Lucky Luke’s 24/1 Cheltenham Acca

We are now just a matter of days from the Cheltenham Festival and if you weren’t already excited by the prospect of four days of top-flight jumps racing, then we’re going to whet your appetite.

Our resident racing fan, Lucky Luke has been on hand for the last few weeks with his Cheltenham Notebook, but with the action just a few days away, he’s swapped the notepad for a betting slip and highlighted some of his main fancies for the big meeting.

With four selections on his card, here’s a 24/1 four-fold that could have you licking your lips come Cheltenham.

Lalor @ 7/2 (Arkle)

The story behind Lalor is enough for you to fall in love with this horse. His trainer Richard Wollacott sadly took his own life early last year and never saw Lalor reach the heights of winning a Grade One at Aintree. Something Richard always promised he would be able to achieve. Instead, his widow Kayley now trains Lalor and has taken over the reins in real style to line him up as one of the market leaders for the Arkle.

First time out over fences, he took on Cheltenham like a seasoned pro to score in an Arkle trial by an impressive seven lengths. It’s a performance that I have been unable to get out of my head all season, and even though he disappointed slightly at Doncaster last time, I’m still keeping the faith.

There were excuses that day and given he normally goes well when fresh, this could be the perfect opportunity for him to strike at the very highest level.

Altior @ 2/5 (Champion Chase)

Altior has quite simply got everybody running scared of him in the two-mile division this season, meaning this is his to lose. A win over Un De Sceaux at Sandown, on conditions he didn’t like, has proved his credentials this campaign, and he hasn’t stopped winning since.

He’s quickly become a superstar of the sport and is arguably the best National Hunt horse in training.

Min will pose a threat if he does turn up, but he had a great chance as they jumped the last together in 2018, yet Altior still powered away up the Cheltenham hill. It appears only Altior can stop himself from winning.

Tiger Roll @ EVS (Cross Country)

If there was a fan favourite heading to Cheltenham this year, it would most definitely be Tiger Roll. After winning the Cross Country at the Festival last March, he went on to be a well-supported winner of the Grand National at Aintree, and I for one, was well on the bandwagon after backing him in both.

“Tiger Roll’s for everybody” was the shout from the stands and they could be echoed around Prestbury Park again, with the three-time Festival winner lined up to make it a fourth. A supposed blow-out at Navan last time resulted in victory, and if trainer Gordon Elliot reckoned he was only 70% fit for that, I can’t wait to see the horse that could rock up this week.

Benie Des Dieux @ 10/11

Jockey Ruby Walsh knows more about winning at Cheltenham than anybody else in the saddle, and he certainly knows what it takes for a horse to be first past the post there.

He has highlighted in the build-up to Cheltenham that Benie Des Dieux is his best chance of a winner at the entire meeting. Despite having likely rides on big names such as Min and Footpad, the fact he goes for the mare should be a tip in itself.

She hasn’t been seen this season, but she’s unbeaten in five starts since moving to Willie Mullins, and you’d be a brave punter to go backing against the deadly Cheltenham combination of Mullins and Walsh.

A £10 stake on this four-fold at Betfred would return £240.54