If you follow horse racing you will know that today is the first day of one of the biggest events on the racing calendar as the Cheltenham Festival kicks off with a full day of races, a quick briefing as to why I enjoy the festival can be found on my previous blog.
Supreme Novices Hurdle 13:30
This is a race with a couple of good betting offers and the horse I have backed is First Flow, the weather has been terrible lately and so the track is not in the best condition. Reading up on the horses First Flow seems to be able to run well on heavy going and should have no problems today.
At 14/1 odds I feel it is a decent bet and if it comes in will provide a very nice return.
One thing to look out for if you are placing an Each Way bet! Some bookies are offering different terms. I would avoid Skybet for this race as they are only offering Each Way for a top 3 place at 1/5th odds. This means if you bet Each Way then your stake is doubled and should the horse finish 2nd or 3rd half of your bet will win and you will get 1/5 of it's price. Bet365 are offering the best terms for this race, they are offering 4 places and 1/4th.
Arkle Chase Winner 14:10
This race has a pretty small field with only 5 runners and one being a 100-1 outsider, it may be tempting to stick £1 on it each way and see if it can't sneak in to the top 2 places but I would not recommend it.
Many people are tipping the favourite to win this one and as a result the price is really short at 10/11. I do not like to bet on horses with such short odds and as a result have not placed a bet on this race.
Ultima Handicap Chase 14:50
O O Seven is a horse I have previously bet on but it seemed to lack stamina at the finish and didn't win for me, this is a big field and looks like a race where potentially a horse with decent odds could win. Being a James Bond fan and the 28/1 odds I was tempted to give it another shot.
However after reading up what the tipsters are saying I have decided to go with Gold Present who has the same trainer as O O Seven. The odds are not as good but 12/1 still offers a decent return.
Champion Hurdle 15:30
This is another race with a short priced favourite that seems to be the horse most people are tipping to win, I did like the look of the each way chances of 20/1 outsider My Tent Or Yours who I have a history of betting on with some success but sadly that is now a none-runner.
Instead I have gone for 16/1 shot Melon, I didn't read any tipsters advising this one so I will take full responsibility if it fails and all the glory if it romps home! I did read up on it though and it had placed just behind My tent Or Yours previously and has had previous wins when running on this type of heavy going and at this distance.
I have placed this one Each Way so will see a return if it comes in the top 3.
Mares Hurdle 16:10
This is another race with a short priced favourite and reading up on it I can see why, Apples Jade seems to have everything going for it in this race and it is hard to see it not winning. It's won 5 out of 7 races on this going and 5 out of 6 at this distance. It's also raced at this course before and won and never finished outside the top 2 places whenever it has raced.
The next in line Benie des Dieux also has a lot of stats going for it and also top class jockey Ruby Walsh so it may have a chance and there are some tipsters backing La Bague Au Roi as a decent outside shot. It's not the biggest field but the 7/1 odds don't appeal to me with such a strong favourite. I also would not recommend the each way even though it has a good shot at finishing in the top 3 the returns are not really worth it.
National Hunt Chase 16:50
There are a few horses in the middle of the odds which I would fancy for an Each Way bet and was hoping a bookie would be offering enhanced places for this race but sadly not. There are a few offering 4 places but with 1/5 terms. There aren't any with odds quite long enough for me to bet at 1/5 terms and this field.
The ones I was looking at were Ms Parfois, Keeper Hill and Shades of Midnight.
But as it is only Day 1 I have decided to impose a little self control and hold on to my cash to see if there aren't better opportunities later on in the week.
Cheltenham 17:30
The final race of the day and Skybet are offering enhanced places for this one, there are 6 places available for Each Way if you bet with them.
I have decided to go with Livelovelaugh at 14/1. It's trained by one of the top trainers in Mullins and will be ridden by Ruby Walsh. It's had 5 races at this distance winning 2 and placing in 1 and also with the heavy going had ran 8 times winning 3 and placing once. I feel like it has a shot at winning and should have more than a decent chance of finishing within the top 6.
That does it for Day 1 of the Festival, I am hoping I get off to a good start. I have started off a little cautiously today due to the weather and the heavy going. Sometimes I have bet on multiple horses in the same race and had success and may look to do that later in the week.
If you enjoyed this please upvote and comment, if you are betting on any racing today let me know and best of luck!