Top tips from: Paddy Power
The Cheltenham Festival is without doubt our single busiest week of the year. Where casual punters and racing purists alike come together and celebrate all things tweed, with the best jumps racing in the world on show.
More so than any other year, the betting landscape for the festival revolves around the Irish Champion trainer, Willie Mullins, who trains no less than four of the favourites on the first day.
It could be Willie-mageddon for us if all those Mullins horses do the business, but if he’s going to take us down, we’re going to go down in style. We’ve decided to give money back on all losers on the first two races should the Mullins-trained favourites, Douvan and Un De Sceaux, win their respective races. That’s absolutely Cheltmental.
Elsewhere, the Champion chase on day two looks an interesting renewal and there is a major question mark over whether Sprinter Sacre can return to prominence. He’s 5/2 joint favourite with last year’s winner Sire de Grugy.
Day three is headlined by the World Hurdle, which looks an open race on paper. Zarkandar is the 9/2 favourite for Paul Nicholls, who also provides the second favourite Saphir Du Rheu at 5/1.
Day four is Gold Cup day and it’s one of the most open renewals there’s been for a while. King George winner Silviniaco Conti is no doubt the form horse coming into the race. We’re top price 100/30 about him and it’s 8/1 Many Clouds, which looks a big price if the ground gets soft.