DAY 2 – WEDNESDAY 15TH MARCH – THE QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE
The feature race on Day 2 is The Queen Mother Champion Chase and every race fan is looking forward to seeing if Willie Mullins Energumen can complete the double after defeating Shishkin last year.
The Champion Chase has been won by some absolute legends down the years, including dual winners like Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre and Altior.
And who could forget one of the modern-day greats Moscow Flyer.
- 13:30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham)
- 14:10 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Broadway Novices’ Chase)
- 14:50 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
- 15:30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
- 16:10 Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase)
- 16:50 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
- 17:30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1)
But, that’s enough of a ride down memory lane, let’s get down to the serious business of this Cheltenham Festival Preview Day 2 edition.
13:30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham)
The first race of the day is the Ballymore Novice Hurdle run over 2 miles and 5 furlongs, and you will have seen from our full 2023 Cheltenham Festival Preview page, that we earmarked three horses at the end of January that were well fancied in the betting.
But now we want to focus on the final declarations and look at the field in more detail, so hopefully our expert Richard Smith can pick through the form and point you in the right direction of a likely winner of the 2023 Ballymore Novices Hurdle.
Richard has already analysed the Ballymore Novices Hurdle ten-year trends below. They might help you to build out a shortlist of potential fancies for the race.
And with seven races each day, you might want to look at an each-way bet for fun. We’ll often see an odds-on favourite each day so if we leave that race out, it leaves us six races. Perfect for a Heinz or a Lucky 63.
- Back a winner at 4/1 or bigger and get a free bet to the same stake on the next feature race
- Back a loser at 4/1 or bigger on a feature race and get your stake returned
- 4/1 Feature race promo available on win and each-way bets
£5
UK Gambling Commission
31/12/2023
Place a Win or Each Way single bet at odds of 4/1 or more on a bet365 Feature Race. If your first single bet on that race wins, place a bet up to the same stake (up to £50*) on the next bet365 Feature Race. If the bet loses we will refund your stake (up to £50*). If the bet also wins at odds of 4/1 or more, you qualify for a bet on the next bet365 Feature Race. *or currency equivalent Significant Terms and Conditions This offer is only available to new and eligible customers. This offer applies to the FIRST single bet placed by a customer on each bet365 Feature Race. This offer will not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out. Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, any refund amount or subsequent qualifying bet amount will be equal to the remaining active stake. If a qualifying bet is edited using our Edit Bet feature, any refund amount will be equal to the new stake and not the original stake. Where a qualifying bet is changed using Edit Bet, no refund will be given and the offer will no longer apply. Where more than one selection in the same race is placed on the same bet slip, the first selection is deemed to be the one which is highest on the bet slip. Offer applies to bets placed on Win and Each Way Fixed Odds markets (including where a Bet Boost is applied) and Enhanced Place Terms markets only. All other markets, including adjusted place terms (Each Way Extra), Ante-Post bets and Tote/Pari-Mutuel/Colossus (bets and dividends), are excluded from this offer. This offer is available on selected races as specified in the table above. Bets must be placed in the usual way and can be paid for from either your Withdrawable Balance or Bet Credits. Bets placed from your Withdrawable Balance will be refunded to your Withdrawable Balance and bets placed using Bet Credits will be refunded as Bet Credits.
https://www.bet365.com
Bet365 Group Ltd / Hillside (New Media) Ltd
2000
Stoke-on-Trent
10 YEAR RACE TRENDS
Trying to pick the winner of the big novice races at the festival is never an easy task, but a challenge and puzzle that all punters love to take on. This has been a very strong race for favourite backers down the years so looking at horses which are near the top of the betting market is a solid starting point.
So let’s check out some of the trends from the past ten years that could help you pick out the winner.
- Eight of the last ten winners have been six-year-olds.
- Nine of the last ten winners had won at least two races during the current season.
- Five of the last ten runnings have been won by the favourite, including each of the last three years.
- Eight of the last ten winners had run in the previous 66 days before the festival.
- Seven of the last ten winners have been rated 150 or higher.
RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
TRENDS PICK
The final trends picks will appear here on Monday 13th March. However, looking at the Ballymore field with one week to go, the horse that stands out on the trends is HERMES ALLEN from the Paul Nicholls yard. He hits most of the key trends and is only a pound below the benchmark rating for this race.
