Tag: Gold Cup

Cheltenham blog – Coneygree wins Gold Cup

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Coneygree became the first novice chaser to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup since Captain Christy when making all the running to beat Djakadam and Road To Riches.

Betcirca followers still held out hopes for 16-1 ante-post advice Djakadam jumping the last but Ruby Walsh’s mount could not quite get to the leader. Trainer Mark Bradstock discussed the options with connections before deciding to go for the Gold Cup in preference to the RSA Chase earlier in the week.

The son of Karinga Bay had won all three races over fences since returning from a long-term injury in November. He was due to race at Plumpton in November but was withdrawn on veterinary advice at the start. He was quickly re-routed to Newbury where he was opposed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Saphir Du Rheu. That rival unseated Sam Twiston-Davies at the seventh fence and Coneygree went on to beat Dell’ Arca by a length and a half.

He followed up by winning the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton but the race was marred by four of the seven runners failing to complete the course. Bradstock decided to test him against established chasers the Denman Chase at Newbury last month. He made all the running to beat Houblon Des Obeaux and Unioniste by seven lengths and three and a half lengths.

That persuaded connections to go for the big one and the rain arrived just in time in the Cotswolds. Coneygree was bred by the late Lord Oaksey and is a half-brother to former Hennessy Gold Cup winner Carruthers. Jockey Nico De Boinville was having his first ride in the race and rode his first festival winner only last year on Whisper for Nicky Henderson.

Coneygree is a top price 10-1 for next year’s Gold Cup with runner-up Djakadam as high as 16-1 with Coral. Don Poli and Vautour are both available at 6-1 after their impressive victories at the festival this week. Road To Riches is 25-1, the same price as today’s beaten favourite Silviniaco Conti.

Djakadam is only a six-year-old, although the French-bred horses do tend to peak at a younger age. He is as short as 8-1 elsewhere so, if you fancy him, the 16-1 should be snapped up quickly.

On The Fringe (tipped at 8-1) won the Foxhunter Chase to end a run of three seconds on the day for Betcirca after Top Notch (16-1), Djakadam (16-1) and Sort It Out (14-1).

Djakadam @16-1 Coral – 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Cheltenham Preview – Friday 13th March

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It’s Gold Cup day at Cheltenham and we look set for a thrilling renewal. If there are any doubts about the quality, there is at least quantity and most punters would rather watch a competitive race with 17 runners than an odds-on favourite in a small field.

Silviniaco Conti supporters will be hoping for third time lucky after falling in 2013 and fading up the hill last year. We will never know whether he would have won had he not tipped up three out but it is difficult to make a case about him not liking the track. He did everything right last year but didn’t quite last home.

The bookmakers are taking a chance at 5-1 about him. We already have Djakadam tipped at ante-post odds of 16-1 but his inexperience may count against him while Lord Windermere will probably run his best race of the season. I also fancy Holywell to post a career best as he loves this meeting.

The action starts with the Triumph Hurdle and we were on Top Notch at 16-1 some weeks ago. I’m pleased that the owners are letting him run despite also having the hot favourite in Peace And Co. I also like Pain Au Chocolat and Devilment at big prices in a fascinating race. Very few of these have actually met in the trials so it is really a shot in the dark.

The County Hurdle is notoriously difficult to sort out and a very appropriate winner would be Sort It Out. He is one of three JP McManus runners along with Waxies Dargle and Princely Conn. The latter is the mount of AP McCoy while Waxies Dargle fell in a big handicap last time and has Paul Carberry in the saddle. Quick Jack will probably start favourite and should run well for Tony Martin.

I’ve been a fan of Value At Risk for the Albert Bartlett for some time so shouldn’t really desert him now. My only concern is the quicker ground but the same applies to most of these. The Henderson horses, Out Sam and Carache Apache, are attractively priced and I wouldn’t put you off either of them.

It will be interesting to see how Sheikh Fahad’s new purchase Current Event gets on in the Foxhunter but I’m siding with Nina Carberry here with On The Fringe. Much of this week has been about Willie Mullins and he can strike again with Roi Des Francs in the Martin Pipe Hurdle. Everyone will be cheering for AP on Ned Buntline in the finale but Blood Cotil is tough and consistent and can close out the meeting for Mullins in style.

