10529/1 Cheltenham Festival 2022 Ante-Post E/W Lucky 15

The seven year old gelding was remarkable as a novice hurdler winning three of his four contests in great style and showing a clear staying ability.

He started his life over hurdles at Chepstow in the Grade Two Persian War Novices Hurdle seeing off some smart youngsters that went on to frank the form, including Grade One winner Fiddlerontheroof.

The gelding then went to Cheltenham in the Grade Two Ballymore Novices Hurdle and again put in a strong winning run to enhance his credentials in this division.

He was destined for big things off the back of his third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2019 and fulfilled his potential for the term when landing the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

He was then sent back to Cheltenham in March for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and although suffering his first defeat over hurdles, was a narrow fourth in the very hot Grade One.

The form of that race worked out massively last term with the first, second and third going on to have big careers over fences and hurdles.

Coming out of novice company on seasonal debut last term many were apprehensive as to how Thyme Hill would handle taking on seasoned staying horses first time out, but he was superb landing the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.

The gelding saw off strong challenges from McFabulous and Paisley Park that day and he was up against the latter again next time out in his bid for his second Grade One win of his career.

However, although looking the likely winner with 50 yards to go he was nabbed on the line by the likeable stayer Paisley Park.

Having missed the Cheltenham festival due to a slight setback he was instead sent to Aintree and under a superb ride by Tom O'Brien he went on to see off Roksana and take the event.

The superstar stayer is set to make his seasonal debut at Auteuil in November where if winning the Grade One event will be much smaller than his current 5/1 for the Stayers' Hurdle at this years festival.

Alongside this the current field for the Thursday feature event at Prestbury Park looks weak and also holds many horses that will not go for the event.

Allaho was arguably the most impressive winner of the entire 2021 Cheltenham festival when landing the Grade One Ryanair Chase, making all from the front in eye catching fashion.

The build up of pace set by Rachel Blackmore on board that day had each and every rival slowly crumbling away and the manner by which he took every fence made it a coming of age performance.

Having been a smart hurdler, finishing third in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle back in 2019, he was sent chasing the next season and took some time to really find his form, but his narrow third in the Grade One RSA Novices' Chase was a big step forward

It wasn't until last season that he properly matured and was a horse to take notice of, finishing a good fourth in the three mile Savills Chase at Christmas and off the back of that was finally dropped back to his preferred 2m4f.

He went to Thurles in January where he saw off stablemate Elimay with ease to land the Grade Two Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase.

This set him up perfectly for the 2021 Cheltenham festival where he gave the performance of the season to win the event by a clear 12 lengths.

Allaho was last seen at the Punchestown festival when stepping down to two miles against stablemate Chacun Pour Soi and although running a big race had to settle for second, not having enough speed for the trip.

Having now proven that 2m4f is his best trip, all roads lead back to defend his title in the Ryanair Chase and we can't see past him at 4/1.

One of our more longshot punts for the Cheltenham festival sees us put up the Gordon Elliott trained Hollow Games for the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

The five year old gelding was bought by the well known Bective Stud after absolutely bolting up in a three mile point to point at Turtulla in Ireland.

Fetching £255,000, he was given to Elliott and was first seen in a bumper at Punchestown over two miles and he hosed up by seven lengths.

The son of Beat Hollow was then sent to Leopardstown over Christmas when making it back to back wins, seeing off a nice type for Willie Mullins.

He has not been seen since then and was always bought to be a horse to go over obstacles and looks like a horse that needs a staying trip to thrive and at 33/1 for the Albert Bartlett he looks overpriced.

Finally, The six year old gelding Vanillier looks to be the value in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase market having Cheltenham form and looking like a horse who will enjoy the step up to fences.

He was seen frequently over staying trips last term and looked to be set up all season for the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

On his first try at three miles in the Cheltenham festival event he travelled effortlessly, jumped well and went on to take the event by 11 lengths.

Looking to back it up at the Punchestown festival he was below par, being well beaten by the likes of Galopin Des Champs, Gentlemansgame and Stattler.

Now stepping over fences this term, with three miles being his trip he looks a big player for the old RSA, currently being a 14/1 shot for the event.

Making his debut on Friday at Down Royal, this price could fall massively if running well.