Cheltenham Ante-post Week 18 Tips – Coral Cup and Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Predictions

The 2023 Cheltenham Festival is less than three weeks away and with the handicap entries announced this week, we are really into the latter stages of the ante-post tips now. This week we have picks from the Coral Cup and Albert Bartless Novices Hurdle.

You can see all the existing selections in the table at the end of this article and there are also links to the write-ups for each week. That’s 32 ante-post tips already in the can for the 2023 Festival and although some have already fallen away, we hope to go into March with some nice ante-post prices and live chances.

All the selections will be recorded as a 1pt win or 0.5pts each-way and we haven’t restricted the tips to any particular bet so you can expect to see singles, doubles and even the odd treble for the tips.

You can also follow both Ciaran (@murphfinbarrs) and OB (@OB_14) on Twitter where they will be outlining all of their ante-post bets and thoughts ahead of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.

 

Ciaran’s Albert Bartlett Betting Tip

• Shanbally Kid
• Current Odds – 25/1 (each-way) with bet365 NRNB

As stated previously, I am not afraid to put up 2 horses in the same race when I believe that there is value to be had. And as we approach the week itself, with not much value remaining in the ante post markets, I believe I have found something. This week I put up my second selection for what looks a very open Albert Bartlett. 

My week 8 choice Hiddenvalley Lake was beaten at Clonmel last Thursday, and while I was not overly disappointed with the run (giving 6 pounds away to an improving rival, on not ideal ground and making his own running to name just 4 excuses), I was impressed by the winner Montys Star. 

Which made it even more surprising that the Willie Mullins trained 6-year-old SHANBALLY KID, who had defeated that horse on his previous start, was left unchanged with Bet365 at 25/1 (He is as short as 12/1 with some firms). That day in Navan, Shanbally Kid looked temporarily in trouble 2 out, before staying on and winning cosily at the line. He looked like the further he went, the better and left me with no doubt that he would improve for a step up to 3 miles. 

The £190,000 purchase at the Cheltenham sales was Gigginstowns first horse to return to Willie Mullins and would be a significant winner for both connections. He was well touted by Patrick Mullins and Brian Hayes in the media before his debut for the stable and this defeat can now be largely forgiven as it was over a clearly inadequate 2 miles. 

The race has changed from one that favoured the more hardened experienced horses to one that can be won be less exposed types. Last year, Willie Mullins took the race with a lightly raced second string horse (The Nice Guy) and I think that the dose can be repeated this year. 25/1 is a great EW price. 

 

OB’s Coral Cup Betting Tip

• Camprond
• 20/1 with bet365

Week 18 sees me go back to the handicaps following the entries coming out on Tuesday. There were a few noticeable absentees in some of the entries so it was worthwhile holding fire and seeing if my fancy at least has a squeak. Connections left it late though and finally pressed the enter button 30 minutes before entries closed (giving me some sweats in the process).

I’ve gone to the ever-competitive Coral Cup for my next selection. With 16 starts over hurdles, he’s hardly the unexposed type it usually takes to win a Cheltenham handicap but Camprond (20/1) is the one that catches my eye.

4^th in last years race on ground that he would have hated (after the horrendous rain that fell all day at Prestbury Park turned it bottomless), I believe a return to this race has been the target ever since. He backed up that fine run by winning an ultra-competitive handicap at the Punchestown festival just a month later.

Now, his form and campaigning has been somewhat of a disaster since that success and you would have to be hopeful that it’s all part of a long-term plan for this JP McManus horse. He was actually sent novice chasing in November but after 2 starts (1 UR and 4/4) he has reverted to hurdles.

His form on those subsequent 3 runs back over the smaller obstacles is nothing to shout about either but this is well and truly a spring horse. Camprond has either won or been placed on every start in March/April and im convinced all runs this season are to be taken with a pinch of salt and that this race has been the sole target.

Still only a 7 YO he has the potential to keep improving. His 18 starts over timber in the last 2 ½ years should give him huge experience that will stand him in good stead for the hustle and bustle of a Coral Cup. Im hoping the master trainer Phillip Hobbs has him in peak condition, the rain stays away and the JP money is down. If those boxes are ticked then we have a live one on our hands at a 20/1 price that wont be there come the day.

