Cheltenham Festival Build Up

I'm putting this up for any Cheltenham Festival things that people come across, such as info from Preview nights, any Trends analysis etc.

Also any ideas for things we can do during the Festival week for those unfortunate enough to be stuck at work I'm thinking a tipster competition is a must

I got my tickets booked for Thursday!

Maybe "racingnut" might give some tips for the week or any one else who is in the know.

Going out on our annual racing day for the 15th March. I will be putting on some bets so will need a few winners.

I have stuck a couple of small ante post bets on.

First one is Binocular ew. Henderson feels he is right back to his very best, and if that is the case, he would give them all a run for their money. The 16/1 I got seemed far to big.

Second one is Puffin Billy, also ew. The price reflects his Exeter race as he finished lame. Before that, he was considered a machine and I have taken the risk of overlooking that one race and that he will be back to his best for the Festival. Risky, but worth a small flutter IMO

Thanks BigFellasAfro will have a look at these as I don't follow the horses
much. My Da and other brothers love watching them .

My selections come with a health warning mind!

I do well on my bets until the festival comes around and then my luck always deserts me.

An imminent baby arriving means this is the first year since 1996 I'm not going to any day. Hoping the silver lining is the luck will be with me

Well I have never been there to Cheltenham but it looks like there's great crack and banter between the Irish and English punters. But you will probably see more racing on the TV than at the races itself.

Our local course here is the Curragh , I have been to the derby a few times years ago but it is hard to get served for a drink , even hard to get a bet on. We go once or twice a year to the curragh but to the smaller meeting which has its advantages to the bigger classic meeting.

Anyway best of luck with the new baby and I hope your horses come in for you.

Caf wrote:Well I have never been there to Cheltenham but it looks like there's great crack and banter between the Irish and English punters. But you will probably see more racing on the TV than at the races itself.

Our local course here is the Curragh , I have been to the derby a few times years ago but it is hard to get served for a drink , even hard to get a bet on. We go once or twice a year to the curragh but to the smaller meeting which has its advantages to the bigger classic meeting.

Anyway best of luck with the new baby and I hope your horses come in for you.

Do you know which stand you are in?

My tip for the drinks is to take it in turns. There are three of us who usually go, so two of us usually find a good spot in the stand to watch the race, whilst the other gets the drinks when the race starts. The bar is always clearer at the start of a race. As there are seven races, the person who has won the most always gets the last one.

That way you miss two races, three if you have been lucky!

Two good sites for the festival with plenty of info on the racing are:-

cheltenham.racingpost.com
attheraces.com/cheltenham

I will hopefully be putting up previews of the main races this weekend and will put up threads for each day next week.

I don't mind running a level stake tipping competition if enough people are interested?

I've also set up a 606v2 league on the Daily Telegraph Fantasy League website. We had one last year with a handful of people.

BigFellasAfro just to clarify we are just going to the Pub it is called
the five Jockeys. I would love to go some day but with job uncertainty
and money been tight its won't be this year. But still looking forward to
watching them and having a few drinks and laughs. Probably will be
pool/darts/rings and cards after. So should be a good day.

sportsville wrote:Two good sites for the festival with plenty of info on the racing are:-

cheltenham.racingpost.com
attheraces.com/cheltenham

I will hopefully be putting up previews of the main races this weekend and will put up threads for each day next week.

I don't mind running a level stake tipping competition if enough people are interested?

I've also set up a 606v2 league on the Daily Telegraph Fantasy League website. We had one last year with a handful of people.

I'd be up for a level stakes comp, and also I'll have a look at the Telegraph game

I might be able to round 1 or 2 more as well

If someone runs a comp let me know please.

Thank you

Cheers BFA. I've backed your selections just for the hell of it. I used to follow racing religiously back in the 90's when I managed a betting shop but know nothing these days.

I still love a bet mind you so if you've any others I'll be up for it. No sweat if they lose though mate as I'll be backing something anyway and chances are I'll just pick names I like otherwise!

From a totally form front then theres two bets on day one that to my mind stick out like a punch on the nose.MY TENT OR YOURS is stand out in the opener,his Betfair win off 149(in a canter) would put him in the Champion Hurdle with some sort of chance and whilst short priced things in the race have a poor record you have to temper that with the fact that this horse brings novice form into this race of the quality that we may see only a handful of times in a racing lifetime.Hes straightforward to ride,he will sit just of the pace like at Newbury and then be put into the race going to the last.He should be 4/7 and not 7/4.
HURRICANE FLY holds the same sort of claims,his best form is well in advance of the rest.He has swinked his way through his prep runs and comes here in arguably the best form of his life.Dont buy the talk of him not liking the track,his win here two seasons ago was top form and he came last year on the back of an interupted prep and wasnt given the best of rides by Ruby.There'll be no mistakes this time,Zarkandar and Countrywide Flame will bowl along,he will slipstream them and he just has too much pace for them on all that we know.Cant understand why he isnt odds on,2s or bigger is crazy.
The second day sees another good bet line up,THE NEW ONE goes in the Neptune.He was my horse to follow this season and two wins before Christmas aurged well,he then dotted up in graded event at Warwick and he came to Trials day as an odds on shot.He was outbattled up the Hill by At Fishers Cross but everyone and his dog knew that the Twiston Davies horses was ridden all wrong that day,he was played far too early.He wont get there until the last this time and i take his gear change to be decisive.His bumper form from last year with My Tent or Yours is stellar and at around 4s he is a cracking bet.

Cheers racingnut. Couldn't go for My Tent or Yours or Hurricane Fly as I've backed BFA's each way tips in those races but I've had a piece of 9/2 on The New One.

Nice one racingnut. Thank you.

Its nice to see ones judgement come to fruition.I didnt go to mad on him just becuase the stable is under a cloud but he was impressive and ive already had some 14s about him for next years Champion Hurdle.