Medermit to be this year’s Cheltenham Festival banker
Published:Although Quevega, Big Buck’s, Cue Card and Time For Rupert may be the shortest-priced horses in the Cheltenham betting, it may pay to consider Medermit as the Festival banker.
Medermit is 3/1 in the Arkle Chase betting and has shown all of the qualities that are considered beneficial in the two-mile contest.
In what is widely regarded as a weak renewal of the Grade One showdown, Medermit was particularly sure-footed in his jumping when triumphing in the Scilly Isles Chase on his latest start at Sandown last month, with his clear round impressing numerous spectators.
Meanwhile, the fact that he possesses both speed and stamina could be vital if he is to defeat a field that includes Ghizao, Finian’s Rainbow and Captain Chris as his leading challengers.
The big two question marks hanging over the head of Medermit are that he has never won at Cheltenham and favourites have only won two of the last 18 runnings of the race.
However, luck has not been particularly kind to Medermit in the past at Cheltenham, particularly when he was hampered jumping the final flight when chasing home Go Native in the 2009 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The big positives for Medermit are that he is widely considered the most solid and flawless horse in the race, while he was easily the best of the runners over hurdles.
Ten of the last 11 Arkle Chase winners had a rating of 142 or greater over hurdles, while half of the last ten winners were the highest-rated over hurdles in the year they won.
With Starluck ruled out of the Arkle, Medermit is easily the highest-rated hurdler in this year’s line-up with a mark of 158, with the next best being Rock Noir at 150.
A £25 stake on Rock Noir winning the Irish Independent Arkle Chase would return £350. New customers can sign up here for a free £25 bet.
