Yearly Archives: 2011
Conditional Jockeys Hurdle
Conditional Jockeys Hurdle
Cheltenham Festival race guide – Conditional Jockeys Hurdle betting
It would be fitting if David Pipe could win this race named after his father Martin who retired in 2006. He sends out a few runners but his best chance in the race probably rests with Shoegazer who showed up well over this distance at Ffos Las most recently. ALARAZI looks the one to be on though after his success in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle at Sandown last Saturday. The main worry would be if the race has come too soon for Lucy Wadham’s representative, in that case Whoops A Daisy must be feared after suffering only one defeat in his five starts under rules. Get a free £25 bet with William Hill.
Conditional Jockeys Hurdle odds
Arguably it is right that conditional jockeys do get to ride at the best National Hunt meeting in the calendar. They would probably not get the chance to deliver on the biggest of stages without being able to claim their allowances. Felix de Giles was the first conditional rider to take this hurdle aboard Nicky Henderson’s Andytown two years ago and was soon followed by Johnny Farrelly twelve months later. Both jockeys ironically now have ninety career wins to their respective names but probably none as sweet as their sole Cheltenham Festival successes. But which jockey will revel in the moment of riding a 2011 festival winner?
Form and favourites
The form guides for this handicap hurdle are hard to distinguish, mainly because there have only ever been two runnings of this event. But Martin Pipe’s son David will be trying his utmost to send out a winner as this is the race which honours his father. Last year he sent out seven horses in the 2009 event but the best found a couple too good for his best performer on the day, Big Eared Fran. Last year he readied only one runner in Ashkazar who went off 9/2 favourite under Hadden Frost but again could only manage a mid-field position. Better luck this time perhaps? He will certainly win this race during his time as a trainer so keep a track of his runner(s) when the final few are declared because they are sure to hold every chance.
The favourite in this race has been nowhere in both races. The aforementioned Ashkazar fluffed his lines last year and the well backed Big Eared Fran, another one of Pipe’s, finished a disappointing third after being well supported in the betting. Subsequently, we’ve seen Andytown take the spoils at 25/1 (2009) and Pause and Clause last time at an attractive 14/1 arrive home first, so is it really another one for the an outsider? It is a handicap remember so concentrate on those that might not be on such a tight grip from the handicapper and may have been let in lightly.
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Cheltenham Top Jockey
Cheltenham top jockey betting
Top jockey betting for the Cheltenham Festival
The Jockey’s influence is so often overlooked in horse racing. Punters are quick to point the finger at those marshalling horses if it loses, but never has a damned cliché been so true – the jockey is only as good as the horse he/she rides. Essentially, the rider is responsible for the decision making tactics in the race, whether this be to pin the horse up against the rail or patiently restrain it at the back of the field. These decisions must be made in split seconds and there is always that element of luck that needs to be taken into account. Nevertheless, a good jockey cannot work miracles on a horse but it can give it the best possible chance of winning a race; so when placing your bets consider the mount of your chosen fancy. And why not have a flutter on the human responsible for steering your horse to victory by exploring the top jockey market for the 2011 Cheltenham Festival?
Ruby Walsh Cheltenham top jockey odds
Being the top jockey at the Cheltenham festival requires many qualities; fitness, awareness but chief of these is a determination to win. And the latter can be said about many top riders but none more so than the reigning Cheltenham top jockey Ruby Walsh. The Irish National Hunt Champion has ridden 25 Cheltenham Festival winners and has been leading pilot at the fixture five times. He’s sure to be booked to ride several well-fancied contenders this year in his bid to successfully defend the jockeys’ title. It’s inevitable that winning jockeys will continue to get better mounts and Ruby is no different, but can he continue his excellent record at Cheltenham at the expense of his challengers?
