Why the Cheltenham Festival is a sporting occasion to savour

Some sporting events have a unique ability to capture the attention of the British public. Whether it’s the FA Cup in football, the Wimbledon Championships in tennis, or The Open in golf, some occasions cause us to stop what we’re doing and revel in the joys of sporting entertainment and excitement. The buzz of the crowd, the talent of our sporting heroes, and the aura of importance these events carry mean we can’t take our eyes off them for a second. 

Horse racing boasts a number of events with a similar appeal. Royal Ascot is a date many people put in their calendars each year, a chance to glam up and enjoy a classy day at the races. The Grand National is also a much-loved sporting occasion, where the public come together to watch the big race whether you’re a fan of horse racing or not. 

Another of these is, of course, the Cheltenham Festival. Taking place in March each year, the Festival attracts thousands of racing fans keen to soak up the unique atmosphere, witness the famous Cheltenham roar, and tip their favourite horses based on the Cheltenham Festival odds. What is it that makes the Festival such a great sporting occasion? We’ve listed a few reasons… 

The venue 

Cheltenham Racecourse at Prestbury Park is one of the best horse racing venues in the country. With the ability to host thousands of spectators, including the 6,500 capacity Princess Royal Stand, it’s one of the best places in the world to soak up the unique horse racing buzz and enjoy a day at the races with your friends. 

The Cheltenham roar is one of the most famous sporting atmospheres, and for the big races Prestbury Park seems to rock to its core, with everyone willing on their favourites towards victory. For the more discerning racing fan there are plenty of opportunities for fine dining and hospitality, meaning that there is something for every kind of visitor to the famous racecourse. 

The races 

Of course, it’s the races themselves that spectators flock to Cheltenham every year to see. Cheltenham has several showpiece Grade One races, including the Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Ryanair Chase, the Stayers’ Hurdle, and of course, the Gold Cup. 

It’s the Gold Cup that always attracts most interest each year. As one of the most historic races in the horse racing calendar, there is always a huge buzz around who the favourites are and which horse can emulate legends like Best Mate and Kauto Star. 

Last year’s Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo earned over a whopping £350,000, so you can see why there is so much interest and intrigue around this famous old race. 

The personalities 

Cheltenham Festival always attracts the cream of the crop as far as horses, jockeys and trainers go. Legendary jockeys like Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy have graced the Prestbury Park turf, while trainers such as Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson are big characters and always good for a quote. 

Irishman Willie Mullins has been the most successful trainer at Cheltenham in recent years, and he’ll be hoping for another stellar meeting in 2020. With so much on the line, it’s no wonder why trainers and jockeys give so much effort to preparing their horses for Cheltenham, all in the hope of being victorious amidst the iconic roar of the Cheltenham crowd.

Mullins’ best chances of victory at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival

The much-anticipated four-day meeting at Prestbury Park is just around the corner and as punters start betting on 2020 Cheltenham, one of the main things they look out for is the horse’s trainer. Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Nicky Henderson are always strong selections. However, with Mullins picking up the most wins at the festival six times in the last 10 years, including last year, it might be worth having a punt on a few of the Irishman’s horses. So, carry on reading as we narrow down his best chances.

Benie Des Dieux 

The 2018 Cheltenham Mares’ Hurdle champion could feature in two races this year: The Grade One Mare’s Hurdle again, and the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle – also a Grade One race. 

The nine-year-old heads into the festival in fine form, after 250 days away from the track, Benie Des Dieux won the Grade Two Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park towards the end of January – beating stablemate Penhill by a whopping 21 lengths. 

The French import is odds-on favourite to retain the Mares’ Hurdle after falling at the final hurdle last year whilst leading by three lengths – the mare’s only defeat since joining Mullins’ yard. Benie Des Dieux is second favourite at 3/1 in the Stayers’ Hurdle but would need to see off the classy Paisley Park to secure the win. 

"She's in the two races. She was a very unlucky loser in the Mares' Hurdle last year and we might go back and get a bit of unfinished business done, but we'll see," Mullins said. 

