5 Cheltenham Festival Bankers

Even at a premier horse racing meeting like the Cheltenham Festival, some events are less competitive than others. There are some strong favourites to win over the four days from March 10 to 13.

Who are these banker horses fancied for Festival glory? Check out these Cheltenham horses to follow on the big stage.

Carefully Selected

Everything has seemingly fallen neatly into the lap of Willie Mullins’s Carefully Selected for the Grade 2 National Hunt Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase on the opening day of the Festival. The trip of three-and-three-quarter miles takes some getting used to, but ante-post rivals have fallen by the wayside.

Injury to Champagne Classic and Copperhead running in the RSA Chase on Ladies Day leaves this race at the mercy of this Mullins mount. Carefully Selected has been laid out for this after winning two Grade 3s in Ireland, so it’s no wonder he’s 13/8 in the betting on the Cheltenham Festival 2020 here.

Envoi Allen

Gordon Elliott’s Envoi Allen has won all previous eight career starts, including the Champion Bumper at the Festival last year. He has won two more Grade 1s after going over hurdles this season and is all the rage for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle that opens the Wednesday at Cheltenham.

Envoi Allen sets a clear form standard for this two miles and five furlongs race. He should get the trip no problem after winning over two-and-a-half miles at Naas last time out and comes fresh. This is why the six-year-old is 5/4 favourite to extend his streak.

Tiger Roll

Dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll has also taken the Cross Country Chase in each of the last two years and is set to bid for a hat-trick at Cheltenham. This remarkable horse has won at four previous Festivals and loves the unique test of jumping a variety of obstacles on the Cross Country course.

The 10-year-old is sure to come on for a spin over hurdles at Navan last time out. Despite the presence of young French challenger Easysland, that rival hasn’t achieved anything like as much as the Aintree and Cheltenham legend, so Tiger Roll is an even-money favourite for Cross Country glory again.

Paisley Park

One of last year’s hot Cheltenham racing tips, Paisley Park, is back to defend his Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle crown on St Patrick’s Thursday. Like Envoi Allen, Emma Lavelle’s star sets a clear form standard and has won seven races in a row.

After being rapidly progressive last season, Paisley Park has continued to stamp his authority on the staying hurdle division. He has beaten pretty much all the competition, so is odds-on at 4/6 with the race sponsors to retain his title.

Appreciate It

Mullins loves the Champion Bumper, a National Hunt Flat race where no obstacles are jumped. Appreciate It was very impressive in winning a Grade 2 at the Dublin Racing Festival and came third in the same Irish point-to-point race won by Envoi Allen before beginning his career under Rules.

The six-year-old has very strong form on his side and stays further which bodes well for Cheltenham. Appreciate It looks more mature than stable companion Ferny Hollow, who can be difficult to settle, so is 13/8 to land the Champion Bumper.


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