Tag: Horse Racing

Betcirca bashes bookies at Cheltenham!

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Followers of this column were in betting heaven on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival with the first four winners! Ante-post tips Faugheen (10-1), O’Faolains Boy (16-1), Whisper (18-1) and Sire De Grugy (25-1) left the bookies reeling. Punters who linked the four together would have been celebrating an accumulator paying over 92,000-1!

The ante-post selections were placed over a period of time stretching back to December when Sire De Grugy was considered no more than an outsider for the Champion Chase. On Tuesday he confirmed his status as the leading two-mile chaser in Britain and Ireland with a comfortable victory.

Faugheen was red-hot favourite for the opening Neptune Hurdle and duly obliged having been picked out at 10-1. O’Faolains Boy then battled to victory in the RSA Chase for Barry Geraghty before Whisper got the verdict in a photo-finish for the Coral Cup.

Thursday’s card can only be an anti-climax after a day like that! Our only ante-post advice going into day 3 is Cause Of Causes at 12-1 in the Kim Muir at 4.40. Nina Carberry has the ride and must have a decent chance. The horse had no less than seven entries at the meeting but connections have elected to go for the three-mile race with the going firming up.

The big race is the World Hurdle which has been billed as a clash between four-time winner Big Buck’s and the unbeaten Irish mare Annie Power. As much as I respect both horses, I feel that the value bet has to be each-way on Zarkandar at 14-1. He’s as tough as old boots and has been crying out for this trip all season.

Nicholls elected to give the Champion Hurdle a miss this season after he appeared to be outpaced at crucial stages of the race for the past two seasons. It is slightly odd that he hasn’t actually found out if Zarkandar stays but I feel it is highly likely.

The Ryanair has failed to capture my imagination at all this season and I’ll be avoiding it. Dynaste was among my ante-post bets for the Gold Cup but ran poorly in the King George. If he’s back to his best he will be tough to beat but there is little value left.

Thursday

Zarkandar (World Hurdle) at 14-1 Paddy Power

*Ante-post – Cause Of Causes at 12-1 (4.40 Cheltenham)

Cheltenham Day Two Preview

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Day One of the Cheltenham festival did not exactly go to plan! Irving carried our hopes in the first but never looked like getting involved at any stage. It looked as though Glens Melody was going to save the day for us when striking for home in the Mares’ Hurdle but Quevega would not be denied a sixth consecutive victory in the race.

The low point of the was the tragic death of Our Conor following a heavy fall in the Champion Hurdle. I hope there is no repetition of this during the week as the ground dries out. For ground officially given as good to soft, it seems odd that a new course record was set by Vautour in the first. There was always a risk that the form book would be turned upside down after the horses have been running on soft ground for months.

We are already heavily involved in day two and Sire De Grugy’s performance in the Champion Chase could determine whether we are in profit this week. We snapped up 25-1 months ago about him and he is likely to off at around 5-2. I really don’t fancy anything else in the race so let’s hope he can keep his form.

We are also on at big odds in the opener with Faugheen at 10’s and Red Sherlock at 20’s. Either would give us a tidy profit. Space Ship didn’t get into the Fred Winter but we have our stake returned on the NR – no bet terms. That race looks impossible but we’ll re-invest in the Coral Cup.

Calculated Risk gives us a long shot at 40-1. The going has gone against Kaylif Aramis but I’m optimistic for the chances of Whisper. Nicky Henderson had three runners-up on the opening day and a third so his horses are obviously in flying form. A bit of each-way on Whisper with Nico de Boinville taking off 5lbs seems a wise move.

Modus takes on team Mullins in the Champion Bumper at 5.15. He should improve for the better ground and should also give us a good run.

Wednesday

Coral Cup – Whisper at 18-1 Bet365

Ante-post

Neptune – Un Temps Pour Tout 25-1, Red Sherlock 20-1, Faugheen 10-1

RSA Chase – O’Faolains Boy 16-1

Coral Cup – Calculated Risk 40-1

Champion Chase – Sire De Grugy 25-1

Fred Winter – Space Ship 16-1

Champion Bumper – Modus 10-1

Cheltenham 2014 Day One Preview

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The Cheltenham festival meeting has finally arrived! It seems like trainers have been talking about nothing else since the flat season finished in November and the action gets under way at 1.30 with one of our best bets of the meeting in Irving.