FORM PICK
This looks like a race that will go to one of the market leaders and Impaire Et Passe 7/4 has been very impressive so far and is rightly at the head of the betting.
However, at a more attractive price, the selection is GAELIC WARRIOR 5/1 WIN who is the top-rated here by some way and has been ultra-impressive in three wins this season. He was a huge gamble at last year’s festival in The Fred Winter Handicap, and was only caught late on the line that day. He goes on the forecasted soft ground and although this trip is an unknown, he could actually find some more improvement for the step up in distance and is a big danger to his stablemate.
Hermes Allen 11/4 and Good Land 6/1 are others near the head of the betting with chances.
14:10 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Broadway Novices’ Chase)
The second race of the day is one of the big chasing events for the staying novice chasers and is run over 3 miles and 1/2 furlong. This was the race formerly known as the Royal And Sun Alliance Chase. In our full four-day 2023 Cheltenham Festival Preview page, we earmarked a few horses at the end of January that were well touted in the betting.
Once the final declarations are here, our expert Richard Smith will be going through each runner with a fine tooth comb to try and pick out the likely winner or value each way bet.
Until the final declarations have been made, Richard has already gone through the ten-year trends for this race below.
If you like to bet based on trends then with seven races to choose from, it gives us the chance to place some of our single bets into different types of combo bets. Each day there is usually a very short price favourite, so we might skip that race and go for the other six.
So we could pick out six races, and go for a Heinz bet.
- Great promo giving you the option to get an increased price on your selection
- Great promo for backers of favourites who are more likely to win by bigger distances
£5
Malta Gaming Authority under license: MGA/CRP/121/2006-05
31/12/2023
Terms and Conditions Conversion rates When we convert currencies, we consider £10 to be equal to: €10 (euro) AU$20 (Australian dollar) CA$20 (Canadian dollar) CHf15 (Swiss franc) Kr80 (Danish krone) HK$115 (Hong Kong dollar) ¥1300 (Japanese yen) Kr120 (Swedish krona) S$20 (Singapore dollar) US$10 (US dollar) 1. General restrictions a. We expect you to be fair when you take part in promotions. We consider certain types of play to be unfair and to break these terms and conditions. These unfair types of play include the following. Using ‘minimal risk wagering patterns’ (that is, a set pattern of bets or stakes that unfairly minimises risks). Using more than one account in order to get more than the number of bonuses allowed for each customer. Sharing personalised promotions (that is, promotions only available to specific customers we offer them to) with others. This includes taking part in any personalised promotion forwarded to you by someone else when it was not intended for you. Taking part in a promotion that is not available in the country you live in. Colluding with other customers (that is, plotting with others to gain an unfair advantage). Using more than one account per person, per household or per IP address. b. If you take part in any play that we consider to be unfair, we may cancel any bonuses or promotions applied to your account, reclaim any bonus you have received as part of any promotion we have cancelled, and either: settle bets at the correct odds, not the bonus or promotion odds; void any free bets or bets funded by a bonus (that is, treat them as if they had never been placed); or remove any winnings relating to any bonus. 2. General conditions a. Regardless of anything else set out in these terms and conditions, you can withdraw funds from your main balance at any time, except where we must withhold the funds to meet our legal or regulatory obligations. b. You cannot take part in this promotion if we have previously banned you from taking part in promotions, or from betting or playing any games on our website. c. We can withhold or refuse to pay any winnings from a bonus if funds you paid into your main balance (including any amounts you have already used) are cancelled or denied by any payment service (for example, your card provider). d. We can change or cancel this promotion, or change these terms and conditions: without giving you notice, if the change or cancellation is needed because of any change in law or regulation; or by giving you notice beforehand, if the change or cancellation is for any other valid reason (for example, if there is a fault in the software or systems we use to provide this promotion, or we identify a mistake in this promotion or these terms and conditions). We can also award an equivalent bonus to the one referred to in this promotion. e. We will not be responsible for any technical, hardware or software failures, or any unavailable or lost network conditions which may result in incorrect information being displayed, or affect your ability to enter or take part in the promotion. If there is any dispute over your eligibility for the promotion, our decision will be final. f. Your use of our website, and your gaming or betting, is governed by our terms and conditions of using our website or telebetting service (the general terms). You must read the general terms and these terms and conditions before you take part in this promotion. If any of these terms and conditions conflict with the general terms, these terms and conditions will apply. g. These terms and conditions are governed by, and interpreted in line with, the laws of England and Wales. Any legal action in connection with these terms and conditions will be dealt with in the courts of England and Wales. h. This promotion is offered, managed and made available on our website (williamhill.com) by us, WHG (International) Limited.
