Cheltenham Festival Ante-post Longshot: 'Way Too Early to Give Up' at 16-1

Lots has happened already this season and some Cheltenham Festival races have been blown wide-open by early season results.

The Champion Hurdle is one of them, following dramatic falls for leading contenders Constitution Hill and The New Lion at Newcastle.

It’s an interesting period for the ante-post markets and there could be some value on offer. With that in mind, we’ve selected one horse who could be the best ante-post Cheltenham Festival bet available right now.

The Stayers’ Hurdle is one of the most open races at this stage and whilst Ballyburn has surged to the head of the market, there could be a much more reliable option at a significantly bigger price.

Stayers’ Hurdle - The Yellow Clay at 16/1

There’s been a bit of an overreaction to The Yellow Clay’s defeat by Colonel Mustard on seasonal debut at Navan last month and it’s way too early to give up on him. Many were disappointed to see him beaten at odds of 8/15 and perhaps understandably so.

It would be unwise to read too much into that performance, however, as jockey Jack Kennedy reported that he was never travelling in the race, which is very out of character. We can expect a much better effort next time we see him and three miles look likely to suit.

He got a little outpaced approaching the last, before staying on again up the run-in. The winner is a useful yardstick on his day and The Yellow Clay’s performance wasn’t as bad it perhaps looks. A return to winning ways is anticipated wherever we see him next.

His novice hurdle form was right up there and his long-term future may be over fences, but a Stayers’ Hurdle victory could be on the cards before that happens. Second in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, he was only just denied by The New Lion.

Gordon Elliott ’s gelding lost little in defeat that day and the pair were comfortably clear of Willie Mullins’ Final Demand, who went on to win at Punchestown and who is ante-post favourite for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Festival this season.

Things didn’t quite go to plan at Punchestown, but he had a hard race at Cheltenham and can be forgiven for a below-par display there.

He was an impressive winner of the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle and was unbeaten over hurdles ahead of his Cheltenham bid.

There are several potential targets in the next couple of months and the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown looks like the most logical one. If Elliott can get him back to his best, he would

surely have every chance of coming out on top.

Obviously he will need to improve significantly on his latest performance, but his novice form is right up there with the best on offer in this open division and 16/1 looks like a pretty decent price at this stage of the season.