Cheltenham April Meeting day one race by race betting guide
It seems like yesterday that we were talking about the most controversial Cheltenham Festival in living memory, and just like that, we are back at the scene of it all.
Willie Mullins is going all in for the UK trainers championship, and he has a total of four runners today as he aims to close the gap on Dan Skelton.
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🏇 Cheltenham 1:30 Citipost Novices' Hurdle - 2m4½f (New Course) (Class 2) (4yo+)
Willie Mullins looks to get off to a flying start as he saddles two, both with very different profiles. Toad Hall is lightly raced, having only had three starts to date, one in a bumper and two over hurdles, winning at the second attempt. Where DR EGGMAN took seven attempts to get off the mark, but he should be able to kick on now that he has gotten his head in front. He has always promised to be a lot better than he has shown, and now with a confidencen boosting win under his belt, he can prove hard to beat.
Pleasington was a major disappointment last time out when he travelled to Ireland for a Grade 3 hurdle at Naas. He lost his left fore shoe, which is no excuse for the well below par run, and if he were to bounce back to the form that saw him win back-to-back, he would be a big danger to all. But he does have a question mark over the ground.
- Selection: Dr Eggman
- Danger: Pleasington
🐎 Bet on Dr Eggman with Betfred 🐎
🏇 Cheltenham 2:05 Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle - 2m4½f (New Course) (Class 2) (4yo+)
Doyen Quest won last year's renewal of this off a 12 lb lower mark, but he has not been in the same for this season. In his three runs this season, he has been beating by a combined 80 lengths and will need a big turnaround in form to get Dan Skelton some much-needed prize money.
Typhoon Flyer was a convincing winner at Haydock last month, but a 6 lb rise demands more from this lightly raced 7-year-old, and Reallyntruthfully is one top of his game and can't be dismissed. But the class-dropping EAST INDIA EXPRESS can make up for a disappointing run in the Martin Pipe here despite top weight. If you forgive him for his run at Cheltenham, he showed good progress this season. There will be no ground worries, and if he shows no ill effects of his Cheltenham Festival run, then he can be the one that they all have to beat.
- Selection: East India Express 4/1
- Danger: Reallyntruthfully 10/1
- Current Betting: East India Express 4/1, Typhoon Flyer 11/2, Spirits Bay 15/2, Royale Margaux 9/1, Doyen Quest 10/1, Rellyntruthfully 10/1, 11/1.
🐎 Bet on East India Express with SBK 🐎
🏇 Cheltenham 2:40 Grade 2 Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase - 2m4½f (New Course) (Limited Handicap) (5yo+)
There are a few here where you could make a strong case for. Il Ridoto, who took the Paddy Power Chase at the November meeting, runs here off a 3 lb higher mark, but he has been in bad form since that win and is there to be taken on. Moon D'Orange got up in the shadows of the post over course and distance in January, and he didn't go unbacked in the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival since. If he can bounce back to form here in this less demanding contest, he can be bang there at the finish.
O'Moore Park finished 3rd in the same race at the Cheltenham Festival and has every chance to go well again, but the classy CLASSIC GETAWAY will be hard to beat despite conceding weight all around.
He has had his injury problems throughout the years, but he has started to show some of the form that had people talking about him in his younger days. He backed up a good 2nd to Appreciate It with an easy win over Saint Sam in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park. He should have more left in the locker, and on ground that shouldn't be much of an issue, it's hard to see Classic Getaway not being bang there at the business end.
- Selection: Classic Getaway 9/2
- Danger: Moon D'Orange 8/1
- Current Betting: O'Moore Park 4/1, Classic Getaway 9/2, Riskingtheground 13/2, Bhaloo 7/1, Moon D'Orange 8/1, Il Ridoto 10/1, Hang In There 12/1, 14/1 bar.
🐎 Bet on Classic Getaway with talkSPORT BET 🐎
🏇 Cheltenham 3:15 Brooklands Watches Golden Miller Racing Holman Handicap Chase - 3m4f (New Course) (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5yo+ 0-125)
A tight looking handicapped on paper, with the top five in the betting all coming in here on the back of wins. Ask Brewster took a big step forward when upped to just shy of 3m at Chepstow. He has to deal with a 9 lb rise but he still gets in off a low weight which will help him take another step forward up in trip once again.
