Cheltenham Today.

[Charnwood]

I couldn't believe that more than 20,000 spectators turned up at Cheltenham this afternoon (Friday) for the first day of the Paddy Power Meeting, but apparently that's the norm. It felt really busy which seems ridiculous when you consider more than 70,000 attend Gold Cup Day in Festival Week.

Always nice to get an 8/1 winner in the first race especially when it's picked out solely on its name Handy Andy.

[marko69]

And very apt, Charnwood......, when it comes to backing winners, you definitely are "Handy Andy"! Good stuff, well done.

[Charnwood]

And very apt, Charnwood......, when it comes to backing winners, you definitely are "Handy Andy"! Good stuff, well done.

It was another very good day Marko, 4 winners from 6 races.... but of course it's always a lot easier when the first one comes in.

I think my wife thinks it's a lot easier than it is, but I must admit we are on a lucky run at the moment. Having said that, some are easier to pick out than other's like;

In the last race yesterday Ruby Walsh had travelled over from Ireland for his only ride of the afternoon on fav Quick Jack which at 9/4 which was pretty much a no brainer and duly delivered.

[marko69]

4 from 6? That is pretty darn good picking, Charnwood. I am TERRIBLE at picking horse winners. I've only ever picked one Grand National winner...... And here is the pathetic reason I picked it...... It was the "Seagram Grand National" and there was a horse called Seagram...., so I picked it.
Greyhounds? Only ever pick Trap 5 on the basis that it's gotta win sometime!

But seriously though, ever since I can remember, my dad has religiously studied racing form. And he is bloody good at picking winners. That thing you said about Ruby being over for one race, guaranteed my dad will have known that also, and had......., 2 quid on it! Bit of a tight git my dad!

[Charnwood]

Marco, I can only recall having one decent winner in the Grand National and that was way back in 1984 when I selected another horse chosen solely by liking the name; Hallo Dandy which won at 13/1.

My very best ever win on a horse chosen solely on its name was in the late 60's when I bet £1 each way on a horse named Grandrew which won at 100/1. I placed the same bet on it again the following week and it won again, the second time at 10/1.

Sometimes the most successful returns come from horses chosen solely by name as opposed to form, however it sometimes pays to listen to people with knowledge of the sport.

As you can probably gather I do like my Horse Racing and managed another winner today from two bets placed at Cheltenham. The winner was Dell'Arca which won at 12/1. I'd heard Tom Scudamore talking about it on Channel 4 saying how good it was and that the owners had paid something like £228k for it which seemed a lot of money for a horse running in a Grade 3 Hurdle Race. Hence it felt good for a £5ew bet which retuned handsomely.

Having had a successful run it will soon be time to cash in for 2013 and start again in 2014.

[marko69]

There is a flip side to this theory Charnwood. There was once a horse called Mighty Mark and it was a regular at Musselburgh. That bstd lost me a shed load of cash!

My daughter when she was 14 years old gave me her £25 Saturday morning newsagent job money and said, "Hedge Hunter will win the grand national, Dad. Put this money on it"......, I said, "Err NO, but I'll put a £5 on it for you"......., the thing won at 8/1 I think......., she gave me a tough time for that!

[Ricco]

Off to Cheltenham today, just finished my picks, can't be too prepared!

Anyone there over the week?

Got any more picks for us this year Charny?

[Charnwood]

I'd love to be there Ricco but always find The Festival Meeting a bit too busy for me these days.
It was great in the days of "Corporate Hospitality" but those days are are over for me now I'm retired, and also Cheltenham is pretty expensive when you're on a pension.
I still follow it closely and each day a gang of us will play 9 holes at noon and watch the races at the Golf Club. We'll bet online and have a Sweep in each race instigated by my Ex Pro footballer pal who I think still misses the buzz of big race days where he tells stories of betting a grand on every race without even seriously looking at the form. God knows what they do nowadays given how much they earn these days.

I've had a couple of small bets this morning on Rock On Ruby and Our Conor and I also have a larger bet on Quevega in the 5th race which I placed at 4/1, I expect this to go off odds on with Cockney Sparrow it's main threat.

I always like to try to get off to a good start so I'd probably side with Vautour in the first race.

