After the first 3 days, we’ve tipped 7 winners and 7 places from 21 tips in total.
Here are the Cheltenham tips for Thursday 18 March 2021 from @cheltenhamtips on twitter.
Please join the free Telegram group to get new tips and updates
Please use bet365, our chosen bookmaker. Click these links to add straight into your betslip. Use bet365 bonus code MYBETTING
Odds correct at 6pm 18 March 2021 and subject to change. 18 years and older, please gamble responsibly.
1:20 JCB Triumph Hurdle
Quilixios 10/3 Already five wins for her this year at Cheltenham, in form Rachael Blackmore takes the ride. The French horse who won all three starts for Gordon Elliott, including when beating Boodles Handicap Hurdle second Saint Sam by 5½ lengths in Spring Juvenile Hurdle last time. Now trained by Henry de Bromhead.
1:55 County Handicap Hurdle
Eclair De Beaufeu 9/1 A wide open race in this Grade 3 handicap hurdle. ECLAIR DE BEAUFEU could be thrown in here for Denise Foster. Once rated 153, he’s now down to 139 in the UK and his run at Leopardstown last time suggested he’s been laid out for this. Definitely worth a few quid eachway.
2:30 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
Threeunderthrufive 11/1 This race has a very open look to it this year and with no obvious stand outs dominating the division I suspect we might see another big priced winner in a race that has a habit of throwing them up. Paul Nicholls fields Threeunderthrufive that interests me.
Three from three since the start of his novice hurdle campaign, the Max McNeill owned contender has stepped up with every run with his win at Musselburgh over three miles last time suggesting an even stiffer test over a more testing track might bring out the best in him. He is undoubtedly a future chaser and has still looked green and immature at times but he clearly has the engine to compete at this level and he might be worth taking a chance on at a big price.
3:05 WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup
A Plus Tard 3/1 Two time winner of the race Al Boum Photo has proved his versatility in winning back to back Gold Cups in contrasting style and has to be hugely respected in his bid to land a third success. However another horse who has proven Festival form albeit at a lower level is 2019 handicap chase winner A Plus Tard who took his form to the next level up in trip this year when winning a very competitive renewal of the Savills Chase in eye catching fashion.
A slick, assured, jumping style coupled with that devastating blend of two mile speed alongside three mile stamina arm him with all the necessary attributes to step into the plate at the highest level. He could hand the Champion Hurdle winning duo of Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead another day to remember.
All the talk will be about Rachael Blackmore if she was to win here and follow up her Champion Hurdle success – but let’s not forget the fella she is sitting on is a dual Grade one winner who is the only horse in the UK or Ireland to have beaten Chacun Pour Soi.
3:40 St James’s Place Hunters Chase
Staker Wallace 9/1 Came To Pass, Billaway, Shantou Flyer and STAKER WALLACE came home in that order last season but Staker Wallace might be capable of reversing the form. He had been off the track for three years prior to two runs before last year’s Cheltenham Festival and shaped really nicely in fourth, just not getting up the hill as well as the winner and second. He has had four runs in total this season, twice in point to points and twice in hunter chases. He looks sure to run a big race here.
4:15 -Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
A new race run over the same course and distance as the Ryanair where its not a surprise to see Willie Mullins dominate the top of the market. With an excellent Festival record with mares in both the Dawn Run and the Close Brothers Mares Hurdle he has an impressive battalion to call on again here possibly headlined by the well touted Elimay for JP McManus. Three from four runs over fences, Elimay got within three lengths of the Ryanair favourite Allaho at Thurles in January before lowering the colours of fellow rival Shattered Love in boggy ground at Naas. She jumps well, stays well and unlike her stablemate and market rival Colreevy does not carry a penalty.
4:50 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
Gentleman De Mee 4/1 Cheltenham ends with the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle over an extended 2m4f. Only had three runs and one in Ireland when bolting up at Naas last time. The Irish have dominated this race with WIllie Mullins the leading trainer with three winners in the last decade. While experience is obviously a concern he was spoken of as a Ballymore horse in the aftermath of his impressive from running win and with the trip expected to suit he could be absolutely thrown in off a mark of 139.