Cheltenham Festival 2008

[Pelham Boy]

With only 2 weeks to go until the best sporting week of the year gets under way,what are everyone's fancies at this stage?

Has anyone had any ante post bets that are starting to look interesting?

I've had a few small ante post multiple's so far,some look ok,some not so!

The bet i am most excited about is the double i have got on Franchoek and Kauto Star.

[boldie]

Kauto is still looking very good..even Paul Nicholls fancies Kauto to go and beat Denman.

everything else is open for me..Other than Inglis Drever winning again.

[steeveg]

i am waiting till the end of next week to see how the weather affects the going, if it stays dry its going to be very hard for denman to beat kauto star who would start a very short price, if it starts to get very wet and its forecast for a lot of rain,at least you know what type of horse to look for and i will have a few bets before the meeting starts on the soft ground horses, nothing worse than putting on a few anti post bets and they have no chance if its to firm or heavy

[boldie]

i am waiting till the end of next week to see how the weather affects the going, if it stays dry its going to be very hard for denman to beat kauto star who would start a very short price, if it starts to get very wet and its forecast for a lot of rain,at least you know what type of horse to look for and i will have a few bets before the meeting starts on the soft ground horses, nothing worse than putting on a few anti post bets and they have no chance if its to firm or heavy

The clerk of the course has said they will have it on the soft side of good for the first day of the festival (unless the weather changes dramatically)..but you're right..it's very distressing to see your horse running without ever having a shot.

Just count yourself lucky though when that happens...Bandit feels like that every day

[steeveg]

i am waiting till the end of next week to see how the weather affects the going, if it stays dry its going to be very hard for denman to beat kauto star who would start a very short price, if it starts to get very wet and its forecast for a lot of rain,at least you know what type of horse to look for and i will have a few bets before the meeting starts on the soft ground horses, nothing worse than putting on a few anti post bets and they have no chance if its to firm or heavy

The clerk of the course has said they will have it on the soft side of good for the first day of the festival (unless the weather changes dramatically)..but you're right.

right ,thanks, think i will have a look at a few races this week if its not going to be firm,

[Horneris]

With only 2 weeks to go until the best sporting week of the year gets under way,what are everyone's fancies at this stage?

Has anyone had any ante post bets that are starting to look interesting?

Im involved in tonnes of races already, had loads of Antepost Bets. Im pretty happy with them, as long as no more dont actually run. I will be having loads more bets on the days. The antepost bets arent in the main ones i strongly fancy, just ones which i knew/strongly felt their prices would collapse big time.

The ones im most excited about are:

Captain Cee Bee in the Supreme Novices. EW @ 25s (Now 8/1 Jt Fav)
Clopf in the Arkle. EW @ 16s (Now 12s best)
An Accordion in the WH Chase. WIN @ 10s (now 7/1)
Group Captain in the Ballymore Props. EW @ 20s (now 7/1)
Osana in the Champion Hurdle. EW @ 33s (now 5/1) Typical that this is my smallest bet out of the lot. Fk My Life.
Francheok in the Triumph. WIN @ 8/1 (now 5/2)

Got loads more too.

These all look like huge brags, but you have to take into account that ive already lost money backing Money Trix in the RSA Chase @ 25s, and Big Bucks in the Arkle @ 25s as neither will run.

No fancies yet, but Im gona start my Cheltenham portfolio on Friday. See what i really fancy. And get goiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing. 1time pls Derek Thompson.

[boldie]

i am waiting till the end of next week to see how the weather affects the going, if it stays dry its going to be very hard for denman to beat kauto star who would start a very short price, if it starts to get very wet and its forecast for a lot of rain,at least you know what type of horse to look for and i will have a few bets before the meeting starts on the soft ground horses, nothing worse than putting on a few anti post bets and they have no chance if its to firm or heavy

The clerk of the course has said they will have it on the soft side of good for the first day of the festival (unless the weather changes dramatically)..but you're right.

right ,thanks, think i will have a look at a few races this week if its not going to be firm,

he will water the track so that it's on the soft side of good for the first day..so it won't be fast/firm ground for definite.

[bobby1]

With only 2 weeks to go until the best sporting week of the year gets under way,what are everyone's fancies at this stage?

Has anyone had any ante post bets that are starting to look interesting?

Im involved in nearly every race already, had loads of Antepost Bets. Im pretty happy with them, as long as no more dont actually run. I will be having loads more bets on the days. The antepost bets arent in the main ones i stronglyl fancy, just ones which i knew/strongly felt their prices would collapse big time.

The ones im most excited about are:

Captain Cee Bee in the Supreme Novices. EW @ 25s (Now 8/1 Jt Fav)
Clopf in the Arkle. EW @ 16s (Now 12s best)
An Accordion in the WH Chase. WIN @ 10s (now 7/1)
Group Captain in the Ballymore Props. EW @ 20s (now 7/1)
Osana in the Champion Hurdle. EW @ 33s (now 5/1) Typical that this is my smallest bet out of the lot. Fk My Life.
Francheok in the Triumph. WIN @ 8/1 (now 5/2)

Got loads more too.

