Petra has it on a Plate at 25-1

THE Cheltenham Festival is less than a week away and in tonight’s Up The Ante, Chronicle racing correspondent KEITH McHUGH nominates his early fancies for the meeting.

Most selections are price-orientated and not necessarily my selections on the day.

Most bookmakers are issuing a non-runner, no-bet concession, so ensure your bookie is providing this offer if having an ante-post wager.


TUESDAY

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: Dunguib will be a hot favourite to win this and may well do so, but there are some serious horses against him and the best of them may be Blackstairmountain (best price 12-1) and Get Me Out Of Here (7-1).

Arkle Chase: Captain Cee Bee and Sizing Europe are strongly-fancied Irish contenders, but Somersby and Riverside Theatre lead the home defence and the latter, at 9-1, is narrowly preferred.

William Hill Chase: Lots of exposed handicappers in this, but Bensalem (6-1) gets in off a mark of 143 and really ought to go close if putting in a solid round of jumping.

Champion Hurdle: With doubts over the participation of Solwhit, Go Native looks a solid favourite. However, in a wide-open year, it would not surprise me if Binocular (10-1) were to shrug off his injury troubles and make a bold bid.

Cross-Country Chase: Ireland – and trainer Enda Bolger in particular –- are likely to dominate this and Garde Champetre (9-4) is so good around this track that he can defy top weight once again.

Mares’ Hurdle: Two runners stand out from the rest - Irish challengers Quevega (5-4) and Voler La Vedette. The former, a brilliant winner of this last year, has proven stamina and that gives her the edge


WEDNESDAY

National Hunt Chase: Jockeyship is vital in this four-mile race for amateur riders so make sure you have an able pilot on your side. My two against the field at this stage are Any Currency (7-1) and Synchronised (9-1).

Neptune Novices’ Hurdle: Rite Of Passage (7-2) has been my long-term fancy and I believe this is one favourite which will win. Finian’s Rainbow and Qeul Esprit look his biggest dangers.

RSA Chase: One of the highlights of the meeting. Several runners have Gold Cup pretensions, but nothing has impressed me more than Long Run (11-4) this season and I think he will win in style granted a clear round.

Champion Chase: This looks a penalty kick for the back-to-form Master Minded (5-6). Kalahari King looks the one for the forecast.

Coral Cup: A wide-open handicap which is hard to assess due to many entrants holding alternative engagements. Pause and Clause (33-1) and Quantitativeeasing (12-1) head my list at this stage.

Fred Winter Hurdle: This juvenile handicap looks the trickiest race on day two. Notus de la Tour, my Triumph fancy, would be of obvious interest if running in this, but a dark horse further down the weights is Capellanus (10-1).

Champion Bumper: The winner will come from Ireland, but that does not make the picture any clearer. Bishopsfurze (16-1) could be the best of Willie Mullins’ entries, while Dermot Weld has two strong contenders in Elegant Concorde and Hidden Universe, and Eddie O’Grady saddles the impressive Shot From the Hip.


THURSDAY

Jewson Novices Chase: A minefield for punters. Ferdy Murphy expects a big run from The Hollinwell, but he is short enough for a race of this nature and Pigeon Island (33-1), back on faster ground, is an interesting long-shot off his low weight.

Pertemps Final: Kayf Aramis could make a bold bid to repeat last year’s victory, but Erzen (25-1) is worth a chance on this better ground and over a three-mile trip which should suit. His stable companion Ainama (10-1) also looks to have been laid out for this.
Ryanair Chase: Poquelin and Tranquil Sea head the market, but handicap ratings don’t suggest they should which means there is value to be had elsewhere. Schindlers Hunt (11-1) and Albertas Run (25-1), proven at the track and on decent ground, represent much better each-way value.

World Hurdle: Big Buck’s is odds-on and rightly so, but hot favourites do get beaten and he will be there to be shot at. With the possibility of a slowly-run race, Sentry Duty (14-1) and Cousin Vinny (25-1) are viable each-way alternatives.

Festival Plate: One of the meeting’s weaker races, but My Petra (25-1) looks well handicapped for her return to fences and the expected fast ground will suit.

Kim Muir Chase: Arguably the hardest puzzle of the whole meeting. Ballabriggs and Shillingstone are disputing favouritism, but I have no fancy at this stage.


FRIDAY

Triumph Hurdle: Not a vintage renewal of this race and, as such, there could be a shock winner. I like Notus De La Tour who, although entered in the Fred Winter Hurdle as well, can be backed at 20-1, non-runner no-bet.

County Hurdle: Hard to know what will get into the handicap at this stage, but Bahrain Storm (25-1) and Bellvano (14-1) are a couple of entries which catch the eye.

Albert Bartlett Hurdle: A proper renewal of this race with English hopefuls Tell Massini, Restless Harry and The Betchworth Kid taken on by Willie Mullins’ Fionnegas and Enterprise Park. Restless Harry (7-1) will do for me.

Gold Cup: Kauto Star is a worthy favourite at 4-5, but he might be nearer evens on the day so hang fire if you want to back him. I don’t fancy Denman, so at this stage, I reckon the each-way value lies with Imperial Commander (10-1), who loves this track, runs best when fresh and is likely to appreciate a sound surface.

Foxhunters Chase: Cappa Bleu did us a big favour in this race last year and don’t be surprised if Baby Run (11-2), third to him in that contest, makes amends this time, especially given the extra experience of jockey Sam Twiston-Davies.

Martin Pipe Hurdle: A wide-open affair, but Nicky Henderson’s Peveril (14-1) is a favourite of mine and continues to progress. Conditional jockey David Bass won on him at Warwick last time and the pair team up again.

Grand Annual Chase: Yet another ultra-competitive event with which to finish the meeting. Back on a sound surface, Dave’s Dream (16-1) could be pitched in here off a mark of 138 and I make him one of my strongest handicap fancies of the week.

KEITH McHUGH will be on the panel at the Northern Racing Club’s Cheltenham Festival Preview at the Tetley Club, Warrington, on Sunday (6pm). Admission is £10 on the night or £8 if you book by telephone on 0161 973 5921.