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Cheltenham Festival 2024

Yeh Irish Point is one of the good horses we don't know about yet, and it's rather annoying - same with Lossiemouth and Ballyburn - some bookmakers still even have El Fabiolo listed as the favourite in the Ryanair! I watched this week's Upping The Ante with DJ and Johnny Dineen last night, it was nice to hear them both moaning about the declarations and saying the same - that they should have to declare 2/3 weeks before the festival. They made a good point by comparing it to boxing e.g. it would be like Tyson Fury being listed to fight Uysk and Zhang on the same day, but nobody knows which one he's actually going to fight until the day of the fight/until he decides which one he fancies fighting, it's ridiculous. Or Man City trying to postpone a football match because they don't like the weather conditions, if you don't get the conditions you want, tough. How can they promote the festival when we don't even know who's facing who.

For Irish Point, the prize money is higher in the Champion Hurdle, but the Stayers has good prize money too, and you'd think money isn't a factor for an owner like Robcour, surely they go for prestige, but both are usually considered top races, so not sure. If I was the owner I'd run him in the Champion Hurdle and let Teahupoo try and win the Stayers (even though I don't think he will), as I might as well have a shot in two big races instead of two shots in one.

A lot of people are now thinking that Lossiemouth will run in the Champion Hurdle, and so could Love Envoi and Gala Marceau, you do get nearly as much for coming 3rd in the Champion Hurdle as you do for winning the Mares, so it could make sense (financially), but if they did, the Mares Hurdle wouldn't be very good, and if they don't and do run in the Mares, the Champion Hurdle will be a rubbish race. If you listen to Willie Mullins, he says that Lossiemouth isn't ready this year and won't be running in the Champion Hurdle, she's off the the Mares. I just wish they'd let us know sooner to give us more time to decide.

For Flooring Porter, I was a bit confused by Keith Donoghue to be honest, when they talked about the National Hunt Chase, he seemed to think he had a good chance, he said he's switched from hurdles to fences and has been running quite well, but then said he didn't think he'd run and would run in the Stayers Hurdle. When they got the the Stayers Hurdle, he said he wasn't sure if he'd be running and said he didn't think he could win, he would probably only place. So, if he's switched to fences, and the jockey doesn't think he can win the Stayers, why would he run there and not in the National Hunt Chase? Come on guys, stop messing us about and just tell us where they're all running!

Highest Prize Money Festival Races

Race​
Grade​
Prize Money​
Winner​
The Cheltenham Gold CupGrade 1£614,813£351,688
The Champion HurdleGrade 1£441,135£253,215
Queen Mother Champion ChaseGrade 1£392,120£225,080
Ryanair ChaseGrade 1£368,888£211,013
The Stayers' HurdleGrade 1£345,608£197,696
Brown Advisory Novices' ChaseGrade 1£177,864£102,095
Arkle Challenge TrophyGrade 1£172,147£98,473
Turners Novices' ChaseGrade 1£172,148£98,473
JCB Triumph HurdleGrade 1£136,940£78,333
Spa Novices' HurdleGrade 1£132,800£75,965
Supreme Novices' HurdleGrade 1£132,800£75,965
Ballymore Novices' HurdleGrade 1£132,800£75,965
Close Brothers Mares' HurdleGrade 1£125,476£72,024
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual ChasePremier H'cap£122,963£70,338
Ultima Handicap ChasePremier H'cap£122,963£70,338
National Hunt ChaseGrade 2£119,838£62,038
Mrs Paddy Power Mares' ChaseGrade 2£118,044£67,524
Plate Handicap ChasePremier H'cap£118,044£67,524
Dawn Run Mares' Novices' HurdleGrade 2£103,289£59,084
County Handicap HurdlePremier H'cap£98,370£56,270
Coral Cup Handicap HurdlePremier H'cap£98,370£56,270
Pertemps Final Handicap HurdlePremier H'cap£98,370£56,270
Boodles Juvenile Handicap HurdlePremier H'cap£78,696£45,016
Weatherbys Champion BumperGrade 1£78,696£45,560
Martin Pipe Handicap HurdleClass 2 Hurdle£73,778£39,023
Glenfarclas Cross Country ChaseClass 2 Chase£73,778£39,023
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge CupClass 2 Chase£72,188£36,668
Foxhunter Challenge CupClass 2 Chase£48,125£24,445


