BATTLE OF THE TIPSTERS

17 March, 2023

AUTHOR: Star Sports Content

Cheltenham Knockout Tipping Competition

STEVE’S THE WINNER: 🏆 Well done to Steve Jones – winner of our inaugural Knockout Tipping competition – the FA Cup of Cheltenham Festival tipping! We brought together 32 high profile racing tipsters and tweeters to fight it out in a winner takes all Cheltenham Knockout format.

FINAL RESULT AFTER RACING ON DAY 4:

🥇 Steve Jones -1.10
🥈 Sam Turner -5.45
🥉 Dave McManus -10.60
🏅 Nick Goff -16.00

The four winners collect a starsports.bet free bet and we’re also making a donation for the same amount to their nominated charity:

🥇£500 FREE BET and £500 to Centrepoint
🥈£250 FREE BET and £250 to Mary Stevens Hospice, Stourbridge
🥉£100 FREE BET and £100 to Milford Hospice
🏅£50 FREE BET and £50 to Ruth Strauss Foundation

Thank you to all 32 tipsters for taking part !

Friday selections from our four finalists:

NB: It switched from match format to a ‘four-ball’ on Friday with the final four battling it out to determine 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in our inaugural Knockout competition which is also raising money for charity.

(alphabetical order):

? Nick Goff
(Chosen Charity: Ruth Strauss Foundation)

THE FINAL	NICK GOFF
1.30pm	Blood Destiny WIN
2.10pm	Wonderwall EW
2.50pm	Corbetts Cross WIN
3.30pm	Bravemansgame WIN
4.10pm	The Storyteller EW
4.50pm	Riviere D'etel EW
5.30pm	Irish Hill WIN ⭐

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

? Steve Jones
(Chosen Charity: Centrepoint)

THE FINAL	STEVE JONES
1.30pm	Gala Marceau WIN
2.10pm	Ballyadam EW
2.50pm	Monty’s Star EW
3.30pm	Stattler WIN
4.10pm	Billaway WIN
4.50pm	Impervious WIN ⭐
5.30pm	Imagine WIN

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

? Dave McManus
(Chosen Charity: Milford Hospice)

THE FINAL	DAVE McMANUS
1.30pm	Blood Destiny WIN
2.10pm	Ballyadam EW
2.50pm	Corbetts Cross WIN ⭐
3.30pm	Stattler EW
4.10pm	Billaway EW
4.50pm	Alegorie De Vassy WIN
5.30pm	Imagine EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

? Sam Turner
(Chosen Charity: Mary Stevens Hospice, Stourbridge)

THE FINAL	SAM TURNER
1.30pm	Blood Destiny WIN
2.10pm	First Street EW
2.50pm	Hiddenvalley Lake EW
3.30pm	Galopin Des Champs WIN
4.10pm	Vaucelet WIN
4.50pm	Impervious WIN
5.30pm	Cool Survivor WIN ⭐

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

THIRD ROUND RESULTS

Steve Jones +10 Stephen Harris -16
Daryl Carter -14.20 Sam Turner -12.80
Andy Holding -12.80 Nick Goff -4.40
Dave McManus +0.20 Paul Ferguson -11.10

And then there were EIGHT:

ROUND 3 – THURSDAY SELECTIONS AND MATCH BETTING

? STEVE JONES v STEPHEN HARRIS ?

RND 3: Match 1	Steve Jones	Stephen Harris
1.30	Appreciate It WIN	Balco Coastal WIN
2.10	Bear Ghylls EW	The Bosses Oscar EW
2.50	Shishkin WIN	Blue Lord EW ⭐
3.30	Gold Tweet WIN	Flooring Porter WIN
4.10	Seddon EW	Midnight River EW
4.50	Nikini EW	Luccia WIN
5.30	Beauport WIN ⭐	Rapper EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

? DARYL CARTER v SAM TURNER ?

RND 3: Match 2	Daryl Carter	Sam Turner
1.30	Mighty Potter WIN	Mighty Potter WIN
2.10	Maxxum EW	Maxxum WIN
2.50	Shishkin WIN ⭐	Shishkin WIN
3.30	Blazing Khal WIN	Home By The Lee WIN ⭐
4.10	So Scottish WIN	Fugitif EW
4.50	Ahorsewithnoname EW	Luccia WIN
5.30	Mr Incredible EW	Dunboyne WIN

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

? ANDY HOLDING v NICK GOFF ?

