Sky Bet are offering money back as a free bet if you back a loser in the first race EVERY DAY at the Cheltenham Festival.
The offer went live at 8am on Friday and covers the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, JLT Novices' Chase and JCB Triumph Hurdle.
It is up to £20 per race with the money returned as a free bet should your selection fail to win. As with all races at Cheltenham, Sky Bet are also refunding stakes on non-runners, meaning you can take advantage of the offer now - knowing that you'll either back a winner, or you will get your stake back.
To mark the occasion, our David Ord takes a look at the four races in question and posts his early fancies.
GETABIRD (6/4)
Represents Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci who have such a fine record in the race and justified a tall home reputation with a stylish win in the Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novices’ Hurdle. He looks a high-class prospect and deserves his place at the head of the market.
KALASHNIKOV (11/2)
Dispelled fears the testing ground would be against him when ploughing through the Newbury mud to win the Betfair Hurdle last time. That form gives him a leading chance here and he has experience of the hurly-burly of a big field which will stand him in good stead.
APPLE’S SHAKIRA (6/1)
Favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle and thought likely to head there for all connections ran Binocular in this as a juvenile. Exciting recruit and promises to be even better should the Beast From The East relent and she face spring ground in March.
NEXT DESTINATION (8/1)
Improving sort who completed a hat-trick at Naas last time and represents the Mullins team. Likely to run over further, however (see below).
CLAIMANTAKINFORGAN (10/1)
Emerged as Nicky Henderson’s leading candidate and is forgiven an odds-on reverse at Musselburgh last time as things didn’t pan out for him. However the balance of his earlier form leaves him with a little to find for all his trainer feels he’s a good fit for a race he knows how to win.
LAURINA (10/1)
Stablemate of Getabird and created a deep impression when routing a field of mares at Fairyhouse on her only start in Ireland. Impossible to assess accurately but clearly has a substantial engine and is a fascinating contender.
VERDICT: After If The Cap Fit was ruled out, the case for Getabird strengthens and it's very possible he goes off an odds-on favourite - particularly with several of the above holding alternative engagements. However, one virtually guaranteed runner is KALASHNIKOV and he can run a big race. Betfair Hurdles winners invariably go well when pointed at the Supreme and this straightforward type seems sure to do the same. He looks a sporting wager at the price.
SAMCRO (4/6)
The banker of the week for many and even connections are struggling to contain the hype following his stylish win in the Deloitte. This race has a rich history of good things delivering and it is hard to look beyond a horse who has already posted figures capable of winning a good renewal of this race – and has the potential to significantly improve on them.
NEXT DESTINATION (9/2)
Improving sort who completed a hat-trick at Naas last time and represents the Mullins team. Looks the main danger to Samcro but has the Albert Bartlett as a possible alternative and appeals as the sort to thrive in such a stamina test.
ON THE BLIND SIDE (9/2)
Three from three over hurdles and a winner at the track. We haven’t seen the best of Nicky Henderson’s star yet and he is respected but for all he’d be a huge player in an ordinary Ballymore Novices' Hurdle – this might not be one.
DUC DES GENIEVRES (12/1)
Another from team Mullins and stepped up on previous form to chase home Samcro in the Deloitte – however nothing there to suggest he can reverse for all this step up in trip is likely to suit.
BLACK OP (14/1)
Posted a personal best when second to Santini on Festival Trials Day and may well have won but for a mistake at the last. Travels well through his races which is crucial here but looks to face a tall order in against the hotpot of the week.
VERDICT: No prizes for originality here but SAMCRO looks a cut above even these promising rivals and can raise the roof in the opening race of day two.
WILLOUGHBY COURT (7/2)
Won the Neptune here last season and progressing well over fences for all he was beaten in the Dipper on deep ground here last time. Would be strongly fancied to make a bold bid given normal Festival ground next month.
INVITATION ONLY (5/1)
Only just came up short in the Flogas last time and looks a rock-solid contender for the Mullins camp. Good jumper and capable of better over fences.
AL BOUM PHOTO (8/1)
Progressive and another from the Mullins yard. Posted a career best when chasing home Monalee at the Dublin Racing Festival (Invitation Only a head back in third) and looks a Grade One winner in waiting. Like the way he goes through his races and is a big player.
MODUS (9/1)
Three from four in small-field novice chases (only defeat a fall at Exeter) but this is an altogether different test. Was useful over hurdles but would need a personal best to win this for all he represents powerful connections.
FINIAN’S OSCAR (12/1)
Looked the real deal over fences at the start of the season before defeats at Ascot and Sandown (outpaced over two miles). Pulled up switched back to hurdles for the Cleeve last time and he heads here off the back of a wind operation and in first-time blinkers with a point to prove.
VERDICT: There wasn't much between stablemates Invitation Only and AL BOUM PHOTO at Leopardstown last time but the latter, a strong traveller and firmly on the upgrade, is taken to have the edge again and give Willie Mullins another Cheltenham winner.
APPLE’S SHAKIRA (5/2)
Three from three at Cheltenham – and in Britain – and looks an intriguing prospect. Proven in the mud but expected to improve on better ground. She’s a worthy favourite but this is a race with some depth.
MR ADJUDICATOR (6/1)
Showed good attitude to see off Farclas and win the Spring Juvenile on only his second start over hurdles and looks like there’s more to come. Handled better ground well on the Flat so no mudlark and another who has to be considered.
WE HAVE A DREAM (6/1)
Stablemate of Apple's Shakira and counts the Finale Hurdle among his unbeaten haul to date. Travels well in his races and looks the sort to keep finding. Shouldn’t be underestimated here.
STORMY IRELAND (7/1)
Not sure what she beat at Fairyhouse on debut but she did come home 58 lengths clear in the style of a very useful mare. The Mullins team also have Mr Adjudicator and be interesting to see what the market says about the pair.
FARCLAS (8/1)
Chased home Mr Adjudicator in the Spring Juvenile at Leopardstown on only his second start over timber. Knuckled down to his task well that day and is respected but hard to see why he’ll reverse form with the winner.
VERDICT: Apple's Shakira heads the market in a fascinating renewal of the race but stablemate WE HAVE A DREAM has arguably achieved more to date and is also open to improvement. He gets a narrow vote with Stormy Ireland a potentially fascinating rival from Ireland.