Having said that I had such a bad day at Warwick on Sunday ( 5 bets - No winners ) that I don't feel confident about anything. Also I can't recall ever coming out on top at Cheltenham Festival where there are always surprise winners that you'd never pick in a million years.

Have fun Ricco, hope you find some winners. ...and don't come home

If you're still looking for a winner by the time of the last race Ericht looks an interesting prospect for back to back wins and will probably be a decent price circa 8/1.

[Charnwood]

I hope you picked up my earlier post Ricco. I only had a tenner on it at 3/1 but at least it's a decent start and a whole lot better than I did on Sunday.

I'm on Rock on a Ruby in the next but do fancy the prospects for Champagne Fever.

Hope it's going well for you.

[Charnwood]

Two winners from 4 bets is pretty much as good as it gets at Cheltenham so overall I'm quite satisfied.

Hope you've had a good day too Ricco.

[Charnwood]

Marco, I can only recall having one decent winner in the Grand National and that was way back in 1984 when I selected another horse chosen solely by liking the name; Hallo Dandy which won at 13/1.

My very best ever win on a horse chosen solely on its name was in the late 60's when I bet £1 each way on a horse named Grandrew which won at 100/1. I placed the same bet on it again the following week and it won again, the second time at 10/1.

Sometimes the most successful returns come from horses chosen solely by name as opposed to form, however it sometimes pays to listen to people with knowledge of the sport.

As you can probably gather I do like my Horse Racing and managed another winner today from two bets placed at Cheltenham. The winner was Dell'Arca which won at 12/1. I'd heard Tom Scudamore talking about it on Channel 4 saying how good it was and that the owners had paid something like £228k for it which seemed a lot of money for a horse running in a Grade 3 Hurdle Race. Hence it felt good for a £5ew bet which retuned handsomely.

Having had a successful run it will soon be time to cash in for 2013 and start again in 2014.

Ricco, have a look at my post above which I made in November.... the horse I wrote about Dell'Arca is running in the Coral Cup at 2.40 tomorrow. I've just put £25ew on it half at 12/1 and half at SP.
No jockey knows Cheltenham better than local lad Tom Scudamore who rode the horse when it won here in November, and whilst this race is a different class I couldn't resist having a little flutter.

[Ricco]

Cheers Charny, was a fantastic day, I picked 3 winners, Vautour, what a fantastic horse that is, a course record, I put money on him a while ago at 10s, Quevega, just for the hell of it, great to see her win 6, and Present View.

I picked a lot of placed horses too, which I can't complain about, but is always frustrating! And had 3 long odds horses fall when travelling very strongly with every chance.

The best thing this year was I had an idea for everyone in our group to stick £10 each in to a kitty and bet 50% of it on a horse EW in each race which we voted on before hand. After two races our £50 kitty had dropped to £14 and was not looking very healthy, but after Present View had won for us in the last race it had grown to just under £600! We were obviously rather happy about that! A good thing to do, you get to cover more horses and all go through the same emotions, we might just stake a bit more next year!

It was very busy there this year, I hope they find a way to remedy it a bit, it was real hard work getting around and buying drinks etc.

Could not believe Western Warhorse and Jezki won, wouldn't have picked that in a million years, the champion hurdle was a 4 horse race and Jezki beats the lot! I picked Champagne fever and Trifolium for 1st and 2nd and then Western Warhorse did that and stuck them 2nd and 3rd, when he won I was like 'Western who?!' I always check all the horses because there's nothing like spotting an upset at long odds, but I skipped over him very quickly and with good reason, only 1 race over fences, where he only just beat Victor Hewgo, and that was over 19f not 16f with the rest of his races being focused at longer distances, that was a real strange one against a top quality field.

Today will be spent recovering, with a few flutters too I'm sure! Cheers for the tip, I'll go and have a look at Dell'Arca, good luck on that one and anything else you decide to back!

[Charnwood]

Thanks for the report Ricco, I almost felt I was there with you and in many ways I wish I was but as I said yesterday I can't be done with all the hustle and bustle these days.

