NEVER before has the Cheltenham ante-post accumulator been more popular among punters and you only had to look at social media last week to see the windfall amounts that can be won.

Of course this lottery-type punt should be treated as such, but it’s good fun to do and with no less than 17 races already priced up for 2023, we’re not short of options. Here is my attempt:

Jonbon

Arkle - 10/1

Jonbon was put in his place by stablemate Constitution Hill but his chance surely wasn’t enhanced by being sent up to push an already red-hot pace set by Dysart Dynamo in the Supreme.

He still beat the remainder easily and may well fulfil his major potential next year over fences. His full brother Douvan did exactly that, and arguably Jonbon ran to a similar standard as he did when he won the Supreme. The J.P. McManus-owned chaser can take a similar line, and he’ll be much better next year when he may calm down a little prior to his races.

Ahoy Senor

Gold Cup - 20/1

“That’s made a man of him today,” said Lucinda Russell reflecting on Ahoy Senor’s effort to finish second to L’homme Presse in the Brown Advisory. The winner was most impressive but going forward, Ahoy Senor looks ready-made for a Gold Cup test, not least if he can improve his jumping, which he has every chance to given the practice he has attained this year.

His place chances looked to have ended when he made a terrible error at the third last yet he fought his way back into contention and pushed L’homme Presse all the way to the line. The extra two and a half furlongs of a Gold Cup will be fine and connections have every right to dream with him.

Love Envoi

Mares’ Hurdle - 10/1

The Mares’ Hurdle is a good option for punters this far out given it is an obvious target for the main protagonists. Love Envoi makes lots of appeal after her rock-solid performance to win the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

She hit the front plenty early enough when turning in but that seemed like a big show in confidence from her rider Johnny Burke and, really, she never looked like getting beaten. She is already a Grade 2 winner over the Mares’ Hurdle distance of two and a half miles and connections can revolve her whole campaign around a return to Cheltenham in 12 months’ time.

Edwardstone

Champion Chase - 12/1

Arkle winners have an excellent record in the following season’s Champion Chase and Edwardstone looks underrated after last week. He was badly impeded early on in the race, and again as he jumped to the front at the second last, yet it didn’t stop him quickening away up the hill for a comprehensive win.

Energumene is the one to beat in the division but everything fell lovely for him with the ground last week, and who knows what route Shishkin will take next year.

The Nice Guy

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase - 10/1

You could say The Nice Guy was a forgotten horse going into the Albert Bartlett but there wasn’t much to remember, because he’d only ran just the once at Naas. That made his Cheltenham performance all the more remarkable because he ran out a most authoritative winner from his Grade 1-winning stablemate Minella Cocooner.

He was reportedly bought for chasing so the Brown Advisory is an obvious target and he has a very unexposed profile, much like recent Albert Bartlett winners Monkfish and Minella Indo had.