Who doesn’t love a good outsider?
There’s little to lose and plenty to gain. Here are best outside bets ahead of the upcoming Cheltenham festival.
High definition 20/1 – Supreme Novices’ (Tuesday)
A one-time Derby favourite, High Definition’s class is undoubted.
It’s the temperament and more specifically, its ability to clear the obstacles that casts doubts. Having been transferred from Aidan O’Brien’s yard to his son Joseph’s, the Galileo colt impressed on his winning debut over Christmas before running wild in February.
With JJ Slevin on board, High Definition set a blinding pace in the Tattersalls Novice hurdle in Leopardstown – a pace that was eventually too much for Facile Vega – but after a dodgy jump, Slevin was unseated before the race really got going.
The jockey has since said that the precocious horse has schooled well and is shaping up for a Supreme Novices’ bid. At 16/1, he’s certainly worth a punt in the first race of the week.
🗣 "He's a massive chance, I think."
J J Slevin looking forward to the Supreme with High Definition! pic.twitter.com/rhehQxHylI
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 6, 2023
Dashel Drasher – 33/1 – World hurdle (Thursday)
Dashel Drasher may not have the class to win the Stayers Hurdle, which is shaping up to be one of the races of the festival, but he certainly has the ability and the battling qualities to challenge.
A remarkably consistent horse for Jeremy Scott, he has shown some fine form around Cheltenham this year, running both Maries Rock and Gold Tweet close in January, and is a great each way bet at those odds.
Minella Indo 20/1 – Gold Cup (Friday)
One of the value bets of the festival.
Minella Indo loves it around Cheltenham.
Having run four times at the festival, he has never been outside the first two, winning an Albert Bartlett and a Gold Cup. Yes, he’s ten years of age, but ten is not ancient and he did impress when beating Stattler in his only run of the year in Tramore.
