2023 Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post Tips: Three to back for next year's showpiece

We were treated to a sensational 2022 Cheltenham Festival, but attentions will now turn to the 2023 showpiece, and our man Steve Chambers has picked out three long-range ante-post selections which could bring in some profit next spring...

2023 Arkle Challenge Trophy

It was always going to be a tough ask for APPRECIATE IT to land a significant blow on star mare Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle, as the former Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner was having his first run since that novice success at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival. Tiring in the closing stages and unable to quicken with the runaway winner Honeysuckle, Appreciate It finished a well beaten seventh.

Imperious in the 2021 Supreme, Appreciate It shaped like the next superstar off the Willie Mullins production line, but injuries halted a campaign over fences this season, and the Mullins team opted to remain over hurdles. Having disappointed slightly over timber in the Tuesday showpiece, Appreciate It is likely to start a novice chasing campaign next season, and he's a 10/1 chance for the 2023 Arkle Challenge Trophy.

There's a host of mouth-watering stars etched at the head of the ante-post betting, but the likes of epic Supreme winner Constitution Hill and Ballymore hero Sir Gerhard are likely to remain over hurdles, while it's unknown where the likes of Appreciate It's stablemates State Man, Vauban and Gaelic Warrior will end up next term.

So, it could be sensible to stick with Appreciate It, who is destined for a campaign over fences, and he could well be the standard setter next season, and at double-figured odds looks a superb bet.

2023 Champion Hurdle

Next year's Champion Hurdle could be an absolutely rip-snorting renewal with the dual champion Honeysuckle bidding for the hat-trick, but the Henry De Bromhead-trained wondermare could face her sternest test to date with the mind-boggling Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Constitution Hill set to be a major thorn in her side next season.

The pair dominate the betting at the moment with Constitution Hill a best-priced 5/2 chance, while Honeysuckle is a point bigger at 7/2. However, both could faIL in their bid for Grade 1 glory, as the Willie Mullins-trained SIR GERHARD can prove to be a top notch hurdler next campaign, and the recent Ballymore winner is an eye-catching 8/1 to claim glory.

In the lead-up to the Cheltenham Festival, the Mullins team were unsure as to whether send Sir Gerhard to the 2m of the Supreme or the 2m 5f of the Ballymore, but they opted to take in the longer race, which he won with aplomb. Cruising clear of Three Stripe Life in dreadfully wet conditions, Sir Gerhard showed his class as he sauntered to a victory by over three lengths, and that stamina would certainly hold him in good stead for a Champion Hurdle.

Likely to remain over hurdles next season, Sir Gerhard will be able to switch between two miles and two-and-a-half, but with the ultimate goal for the speedy hurdlers being the Champion Hurdle then he's destined for that contest, and it's hard to not see him go close.

2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup

We were treated to a vintage performance from A Plus Tard in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and it's no surprise to see the Henry De Bromhead-trained raider installed as the 9/2 market leader for the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup, but we could be set for another epic renewal of the blue riband event, as there's a host of emerging stars potentially lining up.

Second in the betting is the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs (5/1), who was roaring away with the Turners Novices' Chase before a final fence fall saw his Grade 1 dreams crash to the ground, and he looks a real monster talent over fences, and has to come into consideration. Brown Advisory hero L'Homme Presse produced a fine display to win that 3m Grade 1 event, and the Venetia Williams-trained star is 16/1 to claim glory, while Bravemansgame, who didn't line up in that contest, is another top notch novice set to venture on the Gold Cup trail next season.

However, one that could've slipped under the radar is STATTLER, who was a classy winner of the National Hunt Chase on day one of the festival, and the Mullins-trained raider is as big as 20/1 to claim Gold Cup glory next year. Cruising clear of the classy Run Wild Fred, Stattler oozed class on only his third chasing start, and he's sure to improve as next season progresses. A proven stayer, he wasn't forced to quicken in the National Hunt Chase, so it's unknown whether he will have that turn of pace to land a Gold Cup. An out-an-out galloper, he could be a similar type to Native River, who used the National Hunt Chase as a springboard to Gold Cup glory, as his relentless gallop can push others out of their comfort zone, and he looks the value play in the market.