Cheltenham betting

Paddy Power have invited an exclusive panel of horse racing experts to share their previews for the Cheltenham Festival, one for everyday of the festival. Hear the tips and suggestions of Andrew McNamara, Brian Flanagan, Jessica Harrington, The Couch and Derek Thompson.

Cheltenham Festival Previews
   
Tuesday (Champion Hurdle)
   

Wednesday (Queen Mother Champion Chase)
   

Thursday (World Hurdle)
   

Friday (Gold Cup)
   

Bet with Paddy Power

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!

Paddy Power is renowned for its special bets, refunds and general sheer-madness and to celebrate this year’s Cheltenham Festival, the world’s most generous bookmaker has gone stark raving bonkers and come up with an amazing Money-Back Special on the opening contest, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

If Cousin Vinny wins the two-miler on Tuesday, Paddy Power will refund all losing win and each-way singles on the race.

The six-year-old is currently trading as 5-2 favourite with Paddy Power with his nearest rival in the market, Torphichen, at 5-1. Should Cousin Vinny prevail, the bookie has absolutely no idea what the turnover is likely to be on the race this year, especially as with the strength of this offer, punters would be crazy to bet anywhere else on the race which could well lead to a record payout.

Last year’s renewal of the Supreme was fifth highest at slightly over 2 million in terms of Paddy Power‘s turnover of all of the races at the Festival behind the Gold Cup in pole position.

Cousin Vinny was a revelation in last year‘s Weatherbys Champion Bumper at this event, proving three and a quarter lengths too powerful for Corskeagh Royale. He has won two hurdles this season. Last time he was robbed of victory in the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, when he was cantering all over the eventual winner but stumbled after the last obstacle giving Patrick Mullins no chance of staying in the saddle.

The son of Bob Back also holds an engagement in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and if trainer Willie Mullins decides to bypass the Supreme, this one-off super-special bet will revert to whichever horse is sent off favourite in the Supreme.

Paddy Power spokesman Paddy Power said:  “With the current state of the financial sector it looks like Vinny will be the only Irish banker to do punters a favour this year!”

But it certainly spices up an already intriguing race and any punters not betting with Paddy Power this Cheltenham want their heads examined.

Paddy Power‘s super-special follows on from the bookie’s decision to pay out on Master Minded to win the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival on any ante-post singles placed on Paul Nicholls’ brilliant chaser almost two months before he even goes to post in the championship contest.

That pay out came on January 19 and was prompted by the fact that Paddy Power has never had a shorter ante-post Cheltenham favourite than Master Minded and came to the conclusion that morning that ‘enough is enough’, the horse is unbeatable and it’s time to reward punters by paying out early.

Anyone who had backed Master Minded with Paddy Power from a high of 6-4 to then current price of 1-3 before 10am that morning were paid out as if Ruby had already crossed the line.

You might tell your better half that Christmas or your anniversary or some other family occasion is your favourite time of year. Paddy Power know the truth though and after a year of racing it’s the only festival we love to celebrate the Cheltenham Festival and it’s just over a week away.

The big race of the opening day is the Smurfitt Kappa Champion Hurdle. Ireland have been cleaning up in this two miler over the last decade but Katchit lead home a British 1-2-3 last year though he’s an outside shot this time round for a repeat though Binocular should mark another one up for Britain. The JP McManus owned horse will be making a first run of the year and is expected to win impressively.

Wednesday gets an extra race for the first time and the best of the seven is the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Master Minded’s win in this one last year was so impressive that no one really expects anything other than the same again this year. Nothing’s guaranteed at Cheltenham and if there’s going to be an upset, who could it be?

Ladies Day is when we make all our fillies and whips puns but it also has two cracking races in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase. There’s no Inglis Drever this time round so Kasbah Bliss leads the betting to replace the three time winner. Voy Per Ustedes is a big favourite after winning in Ascot though there are many who believe an upset is on the cards and suggest you cast your eye a little further down the betting.

Denman and Kauto Star will be going at it again in the showpiece Cheltenham Gold Cup on the Friday, which just happens to be the thirteenth. One of them is going to be unlucky but could both. Neptune Collonges trailed them both in last year’s race and could improve upon that third placed finish and while a horse like Exotic Dancer could upset the odds it’s looking likely that Paul Nicholls will be celebrating another Gold Cup success. Will Denman make it a double though?

Paddy Power have made the Cheltenham their top top priority this year and offer everything a punter could wish for.

Bet with Paddy Power

They have published some funny TV ads which you can also watch here:

Paddy Power Cheltenham TV ad featuring Carlton Palmer

Paddy Power Cheltenham TV ad featuring Richard Dunwoody