6 minutes The Professor gives us his first racing tips since going the team, for the Cheltenham Festival
The Professor is looking make further impact with betting.bet after a 24/1 acca win on the football this weekend. He has provided 4 selections throughout the week for a Lucky15 acca.
Monday 12th March
13:30 - Cheltenham
TULLYHILL - 4/1
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
Tullyhill has been living in the shadow of his stable companion Ballyburn for almost the entire duration of the Cheltenham preview circuit, but, now that Ballyburn has been confirmed for the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday, Tullyhill could have the spotlight trained on him in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday.
Willie Mullins’ horse has always been highly regarded. He was the stable’s number one in the Champion Bumper at Punchestown last April, when he finished second behind A Dream To Share, with Ballyburn running in a winners’ bumper the following day instead.
The Martaline gelding has been a fairly slow burn over hurdles this season. He was beaten at 1/8 on his hurdling bow at Punchestown in November, but he was better next time in winning his maiden at Naas in January, and he was better again last time at Punchestown. In front from flagfall that day, his jumping wasn’t flawless, but he was always in command, and he readily came away from two talented rivals in No Flies On Him and Jigoro. He is on an upward trajectory over hurdles now, it is probable that he will improve again with the Punchestown experience under his belt, and it looks like he will have Paul Townend for company. There are lots of positives.
Thursday 14th March
16:10 - Cheltenham
THEATRE MAN - 8/1
Trustatrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)
Novices tend to perform exceptionally well in major handicaps largely because they've yet to be heavily penalized by the handicapper. From Trials day onward, I've been convinced that Theatre Man stands a solid chance in any race chosen for him at the Cheltenham Festival. His effort over 2m4½f suggests that stepping up to 3m might be beneficial down the line, although his eagerness has been a bit of a concern. However, his performance behind Ginny's Destiny, over the same course and distance, was notably his finest, making the Trustatrader Plate next month a fitting choice.
The Trials day handicap has historically been a reliable indicator of festival success, and its outcomes are already proving predictive, highlighted by Blow Your Wad's Grade 2 victory at Kempton. Theatre Man has the Ultima as an option, but it's considerably more competitive than the Plate at this point, making him an attractive bet at 12-1 for the latter race, especially with the safety net of the non-runner no bet condition.
The Kim Muir is shaping up to be an interesting betting prospect, as it tends to be one of the races that hasn't yet attracted heavy punter attention by this stage. The ante-post favorite, Good Time Jonny, significantly underperformed in his last race, finishing last, which emphasizes the unpredictable nature of this event and suggests potential value for sharp bettors.
Friday 15th March
14:50 - Cheltenham
CAPTAIN TEAGUE - 9/1
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Spa Novices' Hurdle) (Gbb Race)
Captain Teague, a Grade 1 victor, left a strong impression by winning the Challow Hurdle comfortably. Typically, Paul Nicholls would follow up such a win with an entry in the Baring Bingham, but recent attempts have not been fruitful. Given this, and Nicholls' success last year with Stay Away Fay in the Albert Bartlett, there's speculation he might choose this race for Captain Teague instead.
Captain Teague closely followed Fact To File in last year's Champion Bumper and, despite the Challow Hurdle form not being the strongest, his easy move to the lead and subsequent idling suggest he has more to offer. Should Nicholls decide on the Albert Bartlett, Captain Teague could be a stronger contender than many of the Irish entries.
Gidleigh Park, another horse drawing attention, remains unbeaten after winning on Trials day at Cheltenham for Harry Fry. He's a potential candidate for both the Baring Bingham and the Albert Bartlett, but given Fry's history and the horse's recent performance, the longer race might be the preferred option. Gidleigh Park's victory, though not dazzling, demonstrated potential for improvement over three miles.
The Albert Bartlett offers the chance to bypass the top horses from the Mullins stable. Despite concerns that it's a demanding test for young horses, it's noteworthy that Gold Cup winners like Bobs Worth and Minella Indo have triumphed in it. The race could be a strategic choice for future three-mile chasers like Captain Teague and Gidleigh Park, aiming for success at Cheltenham this year.
Other notable entries include Lecky Watson, who has shown promise beyond his last outing, Johnnywho, likely to relish the endurance challenge, and Shanagh Bob, whose performance at the track now appears more impressive than initially thought.
Friday 15th March
15:30 - Cheltenham
FASTORSLOW - 6/1
Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (Gbb Race)
Galopin Des Champs indeed sets a formidable benchmark for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, yet Fastorslow, having outperformed him twice, arguably deserves a closer market position. Martin Brassil's charge surprised many by clinching victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup last April. Despite appearing slightly slower than Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame at one point, he demonstrated remarkable stamina over the final fences to secure a win by more than two lengths. His triumph in the season-opening John Durkan Chase at Punchestown further dismissed any notion of the prior win being a fluke.
While Galopin Des Champs might not have been at peak form during those defeats, his impressive performances in the Savills Chase and the Irish Gold Cup, where he evened out his record with Fastorslow to 2-2, cannot be overlooked. However, Fastorslow's absence from the Savills Chase, due to the soft ground, and his competitive return post the John Durkan Chase suggest he could present an even stronger challenge at Cheltenham.
Fastorslow has demonstrated his affinity for Cheltenham, narrowly missing wins in significant races there, including a close second in the Ultima Chase last year to Corach Rambler—who impressively went on to win the Grand National—and a narrow defeat in the Coral Cup in 2022 by just a short head to Commander Of Fleet. With only seven starts over fences, Fastorslow hints at the potential for further improvement, adding intrigue to his Cheltenham Gold Cup prospects.