ENTRIES have been announced for three of the biggest races at the Cheltenham Festival.
And, much like last year, it looks like the Irish contingent could be set to dominate yet again.
Henry de Bromhead, Willie Mullins and Co smashed the home team 23-5 in 2021.
De Bromhead alone scooped the holy grail of the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup.
Firms will start going non-runner no bet soon, so now is a really good time to eek out the most value you can from some of these runners.
Can anyone stop Shishkin in the Champion Chase?
Nicky Henderson’s stable star is already odds-on to win.
But his biggest challenge will surely come in the shape of Energumene – owned by Brighton owner and ‘the cleverest man to ever place a bet’, Tony Bloom.
Champion Chase odds and best free bets.
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y – Wednesday, March 16
Allaho (FR) 8 Cheveley Park Stud Willie Mullins IRE
Allmankind 6 The Gredley Family Dan Skelton
Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Captain Guinness (IRE) 7 Declan Landy Henry de Bromhead IRE
Chacun Pour Soi (FR) 10 Mrs S. Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
Dunvegan (FR) 9 G. Turner/Clipper Logistics Group Ltd Pat Fahy Ireland IRE
Editeur du Gite (FR) 8 The Preston Family, Friends & T Jacobs Gary Moore
Energumene (FR) 8 Tony Bloom Willie Mullins IRE
Envoi Allen (FR) 8 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
First Flow (IRE) 10 Mr A. N. Solomons Kim Bailey
Funambule Sivola (FR) 7 My Racing Manager Friends Venetia Williams
Greaneteen (FR) 8 Chris Giles Paul Nicholls
Hardline (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Hitman (FR) 6 Mason, Hogarth, Ferguson & Done Paul Nicholls
Notebook (GER) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Nube Negra (SPA) 8 Mr T. Spraggett Dan Skelton
Politologue (FR) 11 Mr J. Hales Paul Nicholls
Put The Kettle On (IRE) 8 One For Luck Racing Syndicate Henry de Bromhead IRE
Rouge Vif (FR) 8 Kate & Andrew Brooks Paul Nicholls
Samcro (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Sceau Royal (FR) 10 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Alan King
Shishkin (IRE) 8 Mrs J Donnelly Nicky Henderson
22 entries
11 Irish-trained
All in on Allaho in the Ryanair?
The 7-4 around for Allaho to defend his title is far from appealing for punters, such is the quality of Willie Mullins’ horse.
A few have put up Fakir D’oudairies (last year’s runner-up) as an alternative at 8-1.
Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f 127y – Thursday, March 17
A Plus Tard (FR) 8 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Allaho (FR) 8 Cheveley Park Stud Willie Mullins IRE
Asterion Forlonge (FR) 8 Mrs J. Donnelly Willie Mullins IRE
Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Blackbow (IRE) 9 Roaringwater Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
Will Allaho make it back-to-back in the Ryanair?