https://sports.williamhill.com/
William Hill PLC
1934
William Hill Global PLC, Tagliaferro Business Centre, Level 7, High Street, Sliema SLM 1549, Malta
10 YEAR RACE TRENDS
This race is one of the most gruelling of the week. These novices will be running at top pace over this stamina-stretching distance, and it takes a true stayer to win this race. Trends can be a great pointer for this race, and in recent runnings, there has been a key trend in terms of the age of the winner.
So let’s look at some of the trends from the past ten years that could help you to pick out the winner.
- Seven of the last ten winners have been seven-year-olds.
- Seven of the last ten runnings of the race have been won by a horse rated at least 153.
- The favourite has finished in the first four in each of the last ten runnings, including five wins.
- Only one of the last ten runnings has been won by a horse bigger than 8/1 in the betting.
- Eight of the last ten winners had run at least three times during the current season
RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
TRENDS PICK
The final trends picks will appear here on Monday 13th March. However, looking at the field for this competitive novice chase with one week to go, the clear trends pick is THE REAL WHACKER who matches all of our trends apart from being a favourite.
FORM PICK
This race has cut up and interesting to see Mighty Potter not taking his chance here, and that one looks like going for the Turners later in the week.
It really makes this an open race now, with the likely favourite being the unbeaten Gerri Colombe 7/4 who won at Sandown when last seen, and looks a real grinder.
However, there are some classy horses here and our main selection is THE REAL WHACKER 5/1 WIN who has been transformed by fences and has won his last two here at Cheltenham. That experience of these fences will stand him in good stead and he looks decent enough value.
At a very big price, don’t rule out I Am Maximus 50/1, who was not disgraced behind Mighty Potter last time.
14:50 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
Race three on Day 2 sees the first big handicap of the day and it is one of the most competitive races of the week with 24+ runners taking to the 2-mile 5-furlong start. A race that is always run at a very fast pace, and if you looked at our 2023 Cheltenham Festival Preview page, you will have seen that we pinpointed three horses at the end of January that were already being well supported in the betting.
Once we have the final declarations for The Coral Cup, let’s see if our expert Richard Smith can point you in the way of a big-priced winner, or even a juicy combination tricast.
Until then, you can check out Richards’s ten-year trends analysis for the Coral Cup. The trend on starting prices of the last ten years is very interesting.
- Super Extra Place Races are announced on the Betfred App and website
- This “Super” extra place option is usiuially found on the big field handicaps at the major racing festivals.
£5
UK Gambling Commission under account number 39544. Licensed by the Gibraltar Government and regulated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner (RGL no. 036 & 038)
31/12/2023
Available on Betfred.com and the Betfred app. Best Odds Guaranteed does not apply to Super Extra Place races. Applies to single and multiple bets. Doesn’t apply to ante-post bets. Dead heat rules apply. Betfred reserve the right to exclude certain customers from this offer at our discretion due to internal risk policies and/or account staking restrictions. General Betfred.com rules apply, see website for details.
https://www.betfred.com/
Petfre (Gibraltar) Limited
1967
5/2 Waterport Place, Gibraltar,
10 YEAR RACE TRENDS
Trying to pick a winner of any race at The Cheltenham Festival is a challenge, but The Coral Cup is as tricky as it gets. You will have lots of unexposed handicappers in this and the Irish trainers do like to try and plot a gamble to relieve the bookies of their cash.
So let’s look at some of the trends from the past ten years, and see if that is a strategy that can help you pick out a potential winner.
- Seven of the last ten winners have been aged at least 7 years old. All of which have come in the last seven years.
- Trainer Nicky Henderson has had a 30% strike rate in this race in the last ten years.
- Five of the last ten runnings have been won by a horse priced at 20/1 or bigger.
- Only two of the last ten runnings have been won by a horse priced at less than 12/1 in the betting.
