Ruby_Tuesday59's long term antepost picks for the Festival

With the National Hunt previews ramping up, and with the stable tours to come, it got me looking at a few horses that may be overpriced for specific races for the Cheltenham Festival.

French Aseel – Champion Hurdle – EW 50/1 (various firms)

This horse put up visually one of the most impressive juvenile performances last season at Leopardstown’s Christmas festival beating Coltor (Fred Winter 5th) by 22L when running for the Holden’s. He was then purchased by the Donnolly’s and sent to Willie Mullins with the prospect of a Triumph Hurdle tussle with the then market leader Zanahiyr, before being ruled out of the festival with an injury.

I would hope he will be entered up in some of the 4 year old hurdles before the turn of the year, and make his way through the winter in Ireland on his preferred soft conditions. He could follow the Espoir D’Allen route of running in the Limestone Lad (Grade 3) at Naas towards the end of January before the Champion Hurdle.

The superb mare Honeysuckle looks bombproof and will head down her tried and tested route to Cheltenham, taking in the Hattons Grace before her 2 outings at Christmas and the Dublin Racing Festival before aiming to become the dual champion. Her opposition could be made up of regular horses she has defeated before such as Sharjah (20/1), Epatante (16/1), Abacadabras (25/1) and Saldier (25/1) in both her pre Cheltenham trials and the main race itself.

We then have the novices from last season in Bob Olinger, Appreciate It and Ferny Hollow. All look to be heading over fences, however the latter would be of huge interest with the talent he has. The vibes suggest that Ferny Hollow will go chasing and the Triumph Hurdle winner Quilixios will be kept over hurdles.

The headstrong Echoes In Rain will most likely head down this 2 mile route, and although she put up a winning sequence towards the end of the season, the 14/1 at the moment doesn’t interest me. Providing she settles better, she could look to take on the weak looking Mares Hurdle.

Back to French Assel - as always bridging the gap as a 4 year to open company is difficult, however with the way he is rated by connections (Purchased for a huge price) and his price at a huge 50/1, I am taking a chance he is more Espoir D'Allen rather than a Ivanovich Gorbatov.

Ahoy Senor – Brown Advisory Novices Chase (Formally RSA) - EW 40/1 (Bet365)

Dylan Thomas’ highest rated jumps progeny is the now rated 10 year old Nuts Well - rated 159 - who last season won the Old Roan Chase at Aintree. However it was another horse 4 years his junior that provided a shock in the Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree in April 2021 with a 7L win over Bravemansgame at 66/1 and could become one of Dylan Thomas’s best progeny over the jumps, with Ahoy Senor set to go chasing.

Although it could be dismissed as a fluke, it was still an impressive galloping display from the front destroying some young improving rivals in the April festival. If this performance is anything to go by, he could take high rank in the North of England this season over fences.

It was most likely a race too far for the Bravemansgame (finished 2nd) having ran in some top races and placed behind the machine Bob Olinger in the Ballymore in the run prior to the Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree. However it was a credit to the horse that he kept on behind Ahoy Senor at Aintree despite the likelihood of being over the top by then. The hope is that both will meet over fences this season.

Ahoy Senor is likely to start off novice chasing in the north of England this November, and the 40/1 looks tempting enough at this stage for a Grade 1 winner. Connections might be tempted to go for the Kauto Star Novices Chase at Kempton, but it's hoped he will stick to left handed galloping tracks and will likely be seen at Haydock in the season. Hopefully he can become the latest yard flag bearer after One for Arthur and the excellent but short lived Brindisi Breeze.

Mrs Milner – Stayers Hurdle – EW 66/1 (William Hill)

The EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival provided a 2020 Cheltenham Festival winner in the shape of Concertista, who had finished 3rd behind Black Tears before winning the Dawn Run Novices Hurdle. The 2021 version at the DRF proved to be much more informative for Cheltenham. Heaven Help Us (1st) - won the Coral Cup, Tellmesomethinggirl (3rd) - won the Dawn Run Novices Hurdle, and the selection Mrs Milner (Fell) - won the Pertemps Final.

Heading into the Pertemps off the back of a fall could be said to have previously been a negative, but it didn’t prevent Mrs Milner sluicing up by 5L from the well fancied and the well backed The Bosses Oscar. Settled in midfield throughout she made a mistake three from home before getting back on the bridle. However only 10 seconds later she encountered 2 sets of traffic problems and was shuffled back. That didn't stop the mare as she absolutely powered up the hill in impressive fashion for the Paul Nolan stable - an improving stable to watch out for in the coming seasons.

Despite being well handicapped, it is obvious she is an up and coming stayer in the making and Cheltenham was just the start of bigger things for the mare. Due to take a step up in class at Punchestown in the Champion Stayers Hurdle, she was pulled out on the day due to a stone bruise. The race won by Klassical Dream impressively, it may be a blessing in disguise that she missed the race, and a long summer could be a major positive for her.

Another positive for her is that her win in the Pertemps Final on the new course, is the same as the Stayers Hurdle. A course that suits a strong and powerful finisher like Mrs Milner who can go through the gears late on in the race.

I can't let her go at 66/1 for a race that loves one coming out from left field from time to time. Although she needs to improve considerably, she will get the mares allowance and at the 66/1, it's a chance worth taking.

Journey With Me – Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle – EW 25/1 (various firms)

Although I don't enjoy putting up a selection for the Albert Bartlett at this early stage, I am interested in Journey For Me for the Albert Bartlett already. Likely to be a major player in the staying novice hurdles this season, it's hoped he will add another Cheltenham winner to Robcour's collection after Bob O'Linger's victory in the Ballymore last season.

Journey For Me was a selection for many in March as he drew comparisions with Bob O'Linger when winning the same bumper as the Sholokhov gelding at Gowran Park. The comparisons will likely be short lived with Journey For me being bred by Mahler (generally progeny enjoy soft ground and 3m+) and is being touted by connections as a proper stayer in the making. Journey For Me is an out and out galloper too, compared to the speedier Bob O'Linger who had the ability to win a Ballymore by whatever distance he liked.

Priced at 25/1 for the Albert Bartlett, it's a price worth taking before he is entered for a maiden hurdle and the vibes from connections are very strong for the Mahler to take high rank in the staying novice hurdles this season in Ireland and the UK.

Thanks for reading and I hope these prices give you a good spin for the season.

@Ruby_Tuesday59