One of the most celebrated meets of the horse racing calendar, the Cheltenham Festival promises to be taken to new heights in 2020. Taking place across the 10th to the 13th of March, the meet includes some fantastic races including the Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Ryanair Chase and the Gold Cup as Gloucestershire witnesses yet another horse racing phenomenon.ย
The likes of Pentland Hills, Espoirย DโAllenย and Alย Boumย Photo took home surprise victories in 2019 as the Cheltenham festival betting exceeded ยฃ500 million. This figure is expected to grow even further in 2020, but who are the underdogs heading into the Festival that could shock the rest of the field?ย
Supasundaeย – Champion Hurdleย
Despite being offered odds at 33/1 acrossย free horse picksย sites,ย Supasundaeย is certainly a horse to look out for in the Champion Hurdle. Jockey Robbie Power has taken the reins ofย Supasundaeย for the past 18 races and has finished first five times with an average of placing third.ย
In 2017, Power andย Supasundaeย combined to take home the Champion Hurdle title and the ten-year-old mareย should not be taken lightlyย as the Festival approaches.ย
Un de Sceaux – Queen Mother Champion Chaseย
The Queen Mother Champion Chase features the likes ofย Altiorย andย Cyrname, but Un de Sceaux cannot be underestimated either. The 12-year-old mare has a past history of succeeding at Cheltenham with three victories in the past five years. Plus, in Paul Townendโs last three races on the mare, Un de Sceaux has finished second, second and first.ย
Townendโs relationship with trainer Willie Mullins has been well documented, so, given Un de Sceauxโs 25/1 odds, quite a few are likely to back the French four-legged fiend.ย
Cadmium – Ryanair Chaseย
Named after the chemical element, Cadmium is another horse from Mullinsโ ever-burgeoning stables. The Ryanair Chase will be Cadmiumโs focus, and, with odds of 33/1, the mare is likely to be backed by those fancying an outsider.ย ย
Cadmiumโs chances of victory could depend on who controls the saddle. Un de Sceauxโs rider, Paul Townend, is likely to be on Cadmium also. And, Townend has ridden Cadmium to two victories from six races, with hisย Aintreeย success in April 2019 the most celebrated.ย
Townend took the reins in Cadmiumโs last race at Naas, but Danny Mullins (no relation to trainer Willie) has also had a flurry – recently atย Leopardstownย where he finished sixth out of seven riders. A very talented horse, under Townend, Cadmium could spring a surprise come March.ย
Frodonย – Gold Cupย
Taking a step up after last yearโs victory in the Ryanair Chase,ย Frodonย is not exactly expected to thrash the rest of the Gold Cup competition with odds of 33/1. But, the evergreen Bryony Frost has riddenย Frodonย to five triumphs in her last eight races, ensuring bothย horse and rider have more than adequate preparation for the Gold Cup. And, the relationship between mare and rider is as strong as ever, giving Frost every chance of ridingย Frodonย to glory.ย
ย