Chacun Pour Soi 

Another French import in Mullins’ yard, it will be Chacun Pour Soi’s first crack at the famous Prestbury Park track. The eight-year-old is entered for two races at the festival: the hugely competitive Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase. 

Similarly to his stablemate Benie Des Dieux, Chacun Pour Soi has lost just once since joining the Champion Trainer and most recently beat fellow Mullins-trained horse Min by three and three-quarter lengths in the Grade One Dublin Chase at Leopardstown.  

The eight-year-old is third favourite at 5/2 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, although it is one of the most competitive races at this year’s festival, and whilst he showed improvement last month in Ireland, it would take one hell of a run to beat Cheltenham legend Altior.

“It’s probably the most watchable race at Cheltenham and Chacun Pour Soi has a very good chance this year. It would be a fantastic achievement to win it,” Mullins said about the eight-year-old’s chances in the Queen Mother. 

Al Boum Photo 

Al Boum Photo, who Mullins also sourced from France, broke the all-time leading Cheltenham trainer’s Gold Cup duck last year as he beat A J Martin’s Anibale Fly by two-and-a-half lengths. The eight-year-old has only raced once this season, beating Acapella Bourgeois by six lengths to scoop his second successive Grade Three New Year’s Day Chase at Tramore in Ireland, and will go for back-to-back Gold Cups at this year’s festival – a race in which he’s heavily fancied at 7/2F. 

"I think he has a fantastic chance. I would assume Paul (Townend) is going to ride him again. The final bits of work will probably dictate that,” Mullins commented on the horse’s chances of landing successive Gold Cups.

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The Champion Trainer could also pick up victories with Carefully Selected, who is 3/1 favourite to win the Grade Two Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase on the opening day of the festival, Allaho, who is just behind the leaders in the betting in the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase, and Min, who is a 10/1 outsider in the Queen Mother Chase and 3/1 second-favourite for the Ryanair Chase.

Who are the Favorites for the Grand National This Year?

The Grand National is one of the most famous horse racing events in the world. With the first race being run in 1839, this event has a long and colorful history. Of course, some of the best stories about this racecourse are about its formidable obstacles! 

The dates for the Grand National in 2020 are from April 2 to April 4 and horse racing enthusiasts the world over are eagerly preparing for this event of events! 

While the final selection of horses that will participate in this event has not even been finalized, a few Ante post betting markets have already started to publish the latest betting odds and markets for the Grand National. 

Bettors and bookmakers alike already have expectations about who will run the final races and favorites are already being selected. So, who are the favorites for this year’s Grand National? Let’s find out! 

Grand National 2020 Favorites 

The Grand National will see 40 runners cross 30 obstacles over a 4-mile, 2.5-furlong course to compete for prize money that totals up to a million pounds! For this year, here is the list of the top contenders for the sport’s biggest event. 

1. Tiger Roll 

According to the Liverpool Echo news blog, Tiger Roll is leading the remaining 89 entries for the Grand National this year. This 10-year-old, trained by Gordon Elliot, has won the last two Grand Nationals (for 2018 and 2019), and is looking to make history by being the first runner ever to win the biggest race of the race for the third time in a row. His odds are currently running at 5/1 to win the race! 

2. Burrows Saint 

Favorite number 2 is Mullins-trained Burrows Saint. This 7-year old won the Irish Grand National in 2019, so punters have high expectations of this young horse. However, the last time a 7-year-old won the Grand National was 80 years ago in 1940! His odds are currently at 12/1 for the win! 

3. Any Second Now 

Trained by T. Walsh, Any Second Now is an 8-year-old horse that won the Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham in 2019. While still considered a lightweight, Any Second Now established his status as a top contender for the Grand National by winning at Naas. This winner’s odds for the big day are now at 14/1, but those odds could change for the better if he continues to perform as he did at his latest race.  

4. Kimberlite Candy 

This 8-year-old, trained by T. Laccy and owned by JP McManus, established his claim to the top contender list for the Grand National by winning the Classic Chase at Warwick earlier this year. With odds at 16/1, this horse is going to face a big challenge, since news reports have confirmed that he will not run anymore until the big race at Aintree.