Robert Thornton Cheltenham top jockey odds
There has been little to smile about for the English riders who have had their work cut out up against their Irish counterparts. But could things fall into place for the returning Robert ‘Choc’ Thornton after he scooped the Festival’s top jockey award in 2007 with four winners. Alan King’s stable jockeys greatest achievements are all linked to the Cheltenham Festival where he has claimed top honours in the Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Arkle to name but a few. The Darlington-born rider has spent much of the season on the sidelines nursing a knee ligament injury and providing he comes through his rehabilitation without any setbacks he should be fit to participate at the meeting. Can he produce a St George’s flag in the winners’ enclosure at Cheltenham again?
AP McCoy Cheltenham top jockey odds
Last year’s Grand National win was a case of fifteenth time lucky for the ever popular Tony McCoy aboard Don’t Push It. The Northern Irish Champion Jockey now has few targets left to chase after collecting the biggest prize in horse racing at Aintree last April. McCoy will fancy his chances of ousting Ruby Walsh as top navigator at the forthcoming fixture thirteen years after becoming the first Irish jockey to win consecutive Cheltenham Festival top jockey titles. Having ridden over 3,000 winners in his career, AP is a shrewd contender to ride the most winners this year for ex-jockey Jonjo O’Neill’s stable.
Other jockeys in the top jockey betting
Other potentially well fancied jockeys for the title include a trio of Irish raiders. Last years Gold Cup winner Paddy Brennan exposed the weaknesses of the well-fancied pair of Kauto Star and Denman when he led Imperial Commander to Cheltenham glory. Brennan must stand a chance after that success as do fellow countrymen Graham Lee and Barry Geraghty who claimed the Cheltenham Top Jockey accolade in 2005 and 2003 respectively. The best chance of the prize remaining in England probably rests with Richard Johnson who predominantly rides for the Philip Hobbs yard. He along with Geraghty, are the only two remaining jockeys riding today to have won all four Championship races at Cheltenham.
The Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey award is certainly an interesting market to consider. One that will only intensify in the build up towards March when we will catch a glimpse of the horses these jockeys are given to ride during the races.
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Cheltenham Stadium
Cheltenham stadium
Cheltenham Festival stadium guide
A good racing event as the Cheltenham Festival is world renowned for, requires a good base for the thousands of fans that pack in to sample the action track-side. And Cheltenham has just that with three enclosures; The Sun’s Best Mate enclosure, The Tattersalls and The Centaur are most efficient for witnessing the great National Hunt racing the racecourse never fails to offer. These areas give great links to the paddock where punters often stand to see the horses being paraded and to the viewing steps situated near to the winning post.
Tattersalls Enclosure/ Best Mate Enclosure
The Tattersalls enclosure at the course makes for extensive viewing and contributes to housing many of the 67,500 spectator capacity. A restaurant named ‘The Cheltenham Gold Cup’ is a popular attraction amongst Cheltenham visitors who are housed in the this enclosure. They also are granted access behind the stands to the unsaddling enclosures and during the festival, the Guiness Village which hcan be found opposite the last fence extends enclosures with yet more viewing steps, refreshment bars and entertainment areas.
When the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle kicks off the festival the infamous ‘Cheltenham roar’ will raise the roof as the decibels in and around the enclosures enter fever pitch. And in between races restaurants, bars and betting shops can be found in the Best Mate enclosure while the Tatersalls and Club area is the most exclusive enclosure with the best viewing for festival badge holders. Over a thousand seats can be found here in front of a big screen where race goers can sample the early stages of each race before they come into vision close home.
Betting Ring
And if you are wondering where all money exchange hands you don’t have to look far because there are a wide choice of betting stands scattered around the enclosures. The larger chain bookmakers such as Totesport have their own windows on the different levels in each enclosure but the betting ring is where most punters will be stood as they seek to get the best possible price about their fancy. Standing areas are designated to welcome wining runners and riders as they make their way into the winning enclosure to pose for photographs.
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Cheltenham Races
Cheltenham Festival Races
Race schedule for 2011 Cheltenham Festival
With twenty six races packed into four days of reacing, the 2011 Cheltenham Festival is set to be one of the most exciting yet. Our Cheltenham betting guide will provide odds, tips and free bets for each Cheltenham race. Here is the race-by-race schedule for 2011.
Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Races – Tuesday 15th March
- 13:30: Supreme Novices Hurlde
- 14:05: Arkle Challenge Trophy
- 14:40: William Hill Trophy Handicap
- 15:20: Champion Hurdle
- 16:00: Cross Country Handicap Chase
- 16:40: David Nicholson Mares Hurdle
Cheltenham Festival Day 2 Races – Wednesday 16th March
- 13:30: National Hunt Steeple Chase
- 14:05: Neptune Investment Hurdle
- 14:40: RSA Chase
- 15:20: Queen Mother Champion Chase
- 16:00: Coral Cup
- 16:40: Fred Winter Handicap Hudle
- 17:15: Champion Bumper
Cheltenham Festival Day 3 Races – Thursday 17th March
- The two biggest races on day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival have to be the Ryaniar Chase and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
- 13:30: Jewson Novices Handicap
- 14:05: Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle
- 14:40: Ryanair Chase
- 15:20: Ladbrokes World Hurdle
- 16:00: Byrne Group Plate
- 16:40: Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Cheltenham Festival Day 4 Races – Friday 18th March
- The feature race on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival is the Gold Cup, which has been fiercely contested between Denman and Kauto Star in recent years.
- 13:30: JCB Triumph Hurdle
- 14:05: County Handicap Hurdle
- 14:40: Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
- 15:20: Tote Gold Cup
- 16:00: Foxhunter Steeple Chase
- 16:40: Conditional Jockeys Hudle
- 17:15: Grand Annual Chase
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Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham racecourse guide
Preview of the Cheltenham Festival course
Often referred to as the home of National Hunt racing, the main aim of Cheltenham racecourse is to provide the very best conditions underfoot for horses that participate in races there. After all a good racing surface is paramount and Cheltenham excels in this department at its countryside Prestbury Park location. Of course, special emphasis is given to making the Cheltenham Festival a truly magnificent racing spectacle. A very scenic course in morphology, it falls just below the hills of the Cotswold makes for a fantastic day for the racing neutrals should the desired sunshine arrive on racedays.
The Old Course
The main racecourse has two separate courses which both run in tangent alongside each other – the old and the new course. Both consist of a number of challenging, structurally sound fences which test the jumping ability of those horses that take them to the limit. Traditionally, the first two days of the Cheltenham Festival are run on the old course which is a one mile and four furlong oval with a three-hundred and fifty yard run in. Horses will swing the turf left-handed during their run-in which allows for an improved and smoother racing line.Fences on this course range from open ditches at the fourth and the sixth to a water jump at the third and jockeys must come to terms with the demands of this course as possible. Once the runners reach the top of the hill, the pace of the race almost always intensifies and those riders’ mistiming and diving over the jumps are sure to find themselves in a spot of trouble.
The New Course
The new course at Prestbury Park sees action the final two days of the Cheltenham Festival and is slightly larger oval than the old. It is a one mile five furlong oval but has a seemingly shorter run-in of two hundred and twenty yards. The runners and riders still swing this course left-handed. Open ditches are found at the third and the fifth and the water jump appears early at fence number two. This course was designed to facilitate a variety of different race distances with the minimum being just over two miles and the largest in excess of three. In all, four different distances are contested on this track in the festival and while both tracks are demanding they cater for the fastest racing speeds.
The Cross Country Course
Another relatively new addition at Cheltenham is the Cross Country course which conjoin sectors of the old course. In fact, the last three furlongs in the cross country races are run on this old course which creates a figure of eight trip. It conjoins features from both the old and the new courses and natural obstacles are laid out for steeplechase events.
Uphill run-in
The final task all runners and riders must overcome is Cheltenham’s stamina-testing uphill finish. After clearing the final fence the line is almost near but the nature of the landscape makes it one long hard slog but for the neutrals a terrific finish. Horses that look nigh on winning contests have come unstuck in the final stages of races at Cheltenham and when the tanks running on empty that finishing line appears to edging further and further away!