These all look like huge brags, but you have to take into account that ive already lost money backing Money Trix in the RSA Chase @ 25s, and Big Bucks in the Arkle @ 25s as neither will run.

No fancies yet, but Im gona start my Cheltenham portfolio on Friday. See what i really fancy. And get goiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing. 1time pls Derek Thompson.

nice work that mate, you got some real chances there.

[AndrewT]

i am waiting till the end of next week to see how the weather affects the going, if it stays dry its going to be very hard for denman to beat kauto star who would start a very short price, if it starts to get very wet and its forecast for a lot of rain,at least you know what type of horse to look for and i will have a few bets before the meeting starts on the soft ground horses, nothing worse than putting on a few anti post bets and they have no chance if its to firm or heavy

The clerk of the course has said they will have it on the soft side of good for the first day of the festival (unless the weather changes dramatically)..but you're right.

right ,thanks, think i will have a look at a few races this week if its not going to be firm,

he will water the track so that it's on the soft side of good for the first day..so it won't be fast/firm ground for definite.

And the drainage at Cheltenham is so good that unless there's a deluge on the morning of racing it never really gets that soft.

[boldie]

i am waiting till the end of next week to see how the weather affects the going, if it stays dry its going to be very hard for denman to beat kauto star who would start a very short price, if it starts to get very wet and its forecast for a lot of rain,at least you know what type of horse to look for and i will have a few bets before the meeting starts on the soft ground horses, nothing worse than putting on a few anti post bets and they have no chance if its to firm or heavy

The clerk of the course has said they will have it on the soft side of good for the first day of the festival (unless the weather changes dramatically)..but you're right.

right ,thanks, think i will have a look at a few races this week if its not going to be firm,

he will water the track so that it's on the soft side of good for the first day..so it won't be fast/firm ground for definite.

And the drainage at Cheltenham is so good that unless there's a deluge on the morning of racing it never really gets that soft.

yeah...that's my one concern for the last few days of the meeting...whether they can water enough to keep it on the soft side of good (perfect racing ground)...It's gonna be brilliant..I already have the week after it off but am half tempted to ask if I can work half days during the cheltenham festival so I can catch it comfortably (though the channel 4 website should broadcast it)

[kenjude]

Channel 4 - yeuch. Racing UK will be set to record every day on the Sky+ box in my house.

Ante-post multiple bets (as per OP). Sounds like bookmakers' paradise to me!

Best tip for anyone - if travelling from London/Oxford to go to the festival, leave the A40 at Burford, drive down through Burford and across country via Stow and in over Cleeve Hill. The view as you come over the top with the course below you really is magnificent and sets you up for the day. And if you aim to get there for around 11am you rarely have any hold ups on that route in.

[Pelham Boy]

The going at Cheltenham is usually mis-leading,it was supposed to be good to soft on the first day last year,but that was way off the mark.

From about July last year i had been having the odd £5 or £10 on Detroit City to win the Champion Hurdle,in what looked a very weak year for hurdlers,so i was about £80 down by November. (Barring an outbreak of foot and mouth!)

Some others i'm keen on at this stage are, Rippling Ring (supreme Novice Hurdle), Sizing Europe (Champion Hurdle), Group Captain (Ballymore Properties Novice Hurdle) and Refinement (David Nicholson Mares only hurdle)

I wish i was on Sizing Europe at at a big price,i just cant see anything beating it,it's a bit short at 2's though. At a bigger price in the Champion,Ebaziyan looks too big at around 40's,it's shown nothing this season but has never had his ground.

If Noland gets too short for the Arkle i'll be laying.

[action man]

i went in 2005 and 2007 to cheltenham and the buzz is amazing. Gutted i can't muster a few lads fro the trip this year but they arent big racing fans.

In march 2005 i was still working at a local factory on nights to build a roll up and i was invited to make a 5-up for the trip to cheltenham for the thursday and friday.
The lads going were me 20 yrs  Steve 32 years   woody 42yrs   graham  55yrs   and jonny 65yrs. I can remember fllecing my bank account anc mustering £600 odd quid for the trip. On the day of the thursday I stuck my best shirt on, new jeans and a fancy longish bookie-esque coat and headed for the pick up. The journey was a good mix of bantor decent music and the words of wisdom from my co-workers on who would win each and every race,who would last the longest on the ale, and the journey seemed to take about a third of the near 3 hour drive.

We arrived in worcester (the closest we could get a hotel, obv i was on hotel duties) at about 10:45am, dropped our bags off and got str8 into the car for the drive str8 to the course. We were in the best mate enclosure and as soon inside i litterally jogged to the guiness tent where i presumed you could get beer. I had obv nominated myself for the 1st round but that didint matter a jot to me, i was absolutely buzzing. A new outfit a few quid in pocket a thirsty gut and a feastful of racing in store was enough to make even the most dry mouth water with excitement.

