Cheltenham Betting 2010

The Cheltenham Gold Cup without reservation remains the show-piece event of any annual Cheltenham Festival for the racing studs, owners, trainers, jockeys, bookmakers, race-goers and the millions who watch it on TV sets around the world. Which from an unapologetic Cheltenham betting 2010 perspective, means yourselves and us.

Contended by what are largely considered to be the best jumping horses at the time over three miles and two furlongs of track - and negotiating 22 fences en route to the finishing post - the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup will provide a stern test for both rider and mount when it's upon us as of Friday the 19th March 2010. Moreover, it will be an equally hard one to call for those of us looking at it from a Cheltenham betting 2010 perspective, hoping to boost our Cheltenham Horse Racing experience that much further by backing who we believe to be in the hunt.

Big Bucks Gets Punters Back On Track

18/03/2010

After a terribly disappointing two and a half days in which winning favourites have been harder to find than life on Mars, Big Bucks has given punters something to cheer about after romping to victory in Thursday’s World Hurdle. The Paul Nicholls horse never once looked like getting beat at any stage throughout the race and returned the 5/6 favourite with backers counting their winnings long before he crossed the winning line. Odds-on backers will be hoping that Kauto Star can follow up the success with victory in Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup in order to bolster the Cheltenham Betting 2010 coffers.

Bookies Clearing Up

17/03/2010

The bookmakers have been the big winner on the first two days of the Cheltenham Festival as both of the heavily fancied odds on favourites were turned over in convincing fashion. First up was Dunguib who finished third in the Supreme Novices Hurdle then the hugely anticipated hat-trick attempt from Master Minded was foiled by Big Zeb.

Punters have another two odds on favourites to pin their hopes to in order to get their Cheltenham Betting 2010 back on track; Big Bucks goes off the odds on favourite for the Thursday’s World Hurdle then on Friday the eyes of the betting word will be firmly fixated on Kauto Star in the Gold Cup. The first half of the festival has belonged to the bookies, can the punters fight back on Thursday and Friday?

In, Out, In, Out...

15/03/2010

Nicky Henderson’s rendition of the hokey cokey with his Champion Hurdle challenger Binocular has ended with the horse being declared as one of the 12 runners in this year’s field. The Cheltenham Betting 2010 for the Champion Hurdle has been something of a nightmare for both bookmakers and punters alike as first Binocular’s participation was in doubt then second favourite Solhwit was diagnosed with a dirty scope and became a potential non-runner.

Both have now been declared fit and will take to the field for one of the Cheltenham Festival’s strongest races. It would be no surprise to see any of the front nine in the betting come home in front and as many as six horse are available at around the 8/1 mark.

No Mountain to climb for Mullins

08/03/2010

Despite Dunguib being the red-hot favourite for the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle Willie Mullins fancies that his challenger Blackstairmountain has a very good chance of running him close in the Cheltenham Festival opener.

"I've had him away schooling a couple of times and he hasn't put a foot wrong.” Said Mullins, before going on to add that he thinks his horse has a great chance if he jumps well.

 If he can get home in front it would be a perfect start to the festival for the bookmakers who are unsurprisingly running scared of the Irish trained horse that has never been beaten over hurdles. However, many insiders feel that Dunguib’s average round of jumping last time out was mainly due to the pace at which the race was run and if he can put that right then he will take some stopping at Prestbury Park.

Money Back on Dunguib

01/03/2010

Paddy Power have launched a sensational money back special for this year’s Cheltenham Festival. The Irish bookmaker will refund all losing Win Singles on the Supreme Novices Hurdle if Dunguib wins the race. It is an extremely bold move given Dunguib is the 4/6 favourite for the race and is many punters’ Festival banker at this year’s four-day event. Paddy Power himself is expecting to lose in the region of “a million quid” if and when Dunguib comes home in front on the opening day of the festival and he is correct in suggesting that punters would be mad to chose to bet on this race with any other bookmaker.

Menorah Flame Extinguished

22/02/2010

Dunguib’s closest rival in the Cheltenham Betting 2010 for the Supreme Novices Hurdle suffered a shock defeat at Ascot. Menorah had held the lead jumping the last flight but was chased down and headed on the line by Ruby Walsh riding Lush Life who became Nicky Henderson’s 100th winner of the season. Menorah is now a 12/1 shot for the Supreme Novices on 16 March whilst Lush Life is a 33/1 shot for the Wednesday’s Neptune Novices Hurdle for which he is entered.

Meanwhile, Monet’s Garden returned to the winner’s enclosure at Ascot after an immaculate round of jumping secured victory in the Betfair Ascot Chase. He was chased home by Alberta’s Run whose trainer was extremely happy with the horses run but is dreading how the handicapper may decide to treat him at Cheltenham. He is a 33/1 shot for the Ryan Air Chase and 66/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2010.

Zay-nar

18/02/2010

Champion Hurdle joint favourite Zaynar has plummeted in the ante-post betting after being defeated at Kelso. The Nicky Henderson trained horse lost its unbeaten tag despite starting the race as the 1/14 favourite and is now an 8/1 chance with the bookmakers for the Cheltenham Festival race. The consequence of that defeat is that Solwhit is now the 7/2 favourite and Go Native the 9/2 second favourite in a lively couple of days in the Champion Hurdle betting market which began with the withdrawal of Binocular.

Binocular Out

18/02/2010

JP McManus’s Binocular has been ruled out of this year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham due to a muscle problem. The Nicky Henderson trained horse was a 7/1 shot for the race but will now undergo surgery which will keep him out for the rest of the season. It does mean that a few of his market rivals have now shortened in the Cheltenham Betting 2010 for the Champion Hurdle; Zaynar and Solwhit share favouritism at 4/1 whilst Go Native isn’t far behind in the betting and is a 5/1 chance in what could be a wide open race.