- Only one favourite has been successful in the last ten years.
RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
TRENDS PICK
The final trends picks will appear here on Monday 13th March. However, looking at this hyper-competitive handicap, we have a few that look to have chances on the trends.
BOLD ENDEAVOUR of the Henderson runners fits the bill, and it would be no surprise to see him go well back over the smaller obstacles.
FORM PICK
A competitive race as always and plenty in with chances. The early favourite is Run For Oscar 7/1 and he won the Cesarewitch in October on the flat from a rating of 90. Clearly has plenty of ability and has run well in two hurdle starts and his mark of 147 looks totally fair. He may however find one lurking down the handicap.
We have two against the field here, and the first of those is the Gordon Elliot-trained SA FUREUR 25/1 EW. He did not produce too many fireworks in bumpers but has progressed rapidly over hurdles, culminating in a Grade 3 success last time out. Davy Russell is booked to ride and the 5 lb higher mark should be an issue.
Our second pick against the field is an even bigger price and it’s NELLS SON 50/1 EW. The form figures do not look too pretty at first glance, but he was travelling really well when coming down last time. His mark of 135 looks really fair considering he ran well in the Mersey Novices Hurdle last year when rated 139, and with most bookmakers paying 6 places, this one could sneak a place.
15:30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
The feature race of the day is Queen Mother Champion Chase sponsored by Betway, and after hot favourite Energumene was beaten on Cheltenham Festival Trials Day back in January, the race now has a much more open look to it. Below you you can see that run on trials day.
On our four-day 2023 Cheltenham Festival Preview page, we pointed out three horses at the end of January that were well fancied to run well here and were high up in the betting.
Final declarations will probably give us a small but select field to try and pick the winner from, and below you can see the thoughts of our expert Richard Smith.
Until the decs are finalised, Richard has already analysed the Champion Chase ten-year trends below. So check those out, they might help you to build out a shortlist of fancies for the race.
This race looks like being a small field and sometimes it is worth looking at the favourites in the small field and Championship races and putting them in a bet like a Trixie or a Patent, and if you fancy four races, then a Lucky 15 could be the way to go.
- Offer is only valid to new customers who reside in the United Kingdom.
- Maximum Matched Free Bet: £30
- Qualifying bets must have 3+ legs on any Football or Horse Racing market
£10
UK Gambling Commission
31/12/2023
This offer is only valid to New Customers who reside in the United Kingdom. Min stake: £5. Maximum Matched Free Bet: £30. Debit Card deposits only. No other payment method will qualify. Qualifying bets must have 3+ legs on any Football or Horse Racing market. Both pre-match and in-play bets qualify for this promotion. The accumulator must have an overall odds of 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Multiple bets on any other sport will not qualify. No system bets (Lucky 31, Canadians, Accumulator-4 with 5 selections, etc.) Bet builder bets will not qualify for this offer. If one leg is void, then providing there is at least one losing leg, we will honour the Free Bet. Bets involving cash-out will not qualify for this offer. Real money bets only. We will aim to credit your Free Bet within an hour of the bet settling. The Free Bet will expire 7 days upon being credited. General Free Bet Terms The Free Bet cannot be used to place multi-line multiple bets (e.g. Trixie’s, Patents, Yankees etc.). Should the Free Bet be placed on a selection that is later voided, the stake will be returned to your account as a Free Bet. The Free Bet is non-refundable and the Free Bet stake is not included in any returns. Placement of a Free Bet on an each-way market is considered one bet (including the win and place portion). The return from this bet must be greater than the total value of the Free Bet placed for winnings to be paid out. A redeemed Free Bet will not count towards qualification to view streamed events. The following terms apply to all Betway promotional Free Bets (excluding the Free Bet Welcome Offer). Should you require assistance with any of these conditions, please do not hesitate to contact Customer Support. The general terms & conditions shall apply to all interactions with Betway and must be read with all relevant promotional terms and conditions. Unless specifically stated otherwise, all deposits have a playthrough of at least once (1), before a Free Bet specifically related to the deposit will be activated. Betway Sports Promotions department will be the sole judge in respect of honouring any and all promotional offers. Betway Sports reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to amend any offer and its terms at any time, including the cancellation of the promotion without any prior notice. Any customer deviating from the promotional rules may be disqualified without notice. Before any withdrawals are processed, your play will be reviewed for any irregular playing patterns. In the interests of fair gaming using a combination of bets which include both a Free Bet and cash on the same event to place equal, zero or low margin or hedge bets, shall all be considered irregular gaming for bonus wagering requirement purposes. Should Betway Sports deem that irregular game play has occurred, it reserves the right to withhold any withdrawals and/or confiscate all winnings.
