Cheltenham Report 2015

Day 1 started well with Gods Own getting 2^nd at 50/1 and carried on in that vein with Indian Castle 4^th at 25/1. My ante post bet on Jezki never really looked like paying off as Faugheen really won well and rolled in a new era. I had a multiple online with Douvan, UDS and Annie Power, and rather guiltily cashed out on Bet365 before Annie’s Race as when I looked at the bet it turned out I was really just putting a couple of hundred on her which is something I wouldn’t normally do.  I also cashed out my day 1 yankee after the 2 big placers as I couldn’t believe that a 1euro EW yankee was worth €345 after 2 placers and I had the backup of a small accum just in case all 4 placed anyway. (more on this later as I think the option of having a small accum in case of a big payout and the cash out option will suit me in the future).The day ended  with my brother unbelievably  picking the last 3 winners (we share on course winnings to level out variance J),he also landed a 5 horse accum and was Annie Power away from multiple 5 horse and 1 6 horse accum, still it was a huge win in the context of our small stakes

Day 2 Started ok with Adriana des motts just getting run out of the places on the line, but my bet of the meeting Duke of Lucca disappointed, as did Sprinter Sacre. I tend to fall into the trap of betting the older generation and most certainly did here. The 2 Big priced ones in the Coral ran well and will be collecting soon enough I’d imagine. We were on Don Poli as after being against him all along I had a look at the form in the morning and agreed with my brother that he couldn’t be beat.  My brother kicked in with another big price placer

Day 3 Vautour was my first Ante post bet unfortunately in the Arkle but I had bet on him here and it was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen here which goes nicely with his stunning supreme win last year. He’s the best horse in training in my view and I can’t wait for him to run again. The rest of the day never really got off the ground which was disappointing as I was fairly confident with some of the decent priced ones in the handicaps, and was very confident that Zarkandar would win, unfortunately the mistake 2 from home killed his winning chance and we’ll never know. I learned a lesson I should have known by now about changing your mind in the Ryanair (less said about that the better)

Day 4 I took the 4/1 about Peace & Co on offer as I felt he was as short a fav really as some of the Mullins ones  earlier on this week and the rain wouldn’t be any hindrance to him, he won but probably not as easily as I expected. Then came Wicklow Brave ‘s race a horse I have been banging on about for his last 3 runs. He was the easiest winner of the week and with 2 bets at 33/1 he ensured a good Cheltenham. Again I was caught up in the old ones and Bobs Worth ran poorly. My confidence that Conegree would have won the RSA wasn’t unfounded and it was a stunning win and a major changing of the guard. My brother picked the last 2 winners again today and we had agreed on Next Sensation. That last race has been a huge one for us as we’ve had the winner at a big price in 5 of the last 9 years which we started going. That landed me a nice payout on a Yankee and I got a nice surprise and I forgot I placed an even better one the night before with the 3 winners in it for a nice shock when I got back and checked my balance. When you luck is in your luck is in. Apart from luckbox accums etc and Wicklow Brave I was somewhat carried for the 4 days on my brother’s excellent  form, and there is a lot to be said for splitting betting like that at a minefield like Cheltenham.

With 51.5 Points invested in the site tips including ante-post there was a profit of 78.5 points in total which is probably my best Cheltenham ever and really the only lesson is to give up on Ante Post bets in the Championship races as most prices will be bettered on the day.