Diamond Geezer

15/02/2010

Diamond Harry maintained an unbeaten record over fences with victory at Newbury this weekend despite an average round of jumping which he will certainly need to improve on if he is to take the RSA Chase for which he remains widely available to back at 7/1. One of his rivals for that race, Long Run, put in a slightly better preparation although also struggled with his jumping early on in the race, he is 5/1 for the RSA Chase but may still be aimed for the Arkle for which he is a 10/1 shot.

Master Minded gave his connections and backers an almighty scare at the last fence when cruising to victory in the totepool Games Spirit Chase at Newbury. Master Minded crashed through the final fence but managed to stay on his feet and led Paul Nicholls to believe that he could soon be back to his best after recovering from a broken rib. He has been shortened into 5/6 in the Cheltenham Betting 2010 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and if he is indeed back to his top form he should have no problems making it three in a row.

Kauto Star And Denman Almost Neck And Neck In Cheltenham Betting 2010 Odds

As it's panning out these two powerful performers are turning the blue-riband steeplechase events into something of a literal two-horse race, with Denman's recent win in the Aon Chase at Newbury another timely hint that he'll be taking the Cheltenham Gold Cup to Kauto Star's hooves again in 2010, seeming rendering all other competition an exercise in futility. Although we'll just have to wait and see. Another horse strongly tipped from the outset of Cheltenham betting 2010, is another Grand National 2010 contender, Jim Dreaper-trained 8-year old, Notre Pere, who is available a little further down the online betting field at 10 - 1 with Paddy Power, Totesport, SkyBet and William Hill early doors. A firm favourer of soft ground, the 2008 Welsh National winner underlined his jumping and staying credentials when it mattered most. Other Aintree applicants provisionally lined-up to put in the practice before the Liverpool leaps of faith include Niche Market (33 - 1 with Bet365) and Tricky Trickster (84 - 1 with Betfair).

Those horses with the most realistic chances of standing in the way of Kauto Star's record-book bid are Willie Mullins horse, Cooldine (presently 10 - 1 with a number of virtual bookies including Betfred, SportingBet, SkyBet, Ladbrokes and Coral), Mikael DHaguenet (20 - 1 with Bet365 and Stan James), Big Bucks (20 - 1 with Boylesports, Totesport, Paddy Power and William Hill), Imperial Commander (16 - 1 in the eyes of Bet365, Betfred, SportingBet, SkyBet and 888sport) and Hennessy Gold Cup chase 2009 victor, Madison Du Berlais (20 - 1 according to Victor Chandler, Blue Square, Paddy Power and 888sport). Obviously as the eventual competition is narrowed down, we'll endeavour to throw a further spotlight on the leading contenders for the Gold Cup.

Cheltenham Features Champion Hurdle, Ladbroke World Hurdle And Queen Mother Champion Chase

Away from the notable and acclaimed feature race of the Cheltenham Festival, and the four day event signals the advent of the 2010 National Hunt season, which affords Horse Racing Betting fans their first insight and preview of the early markets for the up-coming year and the big races that characterise it as the months roll by. Other feature races that provide pointers as to what the jump season has in store for us is the equally as anticipated Champion Hurdle, Ladbroke World Hurdle and Queen Mother Champion Chase. With regards the former, and the Champion Hurdle is already seeing early bird movement in the ante-post betting stakes between Hurricane Fly (3 - 1 with Paddy Power, Totesport, Ladbrokes, Stan James and Boylesports), Binocular (5 - 1 with Victor Chandler, Ladbrokes, Stan James and Paddy Power), Solwhit (8 - 1 with Paddy Power, Victor Chandler, Totesport, Stan James and Boylesports) and Punjabi (10 - 1 with Victor Chandler, William Hill, Totesports, Ladbrokes and Boylesports).

Peering ahead to the Ladbrokes-sponsored World Hurdle odds, and it's all about Big Bucks (11 - 4 with Paddy Power), Kasbah Bliss (5 - 1 with William Hill), Punchestowns (13 -2 with Totesport), Mikael DHaguenet (5 - 1 with Stan James) and Fiveforthree (7 - 1 with Victor Chandler). The Queen Mother Champion Chase Odds is another on the Cheltenham Festival card that comprises in its field runners and riders in both the Gold Cup and the John Smiths Grand National in April for those of you trying to get a feel for the contenders in the big ones. Acknowledging the tipsters, and the sensible money at this juncture seems to be on Master Minded (10 - 11 with Stan James), Big Zeb (7 - 1 with Paddy Power), Kalahari King (12 - 1 with William Hill), Schindlers Hunt (16 - 1 with Stan James) and Barker (16 - 1 with Boylesports).

Cheltenham Betting 2010 Free Bets

As you'd expect, the online bookmakers are promoting a raft of bespoke free bets opportunities for horse racing betting fans to cash in on in the lead-up to one of the biggest dates on the National Hunt calendar, which means it's up to us to point you in the direction of their differing offers. Below is a bite-size list of a clutch of virtual bookies, and specifically what they're offering in terms of free bets ahead of the Cheltenham betting 2010 sports event;

Paddy Power - Cheltenham 2010 £20 free bet

Ladbrokes - Cheltenham 2010 £10 free bet

Stan James - Cheltenham 2010 £25 free bet

Boylesports - Cheltenham 2010 £20 free bet

Bet365 - Cheltenham 2010 £100 free bet

Totesport - Cheltenham 2010 £25 free bet

Victor Chandler - Cheltenham 2010 £100 free bet

Betfred - Cheltenham 2010 £50 free bet

Coral - Cheltenham 2010 £10 free bet

William Hill - Cheltenham 2010 £25 free bet