FOUR TO FOLLOW AT THE FESTIVAL
IN a recent biography, Harry Findlay, the legendary gambler and part-owner of Gold Cup winner Denman, said that Cheltenham is like nowhere else on earth. Not just for the buzz or the horses — the unique atmosphere, he reckons, is because it has the most knowledgeable crowd on the planet.
Findlay said: “Royal Ascot, World Cup Finals or Wimbledon — every event had a fair percentage of people in the crowd who didn’t know much about what they were watching — but that was almost nil at Cheltenham… everyone knew exactly what was going on”.
Findlay became famous for backing odds-on shots as socalled ‘value betting’ became fashionable. In that sense, I’d agree with Findlay that value can be found at both ends of the market, including odds-on.
But as knowledgeable as the Cheltenham punter can be, there are always a few ‘dead certs’ each year that are backed like they’ve no possibility of losing and so many Irish punters go home skint, often after day one.
I’ve said it before but, the formbook is a man’s best friend and that’s especially true at Cheltenham. Back your horses based on what you’ve seen, rather than what you’ve heard.
Another perennial piece of advice is to remember that the biggest advantage a punter has over the bookie is that he has to bet in every race. We don’t.
I’m not saying you should avoid short prices, I’m keen on them myself — but if you are happy to back the odds-on ‘good things’ at the Festival, just keep in mind that Cheltenham has a poor record for such horses. I analysed data from 32 various high-profile meetings in the UK and Ireland and Cheltenham (March festival), comes 19th in the table of how well or otherwise odds-on horses perform.
There were 17 winners from 29 bets since 2008, and a loss of just over 1pt to SP at level stakes. Interestingly, the Aintree National meeting tops the table with 18 wins from 22 bets and a profit of 4pts, while Newbury’s Dubai Duty Free meeting sits at the bottom with 11 winners from 26 bets, and an 8pt loss. But some have outstanding chances this year and I guess the message is not to go ‘all in’ on a single horse.
That brings me to the Champion Hurdle, for which last year’s winner Buveur D’Air is trading around 8/15. It’s very short, but Faugheen is not the force of old and it’s hard to see anything else getting the better of the jolly.
Some will put him in a multiple bet at that price, others will avoid — but the fact that the favourite is so short should mean there’s decent value on some others for the each-way backers.
FOOTPAD
Arkle Chase, Tuesday (2.10)
It’s hard to find anything negative to say here, and he’s definitely one of the best novice chasers we’ve seen in quite some time. He had a bit in hand when beating Petit Mouchoir in a Grade One at Leopardstown last time, and he’s surely going to improve even more. His jumping is superb, and he will take some beating. My festival banker.
BUVEUR D’AIR Champion Hurdle, Tuesday (3.30)
Likely to be a very short price, but last year’s winner is impossible
The one I’m most excited about on day one, however, is Footpad in the Arkle. Willie Mullins reckons he could be a Gold Cup horse and he’s been absolutely sensational since switching to fences.
Getabird will be warm in the betting for the Supreme Novices’ and he looks the real deal but so too does Kalashnikov, which would surely be shorter than 9/2 if trained by one of the top yards. Gordon Elliott’s Apple’s Jade is the one to beat in the Mares’ Hurdle but will also go off at a restrictive price.
On Wednesday, all eyes will be on Samcro in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, and Gordon Elliott’s to oppose. He didn’t need to be at his best to win his three races this term, and perhaps he could have done with a bit more of a challenge. But Nicky Henderson said he’s still improving, which is quite remarkable given how fast he travels and accurate he jumps.
SAMCRO
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Wednesday (1.30)
Can he live up to the hype? I’m convinced he can. He absolutely destroyed the field in a Grade One at Leopardstown last time and although he was priced 4/6, he
six-year-old is considered by many to be the Irish banker.
With six wins in as many races, he’s one of the most exciting horses I’ve although his critics will say that he hasn’t really been tested in Ireland, and all of those wins were at odds-on prices. I’m having none of it can’t wait to see him put his rivals to the sword. But he’ll be a short price, so backers will be left holding their breath.