Stake – 1pt win only Camprond (Coral Cup) 20/1 bet365

 

Staking a Claim Tips so Far

	Ciaran	OB
Week 1	Galopin Des Champs (Cheltenham Gold Cup) & Allaho (Ryanair) ODDS: 12.5/1	Gaillard Du Mesnil (National Hunt Chase) Delta Work (Cross Country) ODDS: 15/1
Week 2	Dysart Dynamo (Arkle) ODDS: 16/1	Brandy Love (Mares Hurdle) ODDS: 5/1
Week 3	Honeysuckle (Champion Hurdle) ODDS: 4/1	Chapeau De Soleil (Champion Bumper) ODDS: 12/1
Week 4	Ashroe Diamond (Mares Novice) ODDS: 9/1	Blazing Khal (Stayers Hurdle) ODDS: 6/1
Week 5	Proschema EW (Stayers Hurdle) ODDS: 25/1	Jet Powered (Supreme Novices' Hurdle) ODDS: 14/1
Week 6	Grangeclare West (Ballymore) ODDS: 10/1	Telmesomethinggirl (Mares Chase) ODDS: 8/1
Week 7	James Du Berlais (Brown Advisory Chase) EW ODDS: 20/1	Lossiemouth (Triumph Hurdle) and Luccia (Mares novice hurdle) ODDS: 19/1 win double
Week 8	Hiddenvalley Lake (Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle) ODDS: 8/1	Three Stripe Life (Brown Advisory Novices Chase) ODDS: 14/1 win double
Week 9	Barry The Butcher (Champion Bumper) ODDS: 20/1	Impaire Et Passes (to win any race) ODDS: 6/1 win double
Week 10	Salvador Ziggy (Pertemps) ODDS: 25/1	Three Card Brag (Albert Bartlett) ODDS: 14/1
Week 11	Arctic Bresil Without Favile Vega (Supreme Novices' Hurdle) ODDS: 20/1	El Fabiolo (Turners) ODDS: 10/1
Week 12	Fascile Mode (Champion Bumper) ODDS: 12/1	Risk Belle (The Boodles Fred Winter) ODDS: 16/1
Week 13	Tekao (Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle) ODDS: 8/1 NRNB	Selection: Chris’s Dream (Hunters Chase) ODDS: 10/1
Week 14	Brandy Love (Mares Hurdle) ODDS: 4/1 NRNB	Threeunderthrufive (Ultima Handicap Chase) ODDS: 12/1 NRNB
Week 15	Galvin (Cross Country Chase) ODDS: 6/1	Gerri Colombe (Brown Advisory Chase) ODDS: 8/1
Week 16	Inothewayyourthinking (Martin Pipe) ODDS: 16/1	Spanish Harlem (Martin Pipe) ODDS: 20/1
Week 17	Coole Cody (Plate Handicap) EW ODDS: 40/1	Bravemansgame (Gold Cup) ODDS: 8/1
Week 18	Shanbally Kid (Albert Bartlett) ODDS: 25/1 EW	Camprond (Coral Cup) ODDS: 20/1
Week 19	Gerri Colombe (Brown Advisory) & Mighty Potter (Turners)double ODDS: 6/1	Sharjah (County Hurdle) ODDS: 10/1 EW
Week 20	Dino Blue (Grand Annual) ODDS: 7/1	Mighty Potter (Turners Chase) & Edwardstone (Champion Chase) ODDS: 11/2

Staking a Claim week 1 Selections

Staking a Claim week 2 Selections

Staking a Claim week 3 Selections

Staking a Claim week 4 Selections

Staking a Claim week 5 Selections

Staking a Claim week 6 Selections

Staking a Claim week 7 Selections

Staking a Claim week 8 Selections

Staking a Claim Week 9 Selections

Staking a Claim Week 10 & 11 Selections

Staking a Claim Week 12 Selections

Staking a Claim Week 13 Selections

Staking a Claim Week 14 Selections

Staking a Claim Week 15 Selections

Staking a Claim Week 16 Selections

Staking a Claim Week 17 Selections

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