Horse Racing Betting – Diamond To Be A Jewel At The Festival

Royal Ascot, The Derby, Glorious Goodwood, Punchestown. All great occasions but for most horse racing enthusiasts, nothing quite matches the excitement (or the ability to empty the pocket) of the Cheltenham Festival and those who believe that short-priced favourites in many of the championship races mean that this year’s betting bonanza will be more predictable than the norm – think again! Take the Gold Cup, for example.

With reigning champion Denman noticeably under par when well beaten by Madison du Berlais on his belated reappearance at Kempton, everybody has been keen to jump aboard 2007 champion Kauto Star. They forget, however, that the multiple Grade 1 winner will have to do what no horse has ever done before (i.e. regain chasing’s Blue Riband) and his tendency to ‘miss out’ the odd fence means his best quote of 15-8 (sportingbet, William Hill and extrabet) is singularly unatttractive.

Stablemate Neptune Collonges, third last year and 6-1 with sportingbet, Ladbrokes and William Hill, has his supporters but can anyone explain to me why he should be half the odds of Exotic Dancer? You see, I’m not convinced the grey would have held off the latter at Leopardstown in December had he stayed on his feet and Jonjo O’Neill has deliberately given the nine-year-old a relatively light campaign this winter as he bids to build on his third and fifth in previous Gold Cups. At 12-1 with sportingbet, Ladbrokes and extrabet, Exotic Dancer appeals as the value at this late stage.

By contrast in the Champion Hurdle, I think the layers may have got it right. Binocular was the best two-mile novice hurdler around last year and has progressed again this season. Tony McCoy hardly had a moment’s worry as the five-year-old cruised to victory at Ascot in December and, though now only a best 13-8 with bet365 and sporting bet, Binocular looks the one to beat. Reigning champion Katchit didn’t do himself justice at Ascot but Cheltenham brings out the best in him and at 16-1 with Ladbrokes he certainly warrants an each-way interest.

And what of the other races? Well Diamond Harry has impressed me in looks and ability every time I’ve seen him and can still be backed at 4-1 with bet365, sportingbet and Paddy Power for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle, while Gone to Lunch looks to have ideal credentials for the RSA Chase. Jerry Scott‘s chestnut (a general 8-1) jumps well and will be able to maintain an end-to-end gallop better than most. Ireland, of course, will also have their share of winners and should again dominate the Festival Bumper in particular. Dermot Weld‘s Rite Of Passage (a general 10-1) may well be a star in the making and could thwart the Willie Mullins team in Wednesday’s finale and I think former Festival winner Drombeag may be the pick of Enda Bolger‘s challengers in the Cross Country Chase. At 14-1 with Paddy Power and Stan James, he’s the final name in this hopeful punter’s ante-post portfolio. Good luck!