Our Cheltenham Festival ante-post tipping series continues and this week’s offering is one for the Turners Novices’ Chase, which is the opening race on Day 3. This is often an awkward race to decipher ante-post as it’s hard to tell which horses are going to go up or down in trip to run in it. Non-runner no bet offers are absolutely going to be your friend in this case and we like the look of a Willie Mullins horse. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Fact to File was undoubtedly one of the most impressive performers over the Christmas period. This horse is an interesting prospect on the grounds that he’s gone straight over fences, having been a very useful bumper horse last season. It’s not too often that Willie Mullins will forego a hurdles campaign for his horses and one watch of his performance last time will show you why.
Mullins’ gelding jumped particularly well when winning over an extended 2m5f at Leopardstown and he pulled well clear to win by a wide margin. Clearly needing the run when beaten on his debut over fences, he took a massive step forward and there should be more to come.
We’ll certainly learn more about him if he turns up at the Dublin Racing Festival this weekend and there’s every reason to expect that he will run. Also prominent in the market for the Brown Advisory over three miles, it’s difficult to be certain which race he’ll line up in at Cheltenham. Willie Mullins is notorious for changing races at the last minute which also doesn’t help.
Betfair are offering 10-1 without non runner no bet but it’s possible at time of writing to get 5-1 with that very useful offer. The shorter price is probably the better option but the extra value is potentially significant. Either way, it’s difficult to see a scenario where he doesn’t go close if lining up.
Fact To File @ 5-1 (Turners Novices’ Chase) NRNB 2pts win
Ballyburn (Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle) @ 7-1 (2pts win)
Blazing Khal (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase) @ 20-1 (1pt win)
Wrappedupinmay (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle) @ 33-1 (1pt win)
Captain Bellamy (Champion Bumper) @ 25-1 (1pt win)
Jeriko Du Reponet (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle) @ 25-1 (1pt win)
Corach Rambler (Cheltenham Gold Cup) @ 33-1 (1/2pt each-way)
Ashroe Diamond (Mares’ Hurdle) @ 7-1 (2pts win)
Appreciate It (Ryanair Chase) @ 14-1 (1pt win)
Apple Away (Mares’ Chase) @ 20-1 (1pt win)
Highwind (Triumph Hurdle) @ 20-1 (1pt win)
If you back any of our selections you can watch them live on the free Racing Post app or racingpost.com. Simply log in to one of your bookmaker accounts and click ‘Watch live’ on the racecards.