Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post Tips: 3 Selections For 2024
The are now offering ‘Non-Runner Money Back’ when it comes to ante-post betting on next week’s meeting, so punters have the added insurance of getting cash back if the nominated horse doesn’t line up in that particular race or happens to be withdrawn for any reason.
With all that in mind, here’s our Cheltenham ante-post tips ahead of the 2024 event.
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It now looks as though Ballyburn will run in this Day Two opener rather than the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and in the latest it’s odds-on that the six-year-old will claim a victory there.
Many racing fans hold the opinion that the Willie Mullins-trained runner will oblige with a victory wherever he ends up and it’s hard to bet against the form of a horse who has won five of his six races thus far.
He was a facile winner at the Dublin Racing Festival when winning over two miles and had previously scored a success over two miles and four furlongs, also at Leopardstown.
It appears that Mullins has decided to pitch his stable star over a longer distance according to and we can see Ballyburn being sent off at odds-on once it has been decided that he will take his chances in this encounter.
It’s very hard to oppose Ballyburn who still looks a backable price to kick Day Two off in style. He is likely to act well on the soft conditions that are anticipated on the old course.
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Crebilly was running very well when falling at Cheltenham earlier in the season, with the horse successful at Exeter last time out.
Sent off at 5/2 in February, the runner was able to oblige over two miles and three furlongs on heavy ground, beating favourite Tahmuras in the process.
This could be a successful festival for owner JP McManus and we think an each-way bet on this seven-year-old could be worth an interest, especially if there’s some cut in the ground.
Crebilly was travelling really strongly at Prestbury Park in mid-November when sent off as the 3/1 favourite on in that aforementioned handicap chase and could well have delivered but for his fall.
The Jonjo O’Neill-trained runner wasn’t far behind when finishing fourth in a novices’ chase in mid-December, with the horse making a couple of jumping errors in a field of six runners. More fluency this time around could make all the difference.
Established 2012
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The Ryanair Chase betting market includes runners who will be diverted elsewhere such as El Fabiolo, although we’re backing Envoi Allen to repeat his victory of 12 months ago.
The 10-year-old is a class act and the Henry de Bromhead-trained runner has looked in good nick in his two appearances this season.
Although neither of these resulted in a victory, there was a third-placed finish at Gowran Park on heavy ground before a smarter run when finishing second behind the Gold Cup-bound Gerri Colombe in November.
We rate the best
There was everything to like about the horse’s victory in the Ryanair last year when Rachael Blackmore was able to steer him to a success by nearly three lengths ahead of favourite Shishkin.
It wasn’t a fluent jumping performance on that occasion either.
Established 2007
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Matthew Glazier is a seasoned veteran of the online betting industry, having cut his teeth at Sporting Index before a spell at Betfair. He was also Head of Marketing at bet365 for several years. Matthew provides betting and gaming advice for The Independent.
