After an incredible week of racing at Cheltenham last week, the prices for the 2024 Festival are up in places and the top performers from last week look to be short in their intended races for next year. We’ve had a look for a few horses at bigger prices to begin the 2024 antepost book. Over the next year we will have a weekly article with a new horses added to the 2024 antepost portfolio with the hope of having some winners next year at big prices.
For week 1 the selection is from one of the 'races of the week' at this year’s festival, the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, formerly the RSA. Corbetts Cross would be one I took note of in this, he would have certainly finished top 2, if not won the Albert Bartlett had he not run out, but I’m going with last year’s winner of the race, The Nice Guy.
He has missed his first season chasing through injury, but was around 6/1 for this race 12 months ago following his 5l win in the Albert Bartlett last year, which he followed up with a win at Punchestown. The form of that AB win has looked a little suspect with Bardenstown Lad and Ballygrifincottage both disappointing this season, but Mahler Mission (7th) and Good Time Johnny (9th) both ran excellent races at this year’s festival, and even Bronn who finished over 20l behind him at Punchestown, finished 3rd in this year’s RSA, just 4l off the leading pair.
This race would certainly have been the target for The Nice Guy this year, and the risk would be how he returns from injury, but he is a horse that looks built for chasing. It’s easy to throw aimless darts at horses you don’t know their targets at this time of year, so the 20/1 available on a horse who will have this as a clear target seems generous, especially given the price he was at this stage 12 months ago.
Week 1 Selection - The Nice Guy - RSA - 20/1
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