Cheltenham Tips: David Casey’s Cheltenham Lucky 15 Tips + Closutton…

With the countdown to the Cheltenham Festival well and truly underway, Willie Mullins assistant trainer David Casey has revealed why he’s not sweating the pressure of Cheltenham week at all.

Casey also gave us behind-the-scenes insight into how preparations are going at Closutton for the Willie Mullins team, which horse he expects to be the stand-out performer plus a Cheltenham Festival Lucky 15.

“A Piece of P*ss” – David Casey Not Stressing Cheltenham Week

I can’t wait. Sure it’s what we are building up to all season, it all starts way too early though.

I have no idea why the build up starts so early and I am kind of bored of it now to be honest. It’s been in our ear for so long.

For us, the next three weeks are nearly the most important of the season. People always say to me “Oh Cheltenham week must be brutal” but actually, the hard work is done, the racing week is a piece of p*ss, they either win or they get beat.

The week before, ten days before, that is when it is busy and flat out and the pressure is really on.

Obviously we are happy with how things are. Everything that wins for the last six months though, they are often talked about going to Cheltenham and, obviously, not all of them will make it there.

A lot of it is done on form obviously, and sometimes the owners buy the horses and if they win a maiden well enough then they can go.

Not them all though, even the bumper horses that won last week, Copacabana, he wouldn’t strike you as a Cheltenham horse at all but he’s off there next month.

Cheltenham Preparations At Closutton For The Willie Mullins Team

Touch wood, everything is all in good order at Closutton but it’s really about now when we start turning the screw but, touch wood, things are great.

A lot of the horses that ran at the Dublin Racing Festival, they have been having an easy enough time of it since then so their build-up and last fitness push will be happening over the next couple of days.

This Horse Will Be The Cheltenham Festival Stand Out From The Mullins Yard

I’d say, looking at the race as it stands – Majborough in the Arkle is really going to stand out. I think the race is made for him, he has been very impressive with his two runs, he was only ever going to improve.

The fact Sir Gino isn’t in there obviously helps him, of course that is very disappointing for racing that he isn’t, but it does open up the race a little bit. I think he jumps really well, has a lot of class and stamina.

Kopek Des Bordes is another. Look, we were expecting him to win, but not the way that he did, not like that at Leopardstown so that is very exciting.

Also, horses like Kiss Will , who won their maiden, are in a very strong race this year but is a very good horse in his own right. Maybe not good enough to win in three weeks time, but give a good account of themselves.

Cheltenham Tips

The British Novice Runners Are Especially Strong This Year

Some of the British novices are especially strong, The New Lion and Potter’s Charm especially. If Sir Gino was in as well then it would have been really, really strong.

Champion Hurdle Tip

Look, he [ Constitution Hill ] is the best horse in the race, he would be my choice in the race but all the pointers are that Brighterdaysahead will go there, then you have Lossiemouth and State Man as well but from what I have seen so far, I'll be sticking my neck out for Constitution Hill.

Constitution Hill to win the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle – 4/7

Bet Here

How Paul Townend Is Still Learning With Cheltenham Gold Cup Star Galopin Des Champs

I think, especially on the days Galopin Des Champs has gotten beat, he has been competitive. He was brilliant last time out, and Paul [Townend, jockey] is still learning with him as well.

Paul felt at Christmas he was a bit too hard on him and pushed him a bit too much, so gave him a more canny ride at the DRF in front and then used him from the turn-in, not to give him too hard a race.