5. Walk in the Mill 

Walk in the Mill is a 10-year-old horse trained by R. Walford, and he is the number 5 contender for the Grand National race this year. In 2019, he came in 4th at the Grand National, but won the Becher Chase in 2018 and 2019, so he knows the fences at Aintree well. Walk in the Mill comes in with odds at 16/1. 

6. Magic of Light 

This 9-year-old mare had a 66/1 odds for last year’s Grand National, but she surprised everyone by storming the finish line at second place, just 3 lengths behind Tiger Roll. Trained by Jessie Harrington, she has been in excellent form this season, and her odds for this year’s big race are at 16/1. 

7. Potters Corner 

According to the Daily Mail, 10-year-old Potters Corner, trained by Christian Williams, is the first home-trained horse to with Welsh National in the last 54-years in 2019! He also won the 2019 Midlands National before that race. Given that this horse is comfortable on all types of ground, and has already shown his endurance in the Welsh and Midlands Nationals, he stands a good chance at the Grand National. His odds are currently at 20/1. 

8. Definitely Red 

This 11-year-old, trained by Brian Ellison, came in second at this year’s Paddy Marsh Chase and fourth at the Becher Chase fences in December 2019. He has made it to the top 89 contenders for the Grand National for this year and stands a 25/1 chance to win the big race. 

9. Le Breuil 

 This 8-year-old, trained by Ben Pauling, won the 2019 National Hunt Challenge at Cheltenham, so his staying power is not in question at all! With the experience he builds up in races leading up to the Grand National, Le Breuil stands a 25/1 chance of winning at Aintree. 

10. Ballyoptic 

The last of the top ten contenders, Ballyoptic, has been trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and is 10 years old. He finished second at the Scottish Grand National in 2019, but fell at the Becher Chase in December. His odds of winning at Aintree are 25/1.

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2020 Pegasus World Cup: Latest Odds Ranking After the Exit of Frontrunners

Ten more days and the 2020 Pegasus World Cup will finally kick-off at Gulfstream Park, Florida, featuring a $3 million worth of prize. This invitational horse racing event will showcase the best racers in the U.S that will all saddle in a dirt track. But this prestigious racing event is not complete without some controversies. 

During the first week of January, the Stronach Group, owner of the Pegasus World Cup, released the list of 17 official entries for the said racing event. One of the invitees was Maximum Security, initially. However, as we draw near to the Pegasus crown, Maximum Security’s team declined and decided to skip the Pegasus this year to prepare for the $20 million Saudi Cup. 

It also leads to some other strong invitees like Gift Box and Roadster to exit for the said event. The reduced purse prize was cited as one of the main reasons why these invitees chose to withdraw. 

Many horse racing fans got disappointed as to why these racers won't join Pegasus. On the other hand, the Stronach Group made a way of replacing these runners and make sure that they can still stage the best version of the Pegasus World Cup this year. In fact, they assure that the betting games won't get affected. 

Because of that, Stronach has officially named the 12 participants, including three additional reserved runners as part of Pegasus Cup contenders. As such, let's get to know the latest odds and standings of some Pegasus runners that generate the highest odds value ten days before the said event. 

Omaha Beach 

Amidst the changes in the Pegasus, participants were the other strong contenders bypass to run in Gulfstream this year, Omaha Beach retained to participate in the 2020 Pegasus World Cup. Because of that, he earned the highest odds value to win the Pegasus Crown on Saturday. Omaha Beach placed second in last year's Big Ass Fans Breeder's Cup Mile and the current title holder for Malibu Stakes. 

McKinzie 

McKinzie rises on top this week after the exit of the four racers for Pegasus. By the time Stronach has released their invitees for the 2020 Pegasus, McKinzie didn't event generate a lot of odds from the bettors. However, as the Pegasus championship comes very near, he joined Omaha Beach on the top list for a possible winner this year. 

Higher Power 

Higher Power takes the third spot for a horse racer that generates the highest odds value to bet for the 2020 Pegasus. The same with McKinzie, he was not popular among horse racing fans by the time he was drafted to be part of the invitees. However, after he placed in the Awesome Again Stakes and Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, he now carries a convincing value to wager. 

Tacitus

Tacitus came out of nowhere as he was not even initially invited to run for Pegasus. However, as the Pegasus organization changed the list of its participants, this second-placer for the Runhappy Travers Stakes and a third-placer for the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes takes the fourth spot in the odds for the Pegasus crown next week. 

Gunnevera 

Gunnevera is also a surprise entry for the 2020 Pegasus World Cup that came out this week. Stronach Group invited this horse racer following the exit of other horse racers. As he joined the list of the official runners for the Pegasus crown on Saturday, he also generated a good value to bet after he finished third-place in the Dubai World Cup. 

Spun To Run 

Spun to Run, like Omaha Beach, has stayed in Gulfstream Park to run for the 2020 Pegasus World Cup. He is one of the early favorites to take home the Pegasus Crown this year. Do know that he's a current title holder for Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and a second-placer for Cigar Mile Handicap. 

Master Fencer

Taking the last spot for the strongest horse racers that generated one of the highest odds value to bet for the 2020 Pegasus is Master Fencer. He leveraged his ranking from being one of the reserved runners to an official one. Master Fencer is the current champion for the Inuyama Tokubetsu held last November 30, 2019. 

Takeaway

The 2020 Pegasus World Cup is one of the most anticipated horse racing events in the United States. It is because the horse racers can showcase a great racing show at the same time bettors have the chance to win big since it offers a huge amount of prizes. Therefore, if you like to wager for the upcoming Pegasus World Cup, you may check out the latest odds listed above to keep track of your possible bets.

Native River Should Not Be Forgotten About This Season

The 3m chase division this season is as open as it has been for a long time with a number of talented younger challengers set to take on the established runners in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

One horse which should not be forgotten about though when it comes to the Blue Riband event of the Festival is Native River, who was successful in the 3m2f contest in 2018. 

Native River returned to action last month in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree where he scored impressively by 33 lengths. He made the running in that race, and once Might Bite unseated his jockey at the fourth obstacle, he was always going to take some catching.

Surprisingly, Colin Tizzard’s runner did not feature in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. That said, Kempton is not a track which is suited to the horse. The 3m race, which is the highlight of the festive period, is preferred by speedier runners as it proved when Clan Des Obeaux won the contest for the second straight year. 

Native River is likely to be seen next in the Denman Chase at Newbury in February. He won that race in 2018 before his Cheltenham success. He only ran twice that season, and a light campaign looks to be on the cards once again.

Gold Cup Defence Was Respectable

Native River went into the Gold Cup last year looking to become the first horse to defend their crown since Best Mate managed that feat in 2004. Unlike 12 months earlier, where he was setting the tempo along with Might Bite, Tizzard’s runner was at the back end of the field in the opening half of the race.

The nine-year-old did hit the front at the 12th fence where his chances of success improved significantly. Unfortunately for his connections though, he was outpaced in the run-in and had to settle for fourth place in the race which was won by Al Boum Photo.

Third Appearance In The Gold Cup Likely In March 

Another shot at the most prestigious contest in National Hunt racing can be expected in March. He was third in the race which was won by Sizing John in 2017; therefore, he has proved competitive in all three of his appearances so far. 

The bookmakers make him a 20/1 shot this year, which looks great value, especially if you take up one of the 2020 Cheltenham betting offers such as a risk-free bet of up to £10. This will give you a free shot on the former winner as he looks to regain his crown. 

Season Could End With Grand National Shot 

The Grand National was discussed as a possibility for Native River last season, and his connections have always seen him as a future contender for the Aintree race. They chose to give their horse a break after Cheltenham last year; however, we could see him line up on Merseyside this April. 

Native River is 20/1 for the 2020 Grand National. He won the Welsh version of the contest in 2016, so he would surely be a strong contender for the 4m2f race later this year.