Before we know it we will be doing our final stats and numbers checks on runners for the Cheltenham Festival 2018. The grand racing festival gets underway on March 13th, 2018 and delivers four days of the best racing action anywhere in the world. Once again over 200,000 racegoers will descend on the Gloucestershire course and once again there will also be a betting frenzy, expected to hit over £500 million.
The opening of the festival brings the Supreme Novices Hurdle while the big feature of Tuesday will be the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge. Buveur D’air is the ante-post favourite for the Champion Hurdle, trading in as short as 4/6 with William Hill to get the race victory. Faugheen is extended to turn up and challenge, along with Melon, potentially.
Wednesday’s highlight is the Queen Mother Champion Chase for Ladies day. This is one of the most anticipated races of the Festival and leading the ante-post market leader is Altior who has been backed in early to 11/8 supremacy. But there could be some serious challengers lining up against the favourite like Douvan, Min and Politologue which should contribute to this being a storming battle.
On Thursday, taking centre stage is the World Hurdle (also known as the Stayers Hurdle) and this epic slog is one of the more unpredictable of the feature races going off at the Festival. Sam Spinner has taken an early ante-post lead in the betting for this one, in at 5/1 to take the victory, with the impressive Apples Jade there at 8/1 along with Supasundae. These are ante-post prices, which will naturally change dramatically the closer the Festival gets.
Friday at the Cheltenham Festival is the big one, that’s because it is Gold Cup Day. The Cheltenham Gold Cup, the blue riband race is one of the most anticipated, richest and most prestigious races in the world. This is the one that every jockey, every trainer, every owner dreams of winning. The highly impressive Might Bite is heading the market at 3/1 ahead of reigning champion Sizing John who is at 5/1. Thistlecrack and Bristol De Mai are possible starters too.
Non-Runner Money Back
So there are some fantasies races to come in Cheltenham Festival 2018 week and this is the time to snap up those big ante-post prices. But with that, of course, you will want some insurance just in case your selection doesn’t make it to the starting line up.
Paddy Power are a non-runner money back special for the Cheltenham Festival 2018 over selected races. Place a bet on the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers Hurdle, Gold Cup or the Ryanair Chase and if your selection ends up being a non-runner in one of those races, then PaddyPower will give you your money back. This offer is open now and is available for all customers, both new and existing.