Presenting Percy could be worth a few quid in the RSA Chase. Trained by Pat Kelly, he was hugely impressive in the Pertemps last year, and his second place to Irish Grand National never gave his backers a moment’s worry. Already being tipped as an all-time great.
ALTIOR
Queen Mother Champion Chase, Wednesday (3.30)
Described by his trainer as “pure class”, he was top-notch over hurdles winning the Supreme Novices’ race in 2016 but he’s even better over fences, winning all seven races including the 2017 Arkle Chase. He’s had a few issues and required a wind operation, but he was as good as ever last time, and easily dismissed Politologue.
Winner Our Duke is a strong piece of form.
Altior has had a few setbacks but looked as good as ever when winning the Game Spirit last time and deserves his place at the top of the Champion Chase market. In the bumper, consider Acey Milan, trained by Anthony Honeyball. This could be competitive, but he’s won here and should go off around 9/1.
I can’t make up my mind on the Ryanair Chase and will have another look on the day, but one that catches the eye on Thursday is Terrefort in the JLT Novices’ Chase. This renewal looks quite open, but the softer ground will be ideal for Nicky Henderson’s charge.
In the stayers’ race, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ The New One looks a decent bet at a double-figure price. Described by his trainer as “the horse of a lifetime,” he’s consistent, despite his age.
We’ve the Gold Cup on Friday and I’ve finally settled on Might Bite, which trades around 100/30. Even though Sizing John is out of the race, it’s certainly not one-sided and you can’t help wondering if Might Bite will get up to his old tricks.
A quirky but hugely talented sort. He gets the tentative vote, but I think I’ll be somewhat conservative with my stakes.
In the Triumph Hurdle, Apple’s Shakira might be the one to side with around 3/1.
A full sister to the aforementioned Apple’s Jade, Nicky Henderson’s four-year-old has raced three times in Britain, all at Cheltenham and won each of them. Henderson knows the sort it takes to win this having tasted success six times.
Away from the races, I’m having a bet on Nicky Henderson to become top trainer. I’ve mentioned a few great horses here, but he’ll also have some outsiders with live chances including the handicappers.
A price of 9/4 looks fair, with Willie Mullins even-money and Gordon Elliott 2/1. KRIS Meeke scored his first podium finish of the season but admitted “too many silly, stupid mistakes” cost him a shot at a second successive Rally Mexico victory.
He did lead briefly in his Citroen C3 but a couple of costly spins on Friday saw him drop to fourth before he fought back to second on Saturday, less than four seconds behind the Ford of Sebastien Ogier.
But another big spin late in the afternoon proved damaging, allowing Hyundai’s Dani Sordo to move ahead and then yesterday Meeke’s rally almost ended when he skated slowly off the road and into a gulley.
Luckily there were plenty of spectators to rescue him but all hopes of winning, or even reeling in Sordo, had gone.
But it was third place points on the board as Ogier moved back to the top of the championship, finishing 73 seconds ahead of Sordo with a deflated Meeke (below) a further 15 seconds behind.
Meanwhile on rally days Derek McGarrity practically owns Bishopscourt race circuit. The seven times Northern Ireland champion was unchallenged as he won there for a sixth year in a row to take the lead again in the McGrady Insurance NI series.
With most of his rivals slipping and sliding out of contention in the horrendously wet conditions, McGarrity and co-driver Paddy Robinson sailed serenely to victory in his S14 Subaru Impreza by a margin of more than a minute.
Current champion Jonny Greer was missing on Saturday, his new R5 Citroen DS3 not ready in time, and it was Alan Carmichael in his WRC Mini who finished closest to McGarrity albeit 67 seconds in arrears and just two ahead of former champion Connor McCloskey’s WRC Ford Fiesta.
Mark Massey was another driver who saw his chances slide from beneath him, dropping from second to finish fourth in his Subaru while the charging Barry Morris won the two wheel drive division in fifth in his Ford Escort.
Peter Bennett rounded out the top six, the 17-year-old catching the eye in his first championship outing in a Mitsubishi Evo.