Greatest Show On Turf!

[Ken4155]

The day has finally arrived and at 1.30 pm this afternoon, an almighty roar will be heard as the tapes go up on the beginning of the 2014 Cheltenham Festival. The nation's bookies, seeking new custom (like vampires seeking fresh blood), are falling over themselves to entice us to part with our money - though in some cases we need not part with any, such as Stan James who are offering a free £5 bet to anyone, either on line @ www.stanjames.com/freeby (not a link) or by using the token in the Daily Mirror. I have taken advantage of a few of these offers and the one i really like is Paddy Power's offer of money back should your selection finish 2nd, 3rd, or 4th in the opening race, to a maximum of £50.

For what it's worth, my idea of the winner of the first race - 1.30 - is WICKLOW BRAVE @ 7/1, despite the fact that stable jockey Ruby Walsh has chosen to ride Vautour. Good luck.

[Ken4155]

I got it totally wrong - but a thrilling finish. Another for Barry Geraghty, my fav NH jockey:-(

[berniecuddles]

great race think 3 miles was a bit far for Annie power tho in hindsight

[albaqwerty]

The FIL backed More of That, Mr Alba has one winner too.
so it's all or nothing for the 4 o'clock for either to get a double.

I missed the 2.40 but found out the Benefficient didn't live up to it's name :-)

oooh, Big Buck's has retired now.
Hope he has a long and happy retirement.

[berniecuddles]

hi albs, Big Buck's has retired now i hope he has a great time he was one of the best

[albaqwerty]

BB let Mr Alba down today, but what they hey (or should that be hay?)
A wonderful horse indeed, Cuddlyone.

[ELVIS68]

I managed to claw a few quid back today after yesterday's nightmare thanks to Double Ross, Rajdhani Express and the aptly named Spring Heeled in the last.

That's paid for my curry tonight :o)

I've lumped on Spurs to win tonight and also done them to win 3-0, 3-1, 3-2

Plenty of ammo left for the last day, looking forward to reading your fancies for tomorrow

[Psybbo]

Great result for Jim Culloty, my first winner and looking at David Bridgewater's two tomorrow

[Ken4155]

Gonna watch Spurs draw 2-2 @ 14/1, then start studying for tomorrow's Cheltenham. Apart from an e.w. on Double Ross in the first, i drew a blank today. Which, after two really good days, is to be expected. I tried to discover which horses would appreciate the drying ground more, but failed miserably. Might just pay no heed to that particular element for tomorrow's bets. Pleased that the champ finally got a winner - you just knew he would.

[Ken4155]

Have done my stats and found them as difficult to decipher as Thursday's. For better or for worse - where have i heard those words before? - these are my selections. A couple of them are hot favourites but their form just cannot be knocked. Briar Hill is too short to be backed as a single so i will probably find a couple of similar prices from one of the other meetings. Bob's Worth, on the other hand, is the one i have waited for since last year and have backed it at a few prices over the past few months. It ticks ALL the boxes and is 5/5 at Cheltenham. And, of course, it is trained by God and ridden by one of the best pilots ever to have parked his rear in a saddle. Anyhow, here's the full list; Royal Irish Hussar, Minella Foru, Briar Hill, Bob's Worth, Divine Intavention, Une Artiste, His Excellency. (Yeah, i know, there's a few of God's horses in there but the man is a pure genius and his horses fit the trends). Good luck chaps and chapesses:-)

[ELVIS68]

I gave up on stats years ago

After watching yet another crap display by Spurs (dreading Sunday) I've came up with my list for tomorrow.

1.30 Broughton
2.05 Cheltenian, Anay Turge e/w
2.40 Captain Cutter, Urban Hymn e/w
3.20 Triolo D'alene, Lord Windermere e/w
4.0 Oscar Delta
4.40 Thomas Crapper e/w, Hazy Tom e/w
5.15 Eastlake e/w

[Ken4155]

Just got an email from both Coral (who are offering 5/2) and Silly Will who, from 10.00 will be going 4/1 Bob's Worth (£10 max). That's got me plotting again a la Quevega:-)

Elvis; My performances at Cheltenham have improved since i began studying the stats about 6 or 7 years back. Not saying they always hold true but i don't think i would have backed as many festival winners as i have done recently. Each to his own, though. Good luck with yours.

[Svejk]

OK yesterday. 9/2 winner covered day's betting. I swore i would'nt bet on Spurs yesterday (they always let you down) and then i did. :-(
Easy today, do all the favs in jackpot. And while i'm waiting for the pay-out i'll do a double on R Varian's 2 at Lingfield.

[berniecuddles]

i refuse to bet on any of the all weather tracks its a farce you could run the same race 10 times a day and get a different winner every time!

[Svejk]

No you could'nt. ;)

[Ken4155]

I used to do alright on the AW, mainly Wolverhampton, around the late 80s/early 90s. Then, for some reason, i found the results to be very random, to say the least. Sworn off them now unless i'm doing a 'name' bet. Of course the main thing wrong with that is when the weather puts paid to the 'proper' racing. Then it's a case of cold turkey, i'm afraid.

[ELVIS68]

Thanks to Lord Windemere (0n @ 33/1) and Thomas Crapper (On @25/1) I had a fantastic day, also had an e/w bet on Diakali in the 2.05

Nice to finish Cheltenham week on a winning streak :o)

[berniecuddles]

well done Elvis, i ended up £80 up

[Ken4155]

A great week's racing and the first two days proved quite lucrative. Unfortunately i couldn't keep the run going Thu/Fri and all i managed today was 2 small savers on Lac Fontana and Tammys Hill - i had done them in rev f/cs with Minella Foru and Divine Intavention and, as usual, had a couple of pounds on them both - which didn't save the day but rather eased the loss a little. Bobs Worth was my banker of the whole week and that one hurt bad! So, it's back to the flotsam and jetsam that make up our regular fare - though it's a lot easier finding winners:-) Because Elvis tipped the big winner, i am making his the best answer. Good luck with all your future bets.

[Svejk]

felt sorry for D Jacobs losing his irons in the first so did him in the second @11/1 and, r.varian, notwithstanding did well away from Cheltenham. Bring on the flat racing.
nice turnaround by Elvis. what's better? 33/1 gold cup winner or 'best answer' on here.;-)

[Svejk]

by the by, i've been reading all the tipsters in the racing post and abtips have beaten them hands down. in fact i dont think they managed 1 winner between them all week.