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Cheltenham 2024


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Apologies if there is a thread already. I am back buzzing again but I’m no where near as hopeful as last year. Few ante post bets look good but lost a few too. With the likes of constitution hill and marine national out to name but two there will be many a betslip in the bin.

Will do my usual write up each morning as it is something I always enjoy and stops me checking the market for 15 mins 🤣

1:30 Supreme Novice - Thankfully Mullins saw sense and stuck Ballyburn in the Ballymore/Bingham/Gallagher. He still has a mighty strong hand but my antepost hope Daddy Long Legs turned out to be pretty garbage despite that impressive debut and my other antepost hope Willmount is missing Cheltenham due to injury. Couldn’t have been a poorer start and didn’t have much opinion on most of the others other than JDR the British hope and Mystical Power who bolted up in the Moscow Flyer. Last years winner of that race was my hero Imapire Et Passe so it was one last antepost punt and my pick is Mystical Power 5/1. On the day with conditions worsening I will be using my Skybet money back offer on Slade Steel who has won over further and was a good second to Ballyburn last time out. JDR the once antepost fav is drifting to a tempting price too so I could use an offer on him with guaranteed money back if it loses. 

2:10 Arkle - The antepost fav and odds on Marine National seemed to be campaigned very tentatively this year. After blowing out at the DRF it is now out with injury and that blew this race wide open. I was hoping Facile Vega ran here till a few similar performances really makes this horse look ordinary. No antepost bet in this race for me as I couldn’t be solid on any of the horses. Gaelic Warrior is talented but enigmatic with the chat it struggles more going left handed (has won previous at Cheltenham though), Il Etait Temps is looking good again this year but previous Cheltenham efforts have to be a worry, Matata and Found A Fifty could take each other on early doors. Quilixios won last time out but beating Mr Policeman is not enough to convince me. By process of elimination I pretty much ended up on JPR One but it’s with no great conviction. Antepost 14/1. 

2:50 Ultima - Not going to write loads on the handicaps as I could tip half the field really. For me though Famous Bridge (up in class) is carrying a low weight and won on heavy ground and Victtorino who has plenty form on a softer surface also. Both bets this morning nothing antepost. 

3:30 Champion Hurdle - No getting away from the fact losing Constitution Hill from this race is an absolute gutter. Had my hero from last year Impaire Et Pass been running in this I’d have been all over him (had some stake on him early doors) but as it stood it was a main Antepost punt on State Man who at 3/1 is great value now he is the clear favourite. Was that value if Constitution Hill was fit and running? Probably not. Just wanted a play against an odds on shot and got lucky.

4:10 Mares Hurdle - last year I was on Gala Marceau to beat Lossiemouth at the festival and she ran a great race. I was all in on doing the same thing again today but the two runs from the mare this year have been shockers. At 20/1 I have stayed loyal to Gala (heart involved in that bet not the head). There’s no shortage of talent in this race Youwearitwell was great in the mares novice last year, Ashroe Diamond, Marie’s Rock and Love Envoi all smart horses but it’s no shock to anyone I personally think Lossiemouth is the best bet of the day. 

4:50 Boodles - A race I have not had much luck with and a lot of guesswork involved for who has the most scope for improvement off their handicap mark. Lark In The Morning I think has been giving a fair chance by the handicapper but 4 of the last 5 winners of this race have come from the Naas race in Feb and that was won on heavy last month by Eagle Fang with Bright Legend a good second. They are my plays in this. 22/1 and 40/1 respectively. 

5:30 National Hunt Chase - Not much of an opinion on this again but went for Salvador Ziggy antepost 16/1 and after winning the Devon National by 60 lengths on heavy I have bet Mr Vango this morning. 

Good luck again to everyone  

 

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Just now, diamond_for_life said:

Everyone of them good winners mate all won well. 

Yea all very impressive. Dont remember any of them having 1 poor jump either. The way Lossiemouth cruised into the lead in the home straight with minimum effort was delightful to watch 

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26 minutes ago, The Golden God said:

Heart was pounding going into the last but in the end all 3 won with ease. 2 losses on longer odds but still well up. 

DDF4B313-6CD9-48CC-9FC8-6F6C2ABB1B8A.jpeg

Great stuff. I love seeing people batter the bookies 

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2 hours ago, Thereisalight.. said:

I love gambling but two horses dying today doesn't sit right with me at all. 

https://news.sky.com/story/two-horses-die-during-first-day-of-cheltenham-festival-13093480

I was about to post on this.  I like a flutter on the football.  But many years ago I decided after all the free bet offers and promotions to bet on Cheltenham.  I won a ton of money on that first day, with free bet refunds and matched betting.  Must have made about £1300 that week,  Then I read that about 4 or horses 5 died on that racecourse the very same week and I thought f**k that never again.

 

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Absolutely respect that from you both and I never want to downplay the tragedy of horses dying. Don’t mind admitting my fav horse was L’Ami Serge and cried over its tragic end. Had the double green in my heart ever since. 