https://betway.com/en/sports
Betway Group (part of Super Group)
2006
9 Empire Stadium Street, Gzira, GZR 1300, Malta
10 YEAR RACE TRENDS
The Queen Mother Champion Chase has been a good race for backers of the top horses in the betting, and this years renewal should see a similar trend. Favourites do not have a great record in this over the last ten years and it has been the second and third favourites that have seemed to do well. That means potential value for you, the punter.
So let’s look at some key trends from the past ten years to help you to pick out the winner.
- Seven of the last ten winners have been aged eight years or older.
- Trainer Henry De Bromhead has won the race twice in the last ten years and three times in the last twelve.
- Seven of the last ten runnings have been won by a horse rated at least 169.
- Six of the last ten winners have been priced between 5/2 and 6/1.
- Only one winner in the last ten years has returned at odds of 10/1 or bigger.
RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
TRENDS PICK
The final trends picks will appear here on Monday 13th March. However, looking at our second major Championship race of the meeting, we are looking for a horse that is well fancied in the market, and the ones that fit the trends this year are EDWARDSTONE and Energumene, and considering the form shown by both this year. It is the former that gets the narrow vote.
FORM PICK
Just the seven go to post and the bookies have Edwardstone 6/4 and Energumene 7/4 as the market leaders. However, the forgotten horse is EDITEUR DU GITE 5/1 WIN who is our selection.
Gary Moore’s horse beat Edwardstone by a head here at Cheltenham last time, so the form tells us there is little between them. For me, I do not see how the bookies justify pricing up the Moore runner at more than three times the price of the favourite, and this one represents solid value.
16:10 Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase)
Next up on Day 2 we have the Cross Country race which has become a much-loved race at the festival. It’s a great race for spectators as well as you can view the race from the grandstand or take a vantage point at designated spots around the course. We looked at three horses on our main 2023 Cheltenham Festival Preview page that were vying for favouritism at the end of January.
Once we have the final field announced, hopefully, our tipping expert Richard Smith can point you in the way of the winner of this unique 3-mile and 6-furlong contest.
Until then, Richard has taken a look at the ten-year trends below, and punters should take note of the poor record of favourites in this race.
- Bet365 will pay out if your horse is first past the post and subsequently disqualified
- Bet365 will pay out on both the disqualified runner and official winner
- Offer available for Horse Racing in the UK and Ireland, as well as US, Germany, France, South Africa and Mauritius Racing
£5
UK Gambling Commission
31/12/2023
Pay out on Double Result offer applies to Win, Each Way (including Each Way Extra), Singles, Multiples, Betting Without, Enhanced Win bets, Cover Bets, Place Only bets and Not To Be Placed bets and Ante-Post bets as well as Forecasts and Tricasts. All other markets, including Tote bets, Colossus bets, Not to Win bets, Match Bets and Jollies And Rags, as well as instances of horses taking the wrong course, if there is an objection by the Clerk of the Scales or if an incorrect number is transmitted in error, are excluded from this offer. In the event of non-runners, bet365 may remove the availability of Enhanced Place Terms or update the place terms offered. Bets placed prior to the removal or update of the market will be settled in accordance with the Enhanced Place Terms taken at the time of bet placement. Where any term of the offer or promotion is breached or there is any evidence of a series of bets placed by a customer or group of customers, which due to enhanced payments, Free Bets, Bet Credits or any other promotional offer results in guaranteed customer profits irrespective of the outcome, whether individually or as part of a group, bet365 may reclaim the enhanced payment, Free Bet, refund payment or Bet Credit element of such offers and/or void any bet funded by the Free Bet or Bet Credits. In addition, where there is evidence of such activity, bet365 may levy an administration charge on the customer up to the value of the Bet Credits, Free Bet, refund or enhanced payment towards the administrative costs incurred in identifying and taking action against the activity. bet365 may reclaim any bonus amount, Free Bets, Bet Credits, refund amount or enhanced payments that have been awarded in error. bet365 may, at any time, make minor amendments to this promotion to correct typographical errors or to improve on clarity or customer experience and may cancel this promotion for legal or regulatory reasons. Employees, officers and directors of bet365, its promotional or other agencies, licensees and licensors, service providers and any other associated or affiliated companies shall not be eligible for the promotion. The same terms shall apply to the direct families of such persons.
https://www.bet365.com
Bet365 Group Ltd / Hillside (New Media) Ltd
2000
Stoke-on-Trent
10 YEAR RACE TRENDS
Pick a winner the winner of any race at The Cheltenham Festival is a buzz, and this one can be one of the more fun races to look at. You always get a mix of experienced horses over the unique course, mixed with horses that have never run here before, and it is always a good strategy to check if any French runners are entered, as they invariably run well here.
So let’s look at some of the trends for the Cross Country race from the past ten years.
- Six of the last ten winners have been aged nine years old, or even older.
- Trainer Gordon Elliot has won the race four times in the last ten years and he’ll be trying to win again with last year’s winner Delta Work.
- Only three of the last ten runnings have been won by the favourite.
- Eight of the last ten runnings have been won by a horse no bigger than 7/1 in the betting.
- Previous course winners have a very strong record in the race
RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
TRENDS PICK
The final trends picks will appear here on Monday 13th March. However, we are sure to see a strong favourite in the Gordon Elliot-trained Delta Work, but is he the trends pick?
Having looked at the runners, we have no clear trends pick and with favourites having a poor record over the last ten years, it may be worth trying to find one EW against the favourite.
FORM PICK
Last year’s winner Delta Work 6/5 is rightly a short-priced favourite here after winning last year and putting in a fantastic prep run when third here at Cheltenham back in January when giving away lots of weight to his rivals.
He was just over 4 lengths adrift of Back On The lash 18/1 but was giving that rival 23 lbs, so should easily overturn that form.
Delta Work is a banker for placepot players but for the win, we like Gordon Elliot’s other runner GALVIN 9/4 WIN. He was fourth in last year’s Gold Cup, form none of these could match, and it’s a big pointer that Davy Russell takes the mount.
16:50 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
The penultimate race on Day 2 is the race named after the father of current top trainer Nicky Henderson, and one that he is always trying to win, and he is sure to once again have multiple entries. We touched on the top three in the betting back in January on our main 2023 Cheltenham Festival Preview page.
Once the final race declarations are published, our expert Richard Smith will be casting his eye over the runners to try and pinpoint some value outsiders that can be backed each way.
Until the decs are out, check out the ten-year trends for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual below. These can help you build out a shortlist and narrow down this big 20+ runner handicap.
- Offer is available every day on selected races.
- Maximum Free Bet refund is limited to £10 per customer per race
- Offer applies to win singles & win part of E/W bets only
£5
UK Gambling Commission under account number 39544. Licensed by the Gibraltar Government and regulated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner (RGL no. 036 & 038)
31/12/2023
Available on Betfred.com and the Betfred App. Minimum Free Bet refund is 50p and Maximum Free Bet refund is £10 per customer per race. Offer applies to win singles & win part of E/W bets only. Offer applies if your selection finishes 2nd in the 19:20 & 20:20 Kempton on 06/07/2022. Official results will be determined from www.sportinglife.com/racing/results. Offer is fulfilled in Free Bets. CashedOut bets do not count. Bets placed on specials markets or boosts will not count. In the event of a dead heat second, half of the stake will be refunded as a free bet on both selections, up to a maximum of £5 free bet per customer. In the event of dead heat first, offer does not apply Does not apply to Antepost bets. Does not apply to bets placed on unnamed favourites/unnamed 2nd favourites. Five or more runners must start the race for the offer to qualify. Free Bets credited within 24 hours of qualifying bets being settled. Bets using existing Free Bet funds do not count. Free Bets awarded from this promotion will be valid for 7 days, any Free Bet funds that are unused after 7 days will be removed. Betfred reserve the right to exclude certain customers from this offer at our discretion due to internal risk policies and/or account staking restrictions. Usual Betfred.com rules apply, see website for details.
https://www.betfred.com/
Petfre (Gibraltar) Limited
1967
5/2 Waterport Place, Gibraltar,
10 YEAR RACE TRENDS
Trying to pick the winner of any handicap race at The Cheltenham Festival is always a tough shout, but the handicap chase events are always great for punters who like to try their luck for big wins by placing forecasts and tricasts.
