As the 2023 Cheltenham Festival gets underway, we’ve picked out five of the leading fancies.
These horses were the most popular selections from the panellists at the recent Boylesports Cheltenham Preview night at the Bardic Theatre in Donaghmore, in aid of SVP.
Hosted by David Jennings of the Racing Post, David Casey, Denis O’Regan, Peter Fahey, Robbie Power, Tony Keenan and Jonny Dineen gave their thoughts on who to follow at the Festival.
El Fabiolo - Tuesday, 2.10 Arkle Chase 6/4
Day One of the Festival could develop into something of a personal duel between Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson and the leading trainers have the front two in the market in the Arkle.
Jonbon has been aimed at this race since finishing a distant second to stablemate Constitution Hill in last year’s Supreme, but his last run at Warwick raised plenty of question marks.
El Fabiolo, in contrast, was an impressive winner of the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown last month and is the 6/4 favourite.
David Casey claims he is “the horse to beat” in the race while Denis O’Regan thinks Mullins will have the first three home with Dysart Dynamo and Saint Rio also set to take their chances.
Johnny Dineen and Tony Keenan also felt El Fabiolo was a solid favourite.
Gerri Colombe - Wednesday, 2.10 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 13/8
Not only did Denis O’Regan tip Gerri Colombe for the Brown Advisory at this year’s Festival, he urged those in attendance at the Boylesports Cheltenham Preview night to back him for the 2024 Gold Cup.
The Gordon Elliott star is unbeaten in seven races under rules and the prospect of soft ground would only enhance his claims.
Peter Fahey stated he was “rock solid” and he was also tipped up by Robbie Power while Johnny Dineen stressed that he would only back him if the ground didn’t come up on the fast side of good.
Mighty Potter - Thursday, 1.30 Turners Novices’ Chase 11/8
Johnny Dineen told David Jennings that, should the going be soft by Thursday, Mighty Potter was a “max play” bet for him.
With the forecast set to play in his favour, connections of Mighty Potter might be thinking the same and he is set to be one of the shortest priced favourites of the meeting.
Touted as a potential Gold Cup horse of the future, he won the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse before impressing at the Dublin Racing Festival last month.
Denis O’Regan, Peter Fahey, Tony Keenan and Robbie Power were all keen on his chances while David Jennings and David Casey reckon Appreciate It could be an each-way shout.
Blood Destiny - Friday, 1.30 Triumph Hurdle 7/4
David Casey was very bullish on the claims of Blood Destiny in Friday’s JCB Triumph Hurdle.
The former jockey is assistant to leading trainer Willie Mullins who is responsible for the top two in the market and Blood Destiny is now shorter than long-time ante-post favourite Lossiemouth.
Casey also put up Blood Destiny as his charity bet selection for the week while his selection was also tipped by Johnny Dineen, Tony Keenan and Robbie Power.
Three Card Brag - Friday 2.50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 9/2
Available at 8/1 last week, Three Card Brag is now the clear second favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Friday.
The Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old was a very popular selection across the board at the Bardic Theatre with Johnny Dineen, Denis O’Regan, David Casey, Peter Fahey all keen on his chances while Robbie Power also picked him as his charity bet selection.
Power and O’Regan also felt Hiddenvalley Lake was a good each-way alternative.
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