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RSA Chase
Cheltenham RSA Chase
Cheltenham Festival race guide – RSA Chase betting verdict
Grands Crus, will he or won’t he? David Pipe and owner Roger Stanley’s decision to run him in the RSA or the Gold Cup is still up for debate, but should he stick to novice company the seven-year-old will almost definitely go off favourite. He’s currently best priced 9/4 for this race after his impressive victory in the Feltham at Kempton on Boxing Day and he looks the one to beat here. Bobs Worth, First Lieutenant and Invictus come here in good form too and can serve it up to Grands Crus.Get a free £25 bet with VC Bet.
Aiteen Thirtythree and Jessies Dream are rated the main dangers by the bookies, connections of Jessies Dream think he will improve for the three miles on better ground but even if that’s the case he probably isn’t in the same class as the favourite, meanwhile it is difficult to see what Aiteen Thirtythree has achieved in smalled fields this year, he looks very promising but may find it difficult to dominate this field. At bigger prices Wayward Prince makes a bit of each way appeal as one of the more soild contenders in the race.
RSA Chase odds
Runners and riders will have to travel three miles and ½ a furlong in the process of taking nineteen fences on the old course for the RSA Chase. Novices five-years-old and up entered for this one will swing left-handed on their run-in and it has seen one big success story come out of it in more recent times. Paul Nicholls’ Denman ran out 6/5 winner of this race in 2007 and just twelve months later he fended off star rival Kauto Star to take the Cheltenham Gold Cup by a whopping seven lengths. And while it may seem unlikely a future Gold Cup winner will line up this year, it shows this race can provide the perfect stepping stones for horses that perform well in this chase.
Top yards and stables
When we talk about the top yards and trainers that consistently send out winners the same half a dozen keep popping up. Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls both have excellent records in this race with the former taking the 2004 and 2009 runnings of this event. And Nicholls’ proved he could ready a RSA winner not just with wonderhorse Denman; he trained Star De Mohaison to victory in 2006. But it’s Paul Webbers’ Time for Rupert that heads the very early ante-post market at 8/1 general after victory in a similar Novices Chase over two miles four furlongs at Cheltenham in November. It remains to be seen whether the 6yo gelding will head for the RSA Chase and if so he must be taken very seriously indeed.
The Irish have a good record in this race and last year Weapons Amnesty was just another of the many winners they have prepared for this race. He ran away with it last March, beating the second horse by seven lengths and well backed favourite Punchestowns by sixteen, who could only muster a measly fifth. He hasn’t quite followed in the footsteps of Denman after his victory, but could we uncover another hidden gem in the RSA Chase? A massive seven horses that have won this encounter have gone on to win the Gold Cup – the pinnacle of the festival.
Victor Chandler
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Queen Mother Chase
Cheltenham Queen Mother Chase
Queen Mother Chase betting verdict
The Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown in February only highlighted Sizing Europe’s Queen Mother credentials even further at the main expense of Big Zeb, his main market rival. Between them, the pair have won this race for the last two seasons, but Sizing Europe’s fifteen-length success over Big Zeb last time reflects his positions at the head of the market. This renewal looks to be between the pair again and on recent evidence Sizing Europe would get the vote. Finian’s Rainbow and Somerbsy are not to be dismissed. Get a free £25 bet with William Hill.
The Queen Mother Champion chase is always a fantastic event and a well deserving feature of the Cheltenham Festival. Despite fewer entrants, the race does not lack in quality and the limited field never disappoint putting a show on. Two miles is the trip, the leading minimum distance in the National Hunt calendar, and horses five years plus can be readied for this Grade 1 showdown. They must bypass twelve fences en route to the finish and the winner in 2010 received a very healthy £320,000 purse. Some punters will focus all their efforts on the Queen Mother Champion Chase and millions are expected to gambled on those runners who are waved on by the starters’ orders. The relatively small field is one reason the racing neutrals enjoy this feature, believing they can pick out the winner from a limited number. And in 2009 Master Minded could have won with just one leg after backed in all the way to 4/11.
Queen Mother Chase odds
Winners at larger prices are uncommon and the market usually speaks volumes of the chances of each runner in the Queen Mother. But there a few reoccurring trends over the recent times that haven’t gone unnoticed. Arkle winners have faired well, Voy Por Ustedes won under the stewardship of Robert Thornton in 2007 after scooping victory in the Arkle Challenge Trophy twelve months earlier. And that is why Sizing Europe is being mooted as a possible entrant after last years Arkle win. But will he be able to make the significant step up in class? He recently was four lengths inferior to Gold Cup winner Kauto Star at Down Royal but is not without chance if putting his best foot forward.
