Cheltenham Festival 2023 – Liam’s Selections

I think the 2021 Festival has thrown up many winner who will win again and as boring as they are, I think come the festival barring not making it they will be shorter and most likely winners.

Supreme Novices Hurdle 

Arkle Chase

Constitution Hill @ 5/1

Constitution Hill was very impressive in the Supreme Novices Hurdle as was Altior & Shishkin for different reasons when they won the Supreme. Both went over fences the following season winning the Arkle. I think Constitution Hill does the same. Blue Bresil progeny have an 11.72% strike rate over hurdles which improves to 21.68% over fences and I would be very surprised if he is kept to hurdles.

Ultima Handicap Chase (Last year 129 – 159)

Champion Hurdle

Sir Gerhard @ 10/1

Sir Gerhard won the Ballymore today DESPITE how it panned out. His hurdling was much better here and he was very impressive. I think he steers clear of Constitution Hill who goes over fences and Willie Mullins also has Appreciate It who I think will go over fences. I think he follows the Faugheen schedule and comes back next year in the Champion Hurdle

Mares Hurdle

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

National Hunt Challenge Chase

Ballymore Novices Hurdle

Festival Novices Chase

Coral Cup (Last Year 138 – 154)

Champion Chase

Shishkin @ 6/1

Shishkin pulled up today and reportedly hated the going. He went off odds on for a reason though. On better going he will be a challenger next year. I think he’s the best by miles in England and would beat the likes of Edwardstone comfortably. Next season I also think Henderson will NOT take on any ‘decent’ rivals to protect him for Cheltenham.

Cross Country Chase

Grand Annual

Champion Bumper

Marsh Novices Chase

Pertemps Final (Last Year 131 – 152)

Ryanair Chase

Stayers Hurdle

Paddy Power Plate (Last Year 140 – 157)

Mares Novice Hurdle

Kim Muir Handicap Chase (Last Year 135 – 145)

Triumph Hurdle

County Hurdle (Last Year 133 – 150)

Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

Cheltenham Gold Cup

Ahoy Senor @ 20/1

A potential crazy selection as his jumping is not good enough at this stage. However I’m hoping he is heavily schooled and learns to jump better. If he jumped better today, I think he would have won the Brown Advisory and would be 12/1, 14/1 price. Just in the last few years Minella Indo & Al Boum Photo were both beaten in the Brown/RSA before going on to win the Gold Cup the following year.

Mares Chase

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Hurdle (Last Year 136 – 145)