Cheltenham Race Festival » odds

Commander Can Take Gold Cup

Cheltenham Races — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:32:59 +0000

If you were to believe the pundits then you’d wonder why any other horses plan to turn up for the Gold Cup today, because for most it’s only all about Kauto Star and Denman but not so says Imperial Commanders jockey Paddy Brennan who has said he “wouldn’t ride anything else” in the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup today and rather confidently believes that he can topple the big two of Kauto Star and Denman!

The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained horse was successful in last year’s Ryanair Chase but feels the Gold Cup will better suit him this year. Clearly the bookies agree because Imperial Commander is third favourite behind the two superstars.

Speaking on Channel 4′s The Morning Line, Brennan said: “It’ll be very competitive and the track is riding brilliantly – it’s a case of the best horse will win. I think he’ll be a much easier ride in the Gold Cup because he’ll travel. In the Ryanair you’re always in top gear and need everything to go right. Today he’ll give me a great ride because he travels and personally I think he stays.”

And he could be right, despite the power of Kauto Star, Imperial Commander came within a nose of defeating him in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November and Brennan believes he can come out on top in their clash on Friday.

“It was best feeling I’ve had off a horse in racing because he gave me something and kept quickening and quickening and going away,” Brennan added. “He went to the third last as quick as he’s ever been and going to the fence he had a blow and it lost me four lengths and gave Kauto a chance and I think I lost the race there. Make no mistake, he can match the best and I wouldn’t want to ride anything else today.”

It could be that the Gold Cup isn’t as clear cut as everybody thinks it will be and maybe, just maybe, Imperial Commander will turn up and really upset the Nicholls party this afternoon!

To have a bet on the Gold Cup go to Paddy Power Bookmakers!

Walsh Still On For Top Jockey

Cheltenham Races — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:49:10 +0000

We’re heading into the fourth and final day of this year’s Cheltenham Festival and what was supposed to be a walk in the park for Ruby Walsh and the Paul Nicholls stables hasn’t quite gone to plan with Ruby missing out on wins from a number of races he was odds on favourite to win.

But today he was back at the head of affairs in the Cheltenham Festival top jockey standings after notching a third win of the meeting on Big Buck’s, who successfully defended his World Hurdle crown. Despite Tony McCoys’ relatively poor performances over the last couple of months he has really upped his game so much so that Ruby briefly had to hand the armband to champion jockey Tony McCoy, after he partnered Albertas Run to victory in the Ryanair Chase.

McCoy remains in second place on two wins, just ahead of Barry Geraghty and Richard Johnson by way of the countback system. But there’s one day left and it’s still all to play for especially in the big race of the festival – The Cheltenham Gold Cup when it’s Ruby versus Tony…place your bets with Paddy Power Bookmakers now!

2:40 RSA Chase Results – 3m 110yds

Cheltenham Races — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:16:53 +0000

With only nine runners this is one of the most closely contested races but there can only be one winner and this year it is Michael O’Leary’s Weapons Amnesty… 1. Weapons Amnesty 8/1 2. Burton Port 10/1 3. Long Run 9/4 Related posts:Wednesday 17th March Race Guide & Odds 4:40 Fred Winter H’cap Hurdle Results – 2m 110yds 5:15 Champion Bumper Results – 2m 110yds Related posts:

2:05 Neptune Investment Novices Hurdle Results – 2m 5f

Cheltenham Races — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:14:09 +0000

Ruby Walsh’s bad luck continues with Quel Esprit unseating him at the early stages of the race but it was a close fight in the end with Peddlers Cross giving everything to cross the winning post first… 1. Peddlers Cross 6/1 2. Reve De Sivola 11/1 3. Rite of Passage 7/2 4. Summit Meeting 12/1 Related posts:1.30 National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup Results – 4m Supreme Novices Hurdle Supreme Novices Hurdle Tips Related posts:

Punters Back Mobaasher

Cheltenham Races — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:29:23 +0000

With so many races, horses, pundits and tips floating around for the Cheltenham Festival, it’s tricky to know where to put your hard earned cash especially as on day one only favourite actually won his race and that was Quevega. Others, including Go Native, Garde Champetre and Dunguib, who were all odds-on favourites just couldn’t do the business sending the the bookies whopping and cheering all the way to the bank.

To try and claw back some cash the punters have been out early in a bid to get some value and claw back the losses from yesterday. Mobassher runs in the opening race, the 1.30 National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 4m and has had some consistent and steady backing all day which has put him as second favourite after Becauseicouldntsee.

Charlie McCann, spokesman for the firm, said: “Mobaasher would be our best backed horse of the morning. Venetia Williams has mentioned a few times that this could be her best chance of a winner and with question marks over Massasoit (blinkers) and Any Currency (ground) he looks a solid each-way bet.”

David Williams of Ladbrokes also reports good money for Mobaasher and highlighted plenty of interest in Shot From The Hip and Elegant Concorde in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at 5.15.

Go Native £1m Bid

Cheltenham Races — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:24:50 +0000

All eyes are going to be firmly glued to today’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival not least because Go Native, the bookies favourite to win the race, is also up for a £1 million bonus.