Gordon Elliott's Jumping Jet would have a squeak here if he can improve on his failed attempt to win back-to-back Ulster Nationals at the end of last month. But the one who is on top of his game and on a steep upward curve is YES DAY. He comes here seeking a hat trick of wins after a more than comfortable win at Exeter last month. That win was over 3m6f, and the drop in trip won't be an issue here as the first of his two wins was over 3m1f. Yes, he must carry top weight, but going on the ease in which he won last time, an extra 4 lb on his back may not be enough to stop him here.
The 13-year-old Saint Xavier won a class 2 at Haydock in December off 4 lb lower, and if his small break has perked him up, then he has every right to be involved in the finish at big odds.
- Selection: Yes Day 10/3
- Danger: Ask Brewster 5/1
- Current Betting: Yes Day 10/3, Ajp Kingdom 4/1, Ask Brewster 5/1, Mahland 6/1, Regarde 7/1, Illico De Cotte 10/1, 12/1 bar.
🐎 Bet on Yes Day with bet365 🐎
🏇 Cheltenham 3:50 Safran Landing Systems Handicap Hurdle - 3m (New Course) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-145)
Zain Nights left his disappointing run in the Pertempts Final when he won with authority at Newbury last time in first-time visors, and if he can back up that run, then there's no reason why he can put up a good showing. But he does have 25 lengths to find with LONG DRAW on their meeting here in December. Zain Nights gave Long Draw 10lb that day, and today he still has to concede weight to Long Draw, but this time it is only 4 lbs. But, that may not be enough to get the better of that rival here if anything, Zain Nights may be the one that sets it up for Long Draw.
Long Draw went off 11/4 favourite on his last run when looking to back up a win over course and distance, but Beau Morgan gave him too much to do and could only manage a 4th place finish. However, now that he is back under the guidance of Sean Bowen, this course and distance winner can prove hard to beat.
Samuel Spade runs off the same mark that saw him finish 2nd at Uttoxeter in March, and if he is in the same form, he has a solid each-way chance at a price.
- Selection: Long Draw 9/2
- Danger: Zain Nights 5/1
- Current Betting: Mr Hope Street 4/1, Long Draw 9/2, Zain Nights 5/1, Harbor Lake 17/2, Super Survivor 9/1, Dashel Drasher 12/1, 12/1 bar.
🐎 Bet on Long Draw with Paddy Power 🐎
🏇 Cheltenham 4:25 Weatherite Air Conditioning Handicap Chase - 3m2f (New Course) (Class 2) (5yo+ 0-150)
Plenty of horses in here are past their prime, but given that most of them are in the final furlong of their career, it is sometimes hard to predict what version of them will turn up, and that even goes for runners on the back of wins.
Moroder was over 5 lengths ahead of Hymac when they met at Doncaster at the beginning of last month, and the 4 lb swing in the weight may see Hymac get closer to her. Still, Moroder ran a huge race in this last season to follow home the reopposing Manofthepeople, and on paper, this year's renewal looks easier as there is no Stumptown lurking in the shadows. But one who is now 2 lb lower than his last winning mark is a former course winner DOES HE KNOW.
When he returned from a short break in February, he was pulled up, but he ran much better than his over 9 length 3rd would suggest in a veterans chase at Carlise. If he can take a step forward again, Does He Know has enough in the locker to see him return to winning ways.
- Selection: Does He Know 9/2
- Danger: Manofthepeople 4/1
- Current Betting: Hymac 11/4, Moroder 7/2, Manofthepeople 4/1, Does He Know 9/2, Grandads Horse 13/2, Java Point 13/2, What Path 28/1.
🐎 Bet on Does He Know with Betfred 🐎
🏇 Cheltenham 5:00 Cheltenham Pony Racing Authority Graduates Handicap Hurdle - 2m1f (New Course) (Cond'/Am' that have ridden in PRA races) (4yo+ 0-135)
Casa No Mento is the class angle in the race, but in a race like this, carrying top weight will test her before she tests the jockey's skills. She is known to have her own ways of doing things, but if she is on a going day, she is feared.
A chance is taken with CONTINUANCE, who gets in here off a featherweight. He is officially down to carry 10st 8lb, but with Freddie Keighley taking a further 10 lb he only has to carry 9st12lb. However, the authority with which he won his last two races suggests that he can prove to be much better than his current mark. He is one who also has his own way of doing things, but now that he has figured out how to get his head in front, this could mark the biggest day in the saddle for Freddie Keighley.
Castel Gandolfo is capable of going close off this mark, but he has shown a preference for Market Rasen, although he has run well here in the past. Any support in the betting market should be noted.
- Selection: Continuance
- Danger: Casa No Mento
🐎 Bet on Continuance with SBK 🐎
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube's . Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you're a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
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