Firstly from all at Lapoftheodds, thank you for your interest all year, and we wish you and your families a very happy Christmas, and good punting in 2020.

With that in mind, our stocking filler is a Cheltenham Festival Yankee with a runner on each day of the meeting.  With one runner from a handicap, we have quoted Hills odds as they are the only major player quoting the handicaps at this stage.

The Cheltenham Yankee

Tuesday:   Carefully Selected,  (National Hunt Chase), 10/1: 

One of the first places to look in this marathon novice chase for amateur riders is the Mullins connection.  Willie and son Patrick usually have a major contender and it already looks as if Carefully Selected is being groomed to be this year’s pick. Already a runner-up in a Festival bumper, he was a superb close third at Punchestown on only his second hurdles run in an injury hit season, and has started this year with a good win on chasing debut.  The biggest risk could be that he is too good for this and ends up in the RSA, but we doubt Patrick will let that happen.

Wednesday,  Minella Indo, (RSA Chase), 9/1:

No stranger to Festival success after an all the way win in the Albert Bartlett, a fine win that he backed up with a similar effort at Punchestown.  Was second to the excellent Laurina in his only chase so far, but is likely to leave that miles behind over three miles at Leopardstown over Christmas.  Has to beat the talented Champ, but Minella can be super tough to pass when bowling along in front.

Thursday, Glenloe, (Kim Muir), 12/1:

Probably the most obvious plot of the Festival.  Trainer Elliott and owner McManus love to target this race with good novices and this guy has had a date with this meeting since being touched off here in the 2018 Pertemps.  Has run with conspicuous promise in several chases over shorter than ideal trips so far this year.  Hills have put their head above the parapet with an early market for this race, and the odds look good for a horse who could easily be 3/1 on the day.

Friday, Thyme Hill, (Albert Bartlett), 8/1:

The form of his close third in the Festival Bumper last season already looks golden.  Is a real stayer on breeding, and has looked that over hurdles with two stamina soaked wins.  With star novice Envoi Allen seemingly making a beeline for the Ballymore, that will hopefully encourage connections to head up to the Bartlett where this fella’s stamina will be at maximum value.

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