Cheltenham 2019 antepost: Three value bets for the Grade 1 chases
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With the 2019 Cheltenham Festival fast approaching, we look at three bets for the meeting’s Grade 1 chases that could provide value.
Might Bite – Cheltenham Gold Cup – 20/1
Not all of Cheltenham’s Championship races have been competitive betting heats in recent years but the Gold Cup has been an exception since the days of Best Mate’s dominance of Cheltenham’s Blue Riband event.
Native River and Might Bite’s enthralling dual from 2018’s renewal is sure to live long in the memory of National Hunt fans and it’s the latter who has seemingly been overlooked in the betting market this time around.
Last year’s runner-up was inconvenienced by extremely testing ground last year, conditions that would only have favoured the winner, but he put up a huge effort in defeat that day. It’s fair to assume Nicky Henderson’s stable star would be bidding for back-to-back wins in the race and a third consecutive Festival success if it had been run on a sound surface.
Both Native River and Might Bite have failed to fire so far this campaign, with huge fences a potential excuse at Haydock at least but the respective King George performances were a little disappointing. While that’s an obvious concern when betting antepost, the price of 20/1 about Might Bite is an insult to the horse’s ability.
His master trainer has decided to freshen the horse up and go straight for the race and with the lack of rain around so far this National Hunt season, he will be better suited to the likely quicker ground than the remainder of his rivals.
A repeat of last year’s performance gives him leading claims and he’s been underestimated, widely available to back at 16/1 with 20/1 available in a place.
Frodon – Ryanair Chase – 14/1
It’s no secret that course form at Cheltenham is a big positive for any horse running at the Festival and there has been few as impressive around Prestbury Park as Frodon this season; a runner who bids to give his trainer a third success in the Ryanair Chase.
The seven-year-old won a Grade 2 at Aintree on his return to action this year before finishing an excellent second to a well-handicapped sort in the Grade 3 BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
Paul Nicholls’ charge then reversed the form at the International Meeting despite conceding bags of weight to his rivals and he warrants a step up in class for the Festival this year.
Over his optimum trip at a course the seven-year-old excels at, his chance would appear to have been underestimated at odds of 14/1; particularly from an each-way perspective given his versatility with regards to ground conditions.
Special Tiara – Champion Chase – 50/1
Altior is a worthy odds-on favourite for the Champion Chase in March but there’s little appeal in backing him at this stage of affairs and at much more attractive odds, Special Tiara could be the each-way antepost play in the race.
The ground went against Henry De Bromhead’s stable star last year, but the veteran won the race in 2017, having placed in the two previous renewals and he’s another that will be hoping the drought continues through until the spring.
The gelding’s effort at Cork on his seasonal return showed he’s retained his ability and he can be forgiven his run in the Desert Orchid Chase given that this will always have been the long-term target.
Available to back at 50/1, he rates as one of the more likely outsiders to make his presence felt and he’s not without win claims if the favourite has any sort of setback.
Featured image credit: @CheltenhamRaces via Twitter
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