More Market Movers
  • Tellherthename 14/1 (Was 22/1) – Supreme
  • Mistergif 14/1 (Was 20/1) – Supreme
  • Cool Survivor 10/1 (Was 18/1) – Ultima
  • Lantry Lady 14/1 (Was 25/1) – Mares Hurdle
  • Nick Rockett 8/1 (Was 12/1) – National Hunt Chase
  • Henry’s Friend 14/1 (Was 20/1) – National Hunt Chase
  • Built By Ballymore 8/1 (Was 16/1) – Coral Cup
  • Harper’s Brook 8/1 (Was 25/1) – Grand Annual
  • Argento Boy 12/1 (Was 20/1) – Champion Bumper
  • Quebecois 14/1 (Was 25/1) – Champion Bumper
  • Gabbys Cross 10/1 (Was 20/1) – Pertemps
  • Home By The Lee 14/1 (Was 20/1) – Stayers
  • Birdie Or Bust 16/1 (Was 33/1) – Mares Novices Hurdle
  • Aston Martini 16/1 (Was 50/1) – Mares Novices Hurdle
  • Ethical Diamond 16/1 (Was 25/1) – Triumph Hurdle

TRAINERS ON FORM

BEN PAULING
  • Tellherthename 14/1 - Supreme
  • Twig 18/1 – Ultima
  • Shakem Up’arry 20/1 – Ultima
  • Henry’s Friend 14/1 – National Hunt Chase
  • Bowtogreatness 66/1 – National Hunt Chase
  • Handstands 10/1 – Gallaghers
  • The Jukebox Man 33/1 – Gallaghers
  • Tellherthename 40/1 – Gallaghers
  • Bad 33/1 – Coral Cup
  • Harper’s Brook 8/1 – Grand Annual
  • Shaken Up’arry 14/1 – Plate
  • Bowtogreatness 33/1 – Kim Muir
  • Bad 20/1 – County Hurdle
  • The Jukebox Man 25/1 – Albert Bartlett
  • Bad 33/1 – Martin Pipe

MARTIN BRASSIL
  • Ose Partir 10/1 – Boodles Juvenile Hurdle
  • James’s Gate 40/1 – Gallaghers
  • Built By Ballymore 8/1 – Coral Cup
  • Goldinthemountains 25/1 – Champion Bumper
  • Fastorslow 4/1 – Gold Cup
  • Built By Ballymore 10/1 – Martin Pipe
 
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Flooring Porter must be running in the Stayers, he's voided on my bet for the National Hunt and not showing up any any betting site now except in the Stayers. Quite a few other declarations now too, some races are starting to shape up, hallelujah.

EDIT: Does anybody else not want to do any work at the moment? I just can't be bothered or focus, I'm just looking forward to the festival.

RE-EDIT: One last question - what's the best offers you've seen on betting sites? I think most sites offer this, or something similar, but SkyBet has 'Money Back As Cash If Your Horse Loses' on the Supreme Novices Hurdle, up to £20 (but limit might depend on how much you use the site). So it's a £20 free shot on the Supreme. Have has anyone seen any other good offers? Makes sense to use what's on offer. Thanks
 
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stedz stedz froma few days ago

Officials at Cheltenham expect the Festival to get underway on close to soft ground, with the start of the showpiece meeting now only a fortnight away.

“As everyone will be very well aware, we’ve had a very wet build-up this year,” he said on Tuesday.

“Thankfully, the rain held off last weekend and it was the first 48 hours of dry weather we’ve had for several weeks, which has allowed us to at least get on and start to mow this week, which was very much needed, so I’m pleased that we got that window.

“We’d be soft ground, as you can imagine with the rain that we’ve had, and the cross country would be heavy in places as well.”

While further rain is forecast in the coming days, Pullin is not expecting a huge swing in conditions either way ahead of day one of the Festival on March 12.

