3 Early Bets for 2023 Cheltenham Festival

The 2022 Cheltenham Festival threw up another fantastic week of jumps racing in the UK. It won’t be long before the annual pilgrimage to Prestbury Park is made again.

Bookmakers have already opened up betting on many of the 28 races for the meeting next year. Here is an early look at three bets for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.

Delta Work to Win Cross Country Chase – 9/4

Gordon Elliott was successful in the Cross Country Chase once again in 2022. The Irishman had the 1-2 in the race, with Delta Work coming home in front of stablemate Tiger Roll in a thrilling finish.

The unique contest helped Delta Work return to form. The former Grade One raider produced his best performance in some time. Given how impressive he was, he looks sure to return to defend his crown in 2023.

Delta Work’s next assignment is the Grand National. Those looking to back the Irish horse and bet on Grand National markets can get 9/1 on the Cheltenham winner. Victory at Aintree will see his odds shorten further for Festival glory next season.

Facile Vega to Win Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – 5/2

Irish trainer Willie Mullins kept up his excellent record in the Champion Bumper, with Facile Vega providing him with his 12th success in the race. Mullins’ runner looks something special, and he is a horse to keep an eye out for next season in his novice hurdles campaign.

As long as he jumps obstacles ok, the unbeaten horse is likely to take some beating in the Festival curtain-raiser, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He is the early 5/2 favourite for that race on day one next March.

Surprisingly, Champion Bumper winners don’t have a great record in the following year’s Supreme. Champagne Fever was the last to win both races when he scored at the Festival in 2012 and 2013. Mullins’ gelding looks good enough to become a back-to-back winner at the meeting, getting favourite backers off to a good start to the week.

Galopin Des Champs to Win Cheltenham Gold Cup - 4/1

Next season’s 3m chase division is going to be fascinating with talented novices Galopin Des Champs, L’Homme Presse, Stattler and Bob Olinger all likely to be taking on the experienced horses.

The most impressive novice chaser from Cheltenham was Galopin Des Champs, despite the horse falling in his race. He was totally dominant in the Marsh Novices’ Chase before making a mistake at the final fence.

Mullins has already confirmed that the Cheltenham Gold Cup will be the target for Galopin Des Champs next season. With more experience in jumping fences, he is less likely to make the same kind of errors with his jumping.

If successful next March, Galopin Des Champs will be only the third seven-year-old to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in ten years. Sizing John and Al Boum Photo both prevailed as second-season chasers in 2017 and 2019 respectively. He is the 4/1 joint-favourite alongside defending champion A Plus Tard in the ante-post betting.

Next year’s Cheltenham Festival takes place between 14-17 March. As ever, all roads will lead to Cheltenham once the 2022/23 National Hunt season gets underway.