We've teamed up with Weatherbys to provide the key racing trends ahead of the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
3:30 Cheltenham Friday March 13 – Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup
SKY BET ODDS & OFFERS (NON RUNNER NO BET)
TRENDS
10/10 WINNERS - won a Grade 1
8/10 WINNERS - 9 or fewer chase starts
8/10 WINNERS - won last time out
7/10 WINNERS - won or placed at the Festival previously
BETTRENDS SELECTION: DELTA WORK
Lightly-raced, second-season chasers, who are having their first run in the race, have a fine recent record in the Gold Cup. Horses arriving at Cheltenham on the back of a win and with previous winning (or placed) form at the Festival are also positives, whilst the past 10 winners had already won at Grade 1 level. The two to focus on appear to be DELTA WORK and Santini, with preference for the former, who won at the 2018 Festival and finished just behind Santini in last year’s RSA. He has won a brace of Grade 1s on his last two starts, while Santini won the Cotswold Chase on Trials day, and it has been 20 years since the winner of that race followed up in the Gold Cup.
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1.30 Cheltenham (Tuesday, March 10) – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
SKY BET OFFER: MONEY BACK AS CASH IF YOU LOSE
TRENDS
- 10/10 WINNERS - 4 or more starts over hurdles
- 9/10 WINNERS - won at least twice over hurdles
- 8/10 WINNERS - won last time out
- 8/10 WINNERS - won a Graded novice hurdle
BETTRENDS SELECTION: ABACADABRAS
Experience seems key in the Festival opener nowadays, and the pair to focus on appear to be ABACADABRAS and Fiddlerontheroof. The former is less ground dependant, so gets the vote, having won the Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle and, more recently, the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. The only horse to beat him over hurdles to date is stablemate Envoi Allen and his form looks really strong. Fiddlerontheroof is also a Grade 1 winner and has to be respected, but he has the option of switching to the Ballymore and would probably need soft ground to be seen at his best here.
3:30 Cheltenham (Tuesday March 10) – Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m½f
TRENDS
- 8/10 WINNERS - aged between 6-8
- 8/10 WINNERS - won or placed at Festival previously
- 8/10 WINNERS - won last time out
- 7/10 WINNERS - unbeaten this season
BETTRENDS SELECTION: EPATANTE
Unbeaten in two starts this season, EPATANTE looks the one to be with in the Unibet Champion Hurdle, despite the fact she disappointed at last year’s Festival. The lack of positive Festival form is a concern, but Nicky Henderson’s Christmas Hurdle winner still ticks more boxes than the opposition (in trends terms) and arrives at Cheltenham on a sharp upward curve. She can provide owner JP McManus with a sixth win in the race since 2010, and a fourth consecutive win in the day-one feature.
The 2020 Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide was published on Friday February 21 and can be ordered now right here.
3:30 Cheltenham (Wednesday March 11) – Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1), 2m
SKY BET ODDS & OFFERS (NON RUNNER NO BET)
TRENDS
- 7/10 WINNERS - contested Tingle Creek and/or Clarence House
- 7/10 WINNERS - won or placed at Festival previously
- 7/10 WINNERS - won last time out
- 9/10 WINNERS - run during calendar year
BETTRENDS SELECTION: DEFI DU SEUIL
Having won the two key trials for the Champion Chase, DEFI DU SEUIL has the ideal profile for the race. Unbeaten in three starts this season, Philip Hobbs’ stable star has twice won at the Festival before and is taken to emerge on top in what promises to be a vintage renewal of the day-two showpiece.
The 2020 Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide was published on Friday February 21 and can be ordered now right here.
3:30 Cheltenham Thursday March 12 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
SKY BET ODDS & OFFERS (NON RUNNER NO BET)
TRENDS
8/10 WINNERS - won a Grade 1
7/10 WINNERS - won at Cheltenham previously
7/10 WINNERS - won last time out
7/10 WINNERS - 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the betting
BETTRENDS SELECTION: PAISLEY PARK
Last year’s winner PAISLEY PARK has won both starts this season, most recently in commanding fashion in the Cleeve Hurdle, which has been easily the best trial for the Stayers’ Hurdle in recent years. This race has been dominated by the top of the market in recent years and he can join the likes of Baracouda, Inglis Drever and Big Buck’s, who are all multiple winners of this race this century.
The 2020 Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide was published on Friday February 21 and can be ordered now right here.
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