Ante-post Cheltenham Festival: Five flying fancies over 10-1

Ante-post betting for the Cheltenham Festival is never straightforward. Targets can change, improvement is not guaranteed, and setbacks are always possible. However, identifying horses before their true Festival potential is fully realised, is something I have extremely enjoyed doing throughout the last few years.

Below are horses for the festival I feel could run very good races if progressing through the season

One horse narrowly missed out on the final five but still deserves a notable mention, which is included at the end.

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

Espresso Milan — Willie Mullins

Espresso Milan made a very taking start to his hurdling career when winning at Punchestown last week, beating stablemate Blue Velvet and comfortably accounting for Newbrok Diamond in a two-mile contest.

Owned by Stewart Andrews — also the owner of 2025 Grand National winner Nick Rockett — I feel that this horse has plenty going for him, and we will only see the best of him going out in trip.

For a first run over hurdles, his jumping was quite novice throughout, but with running at the minimum trip that horse wants, I think he can be excused. He raced lazily throughout and, crossing the road the first time, he had to get a few bumps along from Paul Townend.

As they approached the straight, he began to pick up and gain ground on his two rivals of the homestraight before a big jump at the last, which made me believe that this horse had loads more left as he ran out a length and a half winner.

The bare form may not scream top-class novice, but visually, this was a much stronger performance than it appears on paper.

As a son of Milan, he looks sure to improve significantly for stepping up in trip, and the Albert Bartlett looks an obvious long-term target.

The way he raced lazily over two miles is a positive rather than a concern. Albert Bartletts are often run at a steady gallop before turning into gruelling stamina tests, and having the ability to switch off early before quickening late is a huge asset.

At 33/1 or bigger, Espresso Milan could be a major player if progressing as expected.

Albert Bartlett - Espresso Milan 33/1

Turners Novices’ Hurdle

Copacabana — Willie Mullins

Copacabana arrived on the scene last season with a big reputation and backed it up with an impressive debut bumper win at Navan. That performance saw him propelled into Champion Bumper favouritism, though strong stablemate performances eventually saw him start at 9/2 at Cheltenham.

He ran with credit there but was notably outpaced late, a theme that reappeared in the Champion Bumper at Punchestown. On reappearance this season at Navan, he was beaten by Road Exile, a Gordon Elliott-trained runner who had race fitness on his side. Despite that, Copacabana travelled very sweetly throughout and jumped well for a seasonal debut.

Importantly, when this horse is mentioned at preview days and interviews, connections are often too quick to mention this horse would only improve for a tri, and this looks like the case again here.

The Mullins horses are often allowed to come forward gradually, and this looked very much a case of a horse learning his trade rather than being fully wound up. His relaxed racing style, neat jumping, and ability to travel strongly mark him out as an ideal Cheltenham type.

The current Turner's favourite, No Drama At This End, is a deserved market leader, but based on their bumper form last season, there was little between them. With Copacabana trading at a significantly higher price, he could look like an excellent value if stepping up in trip unlocks the improvement his connections clearly expect. I think we may see this horse in a Nathaniel Lacy at the Dublin Racing Festival if successful on his new hurdles bow, and we may have a shorter price on the day.

Turners' Novices' Hurdle - Copacabana 33/1

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

In My Teens — Gavin Cromwell

In My Teens is a filly I’ve long felt could be very well treated in the juvenile division. On the Flat, she travelled powerfully through her races but often felt the pinch of being idle when going into the lead.

Since she has gone hurdling, I have been extremely interested in keeping track of her as I feel, based on her connections, pedigree and trainer, she could be hugely successful over hurdles for years to come.

She made a striking debut at Punchestown, finishing third after being ridden patiently and coming with a strong late run.

A big jump at the last may have cost her a winning chance. Her subsequent unseating at Fairyhouse can be easily forgiven, particularly in juvenile company.

Gavin Cromwell is an excellent placer of horses, and the Boodles looks an obvious target. Her pedigree is top-class: her dam Jers Girl was a high-class mare, winning the Grade 1 Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse by 13 lengths before following up at Punchestown in the same race won by Final Demand last year, she also was 2nd by a head behind the superb Apple’s Jade, trainer Gavin Cromwell is familiar with the family as he was also the trainer of Jers Girl.

Despite being prominent in the betting already, I still believe we’ve yet to see the best of In My Teens.

The juvenile ranks have yet to produce many standout performers, and she could be ahead of the curve if everything falls into place.

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle - In My Teens 10-1

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Theflyingking — Gordon Elliott

Theflyingking is a five-year-old son of Jukebox Jury owned by the KTDA Racing Syndicate. He won a point-to-point at Loughanmore in April 2024 before finishing second in two bumpers, one of them being behind the highly regarded I’ll Sort That.

On hurdling debut at Down Royal over 2m6f, he was going to run out a convincing winner before falling at the last.

He then dropped sharply back in trip to two miles for a Grade 3 auction novice hurdle at Navan, where he again ran a huge race, briefly hitting the front before being caught late up the straight by the rallying l'll Sort That

That run confirmed both his ability and his likely preference for longer distances. His jumping has been consistently strong, and the minimum trip appears to be well short of his optimum.

He strongly resembles Better Days Ahead, a former Martin Pipe winner who also fell on his hurdling debut at Down Royal. If Theflyingking can pick up a maiden hurdle and receive a workable handicap mark, he looks tailor-made for this contest.

Gordon Elliott’s record in this race speaks for itself, and he described the man it's named after, Martin Pipe, as his hero, so it makes it even more special for someone like Elliott when preparing his horses for a race like this.

Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle - Theflyingking 16/1

Grand Annual Handicap Chase

Jasko Des Dames — Henry de Bromhead

Jasko Des Dames ran an excellent race in last season’s Grand Annual and looks primed for another crack at the same contest.

He reappeared at Cheltenham in October, jumping superbly before finishing second to Calico, a horse known for going well fresh.

The form is definitely worth taking note of as the 3rd Brookie was highly tried last year in Graded Contests, finishing second to Kalif Du Berlais while L’eau Du Sud was 3rd and then went to Punchestown, where he was only a Length behind the 2nd Only By Night, who looks a candidate for either the Mares Chase or the Champion Chase this season.

Now fully into his handicap chasing phase, Jasko Des Dames looks the type to thrive in these big-field, strongly run contests.

He’s an honest, scopey jumper — an essential attribute for the Grand Annual.

Henry de Bromhead excels at preparing horses to peak on the biggest stages, and with Jasko Des Dames currently trading around 20/1, he could prove excellent value if progressing into the mid-140s.

Grand Annual Chase - Jasko Des Dames 20/1

One That Just Missed the Cut — But Worth a Mention

Tranquil Sea - Dan Skelton

Tranquil Sea narrowly missed out on making the final five but is well worth a mention.

I’d be keen to see him aimed at the Pertemps Final, as there still appears to be plenty of improvement left.

His latest run at Cheltenham, wearing cheekpieces for the first time, was very encouraging: he jumped fluently throughout and travelled strongly before lacking tactical pace late on.

He shapes like a proper stayer, and in a truly run handicap over three miles, he could be far more effective. Trained by Dan Skelton, a master of Festival handicaps, Tranquil Sea could be a serious contender at around 33/1.

Pertemps Final - Tranquil Sea 33/1