With the New Year’s racing action starved by the cold snap in Britain, punters are beginning to cast their eyes towards antepost betting for the year ahead.

After witnessing some mightily impressive performances at the back end of 2009 and with the Cheltenham Festival and the eagerly anticipated Flat Season fast approaching, Nick Wilby picks out his top antepost tip for 2010 Cheltenham Festival.

PUNCHESTOWNS  

RSA Novices Chase
3m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2010
4/1 (Paddy Power)

After cruising home by eleven lengths in the 2008 Long Walk Hurdle, Punchestowns finished second behind Paul Nicholls’ superstar Big Buck’s in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and chasing immediately became the new target for this impressive looking seven-year-old.

An exciting addition to the division, he made a winning debut over the fences at Newbury in November, jumping foot perfectly before landing the Grade 2 by open lengths and without coming off the bit.  Cut for the RSA as soon as he crossed the line, it was obvious Nicky Henderson’s star would be a huge player at the 2010 Festival.

Bred and expected to continue to go from strength-to-strength with more racecourse experience, Punchestowns already travels and jumps like a dream and he is a superstar chaser waiting to happen.

He is already a relatively short price for the RSA Chase and while he will not want the ground too soft at Cheltenham and with stablemate Long Run almost certain to line up and provide a stern test for the selection, he already makes plenty of appeal.  It´s hard to argue that come March, if all is well with him, he´s going to be awfully tough to beat, and he could be something very special.

Nick Wilby's advice - Back Punchestowns for the RSA Novice Chase at 4/1 with Paddy Power.

Follow this link to Paddy Power for information on how to get a free bet on any of their 2010 antepost markets.