Cheltenham Festival Tips: Top Five Each-Way Bets

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The Cheltenham Festival gets underway this Tuesday with 28 hugely competitive races to look forward to across the meeting's four days. Whilst there are some red-hot favourites across the week, there are many punters that simply do not wager stakes significant enough to make backing these entries worthwhile.

Here at freebets.ltd.uk we have been scouring the racecards for some each-way value, allowing for maximum returns from minimal outlay. Here are five horses that we've selected as potential each-way gems, including the latest race odds from our betting partners at BoyleSports.

13:30 - Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Tuesday 14th March)

• Il Etait Temps
• Odds: 11/2

Throughout the winter, Facile Vega was the Festival banker for antepost bettors but a disappointing run at Leopardstown in February has opened the door for several other runners in the week's opening race. 

With six wins in seven races, last year's Champion Bumper winner, Facile Vega is still the one to beat but we're opting for stablemate, Il Etait Temps.

Il Etait Temps capitalised on Facile Vega's disappointing run at Leopardstown and he arrives at Cheltenham as the Festival's highest-rates novice hurdler. The five-year-old could only manage fifth in last year's JCB Triumph Hurdle but he could get the week off to a flying start for Willie Mullins. 

14:50 - Ultima Handicap Chase (Tuesday 14th March)

• Threeunderthrufive
• Odds: 12/1

British entries have had a considerable upper hand in recent Ultima Handicap Chase renewals and this year should be no exception. The wide-open handicap is 13/2 the field and with BoyleSports paying each-way for six places, there's an excellent opportunity to turn a profit on any number of horses. Our selection is Threeunderthrufive.

The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old is already a course and distance winner having landed a novice chase in November 2021. That win at Cheltenham was a second of four consecutive wins prior to a solid performance in difficult conditions in last year's Brown Advisory. Threeunderthrufive was travelling as strong as anything in the Warwick Classic but ultimately the heavy ground proved his undoing once again. If the conditions are right on Tuesday, he could have a real chance.

16:10 - Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Tuesday 14th March)

• Love Envoi
• Odds: 9/1

The Mares' Hurdle possesses arguably the strongest field in the entire Festival with the news that Epatante has been supplemented for Tuesday's Grade 1. Nicky Henderson's Epatante is joined by stablemate and last year's winner, Marie's Rock as well as 2022 Champion Hurdle winner, Honeysuckle as the leading trio in the Mares' Hurdle market. However, there is plenty of value at a slightly bigger price and we're amazed to see Love Envoi as big as 9/1.

If the conditions take a turn for the worse, Love Envoi will be lot shorter than her current price but for now she remains an excellent each-way prospect. Love Envoi finished eight lengths adrift of Brandy Love in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse last April but we're confident that she offers backers a superb opportunity of breaching the leading trio in the market. That defeat to Brandy Love came on better ground than we're likely to see at Cheltenham this week and remains the only loss in Love Envoi's eight races over hurdles.

Love Envoi landed the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle at last year's Festival and whilst this is an obvious step-up in class, we're really excited about Love Envoi's prospects.

17:30 - Weatherby's Champion Bumper (Wednesday 15th March)

• Encanto Bruno
• Odds: 12/1

With a name like Encanto Bruno, this John McConnell-trained five-year-old will be the selection of choice for casual bettors with young children. However, he's far more than a horse with a quirky, Disney-like name.

Encanto Bruno is 2-2 under rules and is one of just two bumper entries that have already won over C&D. The £210,000 purchase powered to a four-length win over Strong Leader here at Cheltenham in October. That result looks all the better given that Strong Leader has gone on to win three from three since.

Encanto Bruno has been cut from 20/1 to 11/1 but is still very back-able as an each-way prospect.

15:30 - Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Friday 17th March)

• Noble Yeats
• Odds: 8/1

The highlight of the Cheltenham Festival is undoubtedly Friday's Gold Cup and whilst Galopin Des Champs is more than capable of becoming the shortest-priced price winner of the blue riband race since 2007, he is far from a sure thing. In a race where the favourite is priced at 7/4, there is astonishing value throughout a field littered with talent.

Protektorat finished third in 2022 and was an impressive winner of Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock in November. At 12/1, he is incredible value. However, our preference is for 8/1 shot, Noble Yeats. The 2022 Grand National winner is favourite to once again land the biggest prize at Aintree again next month. In the meantime, the Emmet Mullins-trained star is vying to become just the third horse to claim the Grand National / Gold Cup double. Noble Yeats can outstay all of Friday's rivals and he's already won over both 2m7f and 3m1f this season which slightly eases fears over his speed. We're quietly optimistic that Noble Yeats can win the Gold Cup but one thing we're sure of is that if he gets around safely, nothing will beat him up that Cheltenham hill! A solid each-way option that may just have what it takes to make history and win the Gold Cup.

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