Cheltenham Festival predictions: Hello Neighbour the one to beat
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- Cheltenham Festival: Best bet, each-way selection and treble
- Recommended bets include:
- Hello Neighbour to win the Triumph Hurdle
- Workahead each-way in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Cheltenham Festival 2025 begins on Tuesday March 11th. The four-day festival is the most eagerly anticipated event of the year.
The feature slot at the meeting belongs to the Gold Cup on the Friday, which is a Grade 1 for the best stayers over 3m2f. The Triumph Hurdle on Friday is also on the agenda, while we will also look at the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle on Tuesday.
Here is everything you need to know for jump racing's biggest week, including the Festival's best bets.
Triumph Hurdle
The British have a strong hand in the opening Grade 1 for juveniles on the Friday with East India Dock and Lulumba heading the market, but Irish eyes will be focused on Gavin Cromwell's Hello Neighbour, who should take all the beating.
A son of Harzand, the four-year-old is unbeaten in four starts between the Flat and jumps, getting off the mark on his hurdles bow in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown on December 26 when seeing off Lady Allen Vega by a short head.
He had the same filly behind in third when winning a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival and again did not win by a wide margin, but he is a very keen sort and only does enough once he hits the front.
Hello Neighbour's jumping was much improved when last seen fitted with a hood and a strong pace at Cheltenham will really suit him. He will be swinging off the bridle approaching the last and if he does not hit the front too soon, he should win.
Cheltenham Festival best bet
Supreme Novices' Hurdle
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The best each-way bet of the Festival is Henry de Bromhead's Workahead in the opening race on Tuesday and it is a surprise that he is so overlooked in the market considering his form looks rock solid.
Third behind Jasmin De Vaux on his debut at Navan, the son of Workforce looked a different proposition next time at Leopardstown when easily dismantling a quality field in a maiden hurdle over Christmas.
Seven lengths away in second was William Munny who has since entered the Supreme picture after landing a Listed novice hurdle at Punchestown by 15 lengths, while the third and fifth have won four races between them subsequently.
Current market leader Kopeck Des Bordes was brilliant at the Dublin Racing Festival but he can get very worked up and Workahead's form seems to have more substance at present.
Cheltenham Festival best each-way bet
Cheltenham Festival Acca
Constitution Hill will have to be at his very best to see off the attentions of Brighterdaysahead. A repeat of the Gordon Elliott-trained mare's 30-length demolition job in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time from the front might well suffice and she gets plenty of weight.
The betting suggested Final Demand was a monster and that certainly looked the case when he bolted up at the Dublin Racing Festival, making light work of his rivals. He should go for the Albert Bartlett now.
The banker of the entire meeting has to be Galopin Des Champs. With plenty of potential rivals swerving this race for the Ryanair, the Gold Cup is at the champ's mercy again. He looks unstoppable.
