*Paddy Power is now Non Runner Money Back for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. That means that if your selection does not line up in the race you back it in for any reason – you will now get your stake back. TC’s apply.
The best-backed horses at Cheltenham:
Tuesday 11th March, 16:00: Champion Hurdle – Constitution Hill
Wednesday 12th March, 17:20: Champion Bumper – Gameofinches
Thursday 13th March, 13:20: Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Karoline Banbou
Friday 14th March, 15:20: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – The Big Westerner
Friday 14th March, 17:20: Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle – Wodhooh
Champion Hurdle – Constitution Hill
Tuesday 11th March, 16:00
This might seem an obvious one in this illustrious list, but it’s worth remembering that Nicky Henderson’s stable star, who is currently our biggest loser overall, was only a 2-1 chance when we first priced up this championship heat last March which highlights just how very popular he has been.
The whole of the racing world were gutted last year when Constitution Hill was forced to miss this contest, but we look in for an absolute crackerjack now this season after Gordon Elliott recently revealed that Brighterdaysahead will take him on.
Despite a year off, Constitution Hill has looked back to his brilliant best this term, first winning the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, which appeared no easy task on paper with Lossiemouth in opposition, before an easy win at Cheltenham in January.
Arguably the most anticipated race of the week.
Champion Bumper – Gameofinches
Wednesday 12th March, 17:20
Willie Mullins has won this event an incredible 13 times since its establishment in 1992 and the annual punters’ search for the best of the Closutton team has so far landed on six-year-old Gameofinches.
Gameofinches must have been showing something at home from the word go while with previous trainer Paul Cashman as he was sent off favourite for his point-to-point debut at Cragmore last year when he took an unfortunate tumble at the last fence.
But he made amends 10 months later when scoring in a similar contest at Dromahane where he went clear before the last and went on to score by nine lengths and rewarding favourite backers who had kept the faith.
He won again when odds-on for his first and only start for Mullins in a Punchestown bumper last month when easily prevailing under Patrick Mullins and punters certainly seem enamoured with that performance.
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Karoline Banbou
Thursday 13th March, 13:20
The second Mullins contender to appear, mare Karoline Banbou is owned by JP McManus, who looks to have a particularly strong hand at this year’s Festival, and has so far had two appearances in public after transferring from France in October.
Her first start in Ireland didn’t go completely to plan as she was beaten at odds on, but connections probably weren’t too disheartened as she was only headed in the final strides by Baby Kate after not always jumping with the greatest of fluency.
The five-year-old made no mistake at the second time of asking, making all for a comfortable victory at Fairyhouse last month and Mullins will be keen to get back on the scoreboard in this having won the first five runnings, but then none of the most recent four.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – The Big Westerner
Friday 14th March, 15:20
This Westerner mare was quietly backed on her hurdling bow in a maiden at Punchestown in November for Henry De Bromhead and didn’t let her supporters down as she was pushed out to outpoint Argento Boy by a length.
Connections decided a big step up in grade was warranted and The Big Westerner’s winning ways continued in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Limerick on St Stephen’s Day when easily justifying favouritism by four and a quarter lengths from Mozzies Sister.
The second of these wins was over two miles and seven furlongs, a furlong and a half further than Punchestown, and to those watching it appeared that the further she went, the better she got.
The three miles of the Albert Bartlett should be perfect and she should relish the Cheltenham hill stamina test as she won her only point over this distance as a five-year-old a year ago.
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle – Wodhooh
Friday 14th March, 17:20
Wodhooh has been a revelation for Gordon Elliott since transferring from the tutelage of Sir Michael Stoute on the Flat, possessing an unblemished record of six from six over timber.
Three three-year-old hurdle victories in 2023 were followed up with a couple of wins in Listed fillies’ juvenile hurdles at Newbury and Doncaster, both times proving too powerful for Max Of Stars.
A year off games didn’t prevent her returning with a win in a mares’ handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in December, when she kept on well to see off Joyeuse and punters don’t seem too perturbed about her rise in the weights due to that success.
The best-backed horses at Cheltenham:
Tuesday 11th March, 16:00: Champion Hurdle – Constitution Hill
Wednesday 12th March, 17:20: Champion Bumper – Gameofinches
Thursday 13th March, 13:20: Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Karoline Banbou
Friday 14th March, 15:20: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – The Big Westerner
Friday 14th March, 17:20: Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle – Wodhooh
*Paddy Power is now Non Runner Money Back for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. That means that if your selection does not line up in the race you back it in for any reason – you will now get your stake back. TC’s apply.
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