THERE really is nothing like Cheltenham Festival – and the fact you can bet on races for next year’s meeting now just highlights that fact.
Look, there’s a good chance you might want to forget this year’s races altogether.
Fact To File looks a future Gold Cup winner[/caption]
Bookies had a right laugh with so many odds-on shots getting turned over.
But there are always clues to be found and some horses just make bags of appeal for 12 months’ time.
Here, I pick out three who I think will plummet in price between now and then.
All these odds and prices are currently available on Sky Bet.
Lossiemouth
Champion Hurdle
4-1
She probably should have been in this race this year, and the way the Champion Hurdle fell apart (literally) will mean Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci will look back wandering what might have been.
For two years she had been campaigned as a Champion Hurdle horse. She has the class, the temperament and the 7lb mares’ allowance.
With two Mares’ titles in the bag – where her performance was described as ‘different class’ – the big 2m race simply HAS to be the goal for 2026.
The question marks remain round Constitution Hill, Kopek Des Bordes might not get away with his jumping pitched in at the top level and The New Lion looks likely to stay at a longer trip or go maybe go chasing.
William Munny
Arkle
12-1
The Barry Connell-trained and owned horse will be eight by the time of next year’s Festival so a move to fences looks very likely now.
He was done for speed by Kopek Des Bordes when finishing runner-up in the Supreme, but looked the straighter, less complicated jumper of the pair.
Marine Nationale won the Champion Chase this year and Connell can strike again in one of the premier chases.
Fact To File
Gold Cup
6-1
“He’ll probably be a Gold Cup horse next year.”
Willie Mullins rarely gets it wrong and, another year older and stronger, it’s easy to see Fact To File being the top chaser over 3m2f next year.
He was devastating in the Ryanair, leaving speedster Il Est Francais for dead.
Fact To File couldn’t get past Galopin Des Champs over 3m this year but he’ll be a different horse next year.
Everything about him suggests he is a Gold Cup winner-in-waiting.
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