How the Cheltenham markets might be affected by the Christmas action

The Christmas period is set to provide some blockbuster races, which will undoubtedly affect the markets for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. Here, we take a look at how the top divisions could be impacted from the festive action . . .

Champion Hurdle

The standout star on show is undoubtedly Constitution Hill, who is already odds-on for the Champion Hurdle and could shorten even further if he puts in another dominant performance in Kempton's Christmas Hurdle on Monday.

He faces stablemate Epatante once again and she might need a remarkable performance if she is to enhance her own slim Champion Hurdle claims and win a third Christmas Hurdle.

The other key race that could influence the Champion Hurdle betting is Leopardstown's Matheson Hurdle on Thursday in which State Man, who is next best behind Constitution Hill at 5-1, could enhance his status as the chief threat to the favourite.

He could face a tough task against four-time Matheson winner Sharjah, while Champion Hurdle dark horse Pied Piper could also feature.

Unibet Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham, March 14

Sky Bet: 4-11 Constitution Hill, 9-2 State Man, 7 Honeysuckle, 12 Vauban, 20 Teahupoo, 25 Pied Piper, Sharjah, 33 bar

Champion Chase

Tuesday could prove crucial to finding out who could be Energumene's main danger in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, with the Desert Orchid Chase taking place at Kempton and Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown.

The Desert Orchid could cement Britain's leading challenger for Cheltenham as Edwardstone, a brilliant winner of the Tingle Creek Chase this month, takes on 2021 Champion Chase runner-up Nube Negra.

At Leopardstown, Chacun Pour Soi will try to reignite his own Champion Chase claims but faces a tough task against fellow Cheltenham hopeful Blue Lord and Fortria Chase winner Captain Guinness. 20-1 on Blue Lord may not last long if the younger horse can get the better of his top-class but ageing stablemate Chacun Pour Soi.

bet365: 10-11 Energumene, 9-4 Edwardstone, 16 Shishkin, 20 Blue Lord, Greaneteen, Nube Negra, 33 Captain Guinness, Chacun Pour Soi, 50 bar

Stayers’ Hurdle

Another division where the picture should become clearer by the end of the festive period, kicking off with the rescheduled Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton on Monday.

Stayers' Hurdle hopes Champ and Paisley Park will clash again following their epic battle in the Long Distance Hurdle last time, but are their best days behind them and could a left-field challenger emerge in Goshen or Miranda?

The younger duo are 33-1 and 50-1 respectively for the big one at the festival and those odds could look foolish come 1pm on Boxing Day, although given Goshen's dodgy track record around Cheltenham he might avoid the race regardless

The Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown on Wednesday has a strong record of producing Stayers' Hurdle winners, given Flooring Porter has won it and finished second in the last two runnings, and he looks set to take his chance again.

He retained favouritism to defend his Cheltenham crown despite being beaten on his reappearance, but his Leopardstown rivals Klassical Dream, Bob Olinger and Home By The Lee could all leapfrog him in the market if successful.

The latter is as big as 25-1 with bet365 but he was a worthy winner from Bob Olinger and Flooring Porter in the Lismullen Hurdle and a confirmation of that form would have the bookies running for cover.

Paddy Power: 4 Flooring Porter, 6 Blazing Khal, 6 Klassical Dream, 10 Bob Olinger, 12 Teahupoo, 14 Buzz, 16 Marie's Rock, Champ, Sir Gerhard Thyme Hill, 20 bar

Gold Cup

The Cheltenham Gold Cup market could be severely shaken up by the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase on Monday, particularly if L'Homme Presse is successful, which could see him rivalling or overtaking Galopin Des Champs for the festival showpiece.

Bravemansgame, Envoi Allen and Ahoy Senor are others who could significantly enhance their Gold Cup claims.

The other race which could have significant ramifications is Leopardstown's Savills Chase on Wednesday. A Plus Tard was a solid favourite to repeat his heroics from last season until an uncharacteristically sluggish display in the Betfair Chase when he was pulled up.

He has been pushed out to as big as 9-1 since then, but Henry de Bromhead has lost none of his faith in the Cheveley Park star and if punters fancy him to bounce back to his best a Leopardstown then that price starts to look very generous.

However, he faces a tough ask with Gold Cup dark horses Conflated and Festival winner Stattler possibly among his rivals, as well as last year's winner Galvin.

William Hill: 7-4 Galopin Des Champs, 6 L'Homme Presse, 7 A Plus Tard, 10 Protektorat, Noble Yeats, 12 Allaho, 14 Stattler, 20 Bravemansgame, Conflated, 25 Hewick, Minella Indo, 33 bar

Novice hurdlers

The ante-post market suggests he already has the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in his grasp, but Facile Vega could further cement his claims when he steps back up to Grade 1 company in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Tuesday.