New customers only – Racebet 10-1 Nicky Henderson to win 1.30 (max. £5 stake)

1.30 Top Notch @16-1* Ante-post

2.05 Sort It Out @14-1 Bet365

2.40 Value At Risk @12-1 Paddy Power

3.20 Djakadam @16-1 *Ante-post

4.00 On The Fringe @8-1 Ladbrokes

4.40 Roi Des Francs @9-2 Bet365

5.15 Blood Cotil @10-1 Bet365

Cheltenham Gold Cup Preview

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A large field is set to go to post for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, the feature event of the festival. Rank outsider River Choice is a possible absentee but that would still leave 17 to face the starter.

Silviniaco Conti has been favourite for most of the season and it is surprising that bookmakers are offering as high as 5-1 about the gelding. It is true that he has been beaten in this race twice before, falling in 2013 and fading in the final 150 yards to finish fourth last year. Trainer Paul Nicholls is confident that he has him in perfect condition and a Wednesday treble for the stable has boosted confidence still further.

We tipped Djakadam at 16-1 in our ante-post preview and it looks as though he could start at around half that price. The bare form of his Thyestes Chase victory is not good enough to win this but he has bags of potential and hails from the in-form Mullins stable.

Lord Windermere and Holywell are our next best as they both tend to peak in the spring. Lord Windermere has won the RSA Chase and Gold Cup on his last two visits and he has done enough this year to suggest he can finish in the money at least. Davy Russell rides this course superbly and reminded everyone of that with a double on Wednesday.

I am not convinced that Many Clouds and Road To Riches will enjoy the conditions. There were some fast times on Thursday, notably from Uxizandre in the Ryanair Chase, and both horses have shown their best form with plenty of give in the ground. I am not a fan of novices running in the Gold Cup, although Coneygree does jump like an old pro. Good luck to the Mark Bradstock team with their ambitious tilt at the top prize in steeplechasing. Carlingford Lough will come in for support as he is the last ride in the race for Tony McCoy. He jumped poorly here last season and I have my reservations about him.

There is usually a good run from an old stager in the Gold Cup and there are several likely suspects this year. Hardly anyone has mentioned 2013 winner Bobs Worth so there is absolutely no pressure on Barry Geraghty’s mount while On His Own has managed to repeat last year’s tremendous run but could be lit up on the day. And of course there is always The Giant Bolster! Second, fourth and third in previous years, could he have another trick up his sleeve?

Verdict

  1. Silviniano Conti 5-1 (888Sport)
  2. Djakadam 15-2 (William Hill)
  3. Holywell (11-1 William Hill)
  4. Lord Windermere (18-1 Paddy Power)

Cheltenham blog – McCoy savours Ryanair Chase glory

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Tony McCoy stole the headlines on day 3 of the Cheltenham festival with a pillar-to-post victory aboard 16-1 shot Uxizandre in the Ryanair Chase.

McCoy, soon to be crowned champion jockey for the 20th time, had endured a couple of frustrating days but set out like a man on a mission on the gelding trained by Alan King. Uxizandre was second at this meeting last year and went on to win at Aintree. He had beaten Simply Ned and Dodging Bullets here in November but lost his way since. King fitted a visor for the first time here and it clearly had the desired effect.

McCoy admitted afterwards that he felt Uxizandre had gone to fast to keep up the gallop but he seemed to relax coming down the hill and had plenty in reserve to hold the well-backed Ma Filleule. It was a 31st festival winner for McCoy but he may not be finished just yet. He has five rides on the final day including Hargam (Triumph Hurdle), Carlingford Lough (Gold Cup) and Ned Buntline (AP McCoy Grand Annual).

Latest Offers

A reasonable assessment of the festival so far would be day 1 to the punters, day 2 all square, day 3 to the bookmakers. With the smallest field on offer on Friday being seventeen, I suspect that this will be the toughest day yet for punters.

Any way of gaining a small advantage is welcome and we have kept you updated on various offers throughout the week. Racebets have been making some generous offers to attract new customers all week. If you still haven’t done so, tomorrow they will give you 10-1 about Nicky Henderson training the winner of the Triumph Hurdle (maximum £5 bet).

That gives you the favourite Peace And Co, Tony McCoy’s mount Hargam and Betcirca’s each-way fancy Top Notch. The Mullins pair and Beltor are the most obvious threats to spoil the party but it could give you a very nice £50 balance in your account!

