The
Cheltenham Festival is closing faster than a speeding horse.
The
venue: Prestbury Park, Gloucester. Jot down these dates 13th - 16th
March because you really don't want to miss out.
The
Queen Mother Champion Chase takes place on the 14th March.
3:30
Cheltenham -
This
two mile Grade 1 Chase is run on the old course featuring twelve
jumps. It has a history which puts it on a par with the best racing
in the world. This National Hunt steeplechase is open to horses ages
five years and older.
Inaugurated
in 1959, Quita Que, a ten-year-old horse, ridden by Bunny Cox,
showed the way.
One
of the most outstanding horses to have won this race on no less that
three occasions is Badsworth Boy taking victory in consecutive years
from 1983 – 1985.
Recent
winners that may bring fond memories include:
2014
Sire de Grugy
2015
Dodging Bullets
2016
Sprinter Sacre
2017
Special Tiara
At
the time of writing, 21 horses are entered to run. However, if we are
looking at the betting we may be forgiven to thinking this is a
one-horse race.
Altior
is an exceptional talent for trainer Nicky Henderson. This
eight-year-old bay gelding has race 15 times and defeated twice. This
Irish-bred son of High Chaparral has started favourite 13 times and
achieved total prize earnings of almost £400,000. It's no wonder
this wonder horse is priced 8/11f. After winning at odds of 1/3f when
winning ''comfortably'' at Newbury in February, bookmakers are
willing to push their luck too far with this May foal. With Henderson
primed to have a superb meeting, this gelding will be one for the big
players. For those looking to get in on the action for 2018 Cheltenham betting odds
and offers there is value in every race. In truth, Altior looks a
great bet at 8/11 and if the bookmakers push this out on the day it
would be a steal - anything near 1/1 is a bet.
One
trainer who may try to spoil the party is Willie Mullins. Readers
will be quick to note that he has no record in this race at all.
Looking at the previous winners his name is missing. Could this be
his year?
The
bookmakers' prices illustrate a couple of live contenders.
Min
has been backed to odds of 3/1. This seven-year-old gelding, a son of
Walk In The Park, has started favourite since joining Mullins, racing
in the familiar silks of Mrs S Ricci. He won well on his latest
victory at Leopardstown.
Mrs
Ricci fields another horse which leads little introduction –
Douvan. This eight-year-old bay gelding has raced 16 times and proven
victorious 14. Losses bookend his career with being runner-up on
debut and a truly disappointing display last time out last year at
Cheltenham in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. That day, the 2/9f led
but found to be lame finishing 7th.
It will be interesting to see how this once untouchable gelding fares
this year.
Other
fancies as far as the betting considers include:
Fox
Norton, trained by Colin Tizzard. This eight-year-old gelding pulled
up on his last start and priced 12/1 with leading bookmakers.
Great
Field, another charge from Willie Mullins. A winner on his last four
starts, hasn't been seen for the best part of a year. Betting odds of
12/1 suggest he is the third string racing in the famous silks of J P
McManus.
The
betting: Altior 8/11, Min 100/30, Douvan 5/1, Politologue 10/1, Fox
Norton 12/1, Un Des Sceaux 12/1, Great Field 14/1, Special Tiara
16/1, York Hill 16/1, Top Notch 20/1, 25/1 Bar.