“We’ll see how we go, but if that forecast remains, we’ll have similar ground to what we do now for the start of the Festival, I would imagine.

“There’s nothing scary I’m seeing in the forecast at the moment. We’ve been fortunate we’ve been a lot milder this year than last and the grass covering has been good.

“We did put a bit of fleece down on the New course in the home straight for a couple of weeks, just to kickstart the recovery there, but the grass is looking really well after the cut, so we’re pleased with where we are at this stage.”
 
Ive had a nice bet on irish point in the stayers ,and i think the more it dries out ,the less chance of Teahupoo winning ,might make Elliot keep irish point in stayers and not go to ch hurdle.Elsewhere ive had e/w bets on High Wind in the Triumph. Telmesomethingirl in the Mares Hurdle,King of Kingsfield in the county hurdle,White Rhino in pertemps,and salvador ziggy in the Hunt cup.and obviously a bunch of multiples.5 more sleeps LOL.
 
Yeh it sounds like it's going to be soft. If we get more rain, it could be heavy. I hope it is heavy as we'll get big odds horses coming in all week.

Nice few horses there Stedz.

I think I'm going to go against every single short priced favourite now. I just don't fancy Sir Gino anymore, a lot of hype from one good win but beat nothing really, although, usually when the yard raves they're right, I just fancy taking him on at that price. Galopin should win if he sticks to recent form, but I don't fancy him for some reason. Dinoblue stepping up in trip, don't fancy it at that price. Fact To File and El Fabiolo might have the best chances out of the short priced favourites (other than State Man being a shoe-in), but I'm taking them on as well, too short. No point backing a 8/13 at Cheltenham with the extra places on offer, might as well go 10/1 and above E/W.
 
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rbtblb82 said:
What about Corach Rambler in the Gold Cup + Noble Yeats in the Stayers - two Grand National winners in a E/W double.
Click to expand...
i think they will go too quick for corach rambler in the gold cup,and the horse is 10 now ,i cant see past galopin and Fastorslow.
 
Some more trainer/owners combinations, I was going to do Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins as well but Gordon Elliott has 121 entries and Willie Mullins has 137 entries, basically two or more in every single race.

HENRY DE BROMHEAD
  • Slade Steel 11/2 – Supreme Novices Hurdle
  • Slade Steel 5/1 – Gallaghers Novice Hurdle
  • Quilixios 13/2 – Arkle
  • Amirite 12/1 – Ultima
  • Amirite 12/1 – Kim Muir
  • Jungle Boogie 20/1 – Arkle
  • Jungle Boogie 33/1 – Ryanair
  • Jungle Boogie 100/1 – Gold Cup
  • Eklat De Rire 25/1 – Arkle
  • Lantry Lady 14/1 – Mares Hurdle
  • Telmesomethinggirl 14/1 – Mares Hurdle
  • Hispanic Moon 16/1 – Mares Hurdle
  • Hispanic Moon 33/1 – Martin Pipe
  • Magical Zoe 16/1 – Mares Hurdle
  • Magical Zoe 16/1 – County Hurdle
  • Nara 33/1 – Boodles Juvenile Hurdle
  • Monty’s Star 9/2 – Bronw Advisory
  • Ballyadam 25/1 – Coral Cup
  • Ballyadam 50/1 – Stayers Hurdle
  • Captain Guiness 16/1 – Champion Chase
  • Minella Indo 9/4 – Cross Country Chase
  • Dancing On My Own 14/1 – Grand Annual
  • Maskada 20/1 – Grand Annual
  • The Folkes Tiara 20/1 – Grand Annual
  • Gabbys Cross 10/1 – Pertemps
  • Popova 25/1 – Pertemps
  • Envoi Allen 7/2 – Ryanair
  • Shantreuse 20/1 – Plate
  • Watch House Cross 25/1 – Plate
  • Life In The Park 25/1 – Plate
  • Life In The Park 16/1 – Kim Muir
  • Arctic Bresil 25/1 – Plate
  • Birdie Or Bust 16/1 – Mares Novices Hurdle
  • Majestic Force 33/1 – Mares Novices Hurdle
  • Theatre Native 50/1 – Mares Novices Hurdle
  • Whacker Clan 12/1 – Kim Muir
  • Gold Bullion – 40/1 – Kim Muir
  • Ascending 25/1 – County Hurdle
  • Chigorin 50/1 – Albert Bartlett
  • Waterford Whispers 10/1 – Martin Pipe

