It’s only been a week since the start of the Cheltenham Festival, but as soon as the last race has been run thoughts begin to turn to next year’s action before the jumps season is over. Ante post betting often splits opinion, with more targets than ever and the danger of injury sadly never too far away, but there’s nothing like a few long term bets to keep the fire burning through the year - particularly for those who don't enjoy the flat as much as I do - and if you can’t resist you could do a lot worse than these five contenders.
1 pt each/way The New One (8/1 general) & 1 pt each/way My Tent Or Yours (10/1 William Hill), 2014 Champion Hurdle
One of the most memorable moments of the week was Hurricane Fly answering all his doubters in terrific style and regaining his Champion Hurdle crown, but with a look ahead to next year, if last week’s novice performances are anything to go by he looks to have a monstrous task upon his hands to consider retaining his title next year. 
At the end of the Supreme Novice Hurdle there’s no doubting that who had backed My Tent Or Yours – whether at the juicy prices dangled in response to early season defeats or as the early banker of the first day – would be disappointed with the result, but all the evidence suggests he may have been part of a truly epic race.
Times don’t tell everything in racing but Dave Edwards's Topspeed review of the meeting (combined with Turftrax timings) tells us that the Supreme was run in a time 2.29 sec faster than a Champion Hurdle which had 4 previous festival winners in the first four, and that alone is a that worth taking notice of – a literal translation of that form is a ten length difference. No one for a second is suggesting that Champagne Fever, My Tent Or Yours and Jezki – who would have been closer had it not been for a costly final flight stumble - have 10 lengths in hand on Hurricane Fly should they ever meet, but there’s nothing to suggest that this wasn’t a top quality running and one that could produce future champions. Many will point to My Tent Or Yours failing to get past Champagne Fever as a bad sign for his Champion credentials but it shouldn’t be underestimated just how strong a horse Champagne Fever is and just how good Ruby Walsh was in controlling the race, while the time of the race and the fact he was never losing ground in the last furlong suggests he wasn’t falling for attitude or stamina late on.
With the Mullins runner likely to head over fences next year, and the Supreme having produced plenty of champions from it’s beaten ranks (Cue Card and Sprinter Sacre alone came from the 2011 renewal), the 10/1 for My Tent Or Yours being offered looks more than fair enough; There’s significant scope for the price to contract given that Henderson could well send him to races such as the Christmas and Kingwell Hurdles on flatter tracks, much like Darlan (who was 3/1 favourite after his impressive Christmas Hurdle). Speaking of timings once again going by the clock, The New One had the most impressive sectionals of any horse at the festival when romping home in the Neptune on the Wednesday and looked every inch a Champion Hurdle prospect. The Neptune has long been associated with producing future Champion Hurdle horses – Hardy Eustace and Rock On Ruby to name but two of recent times – and this year’s renewal was especially slowly run by festival standards, making speed all the more important in a race which has traditionally gone to a horse that goes onto excel over two miles. His ability to stay further combined with so much raw speed off a slow pace are the hallmarks of a special horse and the bare form of what he beat speaks well; Rule The World was an impressive Grade 2 winner, Pont Alexandre had won his previous two starts in blistering style and quality types like Chatterbox were left far behind. 
Our Conor, the widest margin Triumph winner in recent years and the most impressive to boot, has to be greatly respected and holds all the attributes needed to launch a challenge, but the Supreme and Neptune had the look of far deeper races and in any case, bookmakers are taking no chances at just 5/1.
