With impressive wins at Newbury on Saturday, both Altior and Native River enhanced their claims for repeat victories in championship races at the Cheltenham Festival. The double paid about -125 and backers had few worries as both horses cruised home. Altior now runs in the Champion Chase for the third time and Native River contests a fourth Gold Cup.
Altior has won the Champion Chase two years in a row and is hoping to match the exploits of Badsworth Boy, which took out the race in 1983, 1984 and 1985. Native River won the Gold Cup in 2018 and Kauto Star is the only horse to reclaim the title, winning the race in 2007 and 2009. The double on the horses to win their targets at the Festival pays +4000 with Bovada.
The Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday, March 10. Online bookmakers will be offering a range of free bets and bonuses for new and existing customers. You should look out for a range of special offers including free bets, extra places, enhanced odds, refunds and NRNB. You can make hay before and during the Festival.
Most of the major trials have taken place and connections are firming up running plans. The ante-post markets can be dormant, but they should now spark into life. With non-runner/no bet markets, you can back a horse safe in the knowledge that stakes are refunded if the runner is withdrawn before the day of the race. The downside is less value in the odds compared to standard ante-post bets, but it is a price worth paying.
The Cheltenham Festival is a huge week for the bookmaking industry and bookies go out of their way to offer the best deals. The Gloucestershire carnival hosts at least 10 of the top 20 races for betting turnover each year. The Grand National is way out in front in terms of bets and stakes, but then over half the other races take place at Cheltenham in March.
The Champion Chase over two miles is the highlight of the second day at Cheltenham. Altior is back in contention for favouritism after the win at Newbury. The Champion Chase winner in 2018 and 2019 won in familiar style over the minimum distance. The horse jumped safely, looked in a bit of trouble three fences out but then won with something in hand. Defi Du Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi will have their say, but Altior can win the Champion Chase again.
The prospects for Native River in the Gold Cup are less clear, but the horse is proven over the course and distance. He has finished in the top four in each of his three previous efforts and and won the race two years ago. After the Newbury win, Native River has won 10 chases in 18 starts and over £1 million in prize money. He looks a solid each-way bet for the Gold Cup this year, especially with any bookmakers who offer an extra place and settle bets on the first four horses.