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Cheltenham Odds
Cheltenham Festival odds
Odds for the 2012 Cheltenham Festival
Odds for the Cheltenham Festival are now available for all races. Make sure you take advantage of the large number of generous free bet offers available for the 2011 Cheltenham Festival.
Gold Cup odds
The Gold Cup is the biggest race at the Cheltenham Festival, and odds are already avaailable for this great race. Currently Imperial Commander and Kauto Star are disputing favouritism at odds of 5/1.
Supreme Novices Hurdle odds
The Supreme novices hurdle is the opening race of the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. Punters will be looking to get off to a good start with this race, with Cue Card the red hot favourite.
Champion Hurdle odds
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Handicap Winning Trends
Cheltenham handicap winning trends?
Cheltenham Festival race guide – Handicap history
Of the last 64 Handicaps at the festival, 27 have been won by horses who were successful on their previous start. This statistic must come into the thoughts of all those punters trying to pick the winner of the eleven handicaps at the meeting in March. To put it as a percentage, horses who have won their previous outing have a 42% strike rate from the last 64 handicap contests and one should bear this is mind for this year’s festival.
The five handicap hurdles (Coral Cup, Fred Winter Juvenile, Pertemps Final, County Hurdle and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys) are a great place to start when backing a horse with previous winning form. That’s because over 50% of those that have won these races over the last decade had been successful on their previous start. It can sometimes be difficult to give every runner in a large handicap field the time they deserve when it comes to analysing form. But by sticking to the general rule of backing horses that have won on their last outing one must hold every chance of being rewarded. One must ask the question – Can the horse build on its winning form and win a race like this?
If the answer is yes, and the credentials are there in black and white then the next handicap winner might just be one of those that had won last time out. But records are there to be broken and they are every year. And for this reason it would come as no surprise to see a horse with no great winning form win a handicap contest. But what we are trying to distinguish is the form and the facts and by backing a winner last time out, one might be in with a greater shout of collecting at the end of the race.
The Coral Cup and The Fred Winter are two of the races which have been dominated by winners who had won last time out. In fact from 2005-2010, nine of the last ten winners of both these events all had winning form before heading to the Cheltenham festival. This is a statistic that cannot be overlooked in 2011 and one which might just be further reinforced after the four-day period in March. With some of the handicap races being relatively new additions to the Cheltenham festival card, often there is precious little to go regarding form from the race the previous year. This is true of the Fred Winter Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, and although there’s not a lot to go on yet, that statistic keeps appearing – three of the past four winners of this race were successful last time out. So keep it at the forefront of ones mind and hopefully it will pave the way for a profitable 2011 Cheltenham festival!
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Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting
Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Festival race guide – Gold Cup betting
The showpiece event of the entire festival could well spring a few surprises. Imperial Commander is the obvious choice but Nigel Twiston-Davies’ reigning champion hasn’t seen a racecourse in 2011 and his lack of preparation could prove a hindrance. Two time Gold Cup winner Kauto Star cannot be written off despite his defeat at the he hands of Long Run in the King George. Long Run is in with a shout on that form but is untested at Cheltenham and no 6-year-old has won this race since Mill House in 1963. With that in mind, it may be worth sticking with experience and DENMAN has an abundance of it – second to Imperial Commander in this last year and winner in 2008 he could have one big run left in the tank. Get a free £25 bet with William Hill.
The Gold Cup is like no other at the festival, millions and millions of pounds will exchange hands for the most prestigious event in the National Hunt calendar. The race itself, is ran over a distance of three miles and two-and-half furlongs which will take in twenty-two fences in the process. The reward is massive- Imperial Commander’s connections scooped £475,000 in prize money for his seven length victory over Denman last year and that looks set to increase for the 2011 renewal. Horses aged five years plus can contest this great event although older horses have had the majority of success in this race since it began way back in 1924. General Miller is one exception to that rule, he won this race as a 5yo in 1932 and retained his title for the following four years – a truly once in a lifetime horse.
