Hot tips for cool days

This article is taken from the March 2025 issue of The Critic. To get the full magazine why not subscribe? Right now we’re offering five issues for just £10.

---

As regular readers will know, this isn’t a tipping column. First, because I am useless (the only time I have ever written a tipping column it was called “Mug Punter”, which said it all) and second, because there is a long lead time between me writing these words and you reading them, which makes it almost impossible to offer reliable information. We don’t even know which races some horses will run in.

But in the three years I’ve been sharing my thoughts on racing, a tradition has emerged — that when it comes to Cheltenham, I ignore all that and go for it. And, if I say so myself, I’ve not done too badly. Last year I pointed you to a treble: Lossiemouth at 8/11, Fact To File at 5/2 and Galopin Des Champs at 10/11 — all obvious, yes, but as we all know, the obvious rarely happens in racing.

This year’s festival begins on 11 March, and I’ve been counting down the days since last year’s final race. I’ve written in this column before about some of the problems which Cheltenham needs to address, but the context is that for those of us who love racing, the Cheltenham Festival is the greatest sporting event on the planet — four days of unparalleled wonder, joy and excellence.

The cruising speed of Galopin Des Champs is enough to knock the stuffing out of most rivals, and then he accelerates

There are currently two racing superstars and all being well both will run this year. Constitution Hill should win his second Champion Hurdle, at 4/7, and it would be a major shock if Galopin Des Champs doesn’t win his third successive Gold Cup at 8/15. A lot of nonsense has been written about Constitution Hill, as if he has come back from some sort of crippling injury. He was never injured — just ill, and horses do recover from illness, often. I expect to see him in his pomp. As for Galopin Des Champs: he is, at the very least, one of the greats. We may end up saying he is the very greatest. His cruising speed is enough to knock the stuffing out of most rivals and then, astonishingly, he accelerates away. They are my bankers.

In the opening Supreme Novices Hurdle, I am not going to look beyond Kopek Des Bordes, at 5/4, after watching the demolition job he produced at last month’s Dublin Racing Festival. Likewise, I really can’t see Sir Gino being beaten in the Arkle. And if Brighterdaysahead goes for the Mares’ Hurdle rather than the Champion, I think 6/5 will look like giving money away.

Everyone seems to think Ballyburn is a certainty in the Brown Advisory after his Leopardstown win last month, but I’m not convinced. On the other hand, I am sure Jonbon will win the Champion Chase at 10/11. He seems now to be fully mature and to have improved as a nine-year-old. But it seems mad to me that Solness, who has won two Grade Ones in a rout, is 12/1 and I think he is the each way bet of the festival.

As I write it’s unclear which race Il Est Francais will run in, but I hope it’s the Ryanair as I think two-and-a-half miles is perfect for him and at 5/1 he is worth an investment. In the Stayers Hurdle, I can’t see any reason not to stick with last year’s winner Teahupoo at 11/10.

Of all the novice hurdlers, I am most looking forward to seeing The New Lion for Dan and Harry Skelton. But he faces formidable opposition, not least from Willie Mullins’s impressive Dublin Racing Festival winner, Final Demand.

As for the handicaps, if Libberty Hunter goes for the Grand Annual then 10/1 looks a great each way bet.

That’s eight horses in a 494/1 accumulator. 25p fivefolds and up costs £23.25 and gives a return of just over £2,000. Don’t spend it all just yet … because these tips are from the world’s worst tipster. Enjoy!

Kopek Des Bordes, Supreme Novices 5/4

Sir Gino, Arkle 8/11

Brighterdaysahead, Mares 6/5

Constitution Hill, Champion Hurdle 4/7

Jonbon, Champion Chase 10/11

Il Est Francais, Ryanair 5/1

Teahupoo, Stayers 11/10

Galopin Des Champs 8/15

Solness, Champion Chase 12/1 each way

Libberty Hunter, Grand Annual 10/1 each way