HARRY DERHAM
  • Imagine 25/1 – Turners Novices Chase
  • Mollys Mango 66/1 – Mares Novices Hurdle
  • Givemefive 25/1 – Triumph Hurdle
  • Shared 33/1 – Martin Pipe

LUCINDA RUSSELL
  • Giovinco 10/1 – Ultima
  • Giovinco 33/1 – Brown Advisory
  • Giovinco 25/1 – Turners Novices Chase
  • Apple Away 12/1 – Ultima
  • Apple Away 25/1 – National Hunt Chase
  • Apple Away 12/1 – Kim Muir
  • Ahoy Senor 33/1 – Ryanair
  • El Elefante 66/1 – Mares Novices Hurdle
  • Corach Rambler 20/1 – Gold Cup

TURNER & GREDLEY FAMILY
  • Finest Evermore 40/1 – Coral Cup
  • Finest Evermore 100/1 – Martin Pipe
  • Presentandcounting 100/1 – Coral Cup
  • Presentandcounting 66/1 – Plate
  • Presentandcounting 100/1 – Martin Pipe
  • Junta Marvel 25/1 – Champion Bumper
  • Autonomous Cloud 40/1 – Plate
  • Too Friendly 50/1 – County Hurdle
  • Billaway 11/2 – Hunters Chase

MCNEIL FAMILY
  • Teorie 33/1 – Boodles Juvenile Hurdle
  • Three Card Brag 8/1 – National Hunt Chase
  • Quebecois 25/1 – Champion Bumper
  • Lieutenant Mayne 50/1 – Champion Bumper
  • Where It All Began 20/1 – Kim Muir

RACHEL CARTHY
  • Foxy Jacks 14/1 – Cross Country Chase
  • Firm Footings 8/1 – Plate

BRYAN DREW
  • Madara 10/1 – Grand Annual
  • Madara 10/1 – Plate
  • Fishery Lane 40/1 – Champion Bumper
  • Rare Middleton 40/1 – County Hurdle
  • Bravemansgame 16/1 – Gold Cup
  • Panic Attack 80/1 – Mares Chase
 
We're almost there, come on! The race cards have finally taken shape - who you all having in the Supreme? I've been thinking Firefox if Ballyburn was taken out, but I'm talking myself out of it now. At the same time, from the beginning I said JP McManus had a bunch of good horses, many are now favourite which has put me off, but should I stick with what I said and go for Mystical Power. Or, since it's money back as cash if your horse loses, do you just go for it and punt on Jeriko Du Reponet, Mistergif, Tellherthename or Asian Master. I'm struggling to decide, I really want to get off to a good start.

Note: JP McManus has also now purchased Meetingofthewaters 5/1f in the Ultima + Its On The Line 2/1f in the Hunters Chase, so he's got two more favourites now!

I suppose the smart bet in the Supreme is Willie Mullins. It sounds like there's a few questions over Tullyhill's jumping, and as Stedz said earlier, Willie thinks Mystic Power does it's best work on the track, so maybe Mystic Power out of these two.
 
Well the first Ante post bet i did was Mystical power in the Supreme and Minella indo in the cross country,in a double.I was a bit confused yesterday though because De Bromhead ,said they would prefer good ground for Minella indo ,i always thought the horse acted on everything.
 
The Supreme is one race I tend to do well in..... then it goes abit downhill after that :)

I'm just finding one or two negatives for most the runners in the supreme so I think it's a tough race to call. I have landed on Jeriko Du Reponet as an EW though looks to be coming in abit now. I think a faster run race will suit him better than the slower small field stuff he has been competing in. Nicky knows how to train one for this race. Tullyhill and Mystical Power probably have the better form but ??? over their jumping perhaps. I believe Firefox had excuses last time but I'm still unsure this will suit? Too may ifs buts and maybes.
 
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