Cheltenham Gold Cup 2017 Preview

The climactic race of the Cheltenham Festival, the Cheltenham Gold Cup meets on 17th March 2017. This prestigious event contests the best of the best in steeplechasing and is one of the most lucrative events in the British calendar, second only to the Grand National for its purse. Past winners of the Gold Cup have included the legendary Desert Orchid, Best Mate, Denman and Arkle. In 2016 Gordon Elliot’s Cheltenham first-timer, Don Cossack (ridden by Bryan Cooper) was added to that list with a thrilling win, coming home 4 ½ lengths ahead of Willie Mullins’ Djakadam. Here’s a look at some early tips and 10-year trends for the 2017 meet.

Tips

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Colin Tizzard’s 2016 World Hurdle winner Thistlecrack (odds currently 7/4). A novice in the Gold Cup, he’ll be facing more established chasers and has to overcome a tougher course. He’s tipped to be an early favourite, though, and is likely to go with a clear round.

Another Colin Tizzard ride, Cue Card (currently 7/1) arguably had a better chance last year. Although he’s been in good form following an operation, winning the Betfred Bowl at Aintree and the Betfair Chase at Haydock, he was beaten again by his stablemate at Kempton.
Interest is mounting in Henry de Bromhead’s outsider Champagne West (20/1) following his move from former trainer Phillip Hobbs. A progressive type, the gelding has won two out of three races: Tramore on New Year’s Day, and the Theystes Chase at Gowran Park where he ran away with the win despite a heavy 12lb handicap.

Novice and experienced punters alike would do well to stay informed on how the races are going to play out before placing any bets, and check back nearer to the race for my winning tips.

Trends

Although not an exact science, it’s always worth taking a brief look at 10-year trends for the race.

Trainers

• Willie Mullins has become a dominant name at the Cheltenham Festival during the past decade, but is yet to win the Gold Cup despite having horses finishing runner up on 6 occasions including the past four years. 

• Former Gold Cup winner Paul Nicholls has had horses win or place runner up from 2007 to 2011, but 2016 was the first time he didn’t have a runner in the event since 2004. 

• With an impressive 53 Festival winners in his stable, Nicky Henderson has won the Gold Cup twice in the last 10 years but this year doesn’t have any stand out runners. 

• Nicky Henderson has won the Gold Cup twice in the last six years but does not appear to have an obvious candidate for 2017.

Jockeys


• Davy Russell’s 2014 ride Lord Windermere was the biggest priced winner of the Gold Cup since 1988.

• Despite only riding twice in the Gold Cup, Bryan Cooper rewarded each-way bets on both occasions (winning on Don Cossack in ’16 and finishing third on Road to Riches in 2015)

• Champion Jockey Richard Johnson has only ridden twice in the Gold Cup in the last ten years, finishing sixth in 2013 on Captain Chris and fourth on Monkerhostin in 2007

How Punters Crushed Bookies in the 2016 Cheltenham Festival

The most anticipated horse racing event of 2016, the Cheltenham Festival is one that will be fondly remembered by punters for many years to come. On one hand, the competition was among the best horses and their jockeys, on the other, bookmakers were counting on for lucrative days. To say that they were wrong would be the understatement of the week, as the horse racing event was a financial disaster.

The house rarely loses, but when most of the favorites win and punters back them massively, the costs are staggering. It is estimated that around 60 million pounds were lost by UK bookmakers, which will definitely eat in their profit margins for the entire 2016. The Cheltenham Festival is a breath of fresh air for the punters, who are expected to return in greater numbers next year. Meanwhile, UK punters have a plethora of licensed online sports books to bet on horse racing, as these gambling operators become a mainstream in the kingdom.

A Promising Cheltenham Festival Start

Veteran horse racing punters don’t wait for the Cheltenham Festival to cast their bets, but wager on a daily basis. Bookmakers are happy to take their business, but they know that these are not the ones that will fill their coffers at the end of the year. While savvy punters are marginal winners or losers, the house cashes in on the naivety and enthusiasm of casual players.

