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The Cheltenham Festival goes into action today and everyone has an opinion on which horse to bet on in each race.
Our top team of racing experts ED CHAMBERLIN, LIZZIE KELLY, MARCUS TOWNEND, PETER SCUDAMORE and DOMINIC KING will point you in the right direction every day.
Here are your best options.
Thousands of fans will flock to Cheltenham Festival this week
Bettors are hoping to win some money during an exciting week of racing.
ED CHAMBERLIN
BEST BET
I’ve been sweet for a long time with JADE DE GRUGY in the Mares Novices Hurdle on Thursday.
It’s shaping up to be fantastic competition as I hear they love Brighterdaysahead in Gordon Elliott’s stable and there’s a lot of confidence behind Dysart Enos, but Jade De Grugy races in Honeysuckle colors and is able to keep up the tradition.
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The British trainers will be successful and Dan Skelton has some powerful bullets to fire. GRAY DAWNING jumps well and moves with power.
He has impressed me this winter and may land the Turners Novices Chase on Thursday. I hope you have good support to do so. He is unlucky not to be undefeated in his last three starts.
STRANGER
CORACH RAMBLER is a fantastic two-way bet in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. She loves to push her way through her rivals and will go up the hill hard.
This is said to be a warm-up race for his Grand National defence, but he can show his class.
Mail Sport expert Ed Chamberlin has provided his best bets and outsiders for next week.
Jade De Grugy (pictured) should shine in the Mares Novices Hurdle on Thursday
Corach Rambler (pictured) triumphed in last year’s Grand National and is a fantastic bet for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
MARCUS TOWNEND
BEST BET
I’ve had my eye on LIBBERTY HUNTER for most of the season as I switched to fences. He fell into second-last place when coming off a win at Chepstow in November, but has since won at Wincanton and Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
The fast pace of Wednesday’s Big Annual Johnny Henderson Hunt will suit him and he has good turn of foot. Harry Cobden’s booking for riding looks significant.
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Expectations were once so high that it looks like the exploits of ENVOI ALLEN, who takes part in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase, may not get all the credit they deserve.
But he is entering his sixth festival and already has three wins there: the 2019 Bumper Festival, the 2020 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and last year’s Ryanair Chase. They have kept him fresh for the replay and will need to be stopped a bit.
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She’s not a big longshot, but you should get double-digit odds on GOLDEN ACE in Friday’s Mares’ Novice Hurdle.
She is facing some problems but has definitely taken a step forward by winning two races at Taunton and Jeremy Scott, a trainer whose feet are firmly planted on the ground, has made no secret of how much he values her.
Grade One winning jockey Lizzie Kelly has given her top tips for the four days of racing.
Libberty Hunter (pictured) should be well prepared for Wednesday’s Big Annual Hunt
Envoi Allen (pictured) will make some stops in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase
LIZZIE KELLY
BEST BET
KARGESE in Friday’s Triumph Hurdle. I feel she is a little underrated after leading home a Willie Mullins trained 1-2-3-4 in the Grade 1 Youth Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.
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SA MAJESTE in Friday’s Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle. He has not raced since he beat 2022 Grand National winner Noble Yeats at Limerick in December, form improved by the latter’s victory in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January.
He has only raced four times, making it difficult for handicappers to accurately assess him.
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MR VANGO, who runs in Tuesday’s National Hunt Chase, has a lot going for him in terms of his rating compared to his opponents, but was an incredibly easy winner of the Devon National in only his second start over fences.
The more it rains, the better for him it will be an endurance test that is as tough as possible.
Kargese (pictured) has been a little underrated ahead of Friday’s Triumph Hurdle
Mr. Vango (pictured) could do well in Tuesday’s National Game Hunt, especially if it rains.
PETER SCUDAMORE
BEST BET
BALLYBURN is a horse with a great reputation. The odds on him aren’t great, but he looks the safest to take part in the week’s short price hotpots when he lines up in Wednesday’s Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle.
It was a surprise when he was defeated in his season debut, albeit by a useful opponent in Firefox. But he has easily won both of his races since he included a grade one at the Dublin Racing Festival.
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I like THE GOFFER’s chances in Tuesday’s Ultima Handicap Chase. He was fourth behind Corach Rambler in last year’s race and has a second chance in the race on a slightly lower handicap mark. He’s still only seven years old and I like that he seems to have been saving himself for this race all season.
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It has to be my old ally and Grand National winner CORACH RAMBLER. His 20-1 odds are too long. He is three out of three on the track, won the Ultima Chase in the last two festivals and has had a preparation similar to previous seasons.
Yes, the Gold Cup is a much tougher race, but his form is very close to Fastorslow’s and I don’t think he deserves four times the odds. If he can control the runners from the start, he will surely finish strong.
Ballyburn (pictured) won his last two races before Wednesday’s Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle
Goffer (pictured) should perform well in Tuesday’s Ultima Handicap Chase
DOMINICAN KING
BEST BET
Let’s start the week in a big way. TULLYHILL is improving at a rapid rate and the gelding’s victory in the warm-up for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Punchestown last month was picking up steam.
With Ballyburn redirected to the Gallaghers Hurdle on Wednesday, his stablemate can build on a glorious opening.
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GINNY’S FATE in Turners Novices Chase. I loved how he came up the hill on the day of the field trials in January, his jump and his attitude were a sight to behold.
Hearing Paul Nicholls, his trainer, speak with such enthusiasm both then and later in his stables moved me. This is a good horse and he won’t be outdone.
Tullyhill (pictured) has improved rapidly and should be in contention for the Gallaghers Hurdle
Ginny’s Destiny (pictured) will be a big threat in the Turners Novices Chase
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Willie Mullins tends to win the Champion Bumper, but not necessarily with the first pick in the stable. He would suggest 16/1 on Argento Boy, who races in the same colors as Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs, would reward sponsors in every way.
The coach had a twinkle in his eye when talking about him recently. It wouldn’t be the worst bet.