The 2020 Cheltenham Festival promises to be a hugely
exciting affair, providing punters with a plethora of betting opportunities.
The meeting features a host of top-class races, with each of
the four days having one standout contest as the showpiece on that particular
card.
The Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers' Hurdle and
Gold Cup will all be thrilling races, with the best horses in those categories
striving to claim the prestigious prizes.
Read on as we take a closer look at the four races and offer
our Cheltenham
Festival pointers for each one.
Cilaos Emery can reward big gamble
Owner Luke McMahon paid £22,500 to supplement Cilaos Emery
at the six-day confirmation stage for the Champion Hurdle and his decision
could pay off with a famous victory.
The eight-year-old started the season over fences, but
switched back to hurdles after taking a tumble at the Dublin Racing Festival at
Leopardstown.
The move paid dividends as the horse romped to an impressive
victory in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park last month.
In what looks an open renewal of the Champion Hurdle, Cilaos
Emery looks a solid each-way bet at odds of around 7/1.
Altior to raise the roof in the Champion Chase
The Champion Chase promises to be the most thrilling race of
the Festival, with a trio of star two-mile chasers heading a hugely talented
line-up.
Altior is seeking a third successive win in the race, but
faces stiff competition from Defi du Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi this time
around.
The latter pair have age on their side against the reigning
champion, but Altior will be a tough nut to crack at a course that favours his
style of running.
He looked as good as ever when winning at Newbury in
February and can raise the roof at the Festival by winning the Champion Chase.
Paisley fancied to stay at the top of the tree
Paisley Park was a hugely popular winner of the
Stayers' Hurdle last year and is a banker bet to complete the double in
2020.
The eight-year-old has swept all before him in this division
over the past couple of years, winning his last seven races in impressive
fashion.
He has looked imperious in two victories at Newbury and
Cheltenham this season, powering away from his rivals without breaking sweat.
Paisley Park is priced at 4/6 to retain his title and will
be the cornerstone of many multiple bets at this year's Festival.
Lostintranslation on a recovery mission in the Gold Cup
Al
Boum Photo and Santini are 7/2 joint favourites to win the Gold Cup and
both horses are expected to run extremely well.
However, the pair look plenty short enough in the betting in
what looks a competitive field and better value may lie elsewhere.
Lostintranslation has to bounce back from a disappointing
performance in the King George Chase at Kempton, but trainer Colin Tizzard has
confirmed that the horse is back to his best.
The eight-year-old finished second in the JLT Novices' Chase
at last year's Festival and can go one better in the 2020 Gold Cup.
