Cheltenham Tips - A Cheltenham Festival Acca & Life-Changing Lucky 15
Recommended multiples for favourite-backers and value-seekers alike from Racing Post experts
There are generally two types of Cheltenham Festival bettors: those who like favourites and those who always look for an angle everyone else has missed. Both groups love a multiple, as getting it right can lead to some serious returns.
Multiples should be used advisedly. The increased stake they demand, combined with the rarity of wins you would expect from lengthening the odds, means you will not collect very often and you should allow for that.
You can have a multiple at the Cheltenham Festival from whichever angle you choose. In this piece, we will lay out two types to consider: the solid bankers acca, and the life-changing Lucky 15.
Bankers to follow
It used to be that the ‘Ruby Tuesday’ bet, centred on the mounts of legendary jockey Ruby Walsh, started with the very first races of the Cheltenham Festival. This year, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle look quite open, so hold fire until the feature race on day one.
With Constitution Hill out, State Man is the hot favourite for the Champion Hurdle. The opposition looks a mite stronger than it did when news first broke of Constitution Hill’s defection, but really the likes of Irish Point are in here looking for second and hoping for a blip from the favourite. He should win.
Add to your betslip - State Man
CLICK HERE To Bet On The Champion Hurdle
Lossiemouthin the following Mares’ Hurdle should arguably be in the Champion Hurdle and she is banker material in this race.
CLICK HERE To Bet On The Mares’ Hurdle
Similarly, Ballyburn has been sent to the Baring Bingham on Wednesday because Mullins has a stronger B team in the Supreme. The implication is that Ballyburn wins whichever race he runs in.
CLICK HERE To Bet On The Baring Bingham
Finally, to make this bet a little less one-dimensional and a bit more tense, include Triumph Hurdle favourite Sir Gino in the first race on Friday. He looked oh so dominant here on trials day in January.
Recommendation
State Man, Champion Hurdle (3.30 Tuesday)
Lossiemouth, Mares’ Hurdle (4.10 Tuesday)
Ballyburn, Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle (1.30 Wednesday)
Sir Gino, Triumph Hurdle (1.30 Friday)
1x accumulator (also consider 4x trebles, making five bets in all)
Dark horses
The potentially life-changing Lucky 15 is also Tuesday-heavy, but naturally involves different races with more vulnerable favourites.
The Arkle looks open this year and it would be interesting were Djelo to take his chance. His form up to the turn of the year reads as well as that of any British-trained novice. That things have gone south since has not been his fault on the whole. He was effectively brought down at Lingfield and was set far too much to do when second in the Scilly Isles. He has the speed for two miles.
The race that follows is the Ultima and we can only hope that Weveallbeencaught‘s fortunes since the start of 2024 have been better. He has not run this year, but showed enough promise in getting relevant course experience at the October, November and December meetings at Cheltenham. He has been saved for the festival ever since and is surely better than a mark of 134.
CLICK HERE To Bet On The Ultima Handicap Chase
Bowtogreatness was third in a Premier handicap at Kempton a couple of weeks back and did so while probably just a hair shy of peak fitness. He had the Ultima as an option but looks set to instead wait for the Kim Muir on Thursday. That is sensible, as this is likely to be a weaker race and Bowtogreatness looks like he has a top staying handicap chase in him.
Finally, the Gold Cup is dominated by Galopin Des Champs and getting him beaten is on a wing and a prayer to an extent. But he has plenty of little scuffs on his career and in Gentlemansgame at least one of his rivals is being undersold.
This horse has run three times over fences. He beat Grand National favourite I Am Maximus first time, then finished behind Easy Game (but in front of Envoi Allen) at Gowran Park and when last seen beat Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall. He has top-class potential and is arguably a bigger price than he should be.
Recommendation
Djelo, Arkle Trophy (2.10 Tuesday)
Weveallbeencaught, Ultima (2.50 Tuesday)
Bowtogreatness, Kim Muir (5.30, Thursday)
Gentlemansgame, Gold Cup (3.30 Friday)
Each-way Lucky 15