2025 Cheltenham Festival - 11 - 14 March

[Ken4155]

The Festival begins tomorrow and, as per usual, the Irish are expected to provide the bulk of the winners.

ITV 1 will be providing free coverage of the first 6 races of each day with the 7th race being shown on ITV X, meaning that all 7 races will be free to view for the first time.

The first race each day will begin at 1.20 pm with broadcasting beginning at 12;45. There will also be The Opening Show at 9 am each morning of the Festival on ITV4.

[Ken4155]

No surprise were the Irish to lead 2-0 after the first 2 races but hopefully the feature race of the day will go to the UK in the shape of Constitution Hill, whose absence from the race last year left the way clear for State Man to claim the spoils.

Should be some race.

[theshedman]

One of my sons takes the week off every year to watch Cheltenham.  He was going up to watch it live but says it has got very expensive these days.  I saw on BBC this morning that more and more people are going to watch it on TV in Benidorm as they can also expect to get a bit of sun as well as seeing the racing.  Also the beer is cheaper there than in the pubs here.

[Ken4155]

Racing is always best watched on the tv for watching how a race unfolds, but nothing can compare to the live atmosphere, particularly at these large festivals where the roars that greet the winners is akin to a football match when a goal has been scored.

I have attended both Cheltenham and the Grand National back in the day and all i saw of the races was the bobbing heads of the pilots. Even the big screens aren't much help when the sun is out.

There is also the most satisfying aspect of all when actually attending a race meet - going up to the bookies and taking money out of their vice-like grip.

Perversely, i have even enjoyed my days out at the races when my 'winnings' pocket is empty.

[Ken4155]

Bets on early but i will check for any n/r's before racing begins. As per usual, i have taken to the statistics to help me cut the numbers of runners down. However, the last race at Cheltenham has now been made an handicap race so there are absolutely no stats at hand, so my seletion is based purely on potential.

2.40;  Crebilly @ 9/1 - 7 places (£5 free bet WH)

4.40;  Puturhandstogether @ 8/1 - 6 places (£5 free bet Sky)

5.20;  Gericault Roque @ 9/1 - 5 places (£5 win)

£1 Patent, 2 x £1.50 accas. 3 placed = £56, 3 winners = £4,319

Crebilly was 2nd in this race last year with Straw Fan Jack close up in 3rd. The latter has failed to come on from that race, but it could be that being back at Cheltenham could rekndle the horse's enthusiasm. £1 e.w. @ 50/1 - 7 places.

ITV7; above qualifiers, plus; Romeo Coolio, Majborough, Zara's Universe, Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill. £1 e.w. acca.

Best of luck to punters everywhere.

[Ken4155]

Just seen that 365 are boosting Constitution Hill's price from 4/6 to 6/4, so i've had a tenner's worth. As you do.

[Togo]

Just having a look at the fields now Ken. I see that you got your birthday bonus  ...   good shot. A bit bemused as to why we are looking at a class 5 Sedgefield 6 runner handicap worth £3200 to the winner and ignoring a class 2 Chelt. 18 runner handicap worth £52k to the winner in the ITV7. AS you mentioned the 7 races are on free to watch tv anyway. Puzzles me. Get back with my forlorn hopes soon.   

[Togo]

Small stakes punt for day 1. 
Workahead  @8/1  1.20.
Myretown  @10/1  2.40
Hot Fuss  @10/1 4.40.
Stuzzikini  @33/1  5.20

E/W Acc, Trebles, Doubles. Money back win with 365 in the 1.20.  Free e/w Acca with skybet on the ITV7 runners without the odds on runners.

With the top 3 Majborough, 'm Too Tired, Lossiemouth, Constitution Hill for the ITV7. Chelt. Placepot & Jackpot.

[Togo]

An article that you may like Ken.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/racing/article-14483847/That-horse-freak-believe-hes-just-Mail-Sport-charts-incredible-resurrection-Constitution-Hill-light-Cheltenham.html

[Togo]

Just noticed that the online version, for some reason, misses off the last paragraph which is

" 'Am I happy?' Buckley rhetorically asks me, his smile saying everything.' 'It would be hard not to be. Did you see that change of gear?' We did. And shortly after 4pm this afternoon, everybody else will see it too. Sit back and watch one of the all-time greats. "

[Ken4155]

Let'shope he lives up to the hype, Togo. Not for the dsake of my tenner but for the stable who had an horrendous Festival last year due to the virus.

Good hit with Myretown, by the way. Hadn't even glanced at it, tbh.

[Ken4155]

Wow, the highs and (literally) lows of racing. CH and SM both biting the dirt!

[Clone]

Unbelievable.

[Ken4155]

Commentator says you could have got 40/1 this morning, but Betfred were going 50s.

[Ken4155]

Always one race which comes to the bookie's rescue. Apparently they saved in excess of £10M on that race.

[grumpy01]

Although not nice to see Constitution Hill and State Man come down it was great to see a small stable win a big race.

[Ken4155]

Day 1; just the one winner with £5.50 (free bet) on it, (other 50p free bet from Sky due to Match 5 game) producing a profit of just over ~£17. Not a bad start.

[Ken4155]

Slight correction - profit was just shy of £20.

[Togo]

I was out this afternoon and have just been watching the replays. It looks to me with a bit of pause and rewind that the newer safer horse friendly hurdles may not be an improvement. I am convinced that they caused the fall of Constitution Hill. He takes the hurdles low and fast and when he fell Brighterdaysahead had clipped the hurdle with her hind leg and caused it to lower as a whole as designed. It then of course wants to revert back to regulation height and it did. Unfortunately Con. Hill, who was behind her, had aimed to take the hurdle in its lowered state and as it sprang back to full height it took him down. Not such an improvement maybe then.

[Ken4155]

Undeterred by the above fall, Togo, i have taken advantage of 365's 6/4 on Jonbon to a tenner stake.

As if to underline Irish dominance of Cheltenham over the years, i see the 7-runner 2.00 is totally made up of Irish-trained horses - 4 from Mullins, 2 from Elliott and 1 from de Bromhead.

2.40;  Impose Toi @ 11/2 - 8 places (£5 free bet)

3.20;  Mister Coffey @ 15/2 - 6 places (£5 win)

4.40;  The King Of Prs @ 16/1 - 6 places £2.50 e.w.)

£1 patent, 2 x £1.50 e.w. trebles. 3 placed = £52, 3 winners = £4,090.

ITV7; above qualifiers, plus; Final Demand, Ballyburn, Youdecide and The King Of Prs. £1 e.w. acca.

I've also entered the 365 pick 6 horses and have done a £1 e.w. acca on 5 of them - * excluded; The Yellow Clay, Ballyburn*, Be Aware, Stumptown, Unexpected Party and Gameofinches.

Best of luck, all.

 

[Togo]

It snowed at Cheltenham earlier. 👀