Having a Flutter on the Cheltenham Gold Cup

HISTORYRacing Demon, Tamarinbleu, Turko, 66
The first recognised Cheltenham Festival tookL'Antartique, Ollie Magern, Rule Supreme, State Of
place at Prestbury Park in 1902. The precursor toPlay, Turpin Green, 100 BAR. Each-way
the Gold Cup, a four-mile steeplechase, forone-quarter the odds a place 1, 2, 3.
amateur riders was run in 1904. The inauguralOther Bets Available
Cheltenham Gold Cup was run in 1924, won byKauto Star to Win 2008 & 2009 Gold Cups
Red Splash. The winning prize money was6/1 with betdirect
£700.The last twenty-five runnings have seenDenman to Win 2008, 2009 & 2010 Gold Cups
eight 9-year-olds, seven 8-year-olds, five25/1 with betdirect
10-year-olds and five 7-year-olds successful. OnlyKauto Star and Denman to finish 1st and 2nd
seven of the last twenty-five favourites havePriced at around 6/4 on several online betting
won: Kauto Star 2007, Best Mate 2003 / 2004,sites.
Master Oats 1995, Desert Orchid 1989, Dawn RunBetting without Kauto Star and Denman
in 1986, and Bregawn in 1983. Four Irish-trainedYour selection to win or be third behind the above
horses have won in the same period: War oftwo. Obviously, prices will be much shorter than in
Attrition 2006, Kicking King 2005, Imperial Callthe outright market. Current prices with Betfair
1996 and Dawn Run (the 1984 Champion Hurdle(subject to 5% commission):
winner) in 1986.4/1 Exotic Dancer, 11/2 Kicking King, 9/1 Star de
THE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP TODAYMohaison, 15/1 Mossbank, 10/1 Snowy Morning, 12
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National1 Aces Four, 20/1 BAR.
Hunt steeplechase run over a 3-mile, 2½ furlongBetting without Kauto Star, Denman & Exotic
course with 22 fences. The 2008 CheltenhamDancer
Gold Cup is scheduled for Friday 14th March, withBest Prices: 9/2 Kicking King, 11/2 Neptune
prize money of £450k. There are two trainersCollonges, Star de Mohaison, 7/1 Knowhere,
who could, theoretically, equal or even betterSnowy Morning, The Listener, 9/1 Mossbank, 10/1
Michael Dickinson's feat of sending out the firstOur Vic, 12/1 Another Promise, Halcon
five, as he did in 1983. Amongst the forty-twoGenelardais, Tamarinbleu, 14/1 Aces Four, 16/1
entries, both Paul Nicholls and David Pipe have sixLantartique, Ollie Magern, Racing Demon, 20/1
entries each. There are some notable absenteesCelestial Gold, Mister Top Notch, Rule Supreme,
from the entries. Irish trainer, Michael Hourigan hasTurko, 25/1 Monkerhostin, 33/1 BAR.
entered his promising Mossbank, but not Beef OrMatch Bets
Salmon, who has run in the last five Gold Cups.One horse versus another, regardless of the race
The 2005 winner, Kicking King, exceeded theresult. The match between Kauto Star and
measured expectations of his trainer, TomDenman is likely to generate most interest. With
Taaffe, and all but won on his recent comebackbetdirect, 4/6 Kauto Star, 6/5 Denman.
run at Gowran Park, having been off the courseConclusion
for some 750 days.In a handicap race, such as the Grand National,
CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP BETTINGthe better horses concede weight to their lesser
N.B. Prices quoted are as at 26th January 2008.rivals, to allow them to compete on equal terms.
Ante-Post BettingThe Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 race, NOT
The ante-post market has effectively been "killed"a handicap, with all the runners carrying 11st 10lb
by the strength of Kauto Star and Denman, both(with the exception of mares, who receive a 5lb
from the yard of former jockey, Paul Nicholls.allowance). This means that, theoretically, the best
The current ante-post prices on offer are:horse should win. As a result, the prices of the
5/4 Kauto Star, 2/1 Denman, 10 Exotic Dancer,fancied runners tend to be shorter than in
16 Kicking King, 25/1 Mossbank, Star De Mohaison,handicaps. However, there are a number of online
33 Aces Four, In Compliance, Snowy Morning, Themarkets available that exclude the market
Listener, 50 Celestial Gold, Halcon Genelardais,leaders, so it should be possible to have an
Madison Du Berlais, Neptune Collonges, Our Vic,interest in the race, without investing vast sums.