Sports Blog 05/03/2015: Horse Racing Preview – Cheltenham Festival, Tuesday 10th to Friday 13th March 2015

Next week sees the Cheltenham Festival, second only to the Grand National in terms of prize money, and one of the most extensive racing periods of the year.

Spreadex is now ‘non-runner, no bet’ on all our Antepost prices; meaning you can bet on all the races in advance, and if your horse doesn’t run, it doesn’t cost you a penny! With this in mind we turn our eyes to the four feature races of the festival; in all, each way betting is offered at 1/4 odds for the first 3 places. 

First up on Tuesday 11^th March at 3.20pm is the Stan James Champion Hurdle. Trained by Willie Mullin, and winner of the Ascot Hurdle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, Faugheen is favourite to win at 6/5. Last year’s third The New One is a big favourite with our clients at 3/1 after an unconvincing win at the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock; last year’s winner Jezki follows at 4/1. Hurricane Fly is at 8/1 as he tries to recapture the title he won in 2013, whilst Arctic Fire is at 14/1 and is loved by our clients due to the association with Willie Mullins. Kitten Rock, at 25/1, is ridden by Noel Fehily, who won the hurdle in 2012 with Rock On Ruby, with the race rounded out by the Nicky Henderson-trained Vaniteux at 33/1 alongside the Dan Skelton-trained Bertimont at 80/1.

Wednesday then sees the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at 3.20pm; the 2013 winner Sprinter Sacre is favourite for traders and clients alike at 5/2, despite missing the Tingle Creek Trophy and coming second in the Clarence House Chase. Next is last year’s winner Sire De Grugy at 3/1, who was out of action until mid-February through injury. Dodging Bullets, 4^th in last year’s Arkle, is at 9/2 after winning the Tingle Creek at Sandown and besting Sprinter Sacre at the Clarence House Chase. Champagne Fever, who won the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park in mid-February, is at 5/1, and a magnet for bets in the run up to the Chase; Mr Mole, who overcame Sire De Grugy to win the Betfair Price Rush Chase, is at 8/1. Rounding out the top 6 is Balder Succes at 14/1 after winning the Ascot Chase in mid-February.

Things hot up on Thursday, with the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at 3.20pm. Despite being unseen this season through injury, Annie Power remains favourite for the race at 7/2 with a lot of money behind her so far; this is followed by Saphir Du Rheu, back to the hurdles after slipping out of the chase campaign this season, at 9/2. Also at 9/2 is Zarkander, ridden by Noel Fehily and a client favourite, who is surprisingly not riding Rock On Ruby, the latter horse at 15/2 after its first hurdle win in 22 months at the Relkeel.  The winner of the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown, Lieutenant Colonel, is at 9/1, whilst the winner of last year’s Coral Cup and this season’s Liverpool Hurdle, Whisper, is at 11/1. Completing the top 8 are Un Temps Pour Tout, at 11/1 after coming third in the Cleeve Hurdle, and Monksland, at 12/1 after narrowly losing out to Dedigout in a photo finish at the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle.

It’s then the big one on Friday, as the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup takes place at 3.20pm. Unsurprisingly the horse of the moment, and last year’s favourite, is leading the odds; Silvaniaco Conti is at 3/1 after winning the Betfair Chase in November and the King George VI Chase in December. Conti disappointingly came 4th in last year’s race, but ridden by Noel Fehily, has all the form going into the Cup on Friday.

Following Conti at 8/1 is Many Clouds, the winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup; next is Road To Riches, winner of the Lexus Chase over Christmas at 17/2. The Ivan Straker Memorial Chase champion Holywell is at 9/1, closed followed by Djakadam at 10/1 after a first place finish in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park sees the horse a big favourite of our clients. Two time Gold Cup winning jockey Tony McCoy sees his last race on Friday, and will be hoping to end on a high as he rides the 10/1 Carlingford Lough, the winner of the 2015 Irish Hennessy Gold Cup. The remaining members of the top 8 are the youngster Coneygree, at 11/1 after winning all of his three steeplechase starts, and last year’s winner Lord Windermere, at 12/1.

Make sure to check out all of Spreadex’s betting offers ahead and during the festival here: https://sports.spreadex.com/en-GB/spread-betting/Horse-Racing/Cheltenham-NRNB/All/p262359