Classy two mile chasers are hard to come by and it is even harder to find those horses that can cruise and jump at speed. So every Queen Mother entrant must be granted respect but those who have performed at the highest level previously are worth concentrating on. Master Minded can take inspiration from the exploits of Jessica Harrington’s Moscow Flyer who after winning the race in 2003, he flopped a year later before taking the 2005 renewal. It will be interesting to see how Paul Nicholls’ double Queen Mother winner fairs in his trial runs ahead of the race, but he for one is one you want to keep on your side.
One of the most exciting races of the festival, that certainly makes up in excitement for it’s lack of runners. Will it be another for Master Minded or will Big Zeb prove last year’s victory was no fluke? Could there even be a new winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase? Only time will tell!
Victor Chandler
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Neptune Investment Hurdle
Cheltenham Neptune Investment Hurdle
Neptune Investment Hurdle betting verdict
Both Boston Bob and Simonsig are proving hard to split in the Neptune Novices’ ante-post market providing they both contest it. Willie Mullins’ hurdler is also entered in the Albert Bartlett Novices, while connections of Simonsig, who won comfortably at Kelso in his prep race, could target the Supreme Novices. Monksland is another who features prominently in the market along with Sous Les Cieux for this renewal. Get a free £25 bet with William Hill.
This could come down to Rock On Ruby, who has previously performed well at Cheltenham and represents excellent each-way value at odds of 8/1 with VC Bet .
Neptune Hurdle Recent Records
Since the turn of the millennium, this hasn’t been a race favourites have done well in. Only two market leaders, Monsignor in 2000 and Mikael Dhaguenet two years ago have justified favouritism and each way value might just prevail again this year. The two mile five furlong distance is a tricky one in the sense that many trainers are still learning the preferred trip of these novices. Willie Mullins does however seem to have hit the nail on the head with regards this distance – the Irish trainer took this race in consecutive years in 2008 and 2009. So keep a look out for his representative(s) in this as it would come as no surprise to see his horse(s) be there or thereabouts.
Five and six year old horses have dominated the Neptune Investment Hurdle during the last decade. To trace the last seven year old winner you will have to dig the year 1998 out of the archives when Ferdy Murphy’s French Holly claimed victory. Mature and experienced chasers seem the route to go down if you’re going to put your money where your mouth is in this race. Certainly, do not hesitate picking a 5/6yo and one that comes into the event after a progressive National Hunt season can only enhance your chances of a winner on day two!
Victor Chandler
Bet 365
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National Hunt Steeple Chase
Cheltenham National Hunt Chase
National Hunt Chase betting verdict
The opener on race day two is the longest race of the entire festival and one for the most promising amateur riders. Derek O’Connor took all the plaudits for his ride on Chicago Grey for trainer Donald McCain a year ago, but Soll currently heads the market for this event, should Willie Mullins’ gelding take in the race. Stamina holds the key to this event and the marathon four mile trip could catch several of these runners out, but two horses that feature heavily at the top end of the market are Harry The Viking and Teaforthree. Get a free £25 bet with William Hill.
Beshabar is another who might be struggling to get up the hill after four miles round Cheltenham so the horse who could give Alfa Beat the most to do could be Some Target who proved his stamina for this sort of trip last time out.
National Hunt Chase odds
Winning amateurs of this chase in the past have gone on to become highly respected jockeys and it will be interesting to see who rides for the top stables. Last year it was Katy Walsh (younger sister of Ruby) who celebrated her first ever Cheltenham Festival success aboard French chaser Poker de Sivola. Ferdy Murphy’s 7yo won at 14/1 by two-and-half lengths which is evidence that there is value to be had in the novices’ market. In fact, punters may want to shy away from the favourite in this one; only one favourite has won in the last decade in which time horses 33/1 bar have triumphed in.
Some punters will argue the ability of the jockey is vital if a horse is going to perform and get the best out of their mount. But here, we enter the unknown a little with regards these apprentices and their capabilities. However, a few have caught the eye over the past twelve months or so, notably Sam Twiston-Davies riding for his father and it would also be unwise to overlook any novice chaser ridden by Nina Carberry and/or Katie Walsh. It promises to be a truly fantastic race on the big stage at Cheltenham for these youngsters but perhaps for this race its best to focus attention on the top trainers. Look no further than Jonjo O’Neill, the Irish ex-jockey has trained four winners since the turn of the millennium and money is sure to arrive for his runner(s) again.
