Runner-up Willie Mullins will now be trailing 7-1 after an impressive win

The 2022 Cheltenham Festival is fast approaching and we are starting to find out how the market for the summit races can shake.

Some feel like the unappealing wager offers already – anyone want to take part in the high-stakes favorite Honeysuckle competition in Champion Hurdle?

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That said, there’s a lot of value to be found elsewhere and it’s time to start properly filling out portfolios before signing up.

There will be fights and misses, with important meetings coming up with carnival and almost inevitable trauma to face.

But all is well, we’ll start the festival off with a few good pre-card slots.

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL ANTE-POST PORTFOLIO

Allegorie De Vassy
Mares ‘Novices’ Hurdle
7/1 with Bet365

1pt wins

Up until Telmesomethinggirl’s win in this race last year, Willie Mullins had won all five previous runs and I fully expect his lap to be re-established this year.

Mullins has five out of six betting leads this year, with Statuaire, Brandy Love, Dinoblue and Grangee all having stellar cases.

However, I think 7/1 about Allegorie De Vassy too good to pass up at this point, especially after she prepares for her Irish debut at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day.

She finished close third behind two decent mares at Auteuil in her final start in France before joining the Mullins, but seems to have taken a huge leap since.

She easily left runner-up Monishter. Are Mwee is back home – form looks solid given that runner-up’s defeat to then wide ranger Guilly Billy at Clonmel in October.

She’s a massive mare that looks like she still has a few gears left to hit as she clears out in the endgame to win in 11 lengths.

The obvious question is whether she can get the best out of her cage – I think she will.

With Statuaire needing to take a penalty at Cheltenham for her Royal Bond win and Brandy Love looking more like a stay-in, I like Allegorie De Vassy’s chances on these terms.

It’s worth keeping in mind that she’ll have to take a penalty herself if she wins a race like the Class 3 Solerina Hurdle at Fairyhouse later this month.

Time will tell where she goes next but I think she can be at least half this price by March.

Bets consulted

Shishkin (Queen Mother Champion Chase) 11/10
Honeysuckle (Hurdle Champion) 4/5
Galopin Des Champs (Festival for newbies ‘chasing’) 7/4
1pt treble with combined odds of 8/1 with Paddy Power

Mr. Gerhard (The Rush of the Supreme Beginners)
Win 1pt at 5/1 with Paddy Power

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