The unbeaten star is already as short as evens for the festival's opening race, and is a 1-4 shot to get the job done against some seemingly inferior rivals for his next assignment.

In Britain, Hermes Allen could be the one to emerge as the standout contender for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle when he takes in the Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury next Saturday. He is 8-1 for that festival contest.

High Definition: makes his hurdling debut at Leopardstown on MondayCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Another intriguing novice hurdler set to be unleashed is one-time Derby favourite High Definition. The Group 2 winner and 117-rated Fla performer makes his debut over jumps in the 2m maiden hurdle at Leopardstown on Monday for Joseph O'Brien and if you have faith that he can take well to his new discipline then he is available a 33-1 for the Supreme, or 50-1 for the Albert Bartlett.

Sky Bet: Evens Facile Vega, 6 Jet Powered, 7 Marine Nationale, 14 Impaire Et Passe, 20 Gaelic Warrior, Authorised Speed, Champ Kiely, Il Etait Temps, Irish Point, Inthepocket, 33 bar

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, Cheltenham, March 15

Ladbrokes: 5 Facile Vega, Gaelic Warrior, 7 Grangeclare West, 8 Hermes Allen, 10 American Mike, Dawn Rising, Impaire Et Passe, Irish Point, 12 Inthepocket, Marine Nationale, 14 bar

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, Cheltenham, March 17

Betfair: 5 Grangeclare West, 11-2 Hiddenvalley Lake, 10 Sandor Clegane, 11 American Mike, 12 Hermes Allen, Three Card Brag, 16 bar

Novice chasers

The market for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase is the most open of the Grade 1s at this stage at 15-2 the field, but that could all change if McFabulous, Gelino Bello or Thyme Hill can put in a star display in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton on Monday.

All are available at double-figure odds, as is Gordon Elliott's unbeaten youngster Gerri Colombe, although the Turners Novices' Chase could be a more likely destination for him should he get the better of Kilcruit in the Faugheen Novice Chase on the same day.

Meanwhile, the Arkle market – which has been hotting up recently after debut wins for Appreciate It and El Fabiolo – could be shaken up even more by Fil Dor, who is a short-priced favourite for the 2m1f Grade 1 novice chase at Leopardstown.

Another who could seriously shake-up the ante-post markets is one of last year's leading novices Dysart Dynamo, who will make his chase debut at Leopardstown on Tuesday. He was Willie Mullins' leading Supreme hope but fell in that race and clearly did not give his true running when well beaten at Punchestown in May. He is 12-1 for the Arkle and 20-1 for the Turners, but a confident comeback would surely see him dip to single figures.

On Thursday, ante-post National Hunt Chase favourite Gaillard Du Mesnil could dip even shorter than 11-4 if successful in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown, but his likely rival Three Stripe Life is another hugely talented novice to come from the Elliott yard and he could enhance his already strong festival claims.

Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase, Cheltenham, March 14

Coral: 11-8 Jonbon, 4 Appreciate It, El Fabiolo, 10 Mighty Potter, 12 Dysart Dynamo, Fil Dor, 16 Banbridge, Kilcruit, 20 bar

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, Cheltenham, March 15

bet365: 15-2 Three Stripe Life, 10 Classic Getaway, Minella Cocooner, 12 Gaillard Du Mesnil, 14 Appreciate It, Gelino Bello, Gerri Colombe, Hollow Games, McFabulous, Minella Crooner, 16 bar

Turners Novices' Chase, Cheltenham, March 16

Ladbrokes: 3 Mighty Potter, 5 Sir Gerhard, 8 Appreciate It, Three Stripe Life, 10 El Fabiolo, Thyme Hill, 12 Hollow Games, 14 Dysart Dynamo, Fil Dor, Kilcruit, 16 bar

2022 Christmas festival offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new and existing customers, and all you need is an account. Sign up here.
• Sky Bet are offering new customers free bets when they sign up. You can get them, along with money-back specials and extra places, here.
• Betfair have lots of offers, extra places and money-back offers. Sign up for a new account here.
• To get a free bet from Ladbrokes today, simply sign up to a new account here.
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here.
• bet365 have a new customer offer available. Sign up here.
• New William Hill customers can claim free bets here and benefit from their money-back offers here.
• If you're a new customer, Tote will give you a free bet. Sign up here to claim.

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2022 King George: who wins the big race at Kempton based on previous trends?

Who is set for King George glory? Assessing the key players in a Kempton cracker

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