Cheltenham Festival 2025 Antepost Tuesday Tips

The 2025 Cheltenham Festival is almost here with just a week to go.

It can be advantageous to bet antepost just before the festival and get on at good odds before more racing fans bet on the top horses and force down the odds price.

We give our best tips for each event on the opening day of the festival on Tuesday 11th March.

Supreme Novices Hurdle – 13:30

Best Bet – Kopek Des Bordes 4/5, 8/11, 5/6

It’s difficult to look past Kopek Des Bordes who comes over from Ireland from the formidable Mullins stable. He has raced three times in Ireland with three victories. Including the latest Grade 1 victory in the Tattersalls Novice hurdle at Leopardstown which was won by 13 lengths. Similarly to Ballyburn in 2024 who also won the Tattersalls by 13 lengths and then won at Cheltenham, we expect history to repeat itself. Kopec Des Bordes is also entered into the Turners Novice Hurdle but we expect him to run in the Supreme.

Outsider – Tripoli Flyer 20/1 e/w

Tripoli Flyer fought off favourite Miami Magic in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton and won easily with a third victory on the bounce. He’s the best British contender and a juicy price at 20/1 to cause an upset.

Arkle Chase – 14:00

Best Bet – Majborough 8/13. Likely to be many people’s banker for the festival, Majborough is a short price, but bar a fall you would expect him to take this easily. Having previously won the Triumph Hurdle in 2024, this in my humble opinion is as nailed on a winner as you can find for the festival.

Outsider – Jango Baie 8/1 e/w. Jango Baie was beaten by a short head by Handstands when last seen in the Grade 1 Novice’s Chase at Sandown. However that was on heavy ground and with predicted better ground (soft currently with bright conditions) we would expect a better performance. He won previously at Cheltenham in December on good to soft in a class 2. Is he better than Majborough? No. But he could pick up the pieces should the hot fave fail and he’s a good each-way bet.

Ultima Handicap Chase – 14:40

Best Bet – Victtorino 16/1 e/w. The Venetia Williams trained Victtorino was last seen winning a grade 3 at Ascot, a feat completed twice in a row. Last year Victtorino was a distant 7th at Cheltenham in January and then pulled up at the festival in the Ultima last year. This fact alone is likely to put some people off. Last year the festival was heavy ground. This year with better ground forecast Victtorino is likely to run better. Although versatile ground wise Cheltenham and heavy ground is a slog and we expect the horse to at least place this year.

Outsider – Famous Bridge 20/1 e/w. Cheltenham was never the target, but Famous Bridge rates a bet as he will almost certainly not run in the Grand National. He just won the Grand National Trial at Haydock, this horse stays all day and will have no difficulty in soft or heavy ground. He won on good to soft in the trial and this is what I expect Cheltenham to be next week (currently soft). 4th in this race last year he has proven form for this race and is surely worth a small bet at 20/1.

Mares Hurdle – 15:20

Best Bet – Lossiemouth 5/1. Jade De Grugy is a worthy favourite but 2/1 looks a little on short side for this race. Lossiemouth is also entered into the Champion Hurdle, but we expect her to run in the Mares’ Hurdle. Lossiemouth is likely to have her critics she fell on her last outing in the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. This race was won by State Man who will now run in the Champion Hurdle. Prior to this race Lossiemouth was beaten by Constitution Hill which is no disgrace. However back against her own sex we expect things to do different. Lossiemouth won the Mares Hurdle last year as a 8/13 favourite and we expect history to repeat itself. 5/1 certainly seems a gift. Jade De Grugy was beaten by Golden Ace and Brighterdaysahead at Cheltenham last year in the RyanAir Mares Novice. She has won two group ones since but 5’s versus 2s make Lossiemouth the value pick.

Next Best – Jade De Grugy 2/1. The market leader was impressive at Leopardstown lto. She is improving and could take this in her stride. On the short side, but could reward favourite backers.

Champion Hurdle – 16:00

Best Bet – Constitution Hill 4/6. Similarly to Majborough this will be many people’s banker of the festival and not without reason Constitution Hill has won 11 races on the bounce. Last year he won this race by 9 lengths and a repeat looks the most likely outcome of this race. He’s a wonderful horse and will be a delight to watch.

Outsider – Brighterdaysahead 9/4. Surely one of the two at the top of the market wins this? Brighterdaysahead was 2nd in the Mares Novice Hurdle last year, but has been flawless since with 3 grade 1 and a grade 3 victory. He’s beat State Man twice this year and it’s difficult to see that form being reversed. Should constitution Hill fall this is surely the winner.

Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – 16:40

Best Bet – Stencil 6/1 e/w. Not an easy race to predict and a bit of a lottery as anyone who has ever bet on a Juvenile race will understand. There is not much in the way of form so we relying on limited information. This race has seen winners at 9/1, 18/1, 10/1, 80/1 over the last 4 years and we have not seen a favourite win since Band of Outlaws in 2019. Stencil is the favourite at 6/1 and we fancy him to reverse the trend of favourites not winning. Second only to the impressive East India Dock in January, that race has set Stencil up for this perfectly. With no obvious strong contenders Stencil surely at least places in this race.

Next Best – Static 50/1 e/w. Static is worth a small interest at huge odds of 50/1. Static was 2nd in the Triumph Juvenile Hurdle last year. Static was no match for East India Dock and he has not backed up the form since, but at 50/1 an each way bet looks worth the risk.

National Hunt Chase – 17:20

Best Bet – Katate Dori 14/1. Katate Dori jumping has let him down on occasion in the past including his only run at Cheltenham back in 2023 when a mistake forced him to finish 8/9. However the manner of his recent victory at Kempton last time showed strong improvement to beat favourite Hyland by 15 lengths. Katate Dori is actually aimed at the Ultima but he is not sure to get in, so he rates a good “No Runner No Bet” choice for this race.

Next Best – Haiti Couleurs 5/1. Haiti Couleurs won the Novices Limited Handicap Chase at Cheltenham back in December setting the horse up perfectly for this race. Haiti Couleurs was ;ess impressive at Newbury lto and this step up in distance will hopefully bring some improvement.

To place these bets we recommend you use a “Non Runner No Bet” offer if available at your bookie. You can view our list of the best free bets for the UK here

Odds subject to change and are correct at time of article, please check odds at your bookmaker for latest prices.