1 pt each/way Al Ferof, 2014 Gold Cup (16/1 Stan James, unquoted elsewhere)
- Al Ferof (left) lands the Paddy Power Gold Cup from Walkon carrying 11-8, a huge weight in any circumstance, never mind the
conditionsIn the aftermath of this year’s Gold Cup you’d be forgiven for thinking that Bobs Worth, Sir Des Champs and maybe Silviniaco Conti would have complete control over the staying chase scene for years to come and that may well be true but it’s easy to forget that Al Ferof is a part of that very generation and he may well be overpriced in the next Gold Cup market at 16/1 with Stan James. An impressive winner of what must be considered one of the strongest Supreme Novice Hurdles of recent times – Sprit Son, Sprinter Sacre and Cue Card were directly behind – he didn’t end his novice chasing campaign in the greatest of fashions after a horrendous mistake in the Arkle and being well below par at Aintree, but the manner in which he outstayed and eventually outclassed Walkon giving him a huge amount of weight in the Paddy Power suggested that he would come into his own over a distance of 3m plus (on good ground it would certainly be what he needed) and while that form hasn’t worked out so well – only 6 finished in what became a last man standing contest – it was the qualities he showed that promised to see him relish 3 miles and more when faced with that trip which really caught the eye and if coaxed back from injury – there are few better than Paul Nicholls at this – he could be a real contender; He’s no 16/1 shot to say the least.
1 pt each/way Simonsig (7/1 Bolylesports, Stan James, 6/1 general) 2014 Champion Chase
- Simonsig didn't please everyone in the Arkle but should get better still, having had just 4 chase starts
At the beginning of 2013, for many racegoers and fans there was only one challenger people could see to Sprinter Sacre from the novice ranks, but when Simonsig had to be pushed all the way by Baily Green to land the Arkle Chase many were very disappointed but in the colder light of day there are many reasons to think that he was below his best. Firstly, the lack of experience – this was just his third chasing run, and easily his first proper test of jumping at speed – showed up clearly in what was frankly an error strewn round for one so talented, and secondly, a first run since Christmas left an already keen going horse far too keen, which in turn badly hindered his jumping. At the end of the day, the class which saw him on the bridle despite a poor round of jumping saw him clear of Baily Green, but the news that he’d scoped badly confirmed for may that this was potentially a performance well below his best and it wouldn’t surprise if he was able to be at least 10lbs better in time and with that in mind, he looks a knocking each/way bet for the Champion Chase. It’s unlikely he’ll be able to hail within Sprinter Sacre, but Sizing Europe – second by a distance this year - will be 12 by then and many may be avoiding the black aeroplane, so if Ronnie Bartlett and Nicky Henderson decide to keep him over 2 miles, the 7/1 for the Champion Chase at ¼ a place for three places looks to be a bet to nothing.
1 pt each/way Zarkandar (10/1 general), 2014 World Hurdle
A race that has so often been the preserve of so few thanks to Baracouda, Inglis Drever and Big Bucks now has a really open look to it following the injury to the 4 time winner. Paul Nicholls’s replacement Celestial Halo ran a cracker to come second to Solwhit – who really shouldn’t be as big as 10/1 for a repeat with no obvious new contenders to come through – but he could have a trump card in Zarkandar, who disappointed in the Champion Hurdle for the second year running but would be one of the most talented horses to attempt the step up in trip. Holty fancied for the Champion Hurdle this year after having a trouble free season unlike last year, Paul Nicholls’s charge had the perfect race unfold for him with Rock On Ruby setting a lighting fast gallop, but he could find nothing after the turn and was never better than fourth.
- Zarkandar (pink) wasn't quick enough for the Champion but would be one of the classiest horses in the field if sent for the World Hurdle
With no excuses it was a disappointing effort, but a step up in trip has probably been his calling for a long time (he fell before things got serious in the Aintree Hurdle last year) and with Paul Nicholls set to run him there again, a psostive result could see them be bolder with his campaign especially as 2 miles seems to be on the backburners. Over three miles his flat speed could prove to be a very useful asset towards the end of the race and two former champion hurdle contenders dominated the race this year while third Smad Place was unplaced (admittedly when too weak to do himself justice) in none other than Zarkandar’s Triumph. With all those who offer a price on him, only two are ahead of him in the market and Big Bucks is currently 7/2 favourite to make it an amazing 5 but you have to wonder what shape he’ll come back in next season (he’ll be an 11 year old by the time March comes round) while we don’t know if Albert Bartlett winner At Fishers Cross stays over hurdles or goes chasing, while quicker ground is still an issue. Of the rest quoted, few look to be going for the race or make appeal as three milers barring Solwhit or Monksland. * - This data comes courtesy of Dave Edwards's Topspeed sectionals (in the Racing Post and also on the Racing Post website) and also Turftrax race timings
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