Cheltenham betting favourites statistics
Cheltenham is the centre of more horse racing betting than anywhere else in the National Hunt circuit. Can we make a few quid by looking at how the favourite has fared at Prestbury Park?
| Type of horse race | Non-handicap races | Handicap races |
| Hurdle | 31-91 (34%) | 16-79 (20%) |
| Chase | 37-99 (37%) | 17-94 (18%) |
| National Hunt Flat | 3-18 (17%) | 0-0 (N/A) |
| Totals | 71-208 (34%) | 33-173 (19%) |
Statistics from 2005/06 season up to and including 15 March 2010. Source: Racing Post and author’s own research.
What does the fate of the favourite tell us?
There is a marked difference in the performance of favourites in non-handicap races and handicaps. Nowhere was this more evident than in the October 2009 meeting where, in 14 races, six of eight favourites (75%) won in non-handicaps and only one of six favourites (16.7%) won in the handicap races. Favourites won all three of the non-handicap steeplechases over the two day meeting.
Blindly backing favourites in National Hunt Flat (or ‘bumper’) races is clearly a bad idea, with around two favourites winning out of every eleven.
Back to the Fate of the Favourite page
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