Chacun Pour Soi (FR) 10 Mrs S. Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
Chatham Street Lad (IRE) 10 Mr V. Healy Michael Winters IRE
Cilaos Emery (FR) 10 Luke McMahon Willie Mullins IRE
Conflated (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Dashel Drasher 9 Mrs B Tully and Mr R Lock Jeremy Scott
Defi du Seuil (FR) 9 Mr John P. McManus Philip Hobbs
Eldorado Allen (FR) 8 J P Romans & Terry Warner Colin Tizzard
Energumene (FR) 8 Tony Bloom Willie Mullins IRE
Envoi Allen (FR) 8 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Fakir d’Oudairies (FR) 7 Mr John P. McManus Joseph O’Brien IRE
Fanion d’Estruval (FR) 7 Mr David Wilson Venetia Williams
Franco de Port (FR) 7 Bruton Street V Willie Mullins IRE
Funambule Sivola (FR) 7 My Racing Manager Friends Venetia Williams
Fusil Raffles (FR) 7 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
Hardline (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Hitman (FR) 6 Mason, Hogarth, Ferguson & Done Paul Nicholls
Janidil (FR) 8 Mr John P. McManus Willie Mullins IRE
Lostintranslation (IRE) 10 Taylor & O’Dwyer Colin Tizzard
Melon 10 Mrs J. Donnelly Willie Mullins IRE
Midnight Shadow 9 Mrs Aafke Clarke Sue Smith
Mister Fisher (IRE) 8 James & Jean Potter Ltd Nicky Henderson
Notebook (GER) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Put The Kettle On (IRE) 8 One For Luck Racing Syndicate Henry de Bromhead IRE
Rouge Vif (FR) 8 Kate & Andrew Brooks Paul Nicholls
Royal Rendezvous (IRE) 10 Dr S. P. Fitzgerald Willie Mullins IRE
Saint Calvados (FR) 9 Kate & Andrew Brooks Paul Nicholls
Samcro (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Shan Blue (IRE) 8 Mr Colm Donlon Dan Skelton
Simply The Betts (IRE) 9 Kate & Andrew Brooks Paul Nicholls
Sizing Pottsie (FR) 8 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Jessica Harrington IRE
Tornado Flyer (IRE) 9 T. F. P. Willie Mullins IRE
36 entries
22 Irish-trained
Gold Cup wide open
Defending champion Minella Indo has seen his odds weaken to 7-1 after being pulled up in the King George.
But are punters looking too much into that? Will the cheekpieces used there (possibly to light him up a bit around a sharp Kempton track) come back for Cheltenham?
A Plus Tard went down by a short head to Galvin in the star-studded Savills Chase and they head the market at 3-1 and 5-1 respectively.
Cheltenham Gold Cup odds and best free bets.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) 3m 2f 70y – Friday, March 18
A Plus Tard (FR) 8 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Ahoy Senor (IRE) 7 Mrs C Wymer & Mr PJS Russell Lucinda Russell
Al Boum Photo (FR) 10 Mrs J. Donnelly Willie Mullins IRE
Allaho (FR) 8 Cheveley Park Stud Willie Mullins IRE
Angels Breath (IRE) 8 Walters Plant Hire & Ronnie Bartlett Nicky Henderson
Asterion Forlonge (FR) 8 Mrs J. Donnelly Willie Mullins IRE
Aye Right (IRE) 9 Geoff and Elspeth Adam Harriet Graham
Carefully Selected (IRE) 10 Miss M. A. Masterson Willie Mullins IRE
Champ (IRE) 10 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson
Chantry House (IRE) 8 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson
Chatham Street Lad (IRE) 10 Mr V. Healy Michael Winters IRE
Conflated (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Delta Work (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Eklat de Rire (FR) 8 Mr P. Davies Henry de Bromhead IRE
Fiddlerontheroof (IRE) 8 Taylor, Burley & O’Dwyer Colin Tizzard
Franco de Port (FR) 7 Bruton Street V Willie Mullins IRE
Galvin (IRE) 8 Mr R. A. Bartlett Gordon Elliott IRE
Imperial Aura (IRE) 9 Imperial Racing Partnership 2016 Kim Bailey
Lostintranslation (IRE) 10 Taylor & O’Dwyer Colin Tizzard
Melon 10 Mrs J. Donnelly Willie Mullins IRE
Minella Indo (IRE) 9 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead IRE
Mister Fisher (IRE) 8 James & Jean Potter Ltd Nicky Henderson
Mount Ida (IRE) 8 KTDA Racing Gordon Elliott IRE
Protektorat (FR) 7 Sir A Ferguson G Mason J Hales & L bHales Dan Skelton
Remastered 9 Brocade Racing David Pipe
Royale Pagaille (FR) 8 Mrs S. Ricci Venetia Williams
Run Wild Fred (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Saint Calvados (FR) 9 Kate & Andrew Brooks Paul Nicholls
Santini 10 Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin-Hughes Polly Gundry
Tornado Flyer (IRE) 9 T. F. P. Willie Mullins IRE
30 entries
16 Irish-trained
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Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.sportingexcitement.com/horse-racing/punters-watch-in-horror-as-jockey-crashes-through-wing-after-odds-on-favourites-freak-first-fence-disaster
