With the Cheltenham Festival having been and gone for another year, the last episode of Upping The Ante has actually sneaked around again.

It's fair to recommend this campaign has been an excellent one, with the addition of Johnny Dineen showing a major hit as the foil for David Jennings on the Cheltenham Festival preview show.

On their last show of the season, the lads discuss their takeaways from the Cheltenham Festival, analyse their punting efficiencies and are even all set with a number of early choices for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.

Watch the last episode of Upping The Ante in association with bet365 through the link above or read listed below for some of the very best bits from this week's show.

Lessons learned from Cheltenham 2023

Johnny Dineen was footing 'Questions from the Crowd' for the final time in his first season on Upping The Ante and, not surprisingly, among those centred on lessons gained from Cheltenham 2023.

DJ yielded he's going to be more open minded in the future.

"You form a viewpoint on horses and, because of this show, you have an opinion months beforehand" said the Racing Post Ireland's deputy editor.

"Just say, Ashdale Bob in the Stayers' Hurdle. I 'd put him up at a huge cost, believing at Christmas he was second behind Home By The Lee and it might be a weak Stayers' Hurdle.

"Come the day, the horse had no opportunity. It was an actually strong Stayers' in the end, despite the fact that Sire Du Berlais won it.

"If you form a viewpoint [early in the season], its ok to alter your mind on the day. You almost feel guilty if you have actually tipped a horse on a sneak peek night or on Upping The Ante. I 'd say that to audiences, do not be afraid to change your mind if the skin tone of the race modifications - do not be so devoted!"

After confessing to regrets over siding with Blood Destiny in the Triumph Hurdle, Johnny detailed what he would be eliminating from the meeting this year, as a punter.

"The fitness instructors that have actually shown they can do the organization are the one not to be writing off," he began.

"The similarity Paul Nicholls returning with 2 winners. That was a big accomplishment in my eyes with [the group] he had going there. His horses were knocking on the door all week.

"He didn't have a big squad and he didn't have a strong team, however he handled to pull 2 winners."

With Blood Destiny still quite on his mind, Johnny's 2nd Festival takeaway is one many punters might be adhering to in the future.

"If you have a horse coming to this conference that has got soft leads, and they are not guaranteed to get them here - and you're practically guaranteed not to get a soft lead in any race here - they've no chance.

"The likes of Hermes Allen, Editeur Du Gite was another one that got plagued this time, and Blood Destiny was a timeless example of it. If horses have type with soft leads, they are not going to perform [here]"

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Star performance divides the team

Johnny's Performance of the Week was of course centred on what unfolded in the Cotswolds.

He had Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs, now 6/4 to keep that crown in 2024, at number 3.

"He didn't jump in addition to he carried out in other races. Even entering the race [late on] he was banging fences. The very first time I believed he 'd win was turning in - it was all over when he returned on bridle.

"Bravemansgame was plainly the second-best horse in it but I 'd state it's doubtful he'll ever win a Gold Cup - even if Galopin Des Champs wasn't in it."

Though he was willing to handle the fantastic mare before her goodbye win, Johnny acquiesced Honeysuckle in 2nd area, crediting her with a 'fierce effort' in signing off her profession with a satisfying win.

Top spot across the 4 days went to Impaire Et Passe in the Ballymore, with Johnny remonstrating that everybody was 'expecting' what Constitution Hill delivered in the Champion Hurdle: "It was absolutely nothing unusual for Constitution Hill, that's all I'm saying. He's a dazzling horse, the best to run at the meeting I 'd say."

DJ countered that he had actually 'never seen anything turn up the hill quite like Constitution Hill'.

"He was still quickening, even when [Nico de Boinville] wasn't even asking him to speed up. I thought it was amazing."

Johnny, however, made the case for the Ballymore winner as one for the future with the Willie Mullins inmate now 6/1 to win the Champion Hurdle in 2024.

"Impaire Et Passe is getting here as a leading, top horse," he said. "I think it was a wonderful effort and you could see him returning for a Champion Hurdle if Constitution Hill wasn't there.

"I do not think any horse next year can beat Constitution Hill. Every horse next season will be deciding their targets based upon whether he goes going after or stays over hurdles."

Festival hopefuls for 2024

Their portfolios for 2023 may not have lived up to expectations however, as has ended up being tradition on Upping The Ante, the 2 pundits completed the series by putting forward an early selection for next March.

Johnny Dineen supplied some worth in his 'two-for-one' offering.

"I'll offer you two quick ones. I'm going to go Jonbon for the Ryanair. He stayed well [in the Arkle] and he looks to me as though two-miles is too brief for him now. The Ryanair is wide open for a newcomer.

"I think he should have won this race this year and I believe it's a department that there's not a lot in it. He's just 7 next season and I believe he's a bit of value in there."

Jonbon is 8/1 for the Ryanair in 2024 and Johnny's second choice was 12/1 Teahupoo in the 2024 Stayers' Hurdle.

DJ on the other hand puts forward 16/1 Ballyburn for next year's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

He stated: "I believe he's Willie Mullins' best bumper horse and I like the reality they've minded him [with an eye] on next season. We'll most likely see him at Punchestown.