Cheltenham Tips: Frank Hickey’s best Festival handicap bets include a 25/1 shout

This you will want to read as our top trader gives us a couple of dark horses to keep in mind.

Frank Hickey Cheltenham 2022 & Punchestown

Frank Hickey’s Handicap picks:

Ultima Handicap Chase: Tea Clipper
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle: Morning Soldier
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle: Hector Javilex

The Cheltenham Festival 2023 is now less than two weeks away and we’ve got top trader Frank Hickey on board with us to hopefully get you more bang for your buck.

We’ve got some big Handicap races during the Festival, including the Ultima Handicap Chase, the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle.

They’re usually wide open and Frank is back to find some value in the markets.

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Frank Hickey preview

Ultima Handicap Chase

I give Tea Clipper a good chance in the Ultima, especially if the forecast remains dry. He was fourth last year off a mark of 145 and horses who ran well have often come back and impress again. He’s 2lbs higher now and he was third in the Coral Cup in 2021 so he’s got some solid form. His run at Ascot in October behind Our Power is interesting as the winner won again recently. The form has worked out really well for that race.

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

It could depend on what mark he’s off but I like Morning Soldier in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. I can’t see him being higher than mid-120’s and he’s got solid form. He had a great run when finishing second behind Nusret at Punchestown in November. He followed that up with a couple of disappointing runs but he bounced back at Naas last month when second to Sir Allen by a length. Danny Mullins could have probably held onto him a bit longer as he ran out of puff at the end. If the ground is good, he’s on my radar.

Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle

Hector Javilex is worth a look in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle on the final day. He won over three miles on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham and he was fourth before that over 2m 5f. He qualified after finishing fourth at Huntingdon in January. His form from the Cheltenham win has held up and he could go well.

Frank Hickey’s Handicap picks:

Ultima Handicap Chase: Tea Clipper
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle: Morning Soldier
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle: Hector Javilex

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