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The start of the new National Hunt racing season is always an intriguing time as the horses make their track return following their summer hiatus.
Some will return in fine fettle and ready to go, whereas others will take a little longer to hit their stride – it’s true too that a handful of horses will achieve career-best performances following a summer of development, whereas others fail to hit their previous heights.
Racehorse owners and trainers can also have the unenviable decision of deciding whether to keep their horses over hurdles or advance them into chasing over the larger obstacles.
That’s the difficulty facing Nicky Henderson and Michael Buckley with Constitution Hill, a once-in-a-generation hurdler who may now be asked to go chasing at the age of seven – will it be the making or breaking of him?
That will be key to how the Cheltenham ante-post markets shape up…
Constitutional Rights
The betting online suggests there’s a possibility that Constitution Hill will step up to the bigger fences, with odds of 5/1 (Arkle Chase), 6/1 (Champion Chase) and 16/1 (Gold Cup) suggesting that the seven-year-old could be tasked with the obstacles at Prestbury Park in March.
You can use an odds converter tool to switch between fractional, decimal and American prices with your chosen sportsbook, but whichever way you opt to go you’ll find that the 8/13 about Constitution Hill to win the Champion Hurdle next year is so short that perhaps another season of hurdling is in the offing.
That is interesting for the Cheltenham ante-post markets because the seven-year-old’s potential absence from some of the top-tier chases at the Festival will be noted by punters.
Going for Gold
Since the turn of the millennium, Best Mate and Al Boum Photo have won back-to-back editions of the Gold Cup, while Kauto Star’s form in the race of 1-2-1 was instructive of his fondness for the conditions.
So there is a precedent for repeat Gold Cup champions, which will be the ultimate goal of Willie Mullins this season for Galopin Des Champs.
🏆 Galopin Des Champs wins the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup! 🏆
😁 @CheltenhamRaces redemption!#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend pic.twitter.com/89qqOTJjhE
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 17, 2023
A seven-length demolition of Bravemansgame at the 2023 Festival was confirmation of his outrageous talent for jumping, with his eight-year-old season set to deliver even more riches for Mullins and the horse’s French connections.
Such is Galopin Des Champ’s obvious class that a defeat at Punchestown in April does little to deter his backers, with ante-post Gold Cup odds of 2/1 likely to get even shorter if he gets off to a fast start this term.
Fab Fans the Flames
One of the difficulties of ante-post horse racing betting is ensuring you get the right race for your chosen steeds.
There’s no doubt that El Fabiolo will be of intense interest to the punting public. Unbeaten in 2022-23, Mullins’ chaser is shaping up to be a special talent over the two-mile distance.
🗣️”He looks different class…he’s very good.”
El Fabiolo – the most talented horse in @WillieMullinsNH‘s yard? 🤔@nickluck | @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/mXEHNykDNO
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 27, 2023
Such pedigree over that mark would make the Champion Chase the most likely target at Cheltenham, although if connections decide that a step up in trip is required for the seven-year-old, the Ryanair Chase at two miles and four furlongs would be the better option.
So keep an eye on the warm-up races of El Fabiolo to see which distance he’s being primed for…
Strong Genes
There are no guarantees that a quality hurdler will be a success when they switch to the chase fences.
But a strong bloodline can offer an indication of what can be expected, which will be good news for backers of Facile Vega, a former festival winner who nearly doubled up when narrowly second at the meeting last March.
The seven-year-old will likely be sent chasing this term, so how’s this for an impressive pedigree. His sire is Walk in the Park, who has also given the sport major winners in Douvan, Min and Jonbon. His mare is Quevega, who racked up more than £700,000 in career prize money during her career.
With DNA like that, Facile Vega will surely be a premier contender at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival alongside the other horses mentioned.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
