Cheltenham 2020 betting: three weekend news nuggets you should know

Our racing professional highlights three Cheltenham Festival betting information objects that you just need to be aware of forward of the motion getting underway tomorrow

We are simply hours away from the start of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival. Thousands are going to flock to Prestbury Park this week for the 4 finest days on the National Hunt calendar.

Here is a look at a number of the news from the weekend and how that will influence your betting throughout the four days at the meeting.

Mares’ Hurdle odds: Benie’s choice is made

Benie Des Dieux had a variety of options on the Festival with the Champion Hurdle and Stayers’ Hurdle each mentioned as prospects at one stage.

Connections have opted for his or her talented horse to tackle her own intercourse within the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle on day one of many meeting although, the place she is now the odds-on favorite at 4/6.

Willie Mullins’ mare has been overwhelmed simply as soon as since moving to his yard. That defeat came 12 months in the past in this race when she fell eventually when victory seemed to be wrapped up.

Benie Des Dieux is ready to take on the Irish Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle in what is a mouthwatering clash. The latter will, however, need to search out extra to beat Benie, who is the nap of the assembly for many punters now she is committed for this race.

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle odds: Envoi sticks to authentic plan

Gordon Elliott confirmed over the weekend that Envoi Allen will run within the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and never the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. 

That information was a relief to many supporters who had backed the horse for the former as that seemed to be the plan for almost all of the season.

Last season’s Champion Bumper winner is seven from seven on the observe. The Irish coach walked the course on Sunday morning and described it as delicate, yielding to delicate in locations.

Elliott could be very happy with that floor for his horse so feels the longer distance of the Ballymore is his runner’s best choice.

The bookmakers reacted to that news by slicing Envoi Allen’s odds to 6/5 for the Wednesday contest. He is bidding for his third Grade 1 success of the season following victories at Fairyhouse and Naas and he’s going to take all of the beating in this 2m 5f contest.

Champion Chase odds: Altior setback strengthens Defi’s hand

Supporters of Altior received information that each punter fears on Sunday morning when Nicky Henderson reported that the horse was lame and in a race against time to be match for the Online Casino Queen Mother Champion Chase.

It isn’t the first time Altior has had such a setback and he has been declared for the race. Given how robust the sector is that this 12 months although, it has to be a giant concern for individuals who fancy the champion to defend his crown.

Defi Du Seuil has disputed Champion Chase favouritism with Altior for the previous couple of months however will surely now go off as favorite for the 2m contest. He has had a faultless yr on the observe, with victories coming within the Tingle Creek and Clarence House Chase.

Phillip Hobbs’ steady star returns to the Festival in search of extra success as he won the JLT Novices’ Chase there in 2019. 

Jockey Barry Geraghty talks about this horse in the identical gentle as Moscow Flyer which is a large endorsement of his probabilities in the Champion Chase in what could probably be the first of many for the JP McManus-owned runner.

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Cheltenham 2020 betting: weekend review 21 & 22 December

Find out who announced themselves a Champion Hurdle betting outsider and whose Ryanair Chase odds have been slashed on a supposedly quiet weekend before Christmas

Ascot survived a late inspection on Saturday within the ultimate day’s racing in the UK and Ireland before Christmas. Unfortunately, Paisley Park missed the Marsh Hurdle, which gave a few his rivals the possibility to prove their credentials.

There was additionally a performance within the Betfair Exchange Trophy that might tempt you into backing an outsider for the following yr.

Odds right on the time of publishing and are subject to change.

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Not So Sleepy could be awake for Champion Hurdle bid

Not So Sleepy established himself as a Champion Hurdle contender on Saturday when he made all to prevail within the Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot. 

Hughie Morrison’s runner took benefit of his low weight to win by 9 lengths in an emphatic performance in the Grade 3 contest.

There was one nervous moment midway via the contest for many who had backed the seven-year-old, when he virtually ran out at a flight. 

Jockey Jonathan Burke did a fantastic job preserving his mount on the course although and he was rewarded with success.

Although Not So Sleepy will want to enhance once more to match something achieved by the likes of Klassical Dream, Saldier or Pentland Hills, he has been minimize to 40/1 (from 66/1) for the Champion Hurdle by Slot Online and may nicely be an each-way various for many punters within the premier two-mile hurdle.

Not So Sleepy has now received three of his 5 races over hurdles. The heavy floor was not a problem for him at Ascot so if the rain did come down just before the Festival, there would be no query marks in regards to the surface.

The vibes have been additionally good from Morrison after the race as he in contrast his runner to Marble Arch who won the same contest in 2001 earlier than finishing second within the Champion Hurdle. 

The 40/1 available on Not So Sleepy could additionally be price including to your Cheltenham Festival portfolio.

The Worlds End might be the largest risk to Paisley Park in Stayers’ Hurdle

Although Ascot was given the green mild on Saturday morning, Emma Lavelle took no chances with Paisley Park as she concluded that the bottom was unsuitable for the Stayers’ Hurdle favorite.

In the defending champion’s absence, The Worlds End and L’Ami Serge fought it out on the end of the Marsh Hurdle with the previous justifying 15/8 favouritism to prevail.

This was The Worlds End’s second Grade 1 success of his profession as he additionally received the Sefton Hurdle as a novice at Aintree. He was in a position to reel in L’Ami Serge, who was leading the contest leaping the last, as he had too much for his rival in the closing stages.

Tom George’s runner has now put himself ahead as a real threat to the 11/8 favorite for the staying contest over hurdles at the Festival where he is now 10/1 (from 16/1). 

He struggled with injuries final season over fences, together with when he was pulled up in the RSA Chase.

The 2020 Festival could be his alternative to win one of the big races throughout the week at the four-day meeting.

Riders Onthe Storm one to keep an eye on for the Ryanair Chase

Riders Onthe Storm has been significantly better since moving to Nigel Twiston-Davies’ yard and he produced a career-best efficiency on Saturday to win the Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase.

The six-year-old was one of the fancied runners for the Caspiar Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham a week earlier, nevertheless, an administrative error led to him being withdrawn from that race. 

Twiston-Davies’ horse proved to be match and fresh at Ascot, scoring by seven lengths within the five-runner area.

The Ryanair Chase seems to be the most logical target for the horse on the Festival given how strong he seems at that distance. 

His odds have been slashed in half to 14/1 (from 28/1) for the race after his newest victory and on the proof of that efficiency, he stands out as a great bet in a contest the place a selection of the market leaders also have entries elsewhere across the week.…