Top Mayo tipster reveals his best bets ahead of Cheltenham's equine Olympics

by Mick Byrne

IT’S the meeting that attracts the attention of the racing public worldwide – the Olympics of horse-racing.

The meeting that all racegoers would love to be at.

Over 60,000 will attend the meeting on a daily basis over four days to witness some of the greatest National Hunt horses do battle in the quest for victory.

Already the bookies have got off to a great start with the withdrawal of the ante-post favourites Constitution Hill, Marine National and Faugheen.

A lot of ante-post bets will have gone down already with these withdrawals.

Trying to pick winners at the famous festival is a tough job as there is no such thing as a tip because all the horses will be trying to obtain the ultimate prize.

I have gone through the card very carefully and the following are my selections for the four-day festival – but check what days and what races they are running in as some horses will be moving to different races at different days.

I will give you the four Bs – Brazil, Bad, Buddy One and Blackburn.

In the Champions Hurdle, State Man has to be a banker.

The Gold Cup will go the way of the Irish, but which way is the question.

I’m going for Martin Brazil’s Fastorslow to take the blue riband of the festival and I’m hoping Hewick will at least run into a place at a good each-way price.

John 'Shark' Hanlon’s horse has been the story of the year, a truly remarkable training feat, and I think he can finish for place money.

Other horses that have attracted my attention include the following: In Excelsion Deo (Grand Annual, around 12/1); Encante Bruno (Martin Pipe); Teaphupoo (Stayers' Hurdle); Crebily (Plate on Thursday).

My two best outsiders are Hewick (Gold Cup) and Path Doroux (Grand Annual, Wednesday).

Local horse Jeff Kidder runs in the Coral Cup and is certainly worth a small each-way bet at 100/1 having won in Cheltenham before.

Here’s hoping the Irish raiders and trainers will have a good festival and we make a few bob to cover the All-Ireland expenses for 2024.