RND 3: Match 3	Andy Holding	Nick Goff
1.30	Mighty Potter WIN	Appreciate It WIN
2.10	Maxxum EW	Moka De Vassy EW
2.50	Janidil EW	Envoi Allen EW
3.30	Klassical Dream EW	Blazing Khal WIN
4.10	Fugitif EW	Marvel De Cerisy EW
4.50	Foxy Girl EW	Luccia WIN ⭐
5.30	Stumptown WIN ⭐	Mr Incredible EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

? DAVE McMANUS v PAUL FERGUSON ?

RND 3: Match 4	Dave McManus	Paul Ferguson
1.30	Appreciate It WIN	Mighty Potter WIN
2.10	Good Time Jonny EW	Thanksforthehelp WIN
2.50	Fury Road EW	Shishkin WIN
3.30	Klassical Dream EW	Teahupoo WIN
4.10	Frero Banbou EW	Fugitif EW
4.50	Halka Du Tabert EW	Luccia WIN ⭐
5.30	Stumptown WIN ⭐	Stumptown EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

ROUND TWO RESULTS

Match 1
Steve Jones +5.80 v Izzy Phillips -11.80

Match 2
James Knight -9.30 v Stephen Harris -2.80

Match 3
Icy +4.39 v Daryl Carter + 15.00

Match 4
Matt Bisogno +3.80 v Sam Turner +26.50

Match 5
Tim Carroll +6.40 v Andy Holding +8.90

Match 6
Nick Goff +8.60 v Josh Stacey -4.80

Match 7
Johnny Dineen -3.00 v Dave Mcmanus -1.02

Match 8
Martin Dixon +3.30 v Paul Ferguson +6.60

ROUND 3 – THURSDAY and MATCH BETTING

? STEVE JONES v STEPHEN HARRIS ?
? DARYL CARTER v SAM TURNER ?
? ANDY HOLDING v NICK GOFF ?
? DAVE McMANUS v PAUL FERGUSON ?

ROUND 2 – WEDNESDAY and MATCH BETTING

? Steve Jones v Izzy Phillips ?

RND 2: Match 1	Steve Jones	Izzy Phillips
1.30	Champ Kiely EW	Champ Kiely WIN
2.10	The Real Whacker WIN	Thyme Hill WIN ⭐
2.50	San Salvador EW	HMS Seahorse EW
3.30	Edwardstone WIN ⭐	Edwardstone WIN
4.10	Galvin WIN	Delta Work WIN
4.50	Coeur Sublime EW	Final Orders WIN
5.30	Fun Fun Fun WIN	Queens Gamble EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

? James Knight v Stephen Harris ?

RND 2: Match 2	James Knight	Stephen Harris
1.30	Champ Kiely EW	Hermes Allen WIN
2.10	Gerri Colombe WIN ⭐	Gerri Colombe WIN ⭐
2.50	Captain Conby EW	Good Risk At All EW
3.30	Energumene WIN	Edwardstone WIN
4.10	Galvin WIN	Delta Work WIN
4.50	The Last Day EW	Couer Sublime EW
5.30	It's For Me EW	A Dream to Share WIN

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

? Icy v Daryl Carter ?

RND 2: Match 3	ICY	Daryl Carter
1.30	Good Land EW	Impaire Et Passe WIN ⭐
2.10	Sir Gerhard EW ⭐	Thyme Hill EW
2.50	Langer Dan EW	Langer Dan EW
3.30	Energumene WIN	Edwardstone WIN
4.10	Galvin EW	Delta Work WIN
4.50	Coeur Sublime EW	Andy Dufresne EW
5.30	Fact To File EW	It's For Me WIN

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

? Matt Bisogno v Sam Turner ?

RND 2: Match 4	Matt Bisogno	Sam Turner
1.30	Impaire Et Passe WIN	Champ Kiely EW
2.10	Gerri Colombe WIN	The Real Whacker WIN ⭐
2.50	Beacon Edge EW	Good Risk At All EW
3.30	Energumene WIN	Edwardstone WIN
4.10	Delta Work WIN ⭐	Delta Work WIN
4.50	Coeur Sublime EW	Coeur Sublime EW
5.30	Western Diego EW	Favour And Fortune EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

? Tim Carroll v Andy Holding ?

