AS I complete this piece on the Thursday afternoon before The Cheltenham Festival the excitement continues to build ahead of the roar next Tuesday at 1.30 as the first race gets underway. I was on course on Tuesday and the home of jump racing was looking fantastic.

These five selections at double figure prices all have the talent to run some big races and have certainly been overlooked.

Please note that Unibet are non-runner no bet (NRNB) on all 28 races at the Cheltenham Festival.

See you at The Festival!

Cheers

The Wine Tipster  

Tuesday March 14^th

1.30 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Grade I (2m ½f)

High Definition was last season finishing second to Alenquer in the Tattersalls Gold Cup Group 1 at the Curragh ahead of some disappointing and frustrating performances on the flat before joining Joseph O’ Brien to go hurdling. High Definition is most definitely very talented and he won on hurdling debut at Leopardstown ahead of setting off in front with Facile Vega at a frenetic pace in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Festival before unseating J J Slevin at the fourth. High Definition did actually jump all the rest of the hurdles riderless on that occasion and if his jumping holds up, this ex-top Flat Horse could make all the running here in a Supreme which is more open than the betting indicates.

3.30 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy Grade 1 (2m ½f)

I Like To Move It is overlooked in the market and can be the one to chase home the brilliant Constitution Hill, trained by Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson. I Like To Move It started the season on a mark of 142 and is now on 157, which admittedly shows he has something to find here on those above him in the market, though his progression is nowhere near his ceiling yet. This season it didn’t work out when upped in trip in the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day, whilst on his other two starts he won the Greatwood in November to make it three wins at Cheltenham and he cruised up in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last month.  As long as the ground doesn’t get too soft I Like To Move It, who jumps and travels really well, will run a big race.

Thursday March 16^th

4.50 Ryanair Mares Novices’ Hurdle Grade 2 (2m 1f)

Ladybank dead-heated with the very smart and admirable Princess Zoe (reopposes here) at Punchestown last time out on her second run of her career, with all the talk about Princess Zoe after the race, yet you had to be impressed with Ladybank. Ladybank’s jumping was very quick and efficient, spending little time getting over her hurdles when travelling superably too. She challenged Princess Zoe late on from off the pace and she might well have won. Labybank looks a very smart prospect, and you can see her chasing home Luccia, who looks a rock-solid favourite for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson.

Friday March 17^th

3.30 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (3m 2½f)

Ahoy Senor came right back to form when winning the Cotswold Chase on Festival Trials Day when beating Sounds Russian (Unibet 20/1 for the Boodles, overlooked here) and Grand National winner Noble Yeats, who is currently Unibet 8/1. This wasn’t a one off run for Ahoy Senor at Cheltenham, as he chased home L’Homme Presse in the 2022 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and then won the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree. Ahoy Senor might be unfashionable, as he has his own way of doing things, yet this eight-year-old is right at his peak, with the Lucinda Russell yard in sparkling form, whilst Derek Fox is riding Cheltenham as good as anyone right now and Ahoy Senor can run a massive race.

5.30 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle (2m 4½f)

Grozni needs plenty of runners to come out, though there are as ever plenty of multiple entries and this Charles Byrnes trained runner has strong each way claims for a yard that loves targeting handicaps. Grozni was having his first run for nearly two months when leading until the last at Leopardstown last month before finishing second to Perceval Legallos (well fancied in the Pertemps). There was lots to like about that run and this genuine type has won on three occasions since joining the yard last July, so expect another strong show here on his first appearance at Cheltenham.