Tips for show, trends for a pro: What the serious punters look out for at Cheltenham

We’ve spoken to the experts and picked out the four most important things to consider for each of the feature races at the Cheltenham Festival.

We’ve also picked out a few candidates that fit the bill on our trends analysis. Go well.

Tuesday: Champion Hurdle

  • Stick with last-time-out winners
  • Six and seven-year-olds have a strong record
  • Look for horses that have been placed or better at the Festival
  • Stick with previous Grade 1 winners

LAURINA* – APPLE'S JADE

It might not be ladies day but it looks worth sticking with the fillies on the trends. Both Laurina and Apple's Jade were impressive when winning on their last starts and they fit the preferred age trend.

Both have Grade 1 wins to their name and while both have won at the Festival, Apple's Jade is never as impressive at Prestbury Park than she is elsewhere so it could be worth taking a punt on Willie Mullins' LAURINA.

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  3. Tips & news – get a steer from the best tipsters in the business in our news tab

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Wednesday: Champion Chase

  • Last-time winners have won five of the past six
  • Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson have a strong record
  • A run within 60 days is important
  • The front three in the betting are hard to beat

ALTIOR* – MIN

It looks like it's all systems go with Altior once again and last year's Champion Chase winner is odds-on to successfully defend his crown.

Looking at the trends it pays to look near the top of the market so we'll discard any horse over 10-1. That leaves us with just three but as Footpad didn't win last time out we can cross him out.

We're left with ALTIOR and Min, last year's winner and runner-up. The trends point to another repeat result so back the forecast to try and get a worthwhile return.

Thursday: Sun Racing Stayers' Hurdle

  • Look for horses who have not been out of the first two this season
  • Six to eight is the age group to back
  • A previous Festival win or place is a plus
  • Lightly-raced horses fare best

PAISLEY PARK* – TOP NOTCH – BAPAUME

Coming into the race in top form is a key trend for winners of the Stayers' Hurdle so that quickly gets rid of half the field on that form line. Not many of those left after the age guideline have Cheltenham experience so we won't lean too heavily on that.

We're left with only Paisley Park, Top Notch and Bapaume and of the three the lightly-raced PAISLEY PARK looks the top stayer.

He was impressive when winning at Cheltenham last time out and can repeat that performance.

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Friday: Gold Cup

  • No winners older than 10 since 1998
  • No more than three chase runs this season
  • Stick with Grade 1 chase winners
  • Eight of past 10 won last time out

PRESENTING PERCY* – CLAN DES OBEAUX

The Gold Cup trends still leave us with a strong team of four left after following all the advice – so this one is a different kettle of fish. Three of those, Kemboy, Bellshill and Al Boum Photo, are trained by Irish maestro Willie Mullins but he is yet to win the Gold Cup despite throwing the kitchen sink at it every year.

Forgetting those three we are left with King George winner Clan Des Obeaux and Irish challenger Presenting Percy.

Preference is for PRESENTING PERCY who is trained by a very secretive but shrewd trainer in Patrick Kelly who knows how to train Cheltenham Festival winners despite Percy having just one run over hurdles in preparation for the race.

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