Unfortunately wont ever stop me betting on them as heartless as that will be to some. Always happy to listen to chat and get perspective from others though who don’t agree with my views. 

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Apologies in advance as im likely to waffle loads on here over the next few days. It was a fairly decent opening day but nothing spectacular as I will explain to those interested in reading my chat. 

As with last year my £20 skybet offer went on the winner of the supreme. Slade Steel at 9/2 got me off to a winning start. 

Nothing back from the Arkle which was also the same as last year. 

No Ultima win after the joys of Corach Rambler last year but Famous Bridge got me the e/w return at 25s to give me some profit. 

Trying to take on Constitution Hill last year in the champion hurdle proved a futile excercise but got lucky this year with it missing out. State Man 3/1 Ante Post and Bet365s super boost today at evens gave a nice little return.  

Lossiemouth was the bet of the day and doubled up in the Boodles with Lark In The Morning. Pretty sure I lost both races last year so this was a lovely double. 

Think I came so close in the National Hunt last year but this year the less I say about my efforts the better. 

So it’s a profit from day 1 and I think it has went similar to how day 1 did last year. As I mentioned the antepost non runners (in particular Daddy Long Legs and Willmount) reduce the profit margin but including all antepost cash bets from day 1 I have had a decent day. 

Problem this year was Skybet adding an expiry date to their Skybet Club free bets and now they have changed it to something completely worse. Now it looks like no offer on races the rest of the week either (for me anyway) and I won’t be sticking around with them beyond the festival other than for offer races. This forced my hand though to use free bets earlier than I’d have liked which also meant using more of my own money antepost than I did last year. 

Profit is profit though and it’s onto day 2 but it sadly won’t come close to last years feeling watching Impaire Et Passe. 

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The best two moments of my betting career was watching Rossa Ryan win me £900 on a 150/1 shot and watching Impaire Et Passe winning me £1500 in the Ballymore last year. Won’t ever top those feelings and day 2 last year at Cheltenham was the best betting day I’ve ever had. 

After about 50 name changes recently the 1:30 is now called the Gallagher Novice Hurdle and we have a current 2/5 Favourite in Ballyburn. This was always the race I was praying Mullins stuck it in but was never ever confident on that happening. I’m pretty sure some people have this horse at crazy prices antepost but best I have is 5.9 on the exchange. A profit if it wins but not close to last years race. Only other play in the race is Predators Gold. I have won a few recently on Ben Pauling’s horses who are going great guns and I’m sure he was the last British winner of this race. I have an offer race with Virgin and Handstands would be the pick if I take it.

The brown Advisory I will have a play on Giovinco at a price with a Treble of Ballyburn, Fact To File and El Fabiolo on already. 

I have bet Langer Dan in the last 2 Coral Cups and this season it looks to be an absolute plot job to get it here again off the same weight (which the Skeltons have managed). No loyalty this year though and antepost it was all about Sa Majeste. On the day at prices it will be Might I who I took for the Martin Pipe last year (finished 4th) and the ever consistent First Street. Had it not been for the way things are going for Nicky Henderson right now I may have been tempted with Lucky Place. Also on Lambron to place paying 6 places. 

Don’t think anyone beats El Fabiolo hence it being the last leg of the treble as even antepost it was never a backable price. I took Johnbon with a free bet though just because of the price drift. 7/1 Antepost 

This time I thought Galvin would get the better of Delta Work but no idea what to expect with conditions and debate on whether the race will go ahead. Will wait till nearer the time and decide what to do but also think a play on Diesel D’Allier to place could be on the cards as I just love this horse over the cross country obstacles. 

I had a small play on last years Grand Annual winner Masada but I can’t say I fancy a repeat this time round. I think the key to this race comes from Madara who is chasing a hat trick after wins in the Irish Ryanair chase and a good course handicap. Sure to go close again and small stakes at play but Solness finished 3rd in that Leopardstown race and with some pull in the weights that is my main selection. The second from that race Path D’oroux is also with a second look but my other big play is the enigmatic Harper’s Brook. Having snatched defeat from the jaws of victory a few times it won last time out when tentatively allowed to cross the line without pressure thanks to the last fence mistake from the favourite that day. I absolute love this horse though too and would love to see connections get their big day here. 

In the bumper last year I was happy with my selection until I saw A Dream To Share run and fancied it so strongly from there. It delivered on the day so this year I have tried to hold off as long as possible. I liked Aurora Vega for a long while but she never looked like running here and defeat last time out to Fleur Au Fusil confirmed that. I am now on the later who looks a good e/w value at the least. I like the looks of 2 of Gordon Elliot’s in the Yellow Clay and Romeo Coolio who could see my cash tomorrow and the heart says I have to back the double green of Simon Munir’s but I can’t be on all of them of course. Decisions to be made and will look again before deciding

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9 hours ago, Thereisalight.. said:

I love gambling but two horses dying today doesn't sit right with me at all. 

There are loads more who turn out to be just a bit too slow or old and get turned into glue or meat.

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