Cheltenham Tips: Frank Hickey’s ante-post NRMB bets including a 14/1 Stayers’ Hurdle pick

Top trader Frank Hickey talks the Stayers Hurdle, the Triumph Hurdle & the Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase - and he likes Noble Yeats in the Stayers.

Frank Hickey Cheltenham Oct 22

By / Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing Tips / 3 months ago

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

Frank Hickey’s Cheltenham NRMB Antepost Tips:

Thursday, March 14th, 3:30pm: Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle – Noble Yeats (each way)
Friday, March 15th, 1:30pm: Triumph Hurdle – Highwind
Friday, March 15th, 4:50pm: Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase – Brides Hill

        Paddy Power Media’s ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ podcast ‘Cheltenham Countdown’ is back and that means we’ve also got ‘Cheltenham Countdown Extra‘ with our top trader Frank Hickey. He’s given us his early thoughts on potential NRMB antepost picks ahead of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.

            Frank Hickey

            Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle

            Thursday, March 14th, 3:30pm

            Teahupoo is a solid horse at the top of the market. He beat Impaire Et Passe at Fairyhouse in December but I’m not sure Willie Mullins’ runner really turned up. Impaire Et Passe is a good horse but I thought he was going to be a superstar. I’m also not sold on him over three miles.

            Theleme is now out of the Stayers’ Hurdle but it was always going to be hard to get a handle on his French form. Ahoy Senor could be interesting but his jumping is suspect, although he would be a pace angle.

            I’ve landed on Noble Yeats, who sticks out like a sore thumb. Emmet Mullins is a genius and he obviously thinks the Stayers Hurdle is there for the taking. He won the Grand National in 2022, while his fourth in the race last year was decent.

            I’m almost talking myself into backing him. His rating over fences is 166 and I’d be very interested if he’s going to run.

            My top three picks would be Noble Yeats, Irish Point and Crambo.

                  Triumph Hurdle

                  Friday, March 15th, 1:30pm

                  Highwind for Willie Mullins has a serious engine and after listening to him and Ruby, I’ve decided he’s their No. 1 for the Triumph Hurdle.

                  Burdett Road is at the top of the market. The form from his win at the Cheltenham November meeting in the Juvenile Hurdle is decent and I haven’t seen a horse come up the hill like that in a long time.

                  I won’t be having a bet right now but out of those two I’m siding with Highwind, purely based on the prices. I’m also keeping an eye out for Storm Heart to see how he runs at the Dublin Racing Festival.

                          Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase

                          Friday, March 15th, 4:50pm

                          Ruby was sweet on Dinoblue but she shapes like a really good two miler. I wouldn’t want to be getting stuck in right now. I’ve got plenty of concerns about Allegorie De Vassy so I couldn’t be with her. She won’t be winning and she’s hitting the frame at best.

                          You can make a case for Limerick Lace but I like Brides Hill. I had her in my picks then Rory tipped her up! She can throw in the odd stinker but the way she travels is brilliant. If Dinoblue finds the hill hard work, Brides Hill could pick her off. She’s a big price but you’d like to hear that she’s definitely going to run in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase.

                                  Frank Hickey’s Cheltenham NRMB Antepost Tips:

                                  Thursday, March 14th, 3:30pm: Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle – Noble Yeats (each way)
                                  Friday, March 15th, 1:30pm: Triumph Hurdle – Highwind
                                  Friday, March 15th, 4:50pm: Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase – Brides Hill

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

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