In previous years…
Recent runnings of this event suggests the older horses tend to see the trip out better than their younger competitors. The four miles is a real test of stamina and the extra experience is a huge advantage, seven and eight year-olds have done well previously but finding the balance between an experienced horse and an expose one could prove a tough nut to crack. Younger horses with fewer miles on the clock should not be discounted though, Tricky Trickster won the 2009 running as a 6yo which makes this one of the hardest races of the entire festival to call. The National Hunt Steeple Chase is probably one in which many betting folk may discard as a betting race yet still cast a watchful eye over the next generation of potential jump jockeys.
Victor Chandler
Bet 365
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JCB Triumph Hurdle
Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle
Triumph Hurdle betting verdict
Grandouet is a lightly raced sort who can give Nicky Henderson a third consecutive winner in the JCB Triumph Hurdle. This French import’s comfortable win in a juvenile hurdle in December on his penultimate start looks good form and he looks sure to go well here. But he has fifteen lengths to find with SAM WINNER on his last visit to Cheltenham and Paul Nicholls’ horse looks a classy hurdler in the making. He can be forgiven for his Chepstow defeat last time where the race wasn’t run to suit while Nicholls’ other runner Brampour could reward each way punters. Get a free £25 bet with William Hill.
JCB Triumph Hurdle odds
This race has thrown up some real stars, more recently the Nicky Henderson trained Zaynar and not forgetting the likes of Katchit and Celestial Halo have been first home in the last few years. And again we just can’t get away from Nicky Henderson (Philip Hobbs and Alan King have also shared four successes in this race in the last ten years) as we prepare to take in the JCB Triumph Hurdle. No active trainer has won more races than Nicky and he has excellent records in the majority of the Cheltenham festival races. It may seem like a broken record, but any representative he sends from his Berkshire stable must enter calculations, after all he does know how to ready a horse for this demanding hurdle. In fact, he’s looking for a hat-trick in the race following the successes of Zaynar (2009) and more recently Soldatino (2010) so you wouldn’t bet against it happening – would you?
Jockey records
Barry Geraghty has been top jockey in the JCB Triumph hurdle in the last decade, he is Henderson’s stable jockey of course and when they team up again for this one in March, they are sure to be in with a shout. Geraghty rode Soldatino and he was making only his second start in last years contest but defied odds of 6/1 to beat the more experienced Barizan by a length-and-three-quarters. The juveniles on show in March must be followed closely in their trial runs especially the Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle in late January. This could serve up a real treat for punters who already have one eye on the festival showdown.
The field
The quantity of this Triumph field has reduced somewhat in recent years, partly because of the fourth day addition to the festival which have created other potential routes and races for these juveniles to try their hand at. That is not to say the field has been stripped of quality and if anything it has led to classier entries who have set this race as a benchmark to tackle with months of preparation beforehand. And those well fancied runners might just find themselves in the picture near home in this race because there has been no double priced winner in the last six runnings of this event. So edge your bets towards the top end of the market but ebb on the side of caution – only one market leader has won this since the turn of the millennium!
Victor Chandler
Bet 365
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Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham betting – odds, tips & free bets for the Cheltenham 2013
The best free bet offers for the 2011 Cheltenham Festival are below. We have previews for each Cheltenham race on day one, as well as all the latest odds and free bets.
Cheltenham day 4 betting tips:
1:30: Triumph Hurdle –Sam Winner – – 6/1 Totesport – £10 free bet
2:05: County Hurdle –Alaivan– e/w 9/1 Will Hill – £25 free bet
2.40: Albert Bartlett Hurdle – Court in Motion e/w – 10/1 Will Hill – £25 free bet
3:20: Gold Cup – Denamn – 15/2 Bet 365 – £200 in free bets
Wiliam Hill
Cheltenham Festival odds
The latest Cheltenham Festival odds are now available for each and every race.
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Bet 365
The most anticipated and eagerly-awaited meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar takes place from Tuesday 15th to the 18th March – The Cheltenham Festival 2011! Since it began in 1902, the festival has brought together the very best horses in jump racing and with hundred of millions of pounds expected to be gambled across the four days, the hype is just beginning as we look another Cheltenham betting bonanza at the 2011 Festival.
Victor Chandler
Latest Cheltenham news
With the Cheltenham Festival now only around 1 month away, we will be adding daily features about how to maximise your winnings at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. First up we take a look at Cheltenham Handicap winning trends. We also take a look at the jockeys to follow and starting prices of previous Cheltenham winners. Get previews of all the Cheltenham Festival top trainers here. Looking ahead to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, are Kauto Star and Denman past their best? Will the race be contested between Long run and Imperial Commander?