Given that the race always attracts a full-capacity field, it is no surprise that favourites do not have a great record, something proven by 28/1 and 66/1 winners during the last few years.
So let’s check some of the trends from the past ten years that might help to narrow down the field and help you to pick out the winner.
- Seven of the last ten winners have been aged eight years and upwards.
- Seven of the last ten winners had not won a race during the current season before winning this race.
- Eight of the last ten runnings have been won by a horse rated at least 140 in the handicap.
- Only two of the last ten runnings have been won by the favourite.
- Nine of the last ten winners have carried 10st 11lbs or higher.
RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
TRENDS PICK
The final trends picks will appear here on Monday 13th March. However, this helter-skelter of a two-miler is always exciting, so what do the trends tell us?
There are quite a number that fit the trends, including Riviere D’Etel, Global Citizen, Epson Du Houx, Embittered, Dancing On My Own, Couer Sublime, Before Midnight, Battleoverdoyen, Andy Dufresne and A Wave Of The Sea.
Picking one from these is tough, but the Henry De Bromhead runner EPSON DO HOUX looks nicely enough treated from a handicapping perspective.
FORM PICK
Twenty-two runners are due to face the starter and ground conditions could play a big part in this. If we see any further rain then one that jumps off the page is the Rachael Blackmore ridder EPSON DU HOUX 16/1 EW who has lots of heavy ground form.
Has had a couple of runs this season and the first time up was beaten 15 lengths by Energumene when receiving 10 lbs. If we take that form literally then this one could be rated at 151, yet gets in here off a mark of 147, so is clearly well treated on that piece of form. He followed that with a third-place finish next time and looks like a solid each-way play here.
Our second pick here is BEFORE MIDNIGHT 20/1 EW who hails from the Sam Thomas yard. Has put in three solid efforts this season whilst gradually dropping down the handicap, and today’s rating of 143 is now a pound lower than his last winning mark at Ascot in 2021.
It is interesting he has not run since January and Thomas is known for producing nicely handicapped horses to perform on the big day.
17:30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1)
The final race on Day 2 is the Champion Bumper and often referred to as an Irish benefit, such is the power of the entrants that the top Irish trainers fire at this race.
We noted three horses at the end of January that were well fancied in the betting and listed these on our main 2023 Cheltenham Festival Preview page.
Once the final declarations are out, well take a look at the Irish challenge and see if we can spot any horses from the home team that might be able to cause an upset.
Our expert has already analysed the Champion Bumper ten-year trends, so be sure to take a look at these for some clues in finding the potential horses that could win this year’s renewal.
- This promo allows you to pick how many places you wish to bet at with place odds terms reducing the more places you pick.
- Pick Your Places is available on all UK and Irish horse racing.
£5
Malta Gaming Authority under license: MGA/CRP/121/2006-05
31/12/2023
Terms and Conditions See full terms and conditions bellow Conversion rates When we convert currencies, we consider £10 to be equal to: €10 (euro) AU$20 (Australian dollar) CA$20 (Canadian dollar) CHf15 (Swiss franc) Kr80 (Danish krone) HK$115 (Hong Kong dollar) ¥1300 (Japanese yen) Kr120 (Swedish krona) S$20 (Singapore dollar) US$10 (US dollar) 1. General restrictions a. We expect you to be fair when you take part in promotions. We consider certain types of play to be unfair and to break these terms and conditions. These unfair types of play include the following. Using ‘minimal risk wagering patterns’ (that is, a set pattern of bets or stakes that unfairly minimises risks). Using more than one account in order to get more than the number of bonuses allowed for each customer. Sharing personalised promotions (that is, promotions only available to specific customers we offer them to) with others. This includes taking part in any personalised promotion forwarded to you by someone else when it was not intended for you. Taking part in a promotion that is not available in the country you live in. Colluding with other customers (that is, plotting with others to gain an unfair advantage). Using more than one account per person, per household or per IP address. b. If you take part in any play that we consider to be unfair, we may cancel any bonuses or promotions applied to your account, reclaim any bonus you have received as part of any promotion we have cancelled, and either: settle bets at the correct odds, not the bonus or promotion odds; void any free bets or bets funded by a bonus (that is, treat them as if they had never been placed); or remove any winnings relating to any bonus. 