EXCLUSIVE: Raceday TV presenter Frankie Foster knows Cheltenham inside out after growing up attending the racecourse – and the host has given his expert opinion on the festival’s biggest races
Frankie Foster has made a big name for himself in the racing world thanks to his work on Raceday TV and the former Love Islander’s love for the sport started at Cheltenham years before.
Born in Cheltenham, Frankie grew up attending meetings at Prestbury Park and will be returning home to cover the festival on social media. Looking forward to the week ahead, Frankie spoke exclusively to the Daily Star Sport about which horses he’s backing.
The Gold Cup field has been reshaped dramatically in the build-up with Fact To File heading to the Ryaniar Chase on Thursday and Galopin Des Champs missing the rest of the season – two horses Frankie backed for huge runs in the race, but he still remains sure on Fact To File’s chances.
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“I think Fact To File will probably win whatever race he runs in,” Frankie said. The Willie Mullins-trained horse is a clear odds-on favourite to defend his Ryanair crown.
In the Champion Chase, Majborough has been backed into odds-on to win after Marine Nationale was pulled from the festival, and Frankie stated he can’t see a horse better than the JP McManus and Willie Mullins six-year-old.
“I think Majborough will win. The next best bet would be Il Etait Temps but he can throw in a bad jump and has done at Cheltenham before as well.
“I think Majborough will win, I think he’s league above – I think he could win a Gold Cup next year. I know he’s running in the Champion Chase running over two miles but he could step up in trip.”
Frankie also looked at the Champion Hurdle market that has been thrown up in the air following Sir Gino’s injury and Nicky Henderson and Michael Buckley’s decision to take Constitution Hill onto the flat.
“I’m not going to say it’s a shame he’s not running as it’s the right decision,” Frankie said about the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner heading towards a Flat campaign. It’s actually great that he’s going to parade and then he’ll be onto a Flat campaign which would be brilliant because I’m sure he’ll have followers wherever and whatever race he runs. It’s really going to add to a couple of Flat fixtures this season.
“I will be with Brighterdaysahead in the Champion Hurdle. I know she has been beaten twice at Cheltenham, one of which was by Golden Ace. I am not convinced that The New Lion is quite Champion Hurdle level and I just can’t see Golden Ace doing it again.
“She (Brighterdaysahead) is the best two miler in the race and just has to put it together at Cheltenham. I’m kind of relying on a little bit of a turn of form for Gordon Elliott this year in doing that.
“Things didn’t really fall right for him last year and they have this year. Sometimes you just need that little bit of luck and things to be going the right way.”
Frankie Foster’s Cheltenham Festival tips and ones to watch (some horses still yet to be declared):
Ryanair Chase: Fact To File (8/13)
Champion Chase: Majborough (5/6)
Champion Hurdle: Brighterdaysahead (5/1)
Ultima Handicap Chase: Handstands (11/1)
Turners Novices Hurdle: Ill Sort That (18/1)
Mares Hurdle: Take No Chances (9/1)
Pertemps Network Final: Staffordshire Knot (16/1)
Kim Muir Challenge Cup: Kim Roque (10/1)
Triumph Hurdle: Selma de Vary (9/2 – NAP)
County Hurdle: Roc Dino (14/1)
Mares Chase: Only By Night (8/1)
You can follow Frankie Foster on @raceday.tv all week at the Cheltenham Festival