Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle Guide 2023

A dual-purpose performer who has been seen on the flat, hurdling and chasing. He in fact won on the flat at Chepstow last spring but has not shown a lot since.

He was below par on both starts over hurdles since returning to action in October and while he put in a decent effort on the flat recently, others make much more appeal here. Looks to be making up the numbers as he has shown very little in races even weaker than this one so he can be easily dismissed.

Engaged 14:30 Taunton 21st January.

This 7-year-old son of Mastercraftsman is proven in more testing conditions as he won on heavy ground at Doncaster last year albeit that was on the flat. He has won at this course before but will need to show his worth again over a longer trip here.

Ran in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day, but ended his race being pulled up so than can be totally ignored as he finds himself in much calmer waters here back down to Class 2 company.

Can be in the mix and may be able to make a good race of it with the likes of Goshen and First Street. Certainly on the list and has to be of mention.

Trainer Gray Moore seems to have his horses back in good order after a bit of a sticky patch in recent weeks. As the prize money is higher than usual this weekend at Lingfield, he was quoted saying he hopes to have quite a few runners across different races and Goshen has to be one to note down for Sunday.

This horse is such a unique animal as you just cannot call whether he will turn up on the day. He has previously shown a lot of ability but has failed to back it up when well fancied and then on the other hand he has landed certain races where you feel he may not have had the best chance on paper.

Goshen was victorious in the Coral Hurdle where he beat last year's winner of this race Brewin'upastorm by 8 1/2 lengths. He was then outstayed by Paisley Park in the Grade 1 Long Walk at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Lingfield will suit him more than others so he has a great chance of winning this year's renewal of the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle.

Jason The Militant may be a name people will remember as he was a fairly smart hurdler when trained by Henry De Bromhead. This will be his first run for a new yard so it will be interesting to see if trainer Philip Kirby can get this horse back to a level that he showed a few years ago, but that may be a tough ask as he is not getting any younger.

He has not been in the best form if you look at his recent efforts so a lot will be needed here to go close. This will also be his first run for 111 days so I suppose he has a slim chance if reproducing his old form, but it looks a big, big ask especially after the break he has had.

Engaged 14:05 Haydock 21st January.

The Skelton's have been notching up quite a few winners in recent weeks and it would be no surprise to see them get another here albeit Molly Ollys Wishes has to beat the boys in what looks like a very competitive field.

She won a Grade 2 mares' hurdle at Ascot last year, but that race seemed to take a lot out of her as she was pulled up on her next start. The 9-year-old mare was well fancied to make it 2-2 that day, but things just did not work out to how connections and co would have wanted.

After a 203-day absence, she bounced right back to form when landing a Class 1 mares' hurdle over 2 miles at Wetherby beating the fairly consistent Martello Sky by 1 1/4 lengths.

Has become somewhat a tad inconsistent in her older days and is a tough one to get right, and hard to predict so a few others look stronger here.

Was a useful hurdle winner winning two of his five starts over the smaller obstacles and made a sound start over fences when runner-up in a 4-runner novices' handicap at Ayr in October.

He is a Grade 2 winner over hurdles but has plenty more to give and has big race experience compared to one or two in here and that could count for a lot.

Would want more of a slower pace here and that could happen, but needs things to go for him in running so he is one at a bigger price who may be able to give the more 'fancied' horses a run for their money.

Engaged 14:05 Haydock 21st January.

This 6-year-old son of Golden Horn was certainly one horse to take from last year's Cheltenham Festival as he put in a good performance finishing behind the very talented Willie Mullins trained State Man. He was not far behind him that day and the winner has gone on to impress since.

First Street had one run after that which did not go to plan, but it may have come too soon after that second at the festival. After a fairly long break of 232 days, he ended up winning the Coral Bet Bundles Intermediate Handicap Hurdle at Newbury in November beating the Paul Nicholls trained Grivetana by 2 1/2 lengths.

Has entries in the Betfair Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle so one to keep an eye on, rates a big danger to all here.