Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Sizing John value to upset Gold Cup favourites March 16, 2017 EVEN without injured star novice Thistlecrack, this afternoon’s Timico Gold Cup (3.30pm) promises to be a mouth-watering contest, with the likes of Cue Card, Native River and Djakadam all standing their ground. It’s easy to make a case for any one of the three who are hard to separate at the top of the market. [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Dandridge can Rock The World in Grand Annual March 16, 2017 IF YOU are still searching for a winner when they are lining up for the Grand Annual (5.30pm), just remember that it isn’t over until the fat lady sings. This is the traditional ‘get out of jail stakes’, although it’s one of the hardest races of the week to try to break free – six [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Yorkhill can prove a class apart for Mullins and Walsh March 15, 2017 WE HAVE become accustomed to Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh dominating the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. Although that didn’t happen this year, they also don’t have a bad record on the Thursday. They won three races 12 months ago, including the opening JLT Novices’ Chase (1.30pm), and I expect them to take today’s [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Put your faith in Hobbs and Johnson For Good Measure March 15, 2017 FINDING the winner of the 24-runner Pertemps Final (2.10pm) is yet another impossible task, especially with my original fancy Presenting Percy having been clobbered by the handicapper. He represents last year’s winning owner/trainer/jockey combination and I still wouldn’t be surprised if he goes very close, although at as short as 6/1 in a place, the [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Empire to strike back in the Ryanair Chase March 15, 2017 THIS time last week there was still genuine talk of a soft ground Cheltenham Festival. Now there is every chance that clerk of the course Simon Claisse will be forced to water this evening – ahead of Gold Cup day tomorrow – if no rain materialises. That is bad news for fans of Ryanair Chase [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Venetia looks all set for the last Tango in Cheltenham March 15, 2017 GORDON Elliott has had a remarkable season. He is set to win his first Irish trainer’s title and is also on course to be crowned leading trainer at this year’s Festival. Undoubtedly one of his leading fancies this time is Diamond King in this afternoon’s Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Plate (4.10pm). The nine-year-old was a [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Cole Harden and Ballyoptic value alternatives if Unowhatimean March 15, 2017 LIKE Thistlecrack in this very race 12 months ago, it is very hard to oppose favourite Unowhatimeanharry in this afternoon’s Stayers Hurdle (3.30pm). Harry Fry’s nine-year-old continues to improve with every start and has added three decent victories this campaign to his Albert Bartlett victory at this meeting last season. All of those wins have [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Time to get on the Bacardys March 15, 2017 THERE is a tremendous sense of déjà vu when it comes to the running of this year’s Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle (1.30pm). This time last year a well-fancied English-trained runner was a warm order for the opening contest of the second day, with a Willie Mullins-trained second favourite lurking in the shadows. As the ground [...]
Cheltenham Festival Tips: Alpha can pay for Vacation in RSA Chase March 15, 2017 THERE isn’t a race I look forward to more at the Cheltenham Festival than the RSA Chase (2.10pm). Not only do you need to find a novice that can both jump and stay the trip, you have to find one with mental toughness and bravery. The history book tells us that the best horse doesn’t [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Go with old timers Bless The Wings and Any Currency March 15, 2017 MARMITE is probably the most accurate description for this afternoon’s Cross Country Chase (4.10pm) – you either love it or hate it. Horses are no different, it would seem. Some simply never take to this unique course, whilst others come back time after time and perform well. Cantlow has been a hot favourite for this [...]
