One of the most open renewals here in a long time, mainly because there isn't an obvious favourite or definite runners. You can look at trends of the race however to rule out some horses. The main one being course form, 11 out of the last 12 winners have had at least two previous runs at Cheltenham with nine of them winning, and eight of the last 11 winners finishing in the top two of a Festival race.
Min would be an obvious candidate here, but he was majorly disappointing LTO when pulled up due to poor jumping, he will try to defend his crown and that's something not done since 2011. He is a model of consistency over this distance though and it would be foolish to rule out another win here for Rich Ricci.
Allaho is another runner for Willie Mullins, he is yet to win in Grade 1 company but time is on his side and this race does favour younger horses to an extent. He beat Elimay at Christmas who has since gone on to win and boost the form. With improvement likely he will be a major player in the race you would like to think. The final Mullins runner is Melon who benefits from front-running tactics and a two-length third in the Irish Gold Cup highlighted the potential in the lightly raced (over fences) horse. Connections own Al Boum Photo so a fling at the Ryanair looks even more likely.
Other notable runners which should be there or thereabouts are Fakir D'oudairies, Samcro, Imperial Aura and Saint Calvados. The highlight of day three is always a blinding race to watch and the quality of runners here will ensure fans are treated to a close contest.
This race has seen some wonderful stories created; Vautour, Cue Card, Uxizandre and Un De Sceux just to name a few have a place in many race-goers' hearts.
Last years' winner, Frodon (6/1), led by Bryony Frost, landed a magnificent story for her and Paul Nicholls last year and will most certainly be hoping to bring the house down again this year.
A win in the Silviniaco Conti Chase over Top Notch gave connections a much needed boost ahead of the big day.
Min (3/1), who has been beaten by Altior in each of his last three races at the Festival, seems to be best suited to 2m4f nowadays racking up three wins from four when running over the distance, he may finally break his Cheltenham duck for Willie Mullins should he be entered here.
Mullins will also run Duc Des Genievres (25/1) in the race, the winner of last year's Arkle has since raced five times and hasn't entered the Winners Enclosure.
A Plus Tard (9/4) was sensational when beating Chacun Pour Soi in December and looks one of the main players here.
He still has entries for this race and the Champion Chase, but a red-hot Champion Chase may persuade Henry De Bromhead to target here for the Chevley Park Stud stayer.
Rachael Blackmore steered him to a 16L victory in last year's Close Brothers and she will be in the saddle again for more of the same.
Rider Onthe Storm (7/1) rather fortuitously accounted for Cyrname in an incident-packed Betfair Chase, it wasn't the greatest of victories given that Traffic Fluide seemed to be closing before sadly falling.
Nigel Twiston-Davies has done a wonderful job with him, however, he joined the stable on a mark of 140 and now sits on 162, it remains to be seen how much that effort will have taken out of him come race day.
| # | Horse | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Riders Onthe Storm | 8.00 7/1 700 | |
| Shattered Love | 26.00 25/1 2500 | |
| Saint Calvados | 21.00 20/1 2000 | |
| Frodon | 5.00 4/1 400 | |
| Duc Des Genievres | 17.00 16/1 1600 | |
| A Plus Tard | 2.75 7/4 175 | |
| Min | 3.50 5/2 250 | |
| Aso | 21.00 20/1 2000 |
SportsBet ®
your source for betting information