Three winners at Cheltenham is a brilliant achievement Ricco and one that most punters could only dream of during Festival week. I was up on the day but nothing worth shouting about and today is probably the most difficult day of the meeting, I think it's one of those days when favourites rarely win and last year was no exception when only one favourite came in and that was 1/4 odds on with only 7 runners, three other horses won, two at 25/1 one ridden by Ruby Walsh and another at 33/1.

I think I might just stick with the one bet today although I like the favourite in the opener but given favourites past record I may give it a wide berth.

As for Dell'Arca in the Coral Cup, the big worry is that some bookies are now making it favourite, which is a bit of a concern given that no favourite has won this race for the past 20 years.

The race yesterday when you were on Champagne Fever & Trifolium, I noticed at Warwick on Sunday a new tote bet called Tote Swinger, where you select two horses to be 1st, 2nd or 3rd in any order which I guess would have paid you out, but I'm not sure what the returns are like.

I like your kitty idea, that sounds like a bit of fun and gives you a chance to play around with some outsiders that you'd normally not look at... Although I can't remember exactly how it works, tomorrow at the golf club when there'll be six to eight of us, and as well as betting we have a sweep on every race, £5ppp race in the kitty £30-£40, we each pick a horse and winner takes all. I just can't remember what random process we use to decide who has first second pick etc, but it always works well and the money stays in the room as opposed to in the bookies pockets and some of the guys will only play the sweep. The other good thing about this, is that if nobody has the winner, the one with the first horse over the line wins.

Enjoy the day recovering and I hope any flutters you have come good.

[Ricco]

That sounds like a good thing to do, I shall bare it in mind for next year!

Yeah funny one for favourites, Faugheen surely only needs to stay on his feet to win though, wonderful horse, but need to spend a lot to get much back on those odds. I'll be looking more at the larger odds for an upset I think, Fenell Bay is quick, will find out today if he can stay too, probably can't

Coral cup looks a bit dodgy to me, there are a lot of horses making the step up from 16f to 21f today, I'm about to look through them now, but so hard to tell which will suit the longer trip, hopefully Dell 'Arca!

[Ricco]

Got to say I fancy Vendor myself, with Timesremembered as a possible dark horse, plenty of horses there that could win though, best of luck!

[goldandblack]

My bets today.

1-30
6...Faugheen 1st 6/4.....1 WIN...................2...BALLYALTON 2nd 20/1.....1 EW

2.05...2...Ballycasey.....NOT/PL..1 WIN...5....CORRIN WOOD ….NOT/PL....1 EW

2.40.16...Dell ' Arca ..5th 1.WIN..................2...WHISPER......1st....14/1....1 EW

3.20..7.Sire De Grugy...1st 11/4....1 WIN....6..MODULE 3rd 20/1....1 EW

4.00..1...Balthazar 1st 4/1...1 WIN..............3...BIG SHU..3rd 3/1...1 EW

4.40....4....Ivan Grozny... NOT/PL...1 WIN......18...Azza.. NOT/PL....1 EW

5.15...13...Shaneshill.1 WIN......................7. killutaugh...1 EW



..........................
£1 win on each
£1 win doubles
£1 win treble.

1-30....2...BALLYALTON.......2nd 20/1

2.05...2......BALLCASEY... ... NOT/PL

4.00...1.....BALTHAZAR..... ..1st ..4/1

[Charnwood]

Another profitable day today, I'd no idea ew paid out on 5th place, is that something new ?

In addition to Dell'Arca I had four other bets and all were winners, Faugheen at 7/4, two separate bets on Sire de Grugy, one at 3/1 and one at SP + Balthazar King at 5/1.

Fortunately I've been out all day playing golf so didn't watch any live racing and placed all my bets last night before going to bed, that way there's no late changing one's mind.

I'm currently going through tomorrows card looking to find a few more decent bets.

Hope you had a good day too Ricco.

