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Cheltenham Festival betting update

By Matt | January 25, 2010

The 2010 Cheltenham Festival starts in just six weeks, and with the best betting festival in UK horse racing just around the corner it’s time to take stock and review the Cheltenham Festival betting tips we brought you at Christmas.

Champion Hurdle betting

Solwhit has been cut to favourite with most bookies after winning in Leopardstown on Sunday. This doesn’t change my preference for the lightly raced Zaynar, but does make Go Native, our suggested alternative, look a good bet at the 12/1 we noted at Christmas.

Those odds have been halved since Go Native won the William Hill Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and anyone sitting on a 12/1 antepost bet for the 2010 Champion Hurdle can be well pleased.

Queen Mother Champion Chase betting

Twist Magic followed up his Tingle Creek success with a storming win in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday. While Paul Nicholls’ Master Minded is rightly still clear favourite for this race, it’s unbelievable that some bookies are going so long on Twist Magic. Sky Bet now offer him at 8/1 while the Tote and Coral – who had him at 10s in December – are as short as fours.

I’ll be adding to my current each-way bet – 8/1 each-way is, if you prefer, a 2-1 on bet about Twist Magic finishing in the first three, which looks good value to me.

World Hurdle betting

Big Buck’s is now odds on across the board and that’s too short for me. We backed him at 5/4 and, again, if you did the same hold on to your ticket but I wouldn’t advise adding any more.

Cheltenham Gold Cup betting

As expected, Kauto Star won the King George and the manner of his winning was such that I can’t believe he’s still odds against for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. I’m wondering whether being so bullish about Denman was a mistake and so am avoiding calling this one. Call it cowardice but this is a race best watched from sitting on the fence. I can’t wait for it and don’t need to gamble any of my hard-earned to make it exciting.