Ante-Post Plays: Tom Collins has four fancies for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival

Does your year revolve around the Cheltenham Festival? If so, you undoubtedly long for a big-priced ante-post multiple that would instigate early retirement.

We are 11 months away from the 2023 showpiece jumps meeting, but a selection of ante-post markets are already live and Tom Collins has identified four horses (plus a wildcard!) that are worth a second look.

Constitution Hill (Champion Hurdle)

Very few horses win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in a romp. I was initially desperate to believe that the break-neck early gallop set by chief market rivals Dysart Dynamo and Jonbon flattered the Nicky Henderson-trained winner, but, in hindsight, it is pretty obvious that wasn’t the case.

Not only does Constitution Hill boast an elite cruising speed, which allowed him to ascertain the best possible position behind the dueling front-runners, but he possesses push-button acceleration. The combination that many dream of. 

Versatile in regards to ground (won on heavy on his prior start at Sandown), Constitution Hill appears to have very flaws ahead of entering open company next season. There is no denying this is a weak division aside from the unbeaten Honeysuckle, and Constitution Hill blew her time out of the water on Tuesday last week. 

Should the pair meet at Punchestown next month and Constitution Hill comes out on top, he will be far shorter than the current 2/1 for the 2023 Champion Hurdle. Backing relatively short-priced favourites this far out isn’t for everyone, but he might be the exception.

Stattler (Gold Cup)

It takes a bold punter to oppose A Plus Tard in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup given his dominance last Friday. The Henry De Bromhead-trained eight-year-old scampered up the hill to win by 15 lengths and confirmed earlier beliefs that he has all the qualities of a bona fide top-level staying chaser.

However, he’s already pretty short in the market and there is a group of young talents ready to break through into a relatively stale division. Galopin Des Champs is likely to be campaigned over shorter, while Allaho will probably look for a third consecutive Ryanair victory next March. Willie Mullins may, therefore, focus all of his attention on National Hunt Chase winner Stattler.

Stattler (right): has improved a great deal since being sent chasing. PA Wire

He won the aforementioned 3m6f contest with minimum fuss last Tuesday and stamina is undoubtedly his strong suit. However, he certainly doesn’t lack class and every time I watch him his jumping gets better. Stattler is becoming the complete article and he might be wrongly overlooked (18/1) at this stage.

Mercurey (Supreme Novices' Hurdle)

Facile Vega warrants ante-post favouritism for the Supreme after a bloodless victory in the Champion Bumper. I’m not overly keen to oppose him, even at this stage, but he still has to prove that he can jump hurdles and handle quicker conditions.

He has plenty of upside, but so does stablemate Mercurey, who is currently available at four times the price (16/1). He is a big and imposing type whose bumper exploits are merely a bonus. Nevertheless, he absolutely romped home on debut at Gowran Park in January and will be a stronger horse once he fills out his frame next season.

James’s Gate (Ballymore Novices' Hurdle)

While Mercurey stayed at home, this Willie Mullins-trained gelding chased home stablemate Facile Vega at Cheltenham. The son of Shantou finished third of 20 and caught the eye with the way he hit the line after appearing outpaced when the speedier protagonists quickened. 

A half-brother to a 2m5f winner out of a dam who won over 2m4f and is a half-sister to a 3m scorer, James’s Gate is sure to improve for a step up in trip sooner rather than later.

Testing ground doesn’t cause an issue, but quicker conditions may bring about further improvement, too, and he looks the perfect Ballymore type. 12/1 is a fair reflection of his chance at this stage.

Handicapper to note

Il Ridoto

It’s not easy to envisage where this five-year-old will end up, but his Newbury win earlier this season has worked out very well (runner-up has gone up 10lb in the weights, third-home up 9lb since) and he shaped nicely in the Grand Annual last week.

Many may overlook his effort as he was beaten 31 lengths into eighth, but he evidently struggled to get home in dismal conditions after smoothly moving into contention. He’s only going to strengthen up over the summer and there could be a big handicap prize waiting for him at Cheltenham next season if he’s campaigned wisely.