Cheltenham fever is well and truly in the air. It’s around six weeks until the four-day meeting gets underway, but already the excitement is starting to build. Last year’s Festival was one of the last major sporting events in the United Kingdom to host large crowds before the coronavirus struck. However, this year, it’s very likely that the iconic Prestbury Park concourses will be bare.
Still, there is plenty to look forward too. The large number of races between March 16th-19th will have us thoroughly studying the form guides and examining the betting exchange for the best odds. For many punters, it’s about looking past the favourites and delving deep into the racecards to find a horse who might win (or place) from left of field. However, sometimes you shouldn’t write off backing the favourite. So, in light of that, we have put together this guide of four market leaders it’s hard to look past at this year’s meeting.
Shishkin – Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase
With five victories on the trot, Nicky Henderson-trained Shishkin is on red-hot form. After falling in the Prodec Network Maiden Hurdle at Newbury in December 2019, the seven-year-old has gone unbeaten. Two comfortable wins at Newbury and Huntingdon early last year put Shishkin in good stead heading into the Cotswolds meeting, where he went on to beat Abacadabras by a head in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices Hurdle. Two huge victories at Kempton towards the end of last year are further evidence of the gelding’s class, and it’s hard to imagine him getting beaten in the Arkle, that’s why Shishkin is worth including in your day one selections.
Monkfish – Festival Novices’ Chase
From day one to day two now, and you should look no further than Monkfish in the day’s second race, the Festival Novices’ Chase. The Willie Mullins-trained horse is also on a five-race winning streak, which includes a victory by a neck at the Festival in last year’s Spa Novices’ Hurdle. That was the seven-year-old’s first Grade 1 victory. However, he has won another top-level race since then, a Novices’ Chase at Leopardstown in December, and we’re confident the Rich Ricci-owned horse is going to steamroll his way to victory at Prestbury Park this year.
Envoi Allen – Marsh Novices’ Chase
The unbeaten Envoi Allen is already a dual winner at the Cheltenham Festival, and this year he looks certain to land a hattrick of victories at Prestbury Park in the Marsh Novices’ Chase. Last year, the seven-year-old won the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle by a rather comfortable four lengths, and three further victories since then, including the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse, which he won by over eight lengths, have taken Envoi Allen’s career unbeaten streak to 12 races.
Al Boum Photo – Gold Cup
Now to the Festival showpiece, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Of course, the prestigious race is notoriously difficult to call – after all, it is contested by the best horses that National Hunt racing has to offer. However, Al Boum Photo will have his sights set on a third successive Gold Cup victory, and seven-time Festival Leading Trainer Mullins will have the nine-year-old in tip-top shape as he looks to match Arkle and Best Mate’s record. A 19-length victory in his most recent outing at Tramore shows that Al Boum Photo is still up to speed, and he’s miles away of the rest of the field in the Gold Cup betting.
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