Cheltenham Ante-Post Market Focus

What a wonderful weekend of Equine action. Unsurprisingly, there has been subsequent movement throughout our Cheltenham Festival ante-post markets. We have highlighted a few that look to have their targets already set in stone.

Big Future Ahead of Santini 

Most of us were expecting Santini to take to fences like a duck to water at Newbury on Saturday. We weren’t disappointed. Despite being slightly novicey at a couple of his obstacles, he won by a 4-length margin. He has since been nibbled at in Cheltenham Festival’s RSA Chase market, having been backed from 6/1 into 4s. That price is likely to contract again with the race being his likely target.

Buveur D’Air an Unstoppable Force

If there was any doubt of Buveur D’Air’s class, those questions have now been well and truly put to bed. It was an incredible sight to see him glide past Samcro in the BetVictor Fighting Fifth, leaving Summerville Boy a distant fourth. To put Gordon Elliot’s superstar to bed like that was mightily impressive when you consider Samcro had already run. It’s hard to make a case for anything other than that a triple Champion Hurdle beckons. He’s 4/5 from 1/1 to repeat the trick, and could be a Festival banker already.

Apple’s Jade Back to Her Best

Gigginstown heroine Apple’s Jade confirmed her return to top form when landing a third Hatton’s Grace Hurdle on Sunday. She blew the field away and would no doubt be a Champion Hurdle contender should connections point her towards that target. However, it looks unlikely and another Mares’ Hurdle tilt is the likelier option. She is currently 2/1 for that renewal and if she turns up in similar form to what we witnessed on Sunday, she will be tough to beat.

Cheltenham Festival ante-post acca:

Santini (RSA Chase), Buveur D’Air (Champion Hurdle) & Apple’s Jade (Mares’ Hurdle)