Cheltenham Festival 2023: Favourites to oppose

Timeform experts nominate the favourite they are most keen to oppose at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.

Andrew Asquith

Honeysuckle - Mares' Hurdle

Honeysuckle has been successful at the last three Cheltenham Festivals so it may be a bit crazy that she is my favourite to take on, but I just can't have her in the Mares' Hurdle.

This looks one of the most competitive Grade 1s of the week - even if last year's winner Marie's Rock goes to the Stayers' Hurdle - with the likes of Epatante, Brandy Love, Echoes In Rain and Love Envoi all credible challengers.

It is clear that Honeysuckle hasn't been at her best so far this season and, while she is entitled to find this a little bit easier now back against her own sex, she is coming up against some in-form and unexposed mares who will certainly not let her have it all her own way. For me, Brandy Love will take a massive step forward from her recent reappearance and put it up to them all.

Dan Barber

Galopin des Champs - Cheltenham Gold Cup

Relentless galloping has been the most common requirement among Gold Cup winners down the years - especially in those editions run on rain-softened ground - but the main question this year is how relentless Galopin can be faced with the most punishing stamina test in the Grade 1 calendar.

Yes, he was strong at the end of the Irish version, but that’s a flat three miles and many proven over that sort of trip but not at further have come unstuck at Cheltenham, even if they are fundamentally the best horse in the race.

Therefore, Galopin des Champs can join the likes of One Man, Silviniaco Conti and Clan des Obeaux as top-notch chasers for whom the Gold Cup proved a test just a little too far - just over two furlongs too far, to be more precise.

Paul Goodenough

Honeysuckle - Mares' Hurdle

Honeysuckle came into this campaign still unbeaten, and while she’s not been disgraced on either start in 2022/23 the aura of invincibility has clearly now slipped following two defeats. On what will reportedly be her last race before heading to the paddocks, she looks opposable in what seems sure to be an above-average renewal of the Mares' Hurdle.

Epatante – a fellow previous Champion Hurdle winner - wasn’t amongst the original list of entries for this race but has been supplemented, and while last year’s Mares' Hurdle heroine Marie’s Rock could go for the Stayers’ other meaningful opposition will be guaranteed.

That opposition is led by the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Brandy Love, who remains unexposed and should strip fitter for her recent reappearance, and Echoes In Rain, who promises to fare much better than she did in the race 12 months ago after a productive spell both on the Flat and over hurdles (she won the Limestone Lad when last seen).

Billy Nash

Luccia - Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Luccia is clearly a very talented mare, and the Timeform large P on her rating suggests that there should be plenty more to come from her, but I think she is well worth taking on at current odds of around 13/8 in what looks a really competitive mares' novice hurdle.

It is easy enough to pick holes in the form of both of her hurdle wins and I wasn't impressed with her jumping at Exeter last time. The Irish, who have dominated this race since its inception, send a really strong team this year so there are plenty of viable alternatives for those looking to take on Luccia.

Graeme North

Blazing Khal - Stayers' Hurdle

When asked to nominate a favourite to take on at the Festival, my immediate thought was Galopin Des Champs who has a tall reputation but form which when examined in the cold light of day doesn’t compare with that of reigning champion A Plus Tard or tally with his very short price.

But with a slight doubt about A Plus Tard's current form and a lack of wider credible opposition I’ll swerve Galopin Des Champs and nominate Blazing Khal in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

Unbeaten in his last five races, he’s long been a ‘talking’ horse too, but the form of his recent comeback has more holes in it than your average local council highway and came in a modest time too. Moreover, there are credible opponents lining up against him wherever you look, and, with a suspicion too in the back of my mind he might be at his best on very soft ground, I’ll pass him by.

Phil Turner

Stumptown - Kim Muir Handicap Chase

It usually doesn’t pay to take on up-and-coming horses, but my gut feeling is that there has been an over-reaction to Stumptown’s recent win at Sandown and he doesn’t deserve to be as low as 7/2 in the Kim Muir betting.

Admittedly, his form has taken off on his last two starts and there was plenty to admire about that fluent display at Sandown - particularly as runner-up Your Own Story has since franked the form by winning at Wetherby earlier this week.

However, he’ll be taking on a higher calibre of horse at Cheltenham and any Stumptown layers will have plenty of horses with similar, if not stronger, form claims running for them in the Kim Muir.

The likes of Iron Bridge, Mr Incredible, Anightinlambourn and Angels Dawn all make more appeal at current odds, whilst it also wouldn’t be a surprise if one of Gordon Elliott’s many entries leave behind their previous form this season given that yard’s stellar record in this race. All in all, Stumptown looks a favourite to take on despite his upwardly-mobile profile.