Paddy Power Cheltenham preview show RECAP: All the best betting tips and insights for 2021 festival

Lights, camera, action! It's Paddy Power's Ultimate Cheltenham Preview Night.

By / Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing News, Horse Racing Tips, Propaganda / 4 years ago

It’s finally Cheltenham month and Paddy’s on hand to get the juices flowing ahead of the greatest show on turf. That’s right, our fearless leader corralled some of the biggest names in racing to join him for a stellar night of punditry, p*sstaking, previews and predictions ahead of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.

And the best part? You can watch Paddy’s Ultimate Cheltenham Preview Night on our YouTube page. If you’re the type that prefers reading over watching then you’re in luck as you can catch the best bits and reaction below.

Paddy lived up to his title of the host with the most as he kept the great Ruby Walsh, our tipping guru Frank Hickey, trainer Tony Mullins and former jockey Nina Carberry in check.

It’s been a long old slog since Cheltenham 2020 rode off into the distance and we’re all desperate for the 2021 version to get going. While we can’t bring the 16th of March around sooner, we certainly got the party started early with a Preview Night to end all preview nights.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change

THAT’S A WRAP!

Well, that’s that. Paddy Power’s posse of pundits have run the rule over the runners and riders, with plenty of differing views along the way. Hopefully it was of use!

If you want to watch it all back then the two hours of insight and analysis is at the top of the page ready for your viewing pleasure. You should also make PP News your home as we’ll keep you covered with exclusive tipping columns from the likes of Mick Fitzgerald, Matt Chapman and, of course, Ruby Walsh.

Don’t forget we’re offering every Paddy Power punter a FREE £/€5 bet for the first race of the day on Tuesday March 16 and Wednesday March 17 – and we’re doing it all again on Thursday March 18 on any of the seven races.

DAY FOUR SUMMARY

Paddy’s gang are evenly split between Elimay in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase and Al Boum Photo in the Gold Cup as their bankers of the day.

We’ve got a tasty enhancement if you fancy both to win – the double’s boosted from 17/2 to 12/1 over on the betting site for a very limited time.

GOLD CUP

The big one. Who are you backing?

Al Boum Photo is the horse to beat after winning the last two renewals – but Tony Mullins has his eyes on A Plus Tard, who he reckons has the staying potential to prove his class.

Champ’s also prominent in the betting and his less-than-normal preparation by running in the Game Spirit Chase certainly caught the eye – but Nina Carberry thinks he could be in with a shot of dethroning Al Boum Photo.

Ruby Walsh would love to ride Al Boum Photo and, unsurprisingly, thinks he’s the one to beat.

The deciding vote comes down to Frank Hickey… and he’s also backing Willie Mullins’ superstar. We’ll find out in less than two weeks whether Al Boum Photo can join the likes of Best Mate and Arkle in the threepeat club.

COUNTY HURDLE

Willie Mullins has Ganapathi in the entry list but Ruby Walsh can’t guarantee that he’ll run. He likes the look of Coeur Sublime instead as he’s coming down in Grade. Nina Carberry fancies a 16/1 shot in the form of Magic Tricks if he sneaks in. Frank Hickey’s also chucking out a value bet with Ciel De Neige at 20/1. It’s a race with potential returns if our tipsters are on the mark.

DAY THREE SUMMARY

Paddy’s enhancement for tonight only is Paisley Park in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle from 10/3 to 5/1.

On the old best bets front, Tony Mullins has Allaho in the Ryanair Chase while Ruby Walsh can’t get away from Envoi Allen as his banker.

Frank Hickey and Nina Carberry are both looking to the Mares’ Novice Hurdle for their hot tips with Glens of Antrim and Roseys Hollow being fancied.

PADDY POWER STAYERS’ HURDLE

Ding! Ding! Ding! Who are we all backing in Round Three of this season’s blockbuster battle between Paisley Park and Thyme Hill?

Tony Mullins, Ruby Walsh and Frank Hickey are all in the Thyme Hill camp. Anyone for Paisley Park?

RYANAIR CHASE

The most wide open race of the Cheltenham Festival 2021. Our resident weatherman Frank Hickey thinks drying ground could suit Mister Fisher but he admits “loads of them” have a chance.

Tony Mullins has a completely different view to Frank and reckons our NRMB favourite Allaho is the “bet of the meeting”. A big statement from a big character.

Ruby Walsh and his fabulous hair reckons last year’s winner Min is the value bet at 6/1 because he’s a “faster horse than Allaho”.

MARSH NOVICES’ CHASE

Ruby Walsh’s hair really is the talk of the town. The barbers are closed so if anyone fancies buying him a pair of clippers please send them to Paddy Tower.

We’re onto the second half of the show – and we’re kicking off with the Marsh Novices’ Chase. It’s all about Envoi Allen but has switching yards so close to the festival caused a problem?

Tony Mullins thinks Envoi Allen is a class horse – potentially the best in training for the last 20 years! – but hates his 8/11 price. Oof. Frank Hickey talks up Fusil Raffles in the book without Envoi Allen as an each-way bet.

A potentially sharp tip from Ruby Walsh, who reckons Envoi Allen could be even shorter on the day. Interesting, very interesting.

DAY TWO SUMMARY

Drama alert. An alarm goes off. “Thats for me to take my tablets!” admits Tony Mullins. We’re due a break so it’s perfect timing for Tony.

Tony, Ruby Walsh and Nina Carberry are all nabbing Monkfish as their best bet for day two. Frank Hickey decides to be different – the rebel – and names You Raised Me Up in the Coral Cup as his nap.

Meanwhile, Bravemansgame in the Ballymore has gone from 7/2 to 5/1 in our latest enhancement until 11pm.

See you in five minutes!