So what can we expect to see? Well, twenty-six races will commence over the four action packed days and spectators will be aplenty once more with a near on 50,000 expected to pack the grandstand of the Gloucestershire racecourse. Of all the Cheltenham races, the feature race will now be the fourth race on the card each day leading up to the Gold Cup highlight on the final day of the meeting. The battle in the betting ring between punters and bookies promises to add to the electric Cheltenham atmosphere, most notably referred to as the ‘Cheltenham Roar’. But it’s not all just about the racing, it’s a chance to mingle with the rich and famous, examine the elegant finery on display and of course sipping a glass or two of your favourite wine. Looking ahead to the World Hurdle, can anyone stop short price favourite Big Bucks from winning? Is the Queen Mother chase just between Master Minded and Big Zeb?
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Grand Annual Chase
Cheltenham Grand Annual Chase
Cheltenham Festival race guide – Grand Annual Chase betting
Four days of racing draw to a close and IMSINGINGTHEBLUES can land the spoils in the lucky last at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. David Pipe’s representative has been in and out of form recently and although his last win came in 2009, this older horse may have another big run left in him. Anquetta has displayed a level of maturity winning his last two despite his disliking of a crack with the whip in the first of those at Leicester. Also, Dan Breen and Oh Crick are not out of this should they stay the trip. We have previews for each Cheltenham race on day one, as well as all the latest odds and free bets.
Grand Annual Chase odds
This, the oldest race at the festival, gives those handicappers who are keen on giving their running over the minimum chasing distance. Those that enter this race are not out and out staying chasers so a crack at a lesser distance should prove just the tonic for many of the runners. Pigeon Island grabbed the headlines for the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard in the last renewal beating the Nicky Henderson trained French Opera by a length-and-a-quarter. Henderson always goes all out to win this once since the name of his father Johnny was added to the races title in 2005. So you can be sure he’ll give it his best possible shot once more but can he add to his 2006 success where Greenhope ran out a very sentimental winner which he dedicated to his late father?
Handicapping
The trials from this race are uncertain in the sense that handicappers come from all angles to compete in the Grand Annual Chase. So when the full list of runners is announced don’t so much concentrate on the path these horses have taken but more their handicap ratings. Horses under a strong stranglehold from the handicap might just be weighted out of this one, but those who are likely to improve in their handicapping career should be considered. Pigeon Island won at 16/1 last time and but had placed in three of his last five starts prior to this race. He probably wasn’t handicapped as harshly for those placings whereas if he had won them he may have found this contest much more difficult. A progressive horse is well capable of winning a race of this nature so make sure you select them wisely.
Ruby Walsh has saddled two winners in the last ten years for Paul Nicholls in 2004 and 2007. they stand a chance in every race they enter, and must be taken seriously should they be able to repeat their previous successes. Two seven-year-olds have won two of the last four renewals both carrying around the ten stone marker. This trend could continue in the lucky last as we prepare to say goodbye to the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. But hey, there’s always next year!
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Victor Chandler
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Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle
Cheltenham Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle betting verdict
Trainer Alan King is optimistic about Vendor’s chances of justifying favouritism in the Fred Winter this year. The juvenile hurdler won his prep race at Newbury last time in pleasing style and tops the betting from the Paul Nicholls-trained Hinterland, who is also entered for the Triumph and Supreme Novices’. Get a free £25 bet with William Hill.
Jockey and trainer records in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle
Five different jockeys and trainers have posed for photographs in Cheltenham’s winning enclosure at the end of the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle. Last year it was the deadly duo of Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls who claimed success with Sanctuaire (4/1) who won it easily by nine lengths to closest challenger Notus De La Tour. This result aside though, the previous two winners of this contest have rewarded punters at double figure prices so it could pay once more to look further down the market. Remember that all the horses tackling this handicap are in the early stages of their development and there are going to be setbacks and mishaps in the race, but the real question is who can make the least errors for victory?
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle betting pointers
Relatively few obstacles have to be overcome as these runners toe their racing feet, so keep a look out for those that travel and take their flights well in the trials runs before the race in March. Horses that won last time out have won every Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle so monitor those progressive juveniles very closely indeed. If they already have Cheltenham form to their name that is a bonus but try not to discard those who may have flopped previously. While previous mistakes cannot be rectified, the experience from such errors can be learned from and runners generally on an upward curve could prove fruitful in this keenly contested handicap.
The top stables and yards will be ever present again in this race and horses stemming from these are sure to attract money. But don’t let that put you off chancing with a relatively unexposed type from a slightly less trusted background. Dismissing Sanctuaire’s nine length victory last year, the previous runnings have been very tight with only a couple of lengths separating the first three places. Expect this one to go right down to the wire where the stamina of these four-year-olds could be the difference between winning and losing.
