He started the week with a visit to Jonjo O'Neill's state-of-the-art training facility, Jackdaws Castle, and now Talksport presenter Alan Brazil is ready to leap into all of the Cheltenham Festival action, with a spot in the main grandstand on the winning line with Coral.
Ahead of the jump racing action, starting on Tuesday 14 and culminating in the Gold Cup on Friday 17 March 2023, Brazil spoke to bookmakers AceOdds to share his top tips for Race Week this year.
'For the Gold Cup, I think Galopin Des Champs. But I've also had a bet on Protektorat each way. They tell me since Dan Skelton has had him, that they feel they've improved the horse immensely by a few lengths,' Brazil said on who he's putting a punt on this year.
'So if he was to jump round as well, then I think he'd be a good each way bet. I believe he's come down from 20/1, down to 12/1 or 14/1, so he might be a squeak each way.'
He goes on: 'For the Triumph Hurdle on Friday, I'm a big fan of Lossiemouth from the Mullins yard. I'm [also] looking forward to watching Shishkin. I fancy Jonbon on the Tuesday. The Tuesday is a great day's race – it's fantastic. I'm going to back Jonbon in the Arkle Chase.'
Who will Brazil be keeping his eye on this year? 'There's a lovely sprinter I would definitely say to people [to] keep an eye on – his name is Manaccan. I think he was a top-rated three-year-old sprinter last year. He's now back in work and he's doing a little bit faster work. He's a beautiful horse, he gives his all every time. I think he's won over £100,000 in prize money so far. He's a lovely, lovely horse.'
And his final tip: 'I think one of my best bets of the whole meeting will be the Wednesday: Edwardstone [running in the Champion Chase].'
Brazil also reveals that, while he's in Cheltenham for Race Week, he always stays at the 'wonderful' Lygon Arms in Broadway, which he describes as 'one of the most picturesque and beautiful villages in the whole of England'.
For more Cheltenham Festival tips and Race Week inspiration, visit SoGlos's special Cheltenham Festival section.
