We look at the big Cheltenham Festival bankers or blowouts for day one. These are likely to be the horses carrying the most amount of money over Tuesday 14th March and the ones the bookmakers will want to see lose.
2023 Cheltenham Festival Bankers or Blowouts on Day One: Tues 14th March
Plenty of possible Cheltenham Festival bankers on the opening day – with many of these horses below expected to figure in doubles, trebles and accas across the afternoon. But which ones have the best chance of winning and which horses can be taken on?
1.30: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle ITV1 – FACILE VEGA @ 2/1 with BetUK
Had been a warm order for this race all season, until flopping last time. Reportedly went off too quick that day at Leopardstown and that took its toll in the final stages. Expected to be ridden differently here and many last year’s Champion Bumper winner can bounce back. However, 23 of the last 26 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle won last time out. Therefore, this is a big stat for Facile Vega to overcome.
Add in that 14 of the last 19 (73%) Supreme winners had run 4 or more times over hurdles this is another negative for Vega. He’s only raced three times over the sticks. Yes, this has been a good race for Willie Mullins Cheltenham runners, but the stats suggest Facile Vega could be vulnerable. VERDICT: BLOWOUT
2.10: Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase ITV1 – JONBON @ 6/4 with BetUK
The Nicky Henderson yard have won the Arkle Chase three times since 2013 and look to have a great chance again. Jonbon saw the back of Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year, but has been switched to fences this term. He’s 3-from-3 so far over the bigger obstacles and looks to be one of the main Festival chances for owner JP McManus. El Fabiolo will be his biggest threat but Jonbon beat this horse at Aintree last season. He runs as if he’ll be well-suited by the stiff Cheltenham finish and is taken to remain unbeaten over fences. VERDICT: BANKER
3.30: Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy ITV1 – CONSTITUTION HILL @ 1/3 with BetUK
Constitution Hill will be many people’s ‘Super Banker’ and it’s hard to disagree with that. From the Nicky Henderson yard, who are looking for their nineth Champion Hurdle win and has been a warm order for this all season. Yet to lose a race over hurdles (5-from-5) and has won those races by a total of 77 lengths. Would also become the first Supreme winner since the 70’s to follow-up in the Champion Hurdle. The Irish Champion Hurdle winner State Man will give it a good go, but Constitution Hill will have too many gears. If he loses, it would be the shock of the meeting. VERDICT: SUPER BANKER
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4.10: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle ITV1 – HONESUCKLE @ 10/3 with BetUK
If Honeysuckle wins this race, there probably won’t be a bigger cheer all week. The three-time Festival winner is expected to be retiring after this win, lose or draw. Her unbeaten bubble burst this season when losing her last two and with that there are signs she might be on the way down. She won this race in 2020 as a 6 year-old, but is now 9. Yes, this race against the girls will be easier than the Champion Hurdle, but she looks worth taking on. VERDICT: BLOWOUT
4.50: Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle RTV – TEKAO @ 4/1 with BetUK
This has been a good race for JP McManus over the years and he’s got another fair chance this year. Tekao was last seen running third in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle – form that would see him go close now into a handicap. French-bred horses have a good record too, plus 67% carried 11st+ to win – he has 11-5. However, it’s not a race Willie Mullins has a great record in and that’s the niggle. He’s 0-from-18 and has had just 2 placed in the top 5 too. Add in the super-competitive nature of this race, then he doesn’t look great value. VERDICT: BLOWOUT
5.30: NH Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase RTV – GAILLARD DU MESNIL @ 11/10 with BetUK
The Willie Mullins yard won this race 12 months ago with Stattler and they’ve a big chance of adding to that. Gaillard Du Mesnil was a fine third to Mighty Potter last time at Leopardstown, but this looks a lot easier. The 7 year-old isn’t the quickest, so the step up in trip to 3m6f will suit too. He was also third in the Irish Grand National in 2022, so that also bodes well for lasting out the distance. VERDICT: BANKER
Note: Odds are subject to change.
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