We tipped him back in December at 16-1 and he is now a top-priced 11-4 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He has done nothing wrong all season, other than perhaps one or two sticky jumps. That is a concern in a big field as he cannot afford to guess at one like he did at Kempton last time out. Nick Scholfield can hopefully keep him out of trouble but he’ll have to keep an eye on Ruby Walsh on Vautour.

The one I want to be on each-way is Gilgamboa at 12-1 who was only committed to this race yesterday. He won the competitive Boylesports Hurdle last time out and that was a great run for a novice. I’ve always felt that the gap between a top handicapper and a Grade 1 winner is a lot closer than it seems and he looks cracking each-way value. Better still, Paddy Power will refund your win bet if he is 2nd, 3rd or 4th as a special offer!

We’re on Dodging Bullets at 6-1 in the Arkle. I must admit that I am very surprised to see only 9 runners. I don’t fancy Champagne Fever at all at his odds and I’m leaning towards Rock On Ruby. I tipped him at big odds when he won the Champion Hurdle in 2012 so I have a soft spot for him. The small field is a great boost to his prospects as he has very limited jumping experience.

Hadrian’s Approach is a tentative selection in the Festival Chase at 2.40. Nicky Henderson has been quite vocal in his opinions on this horse but the big worry is his jumping. He has blundered away his chances here before and I’ll be hoping that Barry Geraghty can steer a careful path through a packed field. He does seem to be better in a smaller field but he’s worth a small bet at 10-1.

Glens Melody was value for more than her narrow victory at Warwick last time and could sneak into the frame at a nice price in Quevega’s race. If the great mare is in tip-top shape nothing will beat her but it is worth looking for value as she is now ten years of age and has not had a prep race. Finally, have a small each-way on Ohio Gold at 25-1 in the last. He was third last year and has been prepared by Colin Tizzard for this race all season.

1.30 Ante-post Irving at 16-1

Gilgamboa at 12-1 Paddy Power (money back if 2nd, 3rd or 4th special offer)

2.05 Ante-post Dodging Bullets at 6-1

Rock On Ruby at 9-2 Paddy Power

2.40 Hadrian’s Approach at 10-1 Unibet

4.00 Glens Melody at 16-1 BetBright

4.40 Ante-Post Foxrock at 9-1

5.15 Ohio Gold at 25-1 Skybet, William Hill

Cheltenham Ante-Post Roundup

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It’s time for a final run-down of our ante-post portfolio for next week’s Cheltenham festival. We will be previewing each day in our regular blog with the best bets of the day but here is the state of play.

The tone of the meeting could be set by Irving in the opener. I’ve been an enthusiastic follower since he won at Ascot earlier in the season and he’s now as short as 5-2 in places.

Day two is probably the most important day of the week for our portfolio with 25-1 Sire De Grugy carrying our hopes. If he runs as he did at Ascot he will win but he has not shown his best form at the track in the past and we won’t be able to breathe easily until he’s battled up the famous hill! He is the highlight of a busy day’s betting with three in the Neptune (possibly down to two if Pipe opts for a handicap for Un Temps Pour Tout).

Thursday is the weakest day of the week although it has received a boost with the news that Annie Power is set to clash with Big Buck’s. Friday’s Gold Cup has plenty of interest for us with three likely starters (Rocky Creek and Dynaste may be taken out). King’s Palace is one of our banker bets in the Albert Bartlett and Le Rocher should give us a bold run in the Triumph. Activial is still not a certain starter but we are on NR – No bet.

Good luck with all your Cheltenham bets and join us on Monday for our preview of Tuesday’s card!

Tuesday

Supreme – Irving 16-1

Arkle Chase – Dodging Bullets 6-1

National Hunt Chase – Foxrock 9-1

Wednesday

Neptune – Un Temps Pour Tout 25-1, Red Sherlock 20-1, Faugheen 10-1

RSA Chase – O’Faolains Boy 16-1

Coral Cup – Calculated Risk 40-1

Champion Chase – Sire De Grugy 25-1

Fred Winter – Space Ship 16-1

Champion Bumper – Modus 10-1

Thursday

Byrne Group Plate – Cause Of Causes 12-1

Friday

Triumph Hurdle – Le Rocher 14-1, Activial 10-1

County Hurdle – Dell’ Arca 16-1, Cheltenian 14-1

Albert Bartlett – Kings Palace 5-1

Gold Cup – Last Instalment 14-1, Silviniaco Conti 9-1, Dynaste 25-1, Triolo D’Alene 40-1, Rocky Creek 33-1

Coral Cup Preview

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The picture for the Coral Cup is as clear as mud at the moment with 88 entries. As only 28 can take part, it seems sensible to concentrate on the top half and that leaves several fancied runners out of the reckoning.

