go for it to make it an even bigger renewal.
Stablemate Sir Gino is the closest contender in the ante-post market to Constitution Hill’s odds-on price, with prices even at this stage changing frequently with more entries get released throughout January and February.
Friday’s Gold Cup Chase ante-post is dominated by the Willie Mullins-trained two-time victor, Galopin Des Champs who is hard to side against.
Could stablemate Fact To File make a challenge after being humbled at Leopardstown in the Christmas Festival?
The odds are still value for me to keep Galopin Des Champs on side, with a terrific comeback in December.
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Ante-Post tips
- ARKLE: Sir Gino 10/11
- TURNER’S NOVICES’ HURDLE: The New Lion 3/1
- BROWN ADVISORY: The Jukebox Man 5/1 each-way
- GOLD CUP: Galopin Des Champs 1/1
Sir Gino
The first day sees some great races but the one that really stands out early on is Sir Gino in the Arkle.
The five-year-old is unbeaten from six races including his first chase start last time out when beating Ballyburn by over seven lengths at Kempton to land the Grade 2 Wayward Lad.
He’s already rated 164 over fences based on his hurdle form and subsequent impressive form chasing, and makes clear appeal in a race that doesn’t look to have any notable challengers.
The big questions are, will he go for the Champion Hurdle? Will he take on Constitution Hill or if the super star misses that race will the five-year-old take his place again?
The New Lion
It’s rare to be impressed so much by a hurdler who is then still 3/1 at the ante-post and favourite for The Baring Bingham, known as the Turner’s Novices’ Hurdle.
The six-year-old has emerged as the Skelton team have been incredibly impressive this year and could have a great Cheltenham Festival.
The New Lion won in Grade 1 company at Newbury in December to win the Challow, all with ease too and so much so looks like a major contender going forward.
The Jukebox Man
I was very surprised to see this horse odds-on on Boxing Day for the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase as I saw Hyland as huge value at around 11/2.
But The Jukebox Man beat him comfortably, albeit just over two lengths, but it’s great form considering the rival had just won twice over fences already, both times at Cheltenham.
The seven-year-old is now 5/1 to win the Brown Advisory ahead of 28 other potential runners of this race, including the likes of Ballyburn, Dancing City, Ile Atlantique, Impaire Et Passe and Croke Park.
Galopin Des Champs
How can you not go for the two-time winner of the Gold Cup?
He’s that consistent at Cheltenham Festival and in other big Grade 1’s over this distance it’s very hard to see how he will struggle in what looks to be a comfortable renewal for him.
It’s rare to see a horse forge on in the closing stages like he does and his attitude when jumping and pushing for the line, really makes him special.
His main rival could well come in the form of Banbridge, who at nine-years-old stepped up in trip to 3m for the first time last time and won nicely ahead of Il Est Francais.
Potentially hinting at some unexposed form over that trip, but it will have to be a huge improvement to beat the likes of Galopin Des Champs.
Tom Lunn’s Profit/Loss
- From November ’24: +66.44
- From May ’24: +220.39pts
- From July ’23: +432.95pts
All odds correct at time of writing
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