 Once in the guiness tent, i soon realised that there was a live band on playing some golden oldies and the atmosphere was electric. I had never seen so many people, mainly elderly irishmen, drunk at midday in my life. They were all very jovial and very much in twine with the spirit of cheltenham races, one of a party atmosphere. On the two occasions i have visited the festival (4 days in total) ive not seen an ounce of bother as the universal behaviour of race fans seems probably the best of all sports ive ever been a part of or witnessed.

The beers started flowing prior to the 1st race as people were having a jig to cheesy numbers, mainly "is this the way to amirillo" where i felt the urge to ring my mate and sing down the phone to try and convey the atmosphere and maybe rub it in a little. It felt so euphoric, Red hot weather for that time of the year helped the beers flow down and i felt content to stay in the tent to watch the first few races on the big screen waiting for the lads to return to get their round and complain of bad beats, in this case trouble in running, bad rides, unfluent jumping. This of course was music to the ears of those of us who had just bagged a winner.

Its strange feeling backing a winner in racing it makes the punter feel like he is somehow 'in the know' and on a higher level than the 'mugs' who picked a horse that chased it home. Punters love being asked thier opinion prior to the race and almost go looking for the guy post race to gloat and to see if he took your words of wisdom into account. Of course it goes without saying that you won't endevour to look for the guy if your horse underperforms as the last thing on your mind, after screwing your ticket up and heading back to the drawing board, is the clueless person who sought your advice.

The Topic for discussion at the factory for weeks was between Steve and woody about the stayers hurdle, steve waxing lyrical on a nightly basis abou the chances of inglis drever, while woody telling all who would hear how badly barracuda will stuff it.  I had only been at the factory about 5 months prior to cheltenham and the lads made me feel very welcome after i admitted a passion for cards, racing and anything gambling. These were the the guys in charge of the night shift and made my life just about as easy as possible through the 7/8 months i was there, which lead to be getting an invite for cheltenham.  Getting the time off wasnt a problem.

So it was almost racetime in the stayers hurdle, my day had been a good one so far backing a 20/1 winner who i forget the name of £10 e/w that jotted up and by racetime of the stayers hurdle i was certainly merry. I was undecided about which of the big two in the race to back, eventually it came down to one thing. Who would gloat more out of steve and woody. Who would rub it in our faces if we didnt back it. Who would get their wad of money and waft it in my face. I decided that although woody would have a cocky and smug grin on his face for the next 11 months, the verbal punishment i would get from steve would be far more severe, therfore my mind had been made up. Inglis drever it was.

I decided to watch the race, absent of my 4 mates, in the guiness tent, i had £75 e/w at 11/2 on the horse and, if i remember correctly from 3 furlongs out there was only barracuda and inglis in the race. I tried to keep my composure as the whole racecourse was screaming for thier charge, however this composure didnt last long as entering the last furlong i was probably the loudest in there, Inglis was coming to win the race. Barracuda seemed like he had met his match this time as inglis began to drive clear in the last 200 yards for victory. I began to cheer uncontrollably, not only was i in my idea of heaven, with mates, warm day, few beers, but i had just had a big winner which returned me in the region of £700. I turned round eagerly awaiting the return of my mate steve who had a fair bit more on it including side bets with woody. After a few minutes he returned with the biggest beam i have ever seen appear on a face.

The banter and beer flowed for the following few races as the three of us that were in profit decided to take it steady the last 3 races and just keep drinking and cheering. The other two lads jonny and woody decided to go to the paddock in order to have a closer inspection of the competitiors in order to get out of the hole they had dug in the four races prior.

After we left the racecourse it was str8 in woody;s car. Not only had he not had a winner all day but he had been nominated as the driver so he hadnt had a drink either: double beat:   
We headed str8 back to the hotel, shower changed and taxi into cheltenham town centre where we were greeted my traditional irish music in all the pubs. Classincs such as wild rover and i'll take you home kathleen were commonplace. We somehow got ushered into the top floor of a certain bar which had been renovated into a strip club and thought it best to stay a while as not to upset anyone. By this time Steve and I were a bit worse for where, with the added handicap of losing our voices somewhere inbetween cheering inglis home and singing the chorus to wild rover in a drink induced frenzy in o'neills.

As we headed back to the hotel we all looked back with joy on what had been a great day, but even then steve and woody were contemplating the 1st race of gold cup day. We aririved back at the hotel at about 4:00am and got str8 to bed eagerly anticipating the next days racing. Good times were had by all..

[Colchester Kev]

Wow BRILLIANT post Trigger ... great read.

[boldie]

Wow BRILLIANT post Trigger ... great read.

what he said..Man I love Cheltenham..there's nothing like it (Though I haven't been in years )