RND 2: Match 5	Tim Carroll	Andy Holding
1.30	Good Land WIN	Champ Kiely EW
2.10	Gerri Colombe WIN	The Real Whacker EW
2.50	Sa Fureur EW	Run For Oscar EW
3.30	Energumene WIN	Edwardstone WIN
4.10	Galvin WIN	Delta Work WIN ⭐
4.50	Final Orders WIN	Third Time Lucki EW
5.30	A Dream To Share WIN ⭐	Fascile Mode EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

? Nick Goff v Josh Stacey ?

RND 2: Match 6	Nick Goff	Josh Stacey
1.30	Good Land EW	Impaire Et Passe WIN
2.10	The Real Whacker EW	Gerri Colombe WIN ⭐
2.50	Run For Oscar EW	HMS Seahorse EW
3.30	Energumene WIN ⭐	Edwardstone WIN
4.10	Delta Work WIN	Delta Work WIN
4.50	Epson Du Houx EW	Andy Dufresne EW
5.30	Encanto Bruno EW	Fact To File WIN

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

? Johnny Dineen v Dave McManus ?

RND 2: Match 7	Johnny Dineeen	Dave McManus
1.30	Good Land WIN	Good Land WIN
2.10	Gerri Colombe WIN	Gerri Colombe WIN
2.50	Sa Fureur EW	Bold Endeavour EW
3.30	Energumene WIN ⭐	Energumene WIN
4.10	Delta Work WIN	Franco De Port EW
4.50	Dinoblue WIN	Dinoblue WIN
5.30	Better Days Ahead WIN	Fact To File EW ⭐

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

? Martin Dixon v Paul Ferguson ?

RND 2: Match 8	Martin Dixon	Paul Ferguson
1.30	Champ Kiely EW	Impaire et Passe WIN ⭐
2.10	Thyme Hill EW	Gerri Colombe WIN
2.50	Langer Dan EW	Good Risk At All EW
3.30	Edwardstone WIN	Energumene WIN
4.10	Delta Work WIN	Delta Work WIN
4.50	Epson Du Houx EW ⭐	Andy Dufresne EW
5.30	Encanto Bruno WIN	Favour And Fortune EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

ROUND 1 FINAL SCORES

Match 1
Declan Rix -4.85 v Steve Jones +23.53

Match 2
Alan Alger -13.80 v Izzy Phillips -12.91

Match 3
Emma Nagle -3.78 v James Knight – 2.87

Match 4
Stephen Harris + 7.22 v Andrew Mount -7.60

Match 5
Racing Blogger -0.35 v Icy + 2.17

Match 6
Richard Hoiles -3.23 v Daryl Carter +19.73

Match 7
CJ Cooper +5.04 v Matt Bisogno +17.20

Match 8
Ash Symonds -8.68 v Sam Turner -2.65

Match 9
AK Bets -7.20 v Tim Carroll -6.77

Match 10
Andy Holding +4.33 v Paul Kealy -12.80

Match 11
Nick Goff -3.43 v Johnny Ward -5.27

Match 12
Paul Jacobs -16 v Josh Stacey -0.78

Match 13
Chris Dixon +5.37 v Johnny Dineen +13.73

Match 14
Dave Mcmanus -10.27 v Bill Esdaile -12.80

Match 15
Joe Chambers -9.50 v Martin Dixon +6.13

Match 16
Tom Stanley -12.18 v Paul Ferguson +10.75

First Round Draw and Selections

⭐ = NAP

MATCH 1
? Declan Rix v Steve Jones ?

Match 1	Declan Rix	Steve Jones
1.30	Facile Vega WIN	Marine Nationale WIN
2.10	Jonbon WIN	Jonbon WIN
2.50	Fastorslow EW	Monbeg Genius EW
3.30	Constitution Hill WIN	Constitution Hill WIN
4.10	Marie's Rock WIN ⭐	Brandy Love WIN ⭐
4.50	Byker EW	Jazzy Matty EW
5.30	Gaillard Du Mesnil WIN	Mahler Mission WIN

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 2
? Alan Alger v Izzy Phillips ?

