Ben’s Cheltenham Preview

This week’s betting blog looks ahead to the feature on Day 3 which is the World Hurdle. This race is run over the extended 3 miles and of all the championship races run at the festival this is the one that seems to produce repeat winners. In recent years it has been won on more than one occasion by such greats as Baracouda and Inglis Drever and this year we see the incredible Big Buck’s going for his fourth consecutive victory in the race.

Big Bucks won his warm up race for the festival in emphatic style on Saturday at Cheltenham and the race looks his for the taking. Over the last few years he has seen off all the young pretenders to his crown and this year has been no different. In his warm up race on Saturday he hit his traditional flat spot rounding the turn in and then just as traditionally under strong urgings from his rider got on terms with the promising Dynaste. He powered clear from the last under Ruby Walsh to win by seven lengths with fifteen lengths back to the third.

Even though the staying hurdle division is not the strongest, Big Buck’s can only beat what is in front of him. He has dominated this distance for three years now and I fully expect him to win a fourth World Hurdle crown in March.

Big Buck’s is currently around the 1-2 mark and, even though backing short price horses at the festival is normally the quickest way to the poor house, he is the obvious bet and I think those odds are fair enough. I have looked through the prices for his rivals and am struggling to come up with an alternative selection.

I won’t be having a big bet in the race, as backing short priced horses is not my cup of tea, but if forced into having a bet at this stage I would be backing Big Bucks at 1-2 (with the non-runner money back stipulation) as on the day I can see him being 2-5 or even 1-3.

Even without a big bet in the race it should be a great spectacle seeing Big Bucks devouring his rivals up the run-in again and confirming himself as the greatest staying hurdler of all time.

Check back next week for more horse racing gambling advice.