Cheltenham 2020 betting: Three Festival favorite slayers to again

Eight days out from the Cheltenham Festival our professional tipster turns his attentions to a trio of betting ideas that may upset a variety of the meeting’s long-established favourites.

With the Cheltenham Festival now almost in sight, hopes of seeing any stay contenders strut their stuff on storm-softened ground across the weekend simply gone have been distant. 

With eight days to go till Cheltenham 2020, listed here are three willing rivals to some short-priced favourites at next week’s Cotswolds extravaganza.

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle odds: Sporting John can provide Envoi one thing to ponder

Owned by JP McManus, the Philip Hobbs-trained got here to the racetrack with a burgeoning reputation having received his only point-to-point begin. 

He briefly appeared in hassle on hurdles bow at Exeter in November earlier than displaying a pleasant change of gear and profitable in pretty prepared fashion.

Sporting John has gone on to enhance in each wins since at Exeter and Ascot and he made short work of the useful-looking Master Debonair last month in one other taking display.

He faces the formidable Envoi Allen in the Ballymore next Wednesday. Gordon Elliott’s charge was the Champion Bumper winner final season and has seemed very, very good in all his hurdles runs thus far.

He will be the ‘Irish Banker’ at the meeting for lots of, and should prove a tricky nut to crack, however Sporting John may give him a race. 

He’s doubtless to improve again amongst better quality opponents, as he did at Ascot when tackling Master Debonair, and is unlikely to be out of the cash within the Ballymore.

Stayers’ Hurdle odds: Island can rekindle Festival form

City Island took the measure of Champ to win the Ballymore last March, a decent scalp in itself. Current Arkle favorite Notebook was among the beaten horses however, in distinction to Henry De Bromhead’s charge, City Island hasn’t taken to chasing like a natural this season.

His jumping let him down at Leopardstown over Christmas and Mark Walsh sensibly pulled him up, while he completed second to Carefully Selected on his subsequent begin.

That was a good run, chasing house a next-time-out winner, and showed that City Island stays in good well being.

Trainer Martin Brassil decided to attract stumps on a novice chasing campaign afterwards and has determined instead to target what he labels a ‘wide open’ Stayers’ Hurdle.

Paisley Park is red-hot favourite to defend his crown and it goes to be a shock if he’s turned over, however City Island is a Festival winner and it is properly documented that inserting stock in Cheltenham type is rewarding. He could run properly at a good worth.

Cheltenham Gold Cup odds: Monalee is underestimated 

The feature contest of the whole week, this yr’s Cheltenham Gold Cup looks like a barnstorming contest. 

Defending champion Al Boum Photo, twin King George hero Clan Des Obeaux, final yr’s star novices Santini and Delta Work; and that’s with out taking a glance at Grade 1 scorers Kemboy, Lostintranslation, Bristol De Mai and final yr’s beaten favorite Presenting Percy.

For all that the cast is robust, the sensation lingers that Monalee should be overpriced.

Henry De Bromhead’s cost was narrowly pipped by Delta Work in the Savills Chase at Christmas, Monalee having appeared the winner with 50 yards to run. 

Gordon Elliott’s star has franked the form by profitable the Irish Gold Cup since, whereas De Bromhead went on document stating a recent Monalee could be greatest for Cheltenham.

He was second to Penhill within the Albert Bartlett on his first Festival run and crammed the identical berth behind Presenting Percy within the 2018 RSA Chase. Last 12 months he finished fourth in the Ryanair, with the trip perhaps inadequate.

Monalee wouldn’t look out of place on the Gold Cup podium and he could properly be good enough for Blue Riband glory if things go his way. He’s a value various.

Betting on certainly one of Enda McElhinney’s Cheltenham Festival favorite slayers? Sign up for a Grosvenor Sport account and you may double the odds on your first wager.

Odds correct at the time of publishing and are topic to change

Already a Grosvenor customer? See extra of the latest  and.