With exactly 6 weeks to go until the flag is raised for the first race of The Cheltenham Festival, the time has come to take a more serious look at the Cheltenham 2020 ante post markets.
Many of the participants have had their key prep races and are now simply sitting it out ready for the big day. Some outstanding performances in the last couple of months have sent shock waves through some of the ante post lists with some horses roaring their way to the head of the betting.
This has meant some top class horses have become slightly forgotten and still have key prep races to come: we’ll single out some of those and point you towards those value NRNB ante post bets.
First off, last season’s Supreme Novices winner Klassical Dream is certainly representing great value but with a little bit to prove if he is to get competitive for The Unibet Champion Hurdle on Day One, 10th March.
KLASSICAL DREAM, The Unibet Champion Hurdle, 1530 Cheltenham, Tuesday 10th March
His reputation is still firmly rooted by his superb win in last year’s Supreme Novices where Ruby Walsh gave him a peach of a ride to win by nearly 5 lengths for the Willie Mullins stable. He then went on to win at the Punchestown Festival. 
This season, he simply has not followed up last season’s great work so far and all will depend on his performance in the PCI Irish Champion Hurdle on Saturday 1st February (9/2 William Hill, Bet Victor, Unibet, Betfred). If he places in this, up against the likes of Honeysuckle, Sharjah and Apple’s Jade, his price for the Unibet Champion Hurdle will be clipped.
Therefore, Betfred are worth paying a visit as they are currently offering Non Runner No Bet for The Unibet Champion Hurdle and 8/1 can be had for Klassical Dream. Otherwise for the riskier full rules ante post bet, 10/1 is available at Betfair, Paddy Power and race sponsors, Unibet.
BATTLEOVERDOYEN, The RSA Chase, 1410 Cheltenham, Wednesday 11th March
This Gordon Elliot trained 7 year old has been graduating up the novice chasing ranks this season in Ireland and looks ideally prepared for the novice championship at The Cheltenham Festival where he is best priced at 8/1 for The RSA Chase on Day 2 with Betfair and Paddy Power. 
He can be watched before that as he holds an entry for the 2m5f Flogas Novice Chase at Punchestown on February 2nd.
CHACUN POUR SOI, The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, 1530 Cheltenham, Wednesday 11th March
The Champion Chase is looking very hot at the moment with all the focus on a mouth-watering dual between the vastly improved Philip Hobbs’ trained Defi Du Seuil and reigning champion Altior. The almost forgotten horse is Chacun Pour Soi who showed plenty of potential with his defeat of Defi Du Seuil at Punchestown last April. 
It’s a similar picture to Klassical Dream as Willie Mullins will hopefully coax Chacun back to form for the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase on February 1st where Chacun Pour Soi is currently the 11/8 favourite (Betfred). The 7/2 with Betfred (Non Runner No Bet) for The Champion Chase will go quick if Chacun Pour Soi puts in a good run on February 1st.
DEFI DU SEUILL & FRODON, The Ryanair Chase, 1450 Cheltenham, Thursday 12th March
The overall likelihood of Philip Hobbs’ superstar Defi Du Seuil ending up in The Ryanair Chase is probably remote. However, The Champion Chase is a very hot affair this year and connections may opt for the easier 2m 5f option on Thursday.
His optimum distance is the extended trip as demonstrated by his JLT Novices win last year although the prestige of The Champion Chase is a big pull. Nevertheless, with firms now starting to offer the NRNB option it is worth keeping an eye on this market.
Frodon, on the other hand, is now almost certainly confirmed to take his place in the Ryanair Chase and based on his latest win at Ascot where he demonstrated his old battling qualities, the 13/2 (Betfair) is good value although full ante post rules apply.
SANTINI, The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, 1530 Cheltenham, Friday 13th March
Last year’s RSA Chase runner up Santini is now a confirmed Cheltenham loving horse and this was cemented last weekend with a brilliant win in The Cotswold Chase over Bristol De Mai. 
Although he didn’t travel perfectly in the race (Nico De Boinville had to coax him along to keep up with the pace), the way he stayed up the hill was impressive and further improvement is likely. He is the right age at eight to be a Gold Cup horse and trainer Nicky Henderson knows how to prepare an entry considering his record in the last ten years: 2 wins and 3 places.
Pricewise, there is still some value to be had at 7/1 (Bet Victor, Unibet) although the safe option is with Betfred who are offering 5/1 with NRNB.
RECAP
KLASSICAL DREAM, The Unibet Champion Hurdle, 1530 Cheltenham, Tuesday 10th March: 8/1 with Betfred (NRNB).
BATTLEOVERDOYEN, The RSA Chase, 1410 Cheltenham, Wednesday 11th March: 8/1 with Paddy Power, Betfair (Full ante post rules apply).
CHACUN POUR SOI, The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, 1530 Cheltenham, Wednesday 11th March: 7/2 with Betfred (NRNB).
FRODON, The Ryanair Chase, 1450 Cheltenham, Thursday 12th March:
13/2 with Betfair.
SANTINI, The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, 1530 Cheltenham, Friday 13th March: 5/1 with Betfred (NRNB)
MORE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL!
- How To Bet on the Cheltenham Festival!
- How To Bet on Horse Racing!
- How To Win at Cheltenham Festival!
- Cheltenham Festival 2020 Betting Offers!
- Cheltenham Festival 2020 Events Page!
Please note all odds are correct at the time of publishing (6:30 28th January 2020) and are subject to change.
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