After a feast of festival horse racing action, there is much to take stock of for punters ahead of the big spring festivals.
Even at this early stage, there are many hot favourites for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. Constitution Hill has looked freakish and may even scare off two-time champion Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle, while Galopin Des Champs is already having bookmakers running scared for the Gold Cup.
There are still races though where ante-post value can be sought and we are keen on the chances of three horses that altogether could pay out on a 2,534/1 treble.
Gentlemansgame - 12/1 - Brown Advisory Novices Chase
This gorgeous grey makes plenty of appeal in what is currently a wide-open betting market for this three mile novice chase.
A £250,000 purchase after an impressive point-to-point victory, the plan was always to go chasing sooner rather than later with this gelding.
But after a highly promising novice hurdle campaign, an injury setback saw connections decide to keep to hurdles last spring.
And it very nearly resulted in a Grade 1 victory when only going down by three and half lengths to the classy Klassical Dream in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown.
Another minor setback saw his chasing career delayed again but he finally went over fences at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and didn't disappoint.
The Willie Mullins runner I Am Maximus was an unlucky loser last time out against Minella Crooner and was sent off the 10/11 favourite at Leopardstown.
But while I Am Maximus was let down by his jumping, Gentlemansgame looked far superior and was lengthening all the way to the line in an eight-length success.
Mouse Morris knows how to train a horse for Cheltenham and this gelding, if keeping fit, will be primed for a huge run at the Cotswolds.
Inthepocket - Ballymore Novices Hurdle - 12/1
With three Grade 1 options for novice hurdlers at the Cheltenham Festival, there is always an element of risk for ante-post punters figuring out likely runners.
But the JP McManus-owned Inthepocket does seem very close to booking his ticket for the Ballymore Novices Hurdle.
A £290,000 purchase after stylishly winning a point-to-point, he was well supported to win a Wexford maiden hurdle in October.
The son of Blue Bresil travelled strongly throughout that race and comfortably saw off subsequent winner Joyeux Machin.
Stepped up in trip and standard, Inthepocket was again well supported in the Grade 2 Tote Navan Novice Hurdle, rearranged to Naas.
Again he travelled strongly in the hands of Rachael Blackmore to draw onto the heels of the Gordon Elliott trio Three Card Brag, Absolute Notions and Deeply Superficial, heading into the final few furlongs.
Blackmore got to the front earlier than ideal and Inthepocket appeared to idle and needed the line to score by a neck.
That looked like a very strong Grade 2 and the suspicion is that there is lots more improvement to come from this Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding.
Fascile Mode - Champion Bumper - 14/1
This time last year Facile Vega, the favourite for this year's Supreme Novices Hurdle, was unwrapped at the Leopardstown Festival.
But while an obvious front-runner for this year's Champion Bumper has yet to be uncovered, the similarly named Fascile Mode could represent value at 14/1.
Trainer Thomas Mullins could have found much-easier starting points for this gelding than a hot Leopardstown bumper at Christmas time.
There were many well-touted horses running in this one from all of the leading stables in the country.
But despite having to travel wide around the home turn, Fascile Mode surged into contention and was always holding the more battle-hardened Lecky Watson at the line.
That was an impressive debut performance that will likely see the four-year-old swapping hands for big money.
"He beat a heap of winners there. Hopefully the phone will be ringing and hopefully one of those multi-millionaires will come and buy him!," said Mullins after the race.
A likely outcome is that Fascile Mode will be picked up by a leading owner and transferred to the yard of Thomas' brother, Willie Mullins.
If that transpires, then the 14/1 about this horse for the Champion Bumper may not last too long.
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