Cheltenham Festival Preview – Day 2
Monday, March 9th, 2009Day two of the Cheltenham Festival. sees another plethora of top quality horse racing and totesport has every angle covered for your betting pleasure.
If you haven’t already done your dough on the marathon 4m first race, the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle is always a hot betting heat and this year looks no different. There’s currently three co favourites heading the non runner no bet market for this one, with Mikael D’Hagunet, Karabak and Diamond Harry at the top of the betting. The Willie Mullins Mikael D’Hagunet has an excellent chance if the ground comes up soft on Wednesday, with the forecast suggesting it may well do. Willie Mullins 5yo has won four on the bounce in Ireland, all on soft ground and will provide a test to long time favourite Diamond Harry. Nick Williams 6yo has won four from four this season showing that he’s adept if unconventional in varying conditions. Currently 7/2 with totesport he appears friendless in the market and will probably go off bigger on the day. Karabak is the horse with all the betting momentum, as big as 20/1 at the turn of the year he’s now also a 7/2 shot with totesport in their non runner no bet market. Two wins in his last two races (including a win at Cheltenham) the Alan King trained 6yo is dramatically improved. Add to that JP McManus snapping him up the prices has plummeted and looks as though he’ll go off favourite on Wednesday. Elsewhere, the Nicky Henderson trained Mad Max has claims. The 7yo is unbeaten and looks a promising runner. At 6/1 he represents some bigger value than the three battling it out at the head of the betting.
In the 1440 RSA Chase Massini’s Maguire could go well at a big price 12/1 with totesport. He has festival form having won the Ballymore Properties Hurdle back in 2007. After a lengthy spell on the sidelines with injury he looks to have bounced back well not finishing out of the frame in his three starts this season, including a runners up to Breezebreeze in the Feltham. There are plenty of question marks as well but I’m one for course form so I think it’ll run a big race and worth an each-way bet at that price. Favourtism looks as though it’ll be battled out for by Cooldine and What a Friend. Ruby Walsh had the pick of rides here and looks as though he’s plumbed for the Willie Mullins former here. Cooldine is currently a 7/2 favourite with What a Friend a 9/2 chance. Paul Nicholls won this race in the 2006 and 2007 but the decision of top jockey Ruby Walsh probably tells a story.
From a betting perspective I’m not really sure what we can say about the Queen Mother Champion Chase with last years winner Master Minded looking a good thing at 2/7 with totesport. Having said that as long as there are obstacles in the way then there’s a potential for a slip up, as proved in the Melling Chase at Aintree last April when he blundered badly at the second last giving victory to Voy Por Ustedes. He’s won on his two appearances this season including a dominant performance in the Tingle Creek. He’s beaten most of the opposition and with the aforementioned Voy Por Ustedes contesting the Ryanair Chase instead and Tidal Bay a confirmed non runner it’s difficult to find a horse to beat him if he jumps. With this in mind and at that price it’s worth looking for an each-way shot or backing a horse in the ‘without Master Minded’ market with totesport. Well Chief in his prime could arguably give the 6yo a race but with so many injury troubles and lack of race time to his name you’d be backing him blind at 12/1. Big Zeb is the favourite in the ‘without Master Minded’ market at 9/4. It’s very difficult to see past master Minded dominating this race for years to come.
We’ll be putting up some more horses to follow on the day of the race so be sure to check back then.
Check out totesport for all prices for the Cheltenham Festival.
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