Match 2	Alan Alger	Izzy Phillips
1.30	Il Etait Temps WIN	Facile Vega WIN
2.10	Jonbon WIN	Jonbon WIN
2.50	Monbeg Genius EW	The Big Breakaway EW
3.30	Not So Sleepy EW	I Like to Move It EW
4.10	Marie's Rock WIN	Marie's Rock WIN ⭐
4.50	Perseus Way EW	Bad WIN
5.30	Mahler Mission EW ⭐	Gaillard Du Mesnil EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 3
? Emma Nagle v James Knight ?

Match 3	Emma Nagle	James Knight
1.30	Facile Vega WIN	Marine Nationale EW
2.10	El Fabiolo WIN ⭐	Jonbon WIN
2.50	Top Ville Ben EW	Into Overdrive EW
3.30	Vauban EW	Constitution Hill WIN
4.10	Echoes In Rain EW	Marie's Rock WIN ⭐
4.50	Tekao WIN	Risk Belle EW
5.30	Gaillard Du Mesnil WIN	Mahler Mission EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 4
? Stephen Harris v Andrew Mount ?

Match 4	Stephen Harris	Andrew Mount
1.30	Marine Nationale WIN	Inthepocket EW
2.10	El Fabiolo WIN ⭐	Saint Roi EW
2.50	Remastered EW	The Big Breakaway EW
3.30	Vauban EW	Not So Sleepy EW
4.10	Love Envoi WIN	Brandy Love EW
4.50	Sir Allen EW	Metamorpheus WIN ⭐
5.30	Gaillard Du Mesnil WIN	Mister Coffey EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 5
? Stephen Power (The Racing Blogger) v Icy (Gearoid Norris) ?

Match 5	The Racing Blogger	ICY
1.30	Facile Vega WIN	Il Etait Temps EW
2.10	Jonbon WIN	Dysart Dynamo EW
2.50	Monbeg Genius EW ⭐	Fastorslow EW
3.30	Constitution Hill WIN	Constitution Hill WIN ⭐
4.10	Honeysuckle EW	Honeysuckle WIN
4.50	Samuel Spade EW	Tekao WIN
5.30	Gaillard Du Mesnil WIN	Gaillard Du Mesnil WIN

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 6
? Richard Hoiles v Daryl Carter ?

Match 6	Richard Hoiles	Daryl Carter
1.30	Facile Vega WIN	Marine Nationale EW
2.10	Jonbon WIN	El Fabiolo WIN ⭐
2.50	Fastorslow EW	Corach Rambler WIN
3.30	Constitution Hill WIN	Constitution Hill WIN
4.10	Marie’s Rock WIN	Marie's Rock WIN
4.50	Perseus Way EW	Tekao WIN
5.30	Galliard Du Mesnil WIN ⭐	Mister Coffey EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 7
? CJ Cooper v Matt Bisogno ?

Match 7	CJ Cooper	Matt Bisogno
1.30	Il Etait Temps WIN	Il Etait Temps WIN ⭐
2.10	El Fabiolo WIN	Saint Roi EW
2.50	Corach Rambler EW	The Big Breakaway EW
3.30	State Man WIN	Vauban EW
4.10	Marie's Rock WIN	Love Envoi EW
4.50	Perseus Way EW	Jazzy Matty EW
5.30	Gaillard Du Mesnil WIN ⭐	Mister Coffey EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 8
? Ash Symonds v Sam Turner ?

Match 8	Ash Symonds	Sam Turner
1.30	Facile Vega WIN	Il Etait Temps WIN ⭐
2.10	Jonbon WIN	El Fabiolo WIN
2.50	Fastorslow EW	Oscar Elite EW
3.30	Constitution Hill WIN	Constitution Hill WIN
4.10	Echoes In Rain EW	Marie’s Rock WIN
4.50	Byker EW	Perseus Way EW
5.30	Minella Crooner EW ⭐	Gaillard Du Mesnil WIN

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 9
? AK Bets v Tim Carroll ?

Match 9	AK Bets	Tim Carroll
1.30	High Definition EW	Facile Vega WIN
2.10	Dysart Dynamo EW	Jonbon WIN
2.50	Fastorslow EW	Glamorgan Duke WIN
3.30	Vauban EW	Constitution Hill WIN
4.10	Epatante EW	Honeysuckle WIN
4.50	Sir Allen EW	Bad WIN ⭐
5.30	Mister Coffey EW ⭐	Minella Crooner WIN

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 10
? Andy Holding v Paul Kealy ?