[goldandblack]

Thursday Bets

1.30...10...WONDERFULL CHARM..£1. WIN
...........8...TAQUIN DU SEUIL........£1 EW

2.05.....1... FINGAL BAY..............£1...WIN
............14..TOP WOOD...............£1...EW

2.40......2..BENEFFICIENT...........£1...WIN
............1..A1 Ferof....................£1...EW

3.20.....11...ANNIE POWER .........£1..WIN
.............6...MORE OF THAT........£1...EW

4.00.......3...COLOUR SQAUDRON..£1.WIN
.............6...BALLYNAGOUR..........£1..EW

4.40......11..SPRING HEELED......£1...WIN
............13..BALNASLOW...........£1...EW


plus 6 X £1WIN Reverse Forecasts

with a bit of luck I'll get me money back

[goldandblack]

I alway's used to do Hubbard's horses from Worlingworth , Suffolk, trained by F Murphy but not notices any of Murpthy's horse's running at Cheltenham this week.

he always had some good horses for ew bets.

[Charnwood]

My bets today.

1-30
6...Faugheen 1st 6/4.....1 WIN...................2...BALLYALTON 2nd 20/1.....1 EW

2.05...2...Ballycasey.....NOT/PL..1 WIN...5....CORRIN WOOD ….NOT/PL....1 EW

2.40.16...Dell ' Arca ..5th 1.WIN..................2...WHISPER......1st....14/1....1 EW

3.20..7.Sire De Grugy...1st 11/4....1 WIN....6..MODULE 3rd 20/1....1 EW

4.00..1...Balthazar 1st 4/1...1 WIN..............3...BIG SHU..3rd 3/1...1 EW

4.40....4....Ivan Grozny... NOT/PL...1 WIN......18...Azza.. NOT/PL....1 EW

5.15...13...Shaneshill.1 WIN......................7. killutaugh...1 EW



..........................
£1 win on each
£1 win doubles
£1 win treble.

1-30....2...BALLYALTON.......1st 6/4

2.05...2......BALLCASEY... ... NOT/PL

4.00...1.....BALTHAZAR..... ..1st ..4/1

That Whisper was a great pick G&B.... how did you pick that one ?

Four winners on the day I guess you were well up ?

Have you picked out any for tomorrow yet....?

Next year we should have a Cheltenham Tipster Competition between us, or maybe do one each Saturday with an imaginary £10 bet and see who can accumulate the most, or even lose the least.

[goldandblack]

sounds a great idea, and a good laugh.
that WHISPER was a just an ew tip from the racing post,
I only put a £1 win and £1 ew on each race so I think I'm about £27 up on the day.

I used to go to take a mini bus to Cheltenham every year from the pub but its to much an effort these days.

have put all my bets for tomorrow above

[Ricco]

That Whisper was a great pick G&B.... how did you pick that one ?

Yeah it was! He was my third pick, but his weight put me off, using Saphir Du Rheu as a yardstick Vendor should've beat him by a mile. C'est la vie, congrats G&B!

Horrible day for me, I couldn't resist putting money on Faugheen, so that softened the blow, but apart from the coral cup, every other horse I backed fell or was brought down!

[goldandblack]

Yea Cheltenham's a tough place to bet, luck plays a big part there.

[Charnwood]

I alway's used to do Hubbard's horses from Worlingworth , Suffolk, trained by F Murphy but not notices any of Murpthy's horse's running at Cheltenham this week.

he always had some good horses for ew bets.

I met Ferdy Murphy a few years back in a pub where we were staying for a few days in West Witton, The Wensleydale Heifer which was his local and where he was a bit of a local celebrity and most definitely a character. After a few beers he invited us the next day to visit his Wynbury Stables just a walk from the pub, and we had our photograph taken with Cheltenham winner French Holly, I'm guessing that would have been 1998.
As you know used to specifically target the Cheltenham Festival where over the years he saddled 10 winners however he fell out of favour with the authorities in 2009 and was fined by the BHA for allegedly telling a jockey not to try so as to affect a horse's handicap rating.
More recently in 2013 he relocated his yard to Normandy in France where he trains and breeds and no longer enters races in the UK which is why we don't see him at Cheltenham anymore.

[Charnwood]

That Whisper was a great pick G&B.... how did you pick that one ?

Yeah it was! He was my third pick, but his weight put me off, using Saphir Du Rheu as a yardstick Vendor should've beat him by a mile. C'est la vie, congrats G&B!

Horrible day for me, I couldn't resist putting money on Faugheen, so that softened the blow, but apart from the coral cup, every other horse I backed fell or was brought down!

