Online bookmakers roll out Cheltenham Festival betting specials

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Cheltenham Festival betting news

Online bookmakers are offering a number of special markets for the Cheltenham Festival, but the most popular is ‘Will Racing Go Ahead on March 10th?' This market was introduced because of the amount of rain over the winter, but the dynamic has changed because of the .

The UK government are still talking about containment, but there have been hints of restricting the crowd at sporting events to 500 individuals. While coronavirus cases in the UK are growing at a rapid rate, the exchange price for no racing at Cheltenham on is +1250. This market is the best indicator of the state of play, so we can assume the Festival goes ahead.

The – an unofficial award created by the now-defunct Betbright – pits the British and Irish trainers against each other in a competition for the most winners at the Festival. The concept is like the Ryder Cup in golf in that you can bet on the tie over 28 races, which is paying +600 with Bovada.

That market is closely related to the betting for the top trainer. GB and Ireland have two leading contenders each and their tallies of winners will have implications for the Prestbury Cup. Irish giants Willie Mullins (17) and (16) have trained 33 winners between them over the past three Cheltenham Festivals, while top British candidates Nicky Henderson (8) and (5) have combined for 13 wins in that time.

Other trainers will to the winning totals, but these figures suggest Ireland look good things for the Prestbury Cup at -137.49. The leading trainer should be Mullins or Elliott, but their combined best odds are about -400. Paul Townend and are their principle riders, but Elliott shares out the work more than Mullins. Thus, Townend is the selection to be the leading jockey at +225. JP McManus has strength in numbers and quality, but you won't get rich backing him at -250 to be the leading owner.

The market for winning distances is ground dependent, as horses tend to tire more when the going is softer. There was sun and showers at Cheltenham over the weekend, but rain is on Monday. The projected underfoot conditions are soft, so +250 for total winning distances of over 110 lengths looks the value option. The Cross Country Chase, where is expected to dominate if the going suits, is +600 to be the race won by the biggest distance.

The Festival looks open in terms of the projected starting prices (SPs) of the favourites. The ground could also lead to more upsets and bigger-priced winners. The Champion Hurdle, in particular, and the handicaps have the potential for shock results. Therefore, the biggest winner's SP of +4000 or bigger at -125 with Bovada is a price worth taking.

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