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Foxhunter Steeplechase
Cheltenham Foxhunter Steeplechase
Foxhunter Chase betting verdict
Older horses hold the upper hand in the Foxhunter Chase in recent years and Baby Run should make a bold bid to follow up his success twelve months ago. Young Sam Twiston-Davies is an up and coming jockey and confidence can be assured he’ll have this horse nicely placed for an assault towards the winning post. Rudi Trucker should give his running and a line can be put through his last run at Leopardstown where the ground was on the heavy side. But a chance is taken on JUST AMAZING with Ryan Mahon in the saddle. This horse from Paul Nicholls’ yard will appreciate the slight step up in trip and has won at Cheltenham before, certainly worth a market inspection. Get a free £25 bet with William Hill.
Experience is key
Experienced horses are the ones to look out for in this race. The stiff numbers of fences are capable of catching a lot of horses out who lack fluency over obstacles. Last year Baby Run from the Twiston-Davies yard justified joint favouritism to land the spoils at 9/2. The 10yo gelding had placed five times over course and distance before landing the £40,000 Foxhunter Steeplechase prize. So those runners with previous promise over the obstacles at Prestbury are definite contenders when analysing the form picks for this race. What probably does make it harder though, is that horses eligible for this race must have a couple of first and seconds to their name in hunter chases at the very least. This means horses are going to arrive for this race in similar good form which makes it difficult to predict the outcome.
Keep an eye out for…
Sam Twiston-Davies is one of the top young amateurs to keep an eye out for and no doubt his father will be giving him the best possible chance of riding a Cheltenham Festival winner in this race. The major stables are always worth chancing in this hunter race, Paul Nicholls claimed consecutive victories in 2004 and 2005 while ex-jockey Jonjo O’Neill took the honours in 2007 with 9yo Drombeag. And it is horses this age that have a very good recent record winning four of the last six so could another be about to take what is often referred to as the ‘amateur Gold Cup’?
The last two runnings of this event have gone to single priced winners but prior to these we saw a 33/1 in 2008 and two 20/1 winners in 2006 and 2007. Trends aren’t quite so predictable for this race and chancing with a big price outsider could pay once more. Value is a certainty in this race as two 66/1 horses have made the placings in the last decade so do not be put off by the price because you just never know!
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William Hill Trophy
Cheltenham William Hill Trophy
Cheltenham Festival race guide – the William Hill Trophy
The first big handicap race of the festival quickly swings around, and this year’s renewal is predictably proving pretty hard to call. A sizeable field of runners is once again expected, but the market is finding it difficult to separate Hold On Julio and Quantitativeeaing at the head of affairs. The former has won all three of his chase starts to date, and the latter has finished first and second in his last two runs at Cheltenham respectively. This race has a habit of throwing up some healthy priced winners however, and it may pay to side with a particularly well treated rival.
William Hill Trophy odds
Three miles and ½ furlong is the trip for this race, where we can expect to see a large field of runners. Twenty four took to the fences twelve months ago yet seven of those were unable to complete their journey. So when analysing your selection for this race, a horse must have proven stamina because this is an unforgiving three miles regardless of ground conditions. The old course at Cheltenham demands a lot in any race, but the William Hill Trophy Handicap is not too dissimilar from the Grand National. In fact, several of those who competed in the corresponding race last year go on to make Grand National appearances. Take the David Pipe trained Comply or Die for example who won the 2008 running of the National but could only finish 13th in this race last year.
Previous Records of the William Hill Trophy
As far as records in this handicap go, Robert ‘Choc’ Thornton rode back-to-back winners in 2004 and 2005 aboard Fork Lightning and Kelami respectively. However, no stable has dominated this race in recent years which speaks volumes about the difficulty of preparing a horse for this race. But there are certain trends which can be identified in this race and the weight is vitally important. No horse since Unguided Missile in 1998 has been able to win this one carrying more than eleven stone to victory. Quite an interesting statistic to consider, so it may be best ebb on the side of caution before backing a top weight favourite in the William Hill Handicap Trophy.
British runners generally have an excellent record in this race and if you can chance on one with Cheltenham form already to its name, you will be giving yourself the best possible chance of beating the bookies. Previous results in this race suggests British course specialist have performed admirably so make a case for those runners who fit this winning criteria. It is a handicap after all, but there are those interesting contenders who may have got in lightly and/or are potentially ahead of the handicapper so be sure to thoroughly check this market in the run up to post time.
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