The Cheltenham Festival Begins Here!

Unless you’ve just this very moment been aroused from a trance, you will know that the first day of the Cheltenham Festival kicks off tomorrow! That’s right, Tuesday 10th March sees the start of the biggest meeting in the racing calendar, 27 televised races broadcast across four days.

Some of us more experienced punters will have already run our fingers down our homemade Excel spreadsheets of form and historic trends – this betting business is unarguably serious – and, with our selections and reserve choices already made, will recline into our favourite chairs to watch either the Channel 4 or Racing UK coverage.

There will be more of us, conversely, who will be more casual and cautious players of the game. We will struggle to decide on which nag or which NAP to back and we will be unduly influenced by seemingly more well-informed friends, colleagues and pundits. We will betray our initial instincts only to watch that long time fancy which we allowed ourselves to be persuaded out of backing canter 15 lengths clear in the big race of the day. ‘SHIT IT!’ we’ll scream.

The ever-presence of this four-day event will see the increase in the likelihood of this happening. Very rarely is horse racing shown on four consecutive days on ‘terrestrial’ television and, hopefully, even more of the public will be attracted to the sport as a result of the anticipated drama and sporting prowess on show. Part-time punters will be drawn back into the world the more seasoned of us are passionate about and they must quickly negotiate the slalom of expert opinion.

This piece on the eve of the Festival is for these tentative backers, you who may have little knowledge but great enthusiasm. Remember to be wary of so-called dead certainties because there is NO SUCH THING.

Your friends might tell you that a particular mount has a cast iron chance but even odds-on favourites can fail to do the business on the biggest stage of them all. Neither Dunguib nor Master Minded were the first past the post despite being odds-on in 2010, the same being said of Hurricane Fly and Sizing Europe in 2012, these being the first examples to spring to mind. Last year, only six favourites got the better of their opponents in their respective races.

You should treat this website and the content on it as a hub of advice – not some sort of get rich quick scheme. Our previews and tips are all subject to hours of deliberation but they don’t always come in. The same can be said of the other advice proffered by similar services and pundits. Beware of bluster and keep in mind the old adage that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Consequentially, if you are inclined to a particular charge, stick to your guns regardless what we or anyone else has to say, feel content with your choice. Which outsiders are you backing on the basis of a gut feeling? Let us know.

Oh, and whilst we’re talking – enjoy the 2015 Cheltenham Festival and keep your eyes here for the latest detailed analysis, results and tips!