Match 10	Andy Holding	Paul Kealy
1.30	Il Etait Temps EW	Rare Edition EW
2.10	El Fabiolo WIN ⭐	Dysart Dynamo WIN
2.50	Corach Rambler EW	Nassalam EW ⭐
3.30	Constitution Hill WIN	I Like To Move It EW
4.10	Marie's Rock WIN	Love Envoi EW
4.50	Bad EW	Punta Del Este EW
5.30	Mahler Mission EW	Minella Crooner EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 11
? Nick Goff v Johnny Ward ?

Match 11	Nick Goff	Johnny Ward
1.30	Facile Vega WIN	Facile Vega WIN
2.10	Dysart Dynamo EW	Saint Roi EW
2.50	Fantastikas EW	Fastorslow EW ⭐
3.30	Constitution Hill WIN	Constitution Hill WIN
4.10	Shewearsitwell EW	Brandy Love WIN
4.50	Byker EW	Bad WIN
5.30	Gaillard Du Mesnil WIN ⭐	Mahler Mission EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 12
? Paul Jacobs v Josh Stacey ?

Match 12	Paul Jacobs	Josh Stacey
1.30	Facile Vega WIN	High Definition EW
2.10	Hollow Games EW	Jonbon WIN ⭐
2.50	Laskalin EW	Corach Rambler EW
3.30	State Man WIN	Vauban EW
4.10	Brandy Love WIN	Marie’s Rock WIN
4.50	Byker WIN ⭐	Byker EW
5.30	Tenzing EW	Gaillard Du Mesnil WIN

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 13
? Chris Dixon v Johnny Dineen ?

Match 13	Chris Dixon	Johnny Dineen
1.30	Marine Nationale WIN	Doctor Bravo EW
2.10	Jonbon WIN	El Fabiolo WIN ⭐
2.50	Happygolucky EW	Corach Rambler WIN
3.30	Constitution Hill WIN	Constitution Hill WIN
4.10	Brandy Love EW	Marie’s Rock WIN
4.50	Bad WIN	Sundial EW
5.30	Gaillard Du Mesnil WIN ⭐	Minella Crooner EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 14
? Dave McManus v Bill Esdaile ?

Match 14	Dave McManus	Bill Esdaile
1.30	Inthepocket EW	Rare Edition EW
2.10	Jonbon WIN	Jonbon WIN ⭐
2.50	Top Ville Ben EW	Fanion D’Estruval EW
3.30	Constitution Hill WIN	State Man WIN
4.10	Epatante EW	Marie’s Rock WIN
4.50	Risk Belle EW	Metamorpheus EW
5.30	Minella Crooner EW ⭐	Mister Coffey EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 15
? Joe Chambers v Martin Dixon ?

Match 15	Joe Chambers	Martin Dixon
1.30	Inthepocket EW	Marine Nationale WIN
2.10	Jonbon WIN ⭐	El Fabiolo WIN
2.50	Cloudy Glen EW	The Big Breakaway EW
3.30	State Man WIN	Constitution Hill WIN
4.10	Honeysuckle WIN	Queens Brook EW
4.50	Ludus EW	Punta Del Este EW ⭐
5.30	Minella Crooner EW	Tenzing EW

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

MATCH 16
? Tom Stanley v Paul Ferguson ?

Match 16	Tom Stanley	Paul Ferguson
1.30	Facile Vega WIN ⭐	Marine Nationale EW
2.10	Jonbon WIN	El Fabiolo WIN
2.50	Cloudy Glen EW	Monbeg Genius EW
3.30	I Like To Move It EW	Constitution Hill WIN
4.10	Marie’s Rock WIN	Love Envoi EW ⭐
4.50	Metamorpheus EW	Tekao WIN
5.30	Gaillard Du Mesnil WIN	Gaillard du Mesnil WIN

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PRICES & SPECIALS ⭐

See how the numbers came out the drum with Hannah Baycroft and James Maloney (Racing Post Betting Shop Manager Of The Year) – recorded at the Star Sports shop in Mayfair. (Thanks Kellvin at 020 Visuals for filming).

