Our Cheltenham Festival antepost series continues with this week's guest, David Ord, taking aim at the Grand Annual.
2022 Cheltenham Festival antepost tips
1pt win Sky Pirate in Grand Annual at 14/1 (bet365, Betfair & Paddy Power NRNB)
The temptation when the weights are unveiled for the Cheltenham handicaps is to start digging. Look for the dark ones, the plot horses, the runners that have sailed under the radar all season.
But the times they-are-a-changing. We have a favourite for the Boodles who hasn't jumped a hurdle in anger in public in Ireland or Britain so far. The handicappers are trying to give the older, seemingly more exposed horses, more of a chance by dropping them quicker than in the past when it's clear they're not as competitive as they once were.
The aim is to try and counter the rise and rise of the unexposed novice from Ireland.
SKY PIRATE held them at bay in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual last season - and he looks a cracking bet at 14/1 to do so again.
He's run in two small-field handicaps since, twice finishing behind Before Midnight, but meets that rival on 15lb better terms for a six-length beating at Cheltenham and seven for a four-length reverse at Ascot.
Crucially, the winner made all on both of those occasions and Sky Pirate is a different proposition given a big field and strong gallop scenario.
He'll get both here and races from only a 4lb higher mark than in 2021. Forget his run in a tactical Game Spirit last time, his whole season has seemingly been geared around this one race - he wasn't even entered in the Champion Chase this time around.
British winners at the Festival may still be a rarity for a year or two but here's one who might just go back there and defend his crown.
Preview posted at 0920 GMT on 03/03/2022
Recommended bets archive and schedule…
- January 6 – Ben Linfoot – 1pt win Eric Bloodaxe in Albert Bartlett at 16/1
- January 13 – Simon Holt - 1pt win Saint Calvados in Ryanair Chase at 10/1
- January 20 – Adam Houghton - 1pt e.w Nube Negra in Champion Chase at 12/1
- January 27 – Tony McFadden - 1pt win The Glancing Queen in Mares' Chase at 14/1
- February 3 – Rory Delargy - 1pt win Ahoy Senor in Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at 8/1 (NRNB)
- February 10 – David Massey - 1pt win Adagio in Unibet Champion Hurdle at 25/1 (NRNB)
- February 17 – Dan Barber - 1pt win Fil Dor in JCB Triumph Hurdle at 6/1 (General)
- February 24 – Chris Day - 1pt e.w War Lord in Sporting Life Arkle at 33/1 (General, 1/5 1,2,3 NRNB)
- March 3 – David Ord - 1pt win Sky Pirate in Grand Annual at 14/1 (bet365, Betfair & Paddy Power NRNB)
- March 10 – Andrew Asquith
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