UK Horse Racing Tips

On March 15th, horse racing fans from all over the world will be fixed to the four-day Cheltenham Festival. Over the course of the meeting, the best horses, trainers and jockeys will all feature heavily and punters will be looking to make a hefty profit in some of the most prestigious races on the planet.

Last year, Ruby Walsh enjoyed plenty of success on the opening day of the festival and Cheltenham punters will be hoping for similar results next month. In anticipation of the event, we’ve had a look at our top three horses throughout the meeting and have provided our reasons for these suggestions.

Faugheen

On the opening day, Faugheen will attempt to defend his crown in the Champion Hurdle. Although he will be coming up against both Nichols Canyon, the only horse to beat Faugheen during his 13-race career, and stablemate Arctic Fire, Ruby Walsh’s mount still looks a superb bet at 1/3 with Coral and it’s hard to imagine him getting beat here. Even trainer Willie Mullins was speechless at Faugheen’s defeat to Nichols Canyon in Novemeber and for us, there’s only one winner here and that’s the defending champion.

Un de Sceaux

The Willie Mullins-Ruby Walsh combination will look to strike in the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Un de Sceaux. Although his jumping has been suspect at times, he’s got phenomenal potential and should find this relatively straightforward if Ruby stays on board. Although there are a few decent contenders, Un de Sceaux is simply a class above the rest and may romp home. At 4/5, he’s not going to make you a millionaire but he’s well worth backing – that’s how good he is.

Bristol de Mai

Bristol de Mai is a superb thoroughbred and he looks a real candidate for future successes at the festival. Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, Bristol de Mai has never finished outside of the places and is likely to finish in the top three once again at Cheltenham. On current form, he stands a great chance and Coral punters are tipping him after his recent victory at Sandown. In fact, he was priced at 6/1 two weeks ago and he’s as short as 7/2. In order to ensure the best odds, it’s probably a good idea to place your wager on him to win the JLT Novices’ Chase now – that way, you can bet now and win later at Cheltenham!

In the British Stallion Studs EBF Mares “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle (2.30) at Market Rasen, Buttercup is an interesting contender. Formerly in the charge of top French jump trainer François-Marie Cottin, for whom she remained a maiden after eight starts, the Limnos mare made a promising debut for new trainer Venetia Williams over 2 miles 5 furlongs at Warwick twelve days ago. She came to challenge at the second last flight on that occasion but, having been carried left after the last, she could only stay on at one pace to finish third, beaten 1¾ lengths, behind the winner Savingforvegas.

Nevertheless, that form looks decent, with the second, Surtee De Berlais, and the fourth, Mia’s Storm, having previously run creditably in defeat in Listed company and dropping back half a mile or so in distance could be a shrewd move on the part of her new connections. Venetia Williams has a healthy 8-30 (27%) strike rate overall at Market Rasen over the last five seasons, so it could be time for Buttercup to blossom.

Selections: Market Rasen 2.30 Buttercup to win

The Openbet Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle (4.30) wouldn’t be the most reliable selection source, but may provide Pandorica with an opportunity to record his second win over obstacles. Bernard Llewellyn’s 8-year-old mare has been well beaten in better company on both starts this campaign, but may be better judged on her form in this sort of grade earlier in the year.

The daughter of Indesatchel is 5lb lower in the weights than when third of six, beaten 4½ lengths, in a mares’ handicap hurdle at Chepstow in March and merits close attention on that form, especially as she appears versatile with regard to underfoot conditions. Interestingly, Welsh point-to-point champion rider, and erstwhile assistant trainer to Tim Vaughan, Rhys Hughes, has his first ride under National Hunt rules for six years, so the hint may be worth taking.

Selections: Ludlow 4.30 Pandorica to win

The going at Doncaster is currently good to soft, good in places and faster underfoot conditions have attracted over 100 runners in seven races on Friday. The Sky Bet Thanks Jen Noble Maiden Hurdle (3.40) is the most competitive race on the card, numerically, but there are reasons to expect a forward showing from Kingussie, trained in Gloucestershire by Ben Pauling.

Although an 8-year-old, the Diktat gelding didn’t see a racecourse until last May, when making a winning debut for Shaun Lycett in a ‘bumper’ at Stratford. Now with a yard that’s undeniably going places, he made a satisfactory debut over obstacles when fourth of 14, beaten 6½ lengths, behind Que Sera in a maiden hurdle at Towcester in December. That form has yet to be properly tested but, while the runner-up, Ballypoint, finished last of six in a Grade 2 contest at Haydock last week, the sixth, Scooter Boy, won a better maiden hurdle at Huntingdon earlier this month.

The form appears strong enough, in the context of this race, and Kingussie should improve for his first run for over a year. Indeed, having won on good going at Stratford, drying ground is almost certainly in his favour and his running style suggests that the step up to 2 miles 3 furlongs won’t do his chances any hard either. Jockey Nico De Boinville has a 10-40 (25%) strike rate for the yard this season, so there’s every reason to expect Kingussie to go well at a decent price.

Selection: Doncaster 3.40 Kingussie