Cheltenham Tips: Our Championship races Cheat Sheet as Paddy is non runner no bet for the Festival

I don’t think there is a huge amount that anyone can do to get Constitution Hill beaten. He looks the best horse in the race and Nico De Boinville is an absolute master at keeping things simple.

A very small field will go to post here and clearly Constitution Hill or State Man are set to dominate. For a bit of value I’ll side with Sharjah each-way. 

CONSTITUTION HILL kicked off the Festival  in style for us last year and will do the same this year in the day one feature. He is a real crowd pleaser and could be anything.

Constitution Hill might bolt up so it’s difficult to have a bet from an antepost angle. My idea for a 1-2-3 is Constitution Hill, State Man and I Like To Move It to pick up the pieces at an each-way price.

My first three are Constitution Hill, State Man and I’m going for First Street at an each-way  price to fill the places. 

It’s not like me to go against WP Mullins but I’m going to side with last year’s Arkle winner Edwardstone to get the better of the reigning Champion Chaser Energumene.

It is a huge mistake that SHISHKIN has not been entered in this race! He has to be supplemented, and connections show no sign of doing that, despite his Ascot win but hopefully they will see the light! The likelihood is he may now end up in the Ryanair Chase but I’m hoping it will be the Champion Chase.

EDWARDSTONE won the Arkle Chase last year and the winners of that have a great record in the Champion Chase 12 months later. He’s such a strong traveller in his races and is normally a good jumper. The faster they go the better he’ll be.

It’s a very open Champion Chase. Edwardstone is the one to beat but I anticipate Editeur Du Gite‘s price is going to drift and if he gets to 9s or 10s, I’d definitely be backing him.

Despite the fast-finishing defeat last time, Edwardstone enhanced his chances for the Champion Chase. He’s more likely to have the race run to suit him this time and he should deliver. 

The change of tactics on Home By the Lee has worked wonders. He was also-ran here last year but by giving him more daylight in his races it’s suiting him way better.

FLOORING PORTER is in a race against time to make the race, but of course if he doesn’t you get your money back with PP. The dual champ is a perfect fit in this if he makes the line-up. 

MARIE’S ROCK could run here or the Mares Hurdle but Paddy Power are non-runner money back so even if she switches you will get your stake back on the race she doesn’t run it. She won the Mares’ Hurdle last year and looked very good when winning on her seasonal debut his year.

It looks very open but there’s a feeling that Blazing Khal could be something special. If he can avoid injury again and the bounce factor from his Navan win he looks a major contender.

I’d be pretty sure that King Charles Byrnes will get it done with Blazing Khal!

When you light  GALOPIN DES CHAMPS up now, he switches himself back off, so he’s way more relaxed in his races. He has the ideal profile for a Gold Cup horse as he had the pace to win over shorter trips and he looks like he’ll stay 3m 2f. He ticks all the boxes.

Previous winner MINELLA INDO is over priced. He beat Stattler last time and that horse is half the odds. The former Gold Cup hero really should have each-way claims again.  

Last year’s winner A PLUS TARD hasn’t had a run since Haydock last year but if someone told you that you could back him at three times the price he won the Blue Riband at last year you’d have bitten their hand off. He looks the value play to me if you forgive him that one poor run earlier in the season.

Ahoy Senor does need to put in a career-best effort and has the talent and grit to do it after he finally came good this season in the Cotswolds Chase.

I’m going for an outsider to win the Gold Cup. You could see Sounds Russian travelling well with a quieter ride, he’s a strong stayer and he’s improved with every single run this year. I’ll be having a few bob each-way.