Ante-post Betting
Kauto Star
But let’s focus on those who will be fancied to win it this year. Kauto Star will surely go off favourite despite his crashing fall last year. Paul Nicholls’ star chaser went of 8/11 odds on but fell approaching the home straight – so the question remains how much has that mishap affected his confidence. Well, not very if his latest run at Down Royal in November is anything to go by, he ran out a four length winner on his first run since that fall and all looks to be well ahead of the big showdown. Keep an eye out for his route to the Gold Cup and if he successfully wins all his trials he will be very hard to beat.
Denman
Stablemate Denman is another one of those tipped to score for a second time on the biggest of all stages. Nicholls’ has vowed to keep the pair apart in the run up to March but this 2008 winner cannot be ruled out. He currently finds himself as high as 12/1 with some firms but surely that price will disappear as we near race time. He ran an excellent race last year but couldn’t quite live with Imperial commander but those who believe he’s past should think again.
Imperial Commander
Surprisingly, Imperial Commander doesn’t head the market after Paddy Brennan’s success aboard him last time. The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained chaser currently finds himself second favourite at 5/1 general behind Kauto Star. That’s because Kauto has had the measure of him on no fewer than three occasions before, and on his reappearance after his Cheltenham success he blundered and fell in the Bowl Chase at Aintree. But you can draw a line through that run, because if this classy 9yo can put his best foot forward he can come close in his shot for a consecutive Gold Cup.
Others to watch…
Other potential 2011 Gold Cup runners to be feared are What a Friend part owned by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. He’s another from the Paul Nicholls yard and he is in with a chance at 14/1 in the ante-post should he be entered. Nicky Henderson’s Punchestown’s props up the leading few at 16/1 and cannot be discounted. Although, these are very early markets and some may opt out of the Gold Cup closer to the time.
Favourite backer?
Four favourites have won this feature in the last decade and the market generally gets this one spot on. The largest price winner in this time frame was 2006 champ War of Attrition at 15/2 so edge your bets close to the head of the market. They are usually the ones with the form already in the book and Kauto’s fall last time may mean for an open market so be sure to get a good price about your fancy. Take in the Hennessy Gold Cup and the King George on Boxing Day as they are good trials when trying to suss out this race.
Whatever the outcome, The Gold Cup is certain to be a real thriller for all the racing public. Records will be made no doubt and some may even be enhanced – but can Kauto complete a three-timer or could there be a new horse that writes his name into the Gold Cup history books?
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Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting Preview
The Gold Cup is the feature race of the Cheltenham Festival, run on the final day over 3m and 2.5 furlongs. Producing a number of spectacular races over the years and making the careers of a number of horses, most notably in recent years Best Mate.
Gold Cup Tip – Kauto Star 2/1 – Free £25 bet at Tote Sport
Kauto Star is justifiably favourite for this race and looks set to follow up his 2007 victory in the same race. Kauto Star’s ability as a fantastic jumps horse is proven with numerous Grade 1 wins including 3 King Georges. Last year’s winner could be a threat, but a very disappointing return from a long injury last time out makes even greater appeal for backing Kauto Star. Bet now at Tote Sport for the best odds and £25 free bet
Gold Cup Free Bets
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Cheltenham Free Bets
Cheltenham Festival Free Bets
Here you will find the biggest and best free bets for the 2013 Cheltenham Festival. All these free bet offers are from trustworthy bookmakers who are throwing out generous offers to attract new customers during this busy betting period. Each free bet requires you to place a qualifying bet first, then you will be awarded with a free bet to the same value. The Cheltenham Festival is a great time to open many accounts with a variety of betting companies to take advantage of different odds and generous free bets
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Betfred
Free bets are one of the most vital tools for punters betting at the Cheltenham Festival. With so many quality races packed into four days of racing, most punters end up having at least one bet on every race. Rather than spending your own money, why not have a free bet? With all the Cheltenham free bets featured on this site, you get to keep your winnings, so what better way to enjoy the 2011 Cheltenham Festival than with a free bet?
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