Cheltenham Festival: A bet for every handicap

Lord Accord – Ultima Handicap Chase

Neil Mulholland took a winning swing at this race with The Druids Nephew in 2015 and could have found another candidate for the first handicap of the week with 12/1 shot Lord Accord.

At his best on good ground, he was a taking winner over course and distance in the autumn before going on to finish a good second to Frodon in the Badger Ales at Wincanton next time.

Lord Accord wins the 2.05 at @CheltenhamRaces for @richiemclernon and @Neil_Mulholland Captain Cattisock 3rd as tipped by @theprestburyboy and @Ian_Rayner pic.twitter.com/j2qZQMNa6m

— The Cheltenham Exchange (@Cheltenham_Ex) October 22, 2022

Things didn’t go to plan in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, but that means he is just 1lb higher than his fine Wincanton effort and it is interesting that Mulholland is following the same path to the Festival he took with The Druids Nephew eight years ago by running at both Newbury and then in the Cleve Hurdle.

Cheltenham form has proved crucial to solving this puzzle in recent years, which is a further encouraging sign for Lord Accord who won the same race The Conditional did before repeating the dose at the 2020 Festival, while Corach Rambler tasted track success last season before returning to score in March.

Metamorpheus – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

The winner of February’s Naas Rated Novice Hurdle has followed up at three of the last four Festivals and that would make Andrew Slattery’s Sir Allen of real interest.

However, it was one of the vanquished runners in that contest, Paul Nolan’s Metamorpheus who could shock at 25/1.

An eye-catching third on hurdling debut at Limerick on Boxing Day, he wasted little time getting off the mark when appearing at Punchestown the following month.

He transferred to Nolan from Timothy Doyle in the aftermath of that five-length success with this contest as his spring target and he was far from disgraced in his first outing for the Festival-winning handler in the aforementioned Naas encounter.

That race was run at a modest pace which failed to bring Metamorpheus’ stamina into play, but granted stronger fractions at Prestbury Park, he could be stroming up the hill while others are beginning to wane.

Captain Conby – Coral Cup

We look to Ireland once again in our trawl through the Cheltenham handicaps and Eamon ‘Dusty’ Sheehy’s Captain Conby who can be found at 14/1 in the Cheltenham betting.

Although only registering two victories from 10 outings under rules, he has proven an ultra-consistent performer in some hot contests and is undoubtedly the star of his handler’s small string.

🏆Captain Conby🏆

A 4yo maiden hurdle winner at Punchestown & 2nd on debut to high class Belle Metal

🌟Dam sister to Hell's Bay @JoeTizzard #CheltenhamDecember Sale, after racing
Friday 10 December
The International Meeting

View 2⃣8⃣ Initial Entrieshttps://t.co/REBII29dxa pic.twitter.com/PYKzpOmkUU

— Tattersalls Cheltenham (@tattscheltenham) November 26, 2021

Third in a Grade Three last season, he has placed on all three occasions this season, firstly chasing home Eric Bloodaxe at Fairyhouse before a pair of podium finishes in two red-hot Punchestown heats.

The form of those races is looking mightily impressive and this six-year-old could head to the Cheltenham Festival under the radar.

Final Orders – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase

It is hard to ignore any horse arriving at Prestbury Park with a string of ‘ones’ against their name and Gavin Cromwell’s seven-year-old is backed to extend his five-race winning run here.

Jockey Keith Donoghue took the race by the scruff of the neck when bringing up the five-timer at the Dublin Racing Festival and he looks a horse capable of holding his own in a higher grade.

However, he can first defy a mark of 150 in a race where his prominent style of racing should see him in the perfect place to keep out of traffic trouble and attack the final third of the two-mile contest.

Final Orders is a 9/1 chance in the Cheltenham betting and can provide the emerald isle with another strike in the Cheltenham handicaps.

Mill Green – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle

Mill Green was 33/1 when just over two lengths third in this race last year and has Cheltenham odds of 25/1 this time around as he attempts to go two places better off the same rating.

One of seven possible runners in the race for Nicky Henderson, he has outran his odds at the last three Festivals despite heading to Prestbury Park unfancied by the odds-makers.

Therefore in hindsight, a third-placed finish at Haydock last month could be deemed highly encouraging and will have oiled the cogs just enough to see him thrive on the big day itself.

He is versatile ground wise, stays the trip well and is one of the more likely handicap outsiders of the week.

So Scottish – Magners Plate Handicap Chase

The prospect of a good ground Festival makes So Scottish a favourite who must be kept onside when he attempts to give Emmet Mullins a second victory in the Plate.

The Grand National-winning handler – who is known for his enterprising campaigning and shrewd plots – won the contest with The Shunter in 2020 and his latest Festival contender is well worth his place as the 7/2 market leader.

No chances are being taken on the JP McManus-owned six-year-old who has won three of his last four starts and two of three outings so far over fences.

His sole defeat over the larger obstacles came at Ascot in November when second to Boothill, but Harry Fry’s charge has gone on to prove himself in Graded company since which makes So Scottish a tasty proposition here off a mark of 143.

Mr Incredible – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase

There could be more Mullins’ in the winners’ enclosure in the finale to the third day of action at the Cheltenham Festival, where at 5/1, Mr Incredible could provide amateur pilot Patrick Mullins with the full set of amateur-rider prizes at the meeting.

Now trained by the rider’s all-conquering father Willie, the seven-year-old has been far from the most reliable over the years, but looks a more solid proposition since transfering to Closutton.

He only got as far as the fourth on his stable debut at Christmas, but it was when making a raiding mission on Warwick last time when he entered plenty of notebooks – keeping on resolutely in the closing stages of the Classic Chase for an eye-catching second.

That result in a recognised Grand National trial brought the Aintree showpiece into the equation, but this looks a more than winnable stepping stone on the route to Merseyside and it would be no surprise to see him land his own ‘spring double’ for the Mullins duo and owner Paul Byrne.

Hunters Yarn – McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle

Willie Mullins has won this four times in the last 10 years including 12 months ago with Champion Hurdle candidate State Man and it will be interesting to see if he is tempted to run the classy Hunters Yarn in this Cheltenham handicap off a mark of 147.

Priced at 8/1 in the Cheltenham betting, he is also a possible for the opening race of the meeting – the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

However, there could be just enough mileage in his mark to encourage well-stocked connections to take their chance here.

He has built up plenty of experience in the past two seasons and arrives here on an upwards curve having won impressively the last twice.

Cool Survivor – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

The final race of the Cheltenham Festival has thrown up some high-class winners during its short history and Cool Survivor could prove to be another illustrious name on the roll of honour in time.

Handler Gordon Elliott has won this twice in the past and fires plenty of darts at a race he always has strong representation in.

And Cool Survivor could prove best of his contingent following his taking fourth in Grade One company last time – where he was beaten less than five lengths and was doing his best work in the closing stages.

The ability to stay three miles is a handy asset when racing on the new course and a mark of 140 may underestimate what he is capable of achieving.

He has Cheltenham odds of 8/1 – although if he doesn’t oblige, it would be no surprise to see Cullentra House stablemate Imagine land the spoils at the same price in the Cheltenham betting.

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All odds and markets correct as of date of publication