Plenty of punters will be sprouting Cheltenham tips this week but it’s often difficult to decipher researched and reasoned tips from pure speculation. The Cheltenham Betting site has proved to be a source for quality tips, predicting four big priced winners and numerous other placed each-way selections for last year’s festival and is likely to be equally successful this year.
The site highlighted First Lieutenant and Sizing Europe priced at 10/1 as well as Zarkandar (7/1) and Junior (6/1) to visitors who would have gone home happy, placing win bets at these odds. As would have those who followed the advice backing First Point to place at 25/1, who came in third. It’s not just unjustified tips on offer, stats and trends are used to support tips as well as help punters to find their own winners at best odds, taking advantage of best bookmaker offers. On the fringe of the 2012 Cheltenham Festival, who looks likely to take home a win on Day One?
The Champion Hurdle is the most popular race on the day, a sprint race over two miles featuring the fastest hurdlers in national hunt racing. Hurricane Fly is unbeaten over two and a half years and will be aiming to become the first back to back winner since Hardy Eustace in 2005. At the time of writing, he’s priced at 10/11 which doesn’t leave a lot of leg room which makes an each-way on Oscars Well a good back up. Although Oscars Well didn’t win the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle last year, his experience at Cheltenham will prove beneficial as past Cheltenham form goes a long way in this race. At 12/1 he could be the most likely thread to Hurricane Fly, should he fall short on the sprint.
The Arkle Chase is deemed the most exciting race on day one, and, some might argue, the whole festival. In the past, this race has been the making of many stars including Sizing Europe, Moscow Flyer, Voy Per Ustedes and Azertyuiop. Out of this year’s pack, Sprinter Sacre, who also has past Cheltenham form, is unbeaten over fences and although he’s no longer available at the earlier recommended price of 7/1, he still represents a good bet.
Despite being the shortest priced favourite (1/2) with most bookies, it’s hard to look past Quevega as the winner of this year’s OLBG Mares’ Hurdle. She is the 2009, 2010 and 2011 champion, and will be hotly defending her crown. Visit Cheltenham-Betting.co.uk for more Cheltenham tips, stats and trends for identifying this year’s festival winners.