Cheltenham Festival: Top 5 Each-Way Bets at the Cheltenham Festival
Here at betting.bet we’ve been on the lookout for some of the standout each-way selections
We’re now just one week out from the start of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and excitement is starting to build for the greatest show on turf. As the very best horses, trainers and jockeys descend on Prestbury Park, many of the favourites will inevitably live up to the hype and deliver at the Cheltenham Festival, but for every Arkle there is always a Norton’s Coin! Here at betting.bet we’ve been on the lookout for some of the standout each-way selections and with Nags Bet offering your money back for any non-runners (NRMB), now is the time to pick up some real value.
Zanahiyr - 25/1
Zanahiyr has made an encouraging start to his chasing career, getting off the mark at the second attempt in a beginners’ chase over at Thurles three weeks ago. Having placed in last year’s Champion Hurdle, Zanahiyr could be a real intriguing selection next week. Currently holds entries in both the Arkle and Champion Hurdle on day one and whilst we’re not opposed to a run in the Arkle we hope to see him run in the Turners Novices’ Chase on Thursday. Nags Bet currently have him priced at 25/1 in their NRMB market.
Echoes In Rain - 12/1
(Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle)
Willie Mullins has been dominant in the Mares’ Hurdle’s relatively short history with 9 wins from 14 previous renewals of the Grade 1 race. Mullins currently has the leading two in the betting for his year’s Mares’ Hurdle, including odds-on favourite, Lossiemouth (1/2) and Ashroe Diamond (3/1). However, you should not overlook Echoes In Rain. Echoes In Rain has two previous Grade 1 wins under her belt, both at Punchestown whilst she’s often found a couple too good at Cheltenham, In what is believed to be her last run before retirement, we’re backing her to emulate last year’s winner, Honeysuckle and bow it style.
Lounge Lizard - 16/1
Decent run in the Becher Chase before losing a shoe and falling away, Lounge Lizard was second to Ga Law here at Cheltenham in January, finishing less than 2 lengths off the race winner despite failing to jump fluently throughout. Dug in to land a handicap at Huntingdon on Sunday and could be a real danger if he can sneak in off a low weight next Thursday.
Flooring Porter - 12/1
Flooring Porter always saves his best form for Cheltenham and he was in the winners enclosure in a novice chase here at Prestbury Park in October. With Irish Point tipped to switch to the Champion Hurdle, the door could open for the popular nine-year-old to attempt to win a third Stayers’ Hurdle. Flooring Porter could only manage fourth in the race last year but was victorious in both 2021 and 2022.
Shishkin - 7/1
(Gold Cup)
Following the withdrawals of both Constitution Hill and Marine Nationale, Galopin Des Champs to win the Gold Cup will be most people’s banker next week but he’s not unbeatable. Last year’s runner-up, Fastorslow is back this year and well-fancied to earn a third win over Galopin Des Champs. However, the real enigma in the race is Shishkin. In 2020 and 2021 Shishkin looked a world beater, landing several Grade 1 races including the Arkle at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival. However, 12 months later he was pulled up when odds-on favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and was also well-beaten in the Tingle Creek Chase that December.
Following wind surgery, Shishkin was stepped up to 2m5f to land the 2023 Betfair Ascot Chase. He passed further stamina tests when winning the Aintree Bowl over 3m1f and looked on course to land the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day before unseating after 2 out. Form figures this year of RU1 highlight just how unpredictable Shishkin is but if he’s on song at Cheltenham he could prove a steal at 7/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.