Cheltenham Festival ante-post tips: Mozzie can prove a punters’ pal

Sam Turner brings us his latest Cheltenham Festival ante-post tips, picking out two contenders to take note of before the festival

Grey Dawning could be a worthy early pick to contend for the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Adam Davy/PA Wire)

Cheltenham ante-post tips

• My Mate Mozzie – Grand Annual – 11/1 NRNB bet365
• Midnight Our Fred – Kim Muir – 9/1 NRNB bet365

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The release of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival handicap weights is always greeted with great enthusiasm and this year appears to be no different, with all betting sites offering updated odds on some of the toughest handicaps of the National Hunt season.

Some backers will look to get involved straightaway in order to attain the best Cheltenham odds, but it often pays to exercise a little patience, especially as we aren’t yet aware of any headgear which connections may utilise on their horses come Festival week.

With 28 races across four days and big fields to boot, it is wise to compile shortlists for the well-contested handicaps, especially as different horse racing betting sites are going to offer some excellent promotions for the player to take advantage of during festival week.

Our old friend, the non-runner, no bet concession remains a highly useful accessory so if those highlighted in this piece don’t make their respective race, all funds are returned by your chosen bookmakers – so let’s get started.

Cheltenham Festival Grand Annual Chase tips: Buzz around Mozzie

Admittedly, My Mate Mozzie isn’t one for the feint hearted.

For all of his natural talent, his win ratio is a little below par and a recent second place at the Dublin Racing Festival could be used in evidence to endorse that view.

However I would much rather have a horse like My Mate Mozzie on my side in fiercely-contested handicaps, even if his strike rate doesn’t resemble Galopin Des Champs.

Supporting a horse like Gavin Cromwell’s gelding gives you a healthy chance of winning, given he is often likely to appear at the business end travelling like a powerhouse – albeit he doesn’t always get the job done.

This type of horse can be used for all sorts of punting vehicles; each-way doubles would be my preferred weapon of choice, but each-way multiple bets, a strong placepot selection and even place only bets are all viable ways to go with a horse like him.

There is little doubt he finds less off the bridle than some, but his cruising speed is so high that it carries him into the teeth of the race and, in Keith Donoghue, he has the perfect ally in the saddle to try and carry out the exaggerated waiting tactics.

Although well beaten in last year’s Arkle Chase, the son of Born To Sea appeared to resent the first-time cheekpieces last March so can be forgiven that display, and it’s worth noting he has already won around the Old Course having hacked up there as a novice.

Given his flat pedigree, some spring ground wouldn’t go amiss either and, while he isn’t a nap selection, his record in big fields allied with his ability to handle a frenetic gallop makes him an enticing each-way proposition, especially with enhanced place terms likely to be available from trusted betting apps.

Currently, bet365 are top price on My Mate Mozzie and are paying five places on the Grand Annual at 1/5 odds.

Kim Muir tip: Fred fancied for Kim Muir glory

Selection two is Midnight Our Fred who looks likely to tackle the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap, the final race on day three.

I must declare an interest in the eight-year-old as I enquired about his availability to buy earlier this season, but was met with a flat no by connections!

In all honesty, if he was mine I wouldn’t sell either, especially as he has run three times at Cheltenham since late October 2023 and has been runner-up on all three occasions.

However, it is this year that the son of Finsceal Fior has taken his performances to another level. A comeback win at Gowran in October preceded another terrific effort at Leopardstown over Christmas in a race which has thrown up winners since.

Although beaten seven lengths by Perceval Legallois, Midnight Our Fred recorded a RaceIQ jump index score of 9.6 which is the highest I’ve seen since using their data. He gained more than 22 lengths on his rivals thanks to his nimble jumping and that experience of Cheltenham will stand him in good stead should he take his chance in this.

Talented young amateur Dara McGill already knows the selection having partnered the gelding in a 19-runner handicap chase at Prestbury Park 18 months ago and he is riding winners for fun in his native Ireland, both in point-to-points and under rules.

He’s already been clipped slightly by gambling sites, in from 10/1 to 9/1, with bet365 again paying out on five places at 1/5 odds.

Please gamble responsibly 

When having a bet, it’s vital to practice responsible gambling.

Sports betting can be addictive, so bettors should take precautions to keep themselves safe when using gambling sites.

Every licensed UK betting site should offer safer gambling tools, such as deposit limits, time outs, self-assessment questionnaires and self-exclusion options.

These are free tools to help punters stay in control and they are available at various gambling sites, including online bookmakers, casino sites, slot sites, and poker sites.

These operators may offer punters free bets or a casino bonus from time to time, but it's important to treat these rewards with caution.

Read the terms and conditions before accepting any bonus as most new casino sites will require you to place a cash bet before handing out the reward.

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• NHS Help
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