2. General conditions a. Regardless of anything else set out in these terms and conditions, you can withdraw funds from your main balance at any time, except where we must withhold the funds to meet our legal or regulatory obligations. b. You cannot take part in this promotion if we have previously banned you from taking part in promotions, or from betting or playing any games on our website. c. We can withhold or refuse to pay any winnings from a bonus if funds you paid into your main balance (including any amounts you have already used) are cancelled or denied by any payment service (for example, your card provider). d. We can change or cancel this promotion, or change these terms and conditions: without giving you notice, if the change or cancellation is needed because of any change in law or regulation; or by giving you notice beforehand, if the change or cancellation is for any other valid reason (for example, if there is a fault in the software or systems we use to provide this promotion, or we identify a mistake in this promotion or these terms and conditions). We can also award an equivalent bonus to the one referred to in this promotion. e. We will not be responsible for any technical, hardware or software failures, or any unavailable or lost network conditions which may result in incorrect information being displayed, or affect your ability to enter or take part in the promotion. If there is any dispute over your eligibility for the promotion, our decision will be final. f. Your use of our website, and your gaming or betting, is governed by our terms and conditions of using our website or telebetting service (the general terms). You must read the general terms and these terms and conditions before you take part in this promotion. If any of these terms and conditions conflict with the general terms, these terms and conditions will apply. g. These terms and conditions are governed by, and interpreted in line with, the laws of England and Wales. Any legal action in connection with these terms and conditions will be dealt with in the courts of England and Wales h. This promotion is offered, managed and made available on our website (williamhill.com) by us, WHG (International) Limited.
https://sports.williamhill.com/
William Hill PLC
1934
William Hill Global PLC, Tagliaferro Business Centre, Level 7, High Street, Sliema SLM 1549, Malta
10 YEAR RACE TRENDS
Trying to pick the winner of the Champion Bumper has not been as easy as you might think. But one thing for sure is that runners from the Mullins and Elliot yards have dominated in recent years with the last six winners coming from one of those yards.
So let’s look at some of the trends from the past ten years that could help you to pick out the winner.
- All of the last ten winners have been aged either five years old (6 wins) or six years old (4 wins).
- Trainer Willie Mullins is the winning most trainer with twelve wins, including four of the last five.
- Only three of the last ten runnings have been won by the favourite.
- Four of the last ten runnings have been won by a horse bigger than 11/1 in the betting.
- Seven of the last ten winners came into the race with an unbeaten record
RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
TRENDS PICK
The final trends picks will appear here on Monday 13th March. However, this is always a highly competitive race and with Willie Mullins’s record, the clear trends pick is WESTERN DIEGO who comes here unbeaten and ticks all the trend boxes.
FORM PICK
Always a very tough puzzle to solve, but looking out for runners from the Mullins yard in double figures has worked well from a trends perspective down the years.
The form is difficult to equate between the UK and Ireland, with the Emerald Isle raiders doing particularly well in this event down the years.
However, I was at Newbury when SHINJI 100/1 EW finished third in a listed contest behind the now-unbeaten Asluckgoes (Entered at Uttoxeter on the 18th March) and that looks very solid form. Shinji won on his first start when trained by Roger Varian but has since been snapped up by local trainer Martin Keighley.
There is no doubting the task ahead, but an interesting angle here is that Aiden Coleman keeps the ride and has now ridden the horse in all of his starts.
CONCLUSION
Another cracking days racing, and the Champion Chase promises to be a classic with Energumene, Edwardstone and Editeur Du Gite looking to serve up a classic in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The final race of the day is the bumper and many punters will be looking to Willie Mullins to provide punters with a good end to the day.
RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING
The information on this page and across the Ontheballbets website is meant for entertainment purposes and should be viewed as such.
If you are betting on horse racing or any other sport then please make sure to bet responsibly. Only bet an amount that you can comfortably afford to lose.
If you feel you have a friend or relative who has an issue with gambling, then there are groups and organisations that can offer support, such as BeGambleAware, GamStop and The National Gambling Helpline.
