The entries for the majority of races at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival are now known, so it is time to start looking towards their betting markets. Matty Sutcliffe has done just that and has given GG readers his Cheltenham Lucky 15 tips for you to follow.
Ultima Handicap Chase – Happygolucky 33/1
Vintage Clouds proved in 2021 that the old boys could serve it up to the younger legs when winning the Ultima as an eleven year old having ran in the previous four renewals, and I’m keen to chance the veteran HAPPYGOLUCKY to go one better than his second to Vintage Clouds in this race.
The son of Jeremy was a bet for the column last time out at Cheltenham when making his reappearance from a 683 day layoff, and while it was a bit of a yer, I thought he ran an excellent race having watched it back again earlier. He jumped with aplomb in the main, but was shufed back after a couple of sketchy leaps ve and four out. He could easily have weakened after that but remarkably he came with a minor challenge two out prior to weakening once more, unsurprisingly given the layoff and racing wide throughout. He evidently has plenty of zest in reserves, clocking the second quickest 18th/19th furlong only to the winner Moon D’Orange.
The trip was likely short enough for him, but I thought it was still quite a taking trial for the Ultima. The handicapper has dropped him 3lbs to a mark of 140, which puts him 7lbs below his Ultima second in 2021, 9lbs below his Aintree G3 Handicap win, 11lbs below his excellent third to L’Homme Presse in the Rehearsal Chase in 2022 from a 595 day layoff, and 12lbs lower than his 9th in the 2023 Ultima behind Corach Rambler.
Mel Rowley has only been training under rules since 2021, but connections had Kyntara nish second in the Pertemps last season so they know what it takes to prime one for the festival, and while Happygolucky isn’t getting any younger, he’s only had thirteen races and his record over three miles reads an impressive 12139.
TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase – Grandeur d’Ame 20/1
GRANDEUR D’AME ran a huge race at Cheltenham last time out and is one of them specialist 2m4f types that will excel in a race of this nature. The race favoured those to the fore with the rst, third, fourth, fth, sixth and seventh all racing in rear/mideld throughout. Grandeur d’Ame forced the pace alongside Ginny’s Destiny who weakened markedly two out to nish a thirty eight length tenth, with the eight, ninth and Some Scope who pulled up all having raced prominently throughout.
His effort can be marked up strongly from last time out, and that particular race has served as a good pointer for Plate candidates with Siruh Du Lac completing the double in 2019. While he is on a career high mark, he posted a career best RPR last time out and given the form of his Chepstow success has worked out well, with the second and fifth subsequently nishing first and second in the November Gold Cup, and the fourth winning well since and finishing second in the Scottish Champion Chase, so this mark of 139 might not be all that beyond him.
Alan King is winless at the Cheltenham Festival since 2015 with Uxizandre in the Ryanair, but if Grandeur d’Ame can replicate that last effort then he’d rate a strong contender for the Plate with course form proven, and he won’t mind which way the ground turns up.
County Hurdle – Kabral Du Mathan 16/1
We already have a nice position on Ethical Diamond at 20/1 for the County Hurdle, but I am keen to have KABRAL DU MATHAN on side as he’s been crying out for a stiff track like Cheltenham.
He was kept quiet last season as a four year old presumably to ll into his huge frame, but managed to win a Huntingdon Juvenile Hurdle despite looking awfully green in the process. He still looked somewhat of a work in progress when winning on handicap debut at Kempton in November, but he won it with any amount of ease in the end, hitting the line strongly to fend off a subsequent impressive winner, who latterly showed up well when sixth in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. He then pulled seventeen lengths clear with Fiercely Proud at Ascot to be beaten a head by that one, when perhaps held on to a touch too long by Harry Cobden.
He’s evidently progressing well over hurdles for a horse the yard will be minding for fences given his size, and he backed up that effort at Ascot with a staying on second in a 57k handicap at Windsor behind Secret Squirrel. I thought he would’ve hated the sharp nature of Windsor, but it’s a testament to his agility he was able to travel around there strong in rear, though he shaped very much as if requiring a trip or a stiffer track at least. The form of that race has worked out well with the likes of Navajo Indy, Secret Squirrel and Beat The Bat running well in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle behind Joyeuse. The 8th ran a big race behind Golden Ace and Burdett Road when beaten four lengths in the Kingwell, and the ninth won cosily next time out.
The nature of the County Hurdle could pan out favourably for him as he’s a strong travelling sort with a turn up foot, who can open up his long stride up the hill and it would be a welcome winner for Paul Nicholls in the race, who hasn’t won it since 2014.
Grand Annual – Editeur Du Gite 33/1
Again, I’m happy with our position on Unexpected Party but I’m willing to give EDITEUR DU GITE a chance here as there’s surely only two outcomes: he is entirely gone at the game, or he dots up off a mark of 140.
I’m well aware that I’m banking on him being in good health come March, but we shouldn’t forget that last years winner, Unexpected Party, was beaten 51L, 53L, 15L and 17L in his previous four starts, and the winner in 2022, Global Citizen, had form figures of 414PUPUPU over fences prior, for all he had been running consistently over hurdles that season.
Editeur Du Gite was fourth in the contest off 13lbs higher in 2022 having previous landed a double on both the old course and the new course over fences, and he improved once more the next season having landed G1 Clarence House over C&D. He went off the boil thereafter, but returned to form with a game success in the Desert Orchid Chase Handicap at Kempton off a mark of 159.
Once again, he has gone truly off the boil with his record now 0-7 and struggling to trouble the judge by closer than twenty eight lengths, but there was some minor promise at Windsor until weakening two out. Should there be a chance that Gary and Josh Moore can work some magic to get him back, perhaps with some headgear, then he is incredibly well handicapped off 140 given he was rated 158 at the start of the season and he’s on too good a mark not to chance, particularly given they’ve got him back from bad spells before.
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