You should bet with Coral's, I think they give you your money back if your horse falls. ... at least that's what there email say's that they sent me today....



Money Back If Your Horse Falls, Unseats or is Brought Down.


Hi Andrew,

Two days down and we've already witnessed so many heroic performances. To win at the Cheltenham Festival, horses require herculean qualities, but it's boundless stamina that often sets them apart, and we're saluting one of the all-time Cheltenham Heroes, the indomitable Big Buck's.

Price Enhancement – Big Buck's @ 9/2*
He's the undisputed King of the staying hurdling division having won four successive renewals of tomorrow's prestigious three-mile feature, the World Hurdle. We're going a massive 9/2 from 8:15am for a limited time (max stake £20) on Big Buck's reclaiming his crown.

Big Buck's has become a firm household favourite having also endeared himself to many with his never say die attitude. Although he failed to extend his winning record on his comeback run from more than a year out injured, there was plenty to like about the performance, showing he still retains plenty of zeal. His main rival tomorrow, Annie Power, has yet to run over this gruelling trip and if she has any cracks, Big Buck's is certain to exploit them.

Plus! Don't forget to check out our Mobile Exclusives each day of the Festival. Both of today's enhancements duly obliged with Faugheen winning @ 2/1 and Sire De Grugy being placed at evens!

Good luck,

The Team @Coral


Download our App and you could win £1,000 in free bets for the Cheltenham Festival. Enter here


Terms and Conditions Apply
*Cheltenham Hero Price Enhancement: Gambleaware.co.uk 18+. Available from 08:15 on website/mobile/telephone only, for a limited time. Singles only, max bet £20, restrictions may apply. Price subject to fluctuation.

Odds subject to fluctuation.

[Ricco]

You should bet with Coral's, I think they give you your money back if your horse falls.

Blimey, cheers, I'll check it out!

For me today:

1.30

Felix Younger
Taquin Du Seuil EW

2.40
Benefficient
Rathlin EW

3.20
Big Bucks
Celstial Halo EW

Might have a quick flick through the other races and place a few bob too.

[Charnwood]

You should bet with Coral's, I think they give you your money back if your horse falls.

Blimey, cheers, I'll check it out!

For me today:

1.30

Felix Younger
Taquin Du Seuil EW

2.40
Benefficient
Rathlin EW

3.20
Big Bucks
Celstial Halo EW

Might have a quick flick through the other races and place a few bob too.

Corals are going to offer Big Bucks at 9/2 for a while this morning from 8.15am... Max bet £20.

If you fancy him to win I don't think you'll find a better price even though he won't be favourite to win. I think I'll put a tenner on him at that price.

[Charnwood]

Not sure what happened to the 9/2 but I've just taken 4/1 and put the odd £18.75 sitting in my Coral a/c on the nose.

I can't say I'm particularly confident about it but I really do like Big Bucks but just can't see him beating the impressive Annie Power especially with Ruby Walsh on board.

[Ricco]

Starting at 8:15am? Very tempting, would snap it up if I didn't already have £5 on the nose and £5ew.

Is Big Bucks the horse he was? Is Annie Power as good as everyone thinks and able to last the trip, they must be pretty confident for them to risk her, but I'm not convinced. Big Buck's didn't have a great result last time out, but he was unfit with top weight on heavy ground and still nearly stayed, I'm not sure what Knockara Beau was doing running the race of his life either

If I was a bookie I'd have them going off at pretty similar prices, so I reckon Big Buck's is the value for money bet, even if Annie Power probably should win.

[Charnwood]

The 9/2 was/is there under the heading Cheltenham Offer.....

I'm struggling to be decisive this morning even after listening to the experts on The a Morning Line. Every time I find something I fancy I then find another that looks just as good and I really hate betting on two horses in the same race, it just seems pointless even tho it can work especially at the longer odds.

Maybe I'll stick with fun at the golf club and see if I can be lucky in the sweep.... Only problem there will be the winner "buys the drinks".... that could be a bit messy come 5pm .

I have just put a fiver each way on Seefood at 14/1 in the 2.05.. a spare ride just taken by Ruby Walsh which I thought was interesting.

I'm sure I'll find another couple of bets before racing starts but for the time being it's Big Bucks & Seefood.