Market Movers

Quick Jack 2.05 (County Hurdle) 7-1 Stan James

Black Hercules 2.40 (Albert Bartlett) 4-1 Bet365

On The Fringe 4.0 (Foxhunter) 8-1 Paddy Power

Roi Des Francs 4.40 (Martin Pipe) 9-2 Bet365

Ned Buntline 5.20 (AP McCoy Grand Annual) 5-1 William Hill

Cheltenham blog – Latest Special Offers and news update

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Let’s hope the Imperial Cup was not an indication of what is to come at Cheltenham next week! Two 33-1 outsiders fought out the finish with not a fancied horse in sight. Hopefully Betcirca followers were still in clover after following our tips at Wolverhampton where Mindurownbusiness (9-2) and Sovereign Debt (6-1) gave us a 38.5 – 1 winning double.

Cheltenham Special Offers

The Cheltenham offers keep pouring in with the emphasis very much on Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh. Corals are offering new customers 5-1 about Ruby riding a winner at the meeting (up to a maximum £5 per customer) and Racebets are now making a similarly tempting offer.

Back Ruby to ride a winner on day 1 at odds of 7-1 (maximum £5 per customer). With Douvan, Un De Sceaux, Faugheen and Annie Power lined up, surely it is unthinkable that he could be beaten on all four? If you’re not yet a Racebets customer, why not help yourself to a likely £35 in your account come Tuesday night.

32Red are offering 3-1 about Willie Mullins training a winner on the opening day up to a maximum of £10 per customer. Simply use the promo-code Willie3 when you register. It could be argued that it is a safer bet than backing Ruby as he could get injured (finger’s crossed that it won’t happen!)

Unibet customers can get their first Cheltenham bet refunded as a free bet (up to maximum of £10) if they fail to find the winner. Please note that each-way bets are not included in this promotion. Also, if your horse finishes second in the Champion Chase on Wednesday, Unibet will refund your stake as a free bet (up to a maximum of £20).

Latest News

Today’s most significant Cheltenham scratching was Rock On Ruby from the World Hurdle. That will at least give jockey Noel Fehily peace of mind as he had reluctantly deserted his old friend in favour of Zarkandar.

All of the fancied horses are among the 18 remaining in Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. Ballycasey, Champagne Fever, First Lieutenant, Spring Heeled, Theatre Guide and Ma Filleule were the only horses withdrawn. A final decision is yet to be made on Coneygree who also holds an entry in the RSA Chase.

Imperial Cup winner Ebony Express earned a 20-1 quote for the County Hurdle for which he picks up a 5lbs penalty.

Cheltenham blog – Top 3 offers and ante-post roundup

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Only four more sleeps to the start of the Cheltenham Festival! We at Betcirca aim to keep you right up-to-date with the latest news on market movers, runners and riders and special offers.

Most bookmakers went “non-runner – no bet” on all 27 races from the start of this week following the lead set by Bet365 on February 20th. If you placed a bet after that date with them, you will get a full refund so please be careful before you throw away those betting slips!

Our Top 3 Cheltenham Special Offers

Paddy Power – If Douvan wins the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, all losing bets up to a maximum of £50 per customer will be refunded as a free bet. The same applies should Un De Sceaux win the Arkle Trophy. Both races are on the opening day which promises to be one of the biggest betting days in the history of the Cheltenham Festival. Willie Mullins could saddle as many as five favourites and bookmakers fear a monster pay-out.

William Hill – Back any horse in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and, if you do not win, you will get your money back as a free bet up to a maximum of £25 per customer.

Coral – NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. Join Coral now and get odds of 5-1 against Ruby Walsh riding a winner at the Cheltenham Festival. This offer applies only to a maximum £5 but should pay out an almost instant £25 profit. Ruby not only has Douvan and Un De Sceaux on Tuesday, he also rides Champion Hurdle favourite Faugheen and the odds-on Annie Power.

We have already previewed several of the big races in detail with some ante-post each-way tips. Click the links below:

ARKLE TROPHY – Vibrato Valtat @5-1

CHAMPION HURDLE – Arctic Fire @16-1

CHAMPION CHASE – Champagne Fever @6-1

RYANAIR CHASE – Johns Spirit @9-1, Hidden Cyclone @10-1

WORLD HURDLE – Saphir Du Rheu @5-1, Whisper @14-1

TRIUMPH HURDLE – Top Notch @16-1, Pain Au Chocolat @20-1

CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP – Lord Windermere @14-1, Djakadam @16-1

Latest News

The going at Cheltenham is reported to be good to soft, good in places. There is some rain forecast over the weekend but it seems unlikely that the going will be worse than good to soft by Tuesday. Foxrock will run in the Ryanair Chase instead of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and he is generally an 8-1 chance.