Cheltenham 2025: Two entries – at 25/1 and 33/1 – to the antepost book

I've got a little bit of catching up to do having missed a selection last week, so here's a couple of antepost tips for Cheltenham 2025 on the back of a highly-informative Christmas period.

One performance that really caught my eye over the Christmas period was HEART WOOD in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

Considering he couldn't beat novices at Fairyhouse just four weeks earlier, I wasn't expecting much from Henry de Bromhead's son of Choeur Du Nord, but he exceeded expectation to finish fourth, 15 lengths adrift of the outstanding Galopin Des Champs.

The selection travelled smoothly throughout and was one of the last off the bridle before showing a smart turn of foot to go into a clear third and make his challenge. It was a short-lived one, as he failed to stay the trip.

It was undoubtedly a career-best performance, though, and the six-year-old remains entitled to further improvement, especially back over an intermediate trip in a strongly-run race.

That's why I've landed on the Ryanair Chase, which looks right up his street.

I did wonder earlier in the season if a Cheltenham Festival handicap could be on Heart Wood's agenda, but after the Irish handicapper raised him +5 for his exploits in Dublin, putting him on a mark of 159, that's surely ruled out. He'd be looking at 160+ after British tax.

If connections do opt to go down this route, I think 25/1 massively underestimates his chance.

Of course, if Willie Mullins and JP McManus decide to reroute Fact To File here, he'd be very, very hard to beat, but otherwise the market is full of horses with questions to answer.

King George hero Banbridge is ground dependent, while El Fabiolo has spent half of the season - and counting - on the sidelines and his target is far from certain, which also applies to Gaelic Warrior. Energumene and Jonbon are Champion Chase-bound. Il Etait Temps doesn't seem to act at Cheltenham. You get the picture...

It's sure to cut up plenty and I expect Heart Wood to be at least half the price if lining up on the day. Take the chance now is my advice.

A bigger chance is taken on DROP A THREAT for the Champion Bumper ahead of his rules debut at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day.

Willie Mullins' five-year-old son of Triple Threat, who fetched €100k as a store in 2022, won a PTP in Ireland earlier this year by 12 lengths and was later sold privately to run in the iconic maroon and white silks of Gigginstown.

I've heard he's been showing plenty at home and could take high rank in this division, which is a muddling one at the moment.

I'm more than willing to take a risk on him. If he wins on the opening day of 2025 - I'm quite hopeful looking at the final field - he's probably 20/1 at best. If it's an impressive triumph, I'd say you'll be lucky to get anything greater than 14s.

Bar the filly Future Prospect, Mullins is yet to unleash an exciting bumper prospect. Hopefully this is the one.

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