The two horses that I have had an eye on for this have problems. Firstly, Nicky Henderson’s Whisper has 11st 11lb. That is only 1lb more than carried by Medinas last year so it can be done but I generally don’t like backing top weights in handicaps. He is also up 6lbs for being beaten by Saphir Du Rheu in the Welsh Champion Hurdle.

The problem for Ascot winner Kaylif Aramis are is the going. He’s a far better horse in soft ground and almost certainly won’t run if it dries up. Un Temps Pour Tout has been touted for this race since romping home at Ascot but I’d have thought he’d have more chance in a novice race. I’d be looking at the Neptune or the Albert Bartlett but his trainer is already strongly represented in both.

I won’t have Dunguib at any price with his weight (11st 12lb) while most of the Paul Nicholls entries are well exposed. The possible exception is Lac Fontana who was taken out of the Imperial Cup at Sandown in favour of a festival run. Bayan is yet to prove that he stays this trip and still holds an entry in the County Hurdle.

Meister Eckhart was second in this race last year when beaten by stable companion Medinas and then finished third at Aintree after looking certain to win. His chasing career was put on hold after a disastrous run at Wincanton and he battled on to finish second to Kayf Moss at Fontwell. The form of the Fontwell race is suspect with Saphir Du Rheu running poorly and there may be better handicapped horses.

I’m going to take a chance on 40-1 shot Calculated Risk here after a win at Sedgefield. That may not sound like Cheltenham form but he was a fair performer on the flat and had acquitted himself well at Sandown on his previous start. He was beaten only four and a quarter lengths by Deep Trouble when finishing sixth after staying on promisingly in the Greatwood Hurdle.

John Quinn has entered him in three races at the meeting so I’m not sure if this will be his first choice. If it is, 40-1 is a good price and Cheltenham is NR – no bet on all races.

Calculated Risk at 40-1 Bet Victor, Coral

Non-runner – No bet

Arkle Chase Preview

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The latest declaration stage has at least whittled down the numbers for the opening day of the Cheltenham festival on Tuesday. The highlight of the day is the Champion Hurdle and JP McManus has dug into his deep pockets to supplement 13-year-old Captain Cee Bee.

It says a lot for the horse’s constitution that he is still fast enough to set the pace for Champion hurdlers. He was only beaten around three lengths when setting the pace in the Irish Champion Hurdle by Hurricane Fly and Our Conor. The injury scare over My Tent Or Yours seems to have been overcome so the race is set up for a sprint finish. I shall be fascinated to see who kicks for home first with The New One also best held up for a late run.

The Champion Hurdle does not strike me as a betting race and I’m more interested in the Arkle Chase. 18 have been declared for the two-mile novice event and I’m sure that Champagne Fever is vulnerable over this trip. He has won at the past two festivals and full credit to Willie Mullins if he has got the grey in tip-top shape again.

I wouldn’t be backing him at the current prices and much prefer the claims of Dodging Bullets. He suffered his first defeat over fences when just caught by Module in desperate ground at Newbury. Bookmakers were un-moved by that performance but I felt it marked him out as a serious chaser. Module ran a stinker on his previous start at Huntingdon but was only beaten a head by Somersby on his seasonal debut.

Raya Star was two and a half lengths back in third, closer than he had been at Cheltenham in November. The going was good that day and the ground seems to be drying out and may even be good to soft by Tuesday. Dodging Bullets looked very smart when seeing off Grandouet by ten lengths in December, especially when you consider he was conceding 6lbs.

I cannot have Grandouet here on level weights and yet he is only a couple of points longer than Dodging Bullets in the betting. Nicholls also runs Hinterland who beat Grandouet by a neck at Sandown. I don’t think there is much doubt that Nicholls regards “Dodger” as the better of the two and he looks worth a bet at 6-1.

Dodging Bullets at 6-1 Bet365