No shortage of short-priced favourites is expected this week at Cheltenham, yet an each-way Lucky 15 may offer an intriguing opportunity for a sizeable return.
The following selections aim to ignite excitement over the upcoming days. Slade Steel, representing Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead, appears as a strong contender in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. While outmatched by Ballyburn in a recent Leopardstown outing, Slade Steel's proven stamina will be accentuated on the challenging terrain. Having secured a Grade 2 victory over 2m4f at Navan, this Telescope gelding is anticipated to finish robustly up the Cheltenham hill.
The Coral Cup on Wednesday emerges as one of the most fiercely contested races of the week, and Doddiethegreat, a relatively untested contender, garners interest from a stable that has clinched victory in this 2m5f handicap four times since 2010. Despite concerns surrounding Nicky Henderson's recent form, the eight-year-old gelding appears in good shape this season after a prolonged absence. Noteworthy was his resilient fourth-place finish in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last month over an insufficient two-mile distance.
Moving to Friday's races, Dan Skelton, a proficient trainer in the BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle, boasts an impressive record with four wins in the past eight years. L’eau Du Sud, backed by strong stable confidence this year, exhibits promising form, having narrowly missed out on victory to Iberico Lord in the Betfair Hurdle. Waterford Whispers concludes the Lucky 15 bet in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. Owned by JP McManus, this gelding enters the race at the bottom of the handicap with minimal hurdle experience, aligning closely with Answer To Kayf, a probable contender in this 2m4f event.