TEMPLEGATE is back with three Cheltenham Festival ante-post picks to bash the bookies.
There are just nine weeks to go until racing’s greatest meeting gets underway.
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BANBRIDGE – Ryanair Chase (4-1 non-runner, no bet with William Hill)
Hills have gone non-runner, no bet on the Festival now and Banbridge is the ideal horse for that offer in the Ryanair Chase.
You can get 6-1 on the usual ante-post rules which means you lose your money if he doesn’t turn up.
With Banbridge, the ground is the key and connections have learned their lesson from last year and won’t run him if it turns up really soft.
So you’d get your money back with Hills if that was the case.
If it is good and he runs, he’ll be a lot shorter than 4-1 because the Ryanair looks particularly thin this year.
Fact To File is second favourite but he’s likely to go for the Gold Cup, Gaelic Warrior is going for the Champion Chase and other rivals have different targets too.
His King George win was brilliant and I think the 2m5f of the Ryanair would suit much better than trying to beat Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup.
BURDETT ROAD – Champion Hurdle (33-1 ante-post, each-way)
Some pundits reckon Burdett Road finishing close to Constitution Hill crabs the Christmas Hurdle form of Nicky Henderson’s superstar.
But I just think Burdett Road – whose slick jumping has been labelled ‘fantastic’ – is an improving hurdler who would have been even closer to Con Hill and Lossiemouth but for a final flight blunder.
The Champion Hurdle could fall apart and he could easily end up third or fourth favourite on the day at much shorter than the 33-1 on offer ante-post.
I think it’s worth risking that price because it’s so much bigger than Hills’ 20-1 non-runner, no bet.
I think he’s a sporting bet to make the frame. State Man at 11-1 is also tempting each-way.
KOPEK DES BORDES – Turners Novice Hurdle (8-1 with Hills NRNB or 14-1 others)
This 130,000 euro buy from France showed his quality when winning a hot Fairyhouse bumper in March and it was good to see him make a winning debut over hurdles at Leopardstown on December 26.
He made jumping errors but his engine took him to a comfortable victory.
Willie Mullins has time to iron out his jumping and he looks a hot prospect.
The 8-1 non-runner, no bet looks fair enough or Bet365 go 14-1 but you lose your money if he doesn’t run.
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