Cheltenham Festival Handicap Betting Tips Following Entries

The Cheltenham handicap entries were revealed on Tuesday 17th February and you can find all our latest Festival ante-post markets here. 

Steve Mullington suggests an ante-post tip below in all 12 of the Festival handicaps, over the course of four days.

Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (65 entered)

Trainer Padraig Roche won the 2022 edition of this race with Saratoga’s half-brother Brazil, and the Naas contest is usually a good barometer for Cheltenham. This horse has “plot” written all over it.

Ultima Handicap Chase (62 entered)

After Jagwar’s defeat in Cheltenham’s 2m4½f handicap chase in January, the Ryanair was off the cards and the Ultima was considered.

His Cheshire-based trainers have the McManus charge in tip-top condition, and it’s perfectly understandable that he is a 9/2 chance in our horse racing betting.

Plate Handicap Chase (66 entered)

Dan Skelton’s horse Madara came close in the Paddy Power last season, and I think they’ve campaigned this horse with the Plate in mind all along. He’s now at odds of 7/1 in our ante-post betting.

National Hunt Challenge Cup (48 entered)

Grande Geste landed the recent William Hill-sponsored Grand National Trial at Haydock and will try his luck in the National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase on day one. At 14/1, he’s an interesting each-way player.

Coral Cup (85 entered)

Iberico Lord sprung a 22/1 surprise in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton, but a Festival victory here wouldn’t quite be a seismic. He once ran in a Champion Hurdle so he can’t be all that bad a horse.

Cross Country Chase (23 entered)

Gordon Elliott has a new star in this division in the shape of Favori De Champdou, who ran out a decisive winner of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase here in January. He can put it up to Stumptown for sure.

Grand Annual Challenge Cup (47 entered)

Jacob’s Ladder, trained by Gordon Elliott,  showed some high-class form when stepping up to Grade 3 level to win the Barberstown Castle Handicap Chase. He can go well here too.

Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase (60 entered)

Koktail Divin entered the Cheltenham picture with a Leopardstown romp over Christmas and is certainly one to keep an eye on Ladies’ Day at The Festival.

Pertemps Network Final (49 entered)

The Chris Gordon-trained Electric Mason qualified for the Pertemps final when finishing second at Cheltenham in October. He should be in the mix once again.

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir (76 entered)

After the handicapper dropped Jeriko Du Reponet’s chase mark 3lb to 145 at the end of January, a flood of money came for the JP McManus-owned runner and he’s now the 4/1 jolly in our sports betting.

County Hurdle (70 entered)

Willie Mullins is confident Anzadam can make into a top handicapper after finishing the runner-up in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Here’s a very attractive price for this contest at 12/1 and should attract plenty of each-way support.

Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle (82 entered)

Following a strong performance behind Mighty Park at Fairyhouse, and then another behind El Cairos at Thurles, the money has come for Roc Dino in the lucky last at Cheltenham. We are offering 10/1 that he lands the odds.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*