2015 Cheltenham Festival

[horses4courses]

Plenty of drama awaits this week between Tuesday and Friday.
The biggest question seems to be just how many winners will
Irish trainer Willie Mullins have over the four days.

He is the Aidan O'Brien of jump racing.
Stable full of star quality, but with humbler pedigrees than at Ballydoyle.
The Irish will be flocking to the Gloucestershire venue with loads of cash.
Most of it will be bet on the noses of Mullins' stars.

Out of the seven races on Tuesday, Mullins is represented in five of them.
He will send out the favorite in four races, with at least two of them odds-on.
The feature race is the fourth on the card, the Champion Hurdle (post 1120 ET),
and three are from the Mullins yard, including hot favorite Faugheen.

He is relatively inexperienced, but has been brilliant in his prep races.
Ex-champ Hurricane Fly and Arctic Fire come from the same stable, and
are not out of it, but bigger win threats will probably come from
The New One and Jezki (the reigning champion).

A great opening day in store for jump racing fans.
First post is 930am ET, and wagering plus video
should be available at all the major ADWs.

Good luck!

[NJ Stinks]

I'm ready to play! :cool:

Just once I'd like to get to Cheltenham for at least one day's card during this Festival. The problem is the dates. It's tough to justify a trip over in March. (One must consider golf conditions! :) )

[olddaddy]

According to the hrtv schedule, the compete card will be broadcast on friday.

[horses4courses]

I'm ready to play! :cool:

Just once I'd like to get to Cheltenham for at least one day's card during this Festival. The problem is the dates. It's tough to justify a trip over in March. (One must consider golf conditions! :) )

You could still get some decent golf in.....winter rules, of course ;)

Cheltenham is high on my bucket list, for sure.
I have a good friend who goes there from Perth, Australia, now and then.
If I eventually make it there, I would hope to hook up with him.
Probably regret the hangovers, though. :bang:

[horses4courses]

According to the hrtv schedule, the compete card will be broadcast on friday.

Good.....that's Gold Cup Day :ThmbUp:

[horses4courses]

Top jump jockey, Barry Geraghty, shares his thoughts on Cheltenham.
I've always thought jockeys to be pretty bad touts - let's see how he does.

http://www.pix123.com/cheltenhamfestival/201503/Mar08/24126_barrys-bankers-colour.jpg

[olddaddy]

I see the Gold Cup has only 16 this year. I remember in the past at least twice this number. Anyone know why the "short" field this year?

[horses4courses]

I see the Gold Cup has only 16 this year. I remember in the past at least twice this number. Anyone know why the "short" field this year?

I'd say that 16 runners is about average for the Gold Cup.
It's not a handicap, so running against the top chasers at
level weights isn't an attractive prospect for many.

The Grand National, next month, has many more runners.

[horses4courses]

Douvan takes the opener with ease for Willie Mullins.

Off to the gym for an hour.
Back for the Champion Hurdle.

[olddaddy]

I'd say that 16 runners is about average for the Gold Cup.
It's not a handicap, so running against the top chasers at
level weights isn't an attractive prospect for many.

The Grand National, next month, has many more runners.


Thanks, I was thinking the Grand National not the Gold Cup.

[horses4courses]

Faugheen stays undefeated, and leads all the way to win the Champion Hurdle.

Mullins trains the first three home.

[horses4courses]

Over 63,000 for opening day

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_wUZdyWEAEFwsL.png

[Scanman]

Excellent first day. Willie Mullins was on fire. Annie Power's fall at the last was a heart breaker, but his "B" horse still wins it. Faugheen and Un De Sceaux were spectacular. Douvan was pretty impressive, as well.

Can't wait till tomorrow!!! My favorite race of the festival is the cross country. Gonna have a little touch on Toutancarmont and Duke of Lucca.

[horses4courses]

Excellent first day. Willie Mullins was on fire. Annie Power's fall at the last was a heart breaker, but his "B" horse still wins it. Faugheen and Un De Sceaux were spectacular. Douvan was pretty impressive, as well.

Can't wait till tomorrow!!! My favorite race of the festival is the cross country. Gonna have a little touch on Toutancarmont and Duke of Lucca.

Mullins was tremendous on Day 1.
Annie Power had the race at her mercy when she came down.
As hot a favorite as she was, the bookies over there would like
to make us think that they would be waving a white flag already.
They got lucky, and she clobbered the last hurdle.

Seems to me they would still be open for business tomorrow, though. ;)

Good luck with those bets!

[nearco]

They are calling Annie Power's fall at the last, the single most expensive fall in NH racing history. Apparently it saved the bookies about $75m, there was so much money riding on Willie Mullin's four-timer of Douvan/Un de Sceaux/Faugheen/Annie Power.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/cheltenham-festival/11462580/Annie-Power-saves-Cheltenham-Festival-bookies-as-Willie-Mullins-and-Ruby-Walsh-threatens-to-clean-them-out.html

As you point out, Mullins still got the four-timer, but with a different horse in the Mare's Hurdle.