This year wasn’t supposed to be any different, but three winning favorites set the bookies back on Tuesday. Things went from bad to worse the very next day and didn’t improve much on Thursday, so the online sports books were counting on Friday to save the week. Ivanovich Gorbatov and Superb Story won and Don Cossack crushed competitors in the Gold Cup, winning a small fortune for those who backed him. His performance wrapped up one of the most expensive Cheltenham Festivals for the bookmakers.

A Fighting Chance for Amateur Punters

The Cheltenham Festival 2016 results bolster the morale of wannabe punters, who are expected to return next year in greater numbers. Bookmakers hope that in the long run, the losses suffered on this occasion will be completely offset and their profit margin will be restored.

The silver lining is that the popularity of horse racing is on the rise and profitable bets are just some of the catalysts for this group. People who have never had an interest in horse races before are more open to the idea, due to the accessibility of betting on the go using a mobile device. Licensed regulated bookies project an image of trustworthiness, as they always pay the winners on time and in full.

Want to learn more about Punters and Bookies? Visit onlinecasinoreports.com and get the latest updates and news.

Cheltenham Festival 2016 Outsiders

This year’s Cheltenham Festival promises to be one of the most competitive in history, as the 27 races that make up the four day event are battled out by over 500 horses, all competing to claim a share of the record £3.4 million in prize money. With only the Grand National able to compete with such figures in the jump racing calendar, it provides trainers with the perfect opportunity to gain exposure if they can pull of an upset on such a high profile stage. Also looking to get in on the act will be the general public, with both the hundreds of thousands at the event itself, and the millions watching at home, all frantically scanning the form guides and odds to find a good return on their investments. So which are the horses to keep an eye out for when they gather in the West Country in just a matter of weeks?

With historic races such as the Champion Hurdle, World Hurdle and of course the Gold Cup taking centre stage throughout the event, there is certainly ample opportunity to acquire big returns on bets this year. Whilst Barters Hill is currently seen as the 5/2 strong favourite by bookmaker Coral for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, the rest of the field definitely provide some potential outsiders to back. The likes of Shantou Village and Yorkhill at 6/1 and 8/1 respectively, certainly look like being worth a punt, in what is building up to be a highly unpredictable race. For those of you who are unable to attend the circuit itself, betting on Cheltenham online instead can prove to be just as lucrative.

With Faugheen being ruled out for the rest of the season and subsequently missing this year’s Champion Hurdle, Annie Power is now the new favourite for the prestigious race. However, the absence of last year’s winner has certainly opened up the field and increased the likelihood of an outsider claiming victory this time around. Sempre Medici looks likely to be the main protagonist with odds of 16/1 to pull off a dramatic upset, with trainer Willie Mullins confident of a good performance from the six year old.

With the Gold Cup attracting the most money throughout the Festival, many are looking to win big by backing a rank outsider for the historic race. Despite the likelihood of a horse coming from the back of the field and winning seeming unlikely, there are still many options for those looking away from the usual suspects. Sausalito Sunrise recently impressed by claiming victory at Ascot, and along with Champagne West, are certainly worth an each-way bet as they come into the race in good form.

So with the Cheltenham Festival now just around the corner, it is time to get your thinking cap on and place your bets while odds are still competitive. With over 250,000 visitors expected to attend this year’s event, the magnitude of this occasion is certainly not lost on the racing community, and despite being behind the Grand National in prize money, is still considered by many as the pinnacle in the racing calendar.

Your Guide to the 2015 Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post Betting

With every day the 2015 Cheltenham Festival is drawing closer. The anticipation of a wanting crowd. 

Previous winners strive to write their names in equine history, while battle-hardened campaigners are primed to settle old scores. 

Dark horses tantalize with what might be... 

One thing we can be sure - the sport of kings will find no more loyal a servant than race fans who await the pulsating action of the 2015 Cheltenham Festival at Prestbury Park. 

This is an ideal time to take a look at the Cheltenham Betting. Here is a quick summary of the best of the Cheltenham Festival big races: 

Day 1 (10th March) Champion Day - Champion Hurdle.

The highlight on the opening day. This most prestigious hurdle race in the National Hunt calendar is for horses aged four years and older. It is run on the old course over 2m 110 yard, with eight hurdles to jump. In 2014 it was won by Jessica Harrington's Jezki, ridden by Barry Geraghty for big-time gambler J P McManus at odds of 9/1. Historically, a number of exceptional horses have won this contest icluding Dawn Run (1984), See You Then (1985 - 87) & Istabraq (1998 - 2000). Who will win this year? Hurricane Fly? Rock On Ruby? Binocular. This year's betting: 5/4 Faugheen (pictured), 3/1 The New One, 6/1 Jezki, 8/1 Hurricane Fly, 16/1 Bar.    

Day 2 (11th March) Ladies' Day - Queen Mother Champion Chase. 

This Grade 1 National Hunt chase over 2 miles is open to horses aged five years and older and the feature event of the second day of the Festival. Named in the year of the Queen Mother's 80th birthday (1980) it recognised her support to jump racing. 

The most successful horse to have won this race is Badsworth Boy (1983 - 1985). But what are we to make of this year's contest? Sprinter Sacre, trained by Nicky Henderson, is presently 11/4f after struggling to find his form after pulling-up with a heart problem and most likely needing the run when runner-up at Ascot. He's a true Cheltenham favourite but this could be the greatest test of his career. Can he will this year? Betting: 11/4 Sprinter Sacre, 3/1 Un Des Sceaux (with run), 9/2 Sire De Grugy, 9/2 Dodging Bullets, 8/1 Champagne Fever, 12/1 Bar.

Day 3 (12th March) St Patrick's Day - World Hurdle 

This Grade 1 National Hunt race is open for horses aged four years or older and run over 3 miles with twelve hurdles to jump. This is the leading long-distance hurdle event in the calendar & feature of day three at the Cheltenham Festival. It was formerly known as the Stayers' Hurdle. In previous contests this race has been about one horse - Big Bucks who won this contest on no fewer than four occasions (2009 - 2012). Unfortunately, he will not contest this year's event but owner Andy Stewart will be hoping Saphir Du Rheu can show his class. This grey gelding is presently second favourite bookmakers. Betting: 4/1 More Of That, 7/1 Saphir Du Rheu, 9/1 Zarkandar, 10/1 Rock On Ruby, 12/1 Bar. 

Day 4 (13th March) Gold Cup Day - Cheltenham Gold Cup

This Grade 1 National Hunt horse race is run over 3 miles 2 1/2f with 22 fences to be jumped. It's a steeplechase open to horses five years or older. It is the most prestigious of all National Hunt races. This Blue Riband event has a roll of honour featuring household names: Arkle, Best Mate, Golden Miller, Kauto Star & Mill House. It is the most valuable non-handicap chase in Britain. 

The Cheltenham Gold Cup was first run in 1924 by a horse called Red Splash. In the 1930s Golden Miller won five consecutive races and still proves the most successful horse in the race's history. Other multiple winners include Cottage Rake, trained by Vincent O'Brien, from 1948- 1950. In the 1960s Arkle dominated this event over the new course to win three times. He still remains shortest-priced winner at odds of 1/10f. 

The most remarkable feat of any trainer came in 1983 when Michael Dickinson fielded the first five horses home. 

Dawn Run and legendary grey Desert Orchid are among all-time favourites. Best Mate, trained by Henrieta Knight, was the last horse to win three consecutive races (2002 - 2004). While in recent years Kuato Star captured the heart of a nation being the only horse to regain the Gold Cup in 2009. 

What a race we have in store for this 2015 Gold Cup. Presently, Silviniaco Conti, trained by Paul Nicholls, is clear favourite to win after many peoples idea of an unlucky loser last year. Road To Riches & Many Clouds look worthy second and third favourites, respectively. Could last year's 20/1 shock winner, Lord Windermere, take the spoils? Betting: 10/3 Silviniaco Conti, 9/1 Road To Riches, 10/1 Many Clouds, 14/1 Lord Windermere, 16/1 Bar.