Go Native has qualified for a pop at the £1 million bonus offered by WBX by winning the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and the Christmas Hurdle and is now just eight hurdles away from scooping the incredible jackpot that’s up for grabs, ensuring a windfall for owners, trainer and stable staff. In fact, the stable lad who looks after Go Native will get £100,000 if he wins which is nearly six times his annual salary!

Make no mistake though, this will not be an easy race to win and will be extremely close with nine of the twelve runners priced up by bookmakers at 12-1 or less. Competition is fierce with Binocular, Kyber Kim, Punjabi, Celestial Halo and Solwhit all in contention so the Champion Hurdle is expected to be one of the most competitive races at this year’s festival.

Speaking about Go Native, trainer Noel Meade said on Monday: “The horse travelled over great and is in great shape. In fact I couldn’t be happier with him. He looked great this morning and cantered on the track. He was nice and fresh. Paul [Carberry] said he couldn’t have asked for him to be any better than he was. He is a very good jumper and he has plenty of toe.”

Can Go Native do it? He’ll be hard to beat but with so much money riding on a winning performance let’s hope that Paul Carberry’s nerves hold up…

Bet on Go Native with Paddy Power Bookmakers.

Tuesday Tips From Paddy Power

Cheltenham Races — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:58:51 +0000

If you’re looking for the best tips around then check out our video below courtesy of Paddy Power. Trainer Edward Harty gives his low-down on the movers and shakers who are set to do the business on day one of this years Cheltenham Festival…

Supreme Novices Hurdle Tips

Cheltenham Races — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:54:37 +0000

If you want the absolute best in tips then Racing Post is the place to go. For the Supreme Novices Hurdle, the first race of this year’s Cheltenham Festival, they have laid out how they think the race will go and in doing so provided vital information on the shakers and movers in the race so that you can make the best decision when it comes to backing your favourite for the race!

Ben Hutton of Racing Post believes that there is added spice this year because of Dunguib, however, from an in-running point of view there is very little that is worthy of mention. It looks to be the case that there is only one front runner, namely Cootehill, but it is highly unlikely that Paddy Brennan will be allowed an uncontested lead as this is the Supreme Novices’, and the adrenalin will ensure the gallop is a strong one.

The in-running angle of most interest could come via Dunguib, as he hasn’t looked a natural jumper of hurdles, and if he hits one or two then he’s likely to go bigger than odds-on during the race. If he is good enough, as he could well be, Dunguib could be able to defy a couple of jarring errors, and therefore his most ardent fans who keep the faith could end up getting an excellent price in-running.

Front runners: Cootehill.

Tracking leaders: Blackstairmountain, Dan Breen, Fiulin (could lead), Flat Out (could lead), Hollins, Menorah, Oscar Whisky, Vino Griego.

Mid-division: Chain Of Command, Far Away So Close (can race prominently), Mister Wall Street, Dream Esteem.

Held-up: Dunguib (can race prominently), General Miller, Get Me Out Of Here, Spring Jim, Takestan.

1.30 Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2m 1/2f

23 Declared for Will Hill

Cheltenham Races — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:29:40 +0000

The Grade 3 William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham takes place on Tuesday 16th and is 3m. At final declaration stage today, 23 horses had been declared making it a bumper field this year and a race that will be eagerly watched by millions.

Paddy Power has Bensalem, ridden by Robert Thornton, as the race favourite with odds of 11/2. The weights leader, The Tother One on 11st 12lb, is sixth favourite on 14/1 which is a very good each way bet as Ruby Walsh is riding him and that’s always a great sign.

Racing Post Chase winner Razor Royale is also amongst the entries and will be ridden by PJ Brennan with odds of 14/1, as well as the progressive Jonjo O’Neill-trained novice Theatrical Moment who will be paired with Tony McCoy with odds of 11/1 making him third favourite.

This is a very important race for other reasons. Many of the anticipated runners for the 2010 Grand National are also taking part including Casey Jones, Niche Market, Character Building and Comply or Die so how they race could seriously impact their odds for Aintree on April 10th.

Maximum 12 For Arkle

Cheltenham Races — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:42:31 +0000

Run over two miles, the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase takes place at Cheltenham on Tuesday 16th March 2010 at 2.05pm and is considered one of the major races of the Cheltenham Festival. A maximum field of 12 horses is allowed and all spots have been filled with the final runners declared for the novice chase.

Among the high-class field of contenders are the Eddie Harty-trained Captain Cee Bee, the Henry de Bromhead trained Sizing Europe and Somersby, who is trained by Henrietta Knight. Nicky Henderson is doubly represented with Riverside Theatre and Mad Max.

Actor Jimmy Nesbitt is part of the syndicate which owns Riverside Theatre, who is currently 8-1 with Paddy Power Bookmakers. He told At The Races: “I saw him a little bit of week [ago] and he looked very ready. We’re very happy and I’m very excited. He’s only run over fences twice so we don’t know how he will react to such a strong field. It’s a very competitive race and I just hope he gets round okay. There’s a lot of excitement and I’ve never been as nervous in my life.”

Riverside Theatre will have his work cut out for him if he’s to seriously contend for the Arkle title especially if it turns out that Captain Cee Bee, Somersby and Sizing Europe are in good form because on the day they will be very difficult to beat.