How the DRAW unfolded:

The four winners will collect a starsports.bet free bet and we’re also making a donation for the same amount to their nominated charity:

🥇£500 FREE BET and £500 to the winner’s charity
🥈£250 FREE BET and £250 to the winner’s charity
🥉£100 FREE BET and £100 to the winner’s charity
🏅£50 FREE BET and £50 to the winner’s charity

To add further spice to the Cheltenham Knockout we’re betting on the outcome with each-way down to 4 places at 1/4 odds. ANY PROFIT FROM THIS MARKET WILL BE DONATED TO THE INJURED JOCKEYS FUND.

Our 32 strong field, with draw number, nominated charity and latest starsports.bet prices on the outright market:

? AK Bets (ALONE Ireland) (DRAWN 1)

Former punter turned bookie, often found at Ireland’s biggest meeting.Few better judges of a market and one of the leading contenders.

? Alan Alger (Teenage Cancer Trust) (DRAWN 2)

Industry stalwart who recently departed Betway. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his beloved Arsenal and take the big prize.

? Andrew Mount (MIND) (DRAWN 3)

Top tipster for gg.co.uk with years of experience and a proven record. One to avoid in the first round draw.

? Andy Holding (Dementia UK) (DRAWN 4)

Oddschecker expert and speed figure whizz who’s not nicknamed the pundit’s pundit for nothing! At the head of he market for good reasons.

? Ash Symonds (Injured Jockeys Fund) (DRAWN 5)

2022 Tipstar Finalist who is now a journalist along with being part of the Only Fools Love Horses Podcast. Sure to be well prepared with the inside track.

? Bill Esdaile (BDFA) (DRAWN 6)

City AM Racing Editor and Zoom Room regular who has landed plenty of big priced winners at the Festival. A major each-way player.

? Chris Dixon (Prostate Cancer) (DRAWN 7)

Best known as an expert on Racing TV, but also a judge for The Horse Watchers – a group known for their ability to find bargain horses and improve them tenfold. One of the favourites for a reason.

? CJ Cooper (Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice) (DRAWN 8)

Hit the headlines with her fantastic charity work last Christmas and is well known as a strong judge of both codes on twitter. An under the radar contender for sure.

? Daryl Carter (Alzheimer’s Society) (DRAWN 9)

Award winning tipster for Betfair and GG.co.uk who can be found giving his insight at various Jockey Club courses around the country. Will his backers be raising a glass?

? Dave McManus (Milford Hospice) (DRAWN 10)

Respected on course bookmaker in Ireland (and who could miss the surname). Will a good week for JP mean more McManus success?

? Declan Rix (MIND) (DRAWN 11)

Attheraces.com and Sky Sports Racing pundit who isn’t shy of an alternative opinion.

? Emma Nagle (ALONE Ireland) (DRAWN 12)

Broadcaster with Irishracing.com and RTV Raceday. Very well versed in the Irish formbook as one would expect – and that bodes well for the Festival these days..

? Icy (Gearoid Norris) (Racing Welfare) (DRAWN 13)

Twitter famous #BettingPeople interviewee who’s rarely short of a strong view. Puts his money where his mouth is and unlikely to go down without a fight.

? Izzy Phillips (Bob Champion Cancer Trust) (DRAWN 14)

Can often be seen analysing the best racing online whilst presenting the In The Saddle podcast.

? James Knight (Retraining of Racehorses) (DRAWN 15)

Director of racing trading at Entain (Ladbrokes & Coral) with years of experience battling punters on the other side. Likely to go well.

? Joe Chambers (London Marathon) (DRAWN 16)

Racing manager to none less than Rich Ricci as well as being a well-known judge. Has plenty to recommend him.

? Johnny Dineen (Carriglea Cairde Services) (DRAWN 17)

Has proven to be a storming addition to the Racing Post’s Upping The Ante who could be a big each/way player at 16/1. Will he be putting up Paul Nicholls’ horses?

? Johnny Ward (Pieta House) (DRAWN 18)

Trader Chat host and all round broadcaster who can often be found at Racing TV and Oddschecker. One of the leading contenders.

? Josh Stacey (The Racing Josh) (Warwick Myton Hospice) (DRAWN 19)

Co-host of Let’s Talk Racing and RTV contributor who has been following the Festival form lines since the autumn. Not to be underestimated, especially in the