Cheltenham Festival

CROSS COUNTRY CHASE

Herpes. Well, Equine Herpes to be specific. That’s what the gang are talking about. Coronavirus isn’t the only medical hot topic in town! There’s been an outbreak in France – where last year’s Cross Country Chase winner Easysland is due to travel from. He’s the hot favourite to defend his crown but concerns are also mounting about the potential ground. Frank Hickey has Easysland as his lay of the meeting.

The public’s favourite horse Tiger Roll is hoping to turn the tables on Easysland but the dual Grand National winner’s been in poor form this season.

Nina Carberry and Frank are both backing Shady Operator if you fancy looking outside the top two in the betting.

CHAMPION CHASE

A banker? Chacun Pour Soi’s never run in the UK but he’s the odds-on favourite for the day two feature race.

Ruby Walsh and Nina Carberry are in agreement but at 10/11 it’s a price that could put people off. Tony Mullins likes First Flow and thinks his odds should be much shorter. Well, that’s put a cat amongst the pigeons. Frank Hickey’s turning part-time meteorologist again with his concerns that the drying ground could be an issue for Tony’s tip.

Chacun Pour Soi Paul Townend Leopardstown February 1, 2020

FESTIVAL NOVICES’ CHASE

The banker of the week? Monkfish is odds-on favourite and our panel of experts are running out of superlatives.

“Flawless,” says Nina Carberry, while Tony Mullins doesn’t think the rest of the field will get near Willie Mullins’ horse.

Monkfish

DAY ONE SUMMARY

The day one best bets are in…

Ruby’s loving Appreciate It in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Tony and Nina are on Concertista in the Mares’ Hurdle, while Frank goes rogue with a shout for Houx Gris in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

We’ve also got an enhancement just for tonight on paddypower.com. Shishkin to win the Arkle Chase and Concertista to win the Mares’ Hurdle was 7/2, now it’s 5/1. Woof!

MARES’ HURDLE

Ruby Walsh thinks Roksana is a big danger for Concertista – and his doubts about the latter has sparked concerns for Nina Carberry, who thought she was a banker. If anyone knows anything about the Mares’ Hurdle it’s our Ruby – he did win the race between 2009 and 2014 on the legendary Quevega.

Tony Mullins isn’t fully convinced either so is favouritism justified?

CHAMPION HURDLE

The day one feature race looks like a cracker. Honeysuckle vs last year’s champion Epatante.

Ruby Walsh reckons a “relentless” gallop could suit Honeysuckle – and with Goshen in the mix that’s a real possibility. Tony Mullins has been astounded by Honeysuckle’s progress and is worried by Epatante’s form – but he fancies Abacadabras. A 12/1 shot in our NRMB book, if you agree…

Frank Hickey likes Aspire Tower. If you’ve been following our ‘Countdown to Cheltenham’ podcast series, you’ll know that Frank has been banging the Aspire Tower drum for a while now…

ARKLE CHASE

Shishkin is the EVS favourite, with Energumene at 9/4.

Frank Hickey is a big, big fan of Energumene. “I think he’ll turn over Shishkin,” says Paddy’s trader. As we said, he’s a big, big fan.

Ruby Walsh thinks Shishkin will be an easy ride and will fancy sitting in behind Allmankind and Energumene. Just taking a look at the comments and it’s fair to say the admiring public are loving Ruby’s lockdown hairstyle…

Tony Mullins is going to skip this one because he can’t divide the two of them, while Nina Carberry’s going with Energumene.

SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE

Appreciate It dropped back in distance after Ferny Hollow’s injury – and Ruby Walsh thinks Willie Mullins’ runner is more than good enough to beat the opposition. Ruby says a higher cruising speed is important than a turn of foot in the opener – and Nina Carberry doesn’t think the potential for softer ground will be an issue for Appreciate It. The legendary jockey thinks the favourite is a banker. “What could possibly go wrong?” Nina says with a chuckle in her voice.

“I think he’ll get bigger on the day,” Frank Hickey reckons about Appreciate It’s price.

Soaring Glory will be suited by drying ground, according to Frank. You might want to get checking the weather forecast…

GIMME A FREEBIE, PADDY!

While we can’t be at Cheltenham because of that pesky virus, Paddy has left no stone unturned to make this year’s meeting one to remember.

For the first race of the day on Tuesday March 16 and Wednesday March 17 we’re dishing out a FREE £/€5 bet to every Paddy punter. You heard that correctly, a free punt on the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

If that’s not enough we’re doing it again on Thursday March 18… but this time with any race you like. Woof! The big race that day is the one and only Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle as Paisley Park and Thyme Hill lock horns for the third time season.

Paisley Park Thyme Hill Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle

How’s the form?

Well, hello there. Everybody wants to Feel Like A Favourite – and we’ve got just the thing for you. Tonight Matthew, Uncle Paddy’s going to be playing the role of Ed Chamberlin in our Ultimate Cheltenham Preview Night with Ruby Walsh, Frank Hickey, Nina Carberry & Tony Mullins.

Our all-star ensemble – think of them as horse racing’s version of the Avengers – will be putting their collective necks on the line with tips, insight and anecdotes ahead of this year’s four-day fiesta at Prestbury Park. We can hardly wait.

You should know all about our Cheltenham Non-Runner Money Back offer on every horse in every race on every day of the 2021 festival. If this is suddenly brand new information then don’t worry as it’ll continue up to declarations.

Paddy and the gang go live from 7pm so keep your eyes peeled for all the latest tips, expert analysis and craic.

Cheltenham Paddy Power

*Paddy will be all over your telly box throughout the Cheltenham Festival sponsoring ITV’s live coverage from Prestbury Park – and you can get free and exclusive tipping columns EVERY DAY from Ruby Walsh, Matt Chapman and Mick Fitzgerald here on PP News.

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