Replays of today's action

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[cutchemist42]

Honestly, I just find it touch to watch these. Every hurdle just looks like such a potential tragic mess waiting to happen vs flat racing, just stressful to me.

[Some_One]

I see the Gold Cup has only 16 this year. I remember in the past at least twice this number. Anyone know why the "short" field this year?

I can't remember ever the Gold Cup with 30+ runners, 16 is about right.

[NJ Stinks]

My day finished in the crapper - and Thomas Crapper was close as I got in 4 races played.

What I don't understand is why Thomas Crapper went off at 6-1 in the UK and 4-1 on NJ Bets. The $1 exacta in Thomas Crapper's race paid $96.60 here and 96.60 for a pound over there. So why isn't the win price the same here and there? :confused:

[Some_One]

6-1 was the industry (bookmakers) starting price for the horse, 4-1 is the parimutuel tote price, the two are completely separate. If the horse had won, it would have paid the 4-1 for UK tote bets just as it would for North American tote bets.

[horses4courses]

Honestly, I just find it touch to watch these. Every hurdle just looks like such a potential tragic mess waiting to happen vs flat racing, just stressful to me.

It's not for everyone, I'll admit.
Personally, I find watching cheap claiming races in the US more stressful.
Each to their own.

[horses4courses]

I'm going to bet :10: Windsor Park

Dermot Weld is a master trainer, and he doesn't ship many.
Whether it's to the US, or anywhere else, they're always ready to run.

All these races at Cheltenham are hard to win,
but I'd be very surprised if this one doesn't run close.

[nearco]

I'm going to bet :10: Windsor Park

Dermot Weld is a master trainer, and he doesn't ship many.
Whether it's to the US, or anywhere else, they're always ready to run.

All these races at Cheltenham are hard to win,
but I'd be very surprised if this one doesn't run close.

Nice call on Windsor Park. Went off at 9/2. Could be got at 12/1 as recently as a couple of days ago.

Dermot Weld is some trainer in fairness. He has won a Belmont Stakes, the Melbourne Cup (twice), The Flower Bowl and he gets winners over the sticks at Cheltenham. Very unique record.

[nearco]

Another Willie Mullins trained G1 winner at Cheltenham. Don Poli wins the RSA Chase.
I've never seen domination like this before.

[NJ Stinks]

6-1 was the industry (bookmakers) starting price for the horse, 4-1 is the parimutuel tote price, the two are completely separate. If the horse had won, it would have paid the 4-1 for UK tote bets just as it would for North American tote bets.

Thanks.

[NJ Stinks]

It's Sire De Grugy for me in the Queen Mother.

(Sung to the chorus of "I'm a little bit chalky!" :) )

[nearco]

Bit of drama in the Cross Country race. Photographer got nailed, as two horses crashed through temp rail.

[horses4courses]

1st race yields another impressive winner for Mullins in Vautour.
The 9th winner for Irish trained runners.

[Scanman]

1st race yields another impressive winner for Mullins in Vautour.
The 9th winner for Irish trained runners.And the beat goes on for King Willie. Vautour was phenomenal. The way he just glided over his fences was a sight to see.

Nice to see AP in the winner's circle today. Wow, will he be missed. But I'm a huge Richard Johnson fan, hopefully the heir apparent.

BTW, nice hit on the Weld horse. The Irish sure are doing some damage.

For me just one bet for tomorrow in the Gold Cup - Coneygree.

[Some_One]

For me its :15: Sam Winner in the Gold Cup, although if the price on :3: Carlingford Lough drifts, he'll become the play. Add :4: Coneygree and :16: Silviniaco Conti for the exotics

[NJ Stinks]

One more shot on Silviniaco Conti.

[NJ Stinks]

Well, at least it wasn't Mullins for a change.

[Scanman]

Brilliant result!!! Coneygree is such a lovely economical jumper. Accomplishing this as a novice is unheard of. Huge thrill for me watching this wonderful athlete, plus landing a very nice touch.

[NJ Stinks]

For me just one bet for tomorrow in the Gold Cup - Coneygree.

Very nice, Scanman! :ThmbUp:

I thought about boxing the top two with Silviniaco Conti in the exacta but then decided I'm having enough trouble picking one - let alone two. :blush:

[TucsonGreyhound]

Anyone got a link to a live stream?

[Scanman]

Very nice, Scanman! :ThmbUp:

I thought about boxing the top two with Silviniaco Conti in the exacta but then decided I'm having enough trouble picking one - let alone two. :blush:Thanks NJ. Silviniaco Conti just didn't get his ground. He'll be back.

Now onto the National next month and hopefully Balthazar King will go one better this year.

Cheers to everyone who enjoyed the Festival. It really is the best four days of racing anywhere in the world.

[Some_One]

First novice to win the Gold Cup in 40 years

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhrUKlQIzTc