Cheltenham Festival Handicap Weights: Assessing Our Antepost Selections

The Cheltenham Handicap weights were revealed on Tuesday 24th February and you can find all the latest market reactions in our Cheltenham Festival ante-post markets here.

Our horse racing  expert Steve Mullington revisits all 12 of the Festival Handicaps, assessing how well his ante-post tips have faired within the weight allocations.

Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

Trainer Padraig Roche won the 2022 edition of this race with Saratoga’s half-brother Brazil, and the Naas contest he ran in last time is usually a good barometer for Cheltenham. This horse has “plot” written all over it and on 11st 4lbs, he’s a certainty to get into the race.

Ultima Handicap Chase 

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 he has been rated fifth best in the handicap on 11st 9lbs. He’s now a 4/1 shot in our horse racing betting.

Plate Handicap Chase 

Dan Skelton’s horse Madara (10st 13lb) 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 trading as short as 4/1 (previously 7/1) in our ante-post betting after the weights were announced.

National Hunt Challenge Cup 

Grande Geste (11st 4lbs) landed the recent William Hill-sponsored Grand National Trial at Haydock and will try his luck in the National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase. On a nice mark of 135, he’s an interesting each-way player in the final handicap on Day 1 at Cheltenham.

Coral Cup 

Iberico Lord sprung a 22/1 surprise in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton, but a Festival victory here wouldn’t quite be a seismic. At 11st 2lb, the handicapper has given him an excellent chance on Day 2 at the Festival.

Cross Country Chase 

Gordon Elliott has a new star in this division in the shape of Favori De Champdou (11st 5lb), who ran out a decisive winner of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase here in January. He can make the 5lb he receives from Stumptown (11st 10lb) work for him.

Grand Annual Challenge Cup 

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’ll now be racing off the third top weight of 11st 12lbs.

Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase 

Koktail Divin entered the Cheltenham picture with a Leopardstown romp over Christmas and is certainly one to keep an eye off a mark of 150 (11st 9lb).

Pertemps Network Final 

The Chris Gordon-trained Electric Mason qualified for the Pertemps final when finishing second at Cheltenham in October. If Impose Toi runs in this off 12st, then 10st 8lbs looks very handy indeed. He can hopefully exploit the mark.

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir 

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 Nicky Henderson-trained runner. Despite being given joint-top weight of 12st, he’s still the strong 4/1 jolly in our sports betting.

County Hurdle 

Willie Mullins is confident Anzadam can make into a top handicapper after finishing the runner-up in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. The official BHA handicapper has unsurprisingly taken no chances with him, saddling him with 12st, but his class should prevail in the end.

Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle 

Following a strong performance behind Mighty Park at Fairyhouse, and then another behind El Cairos at Thurles, the money has come for Roc Dino (10/1) in the lucky last at Cheltenham. On a competitive mark of 11st (131), he will either go for this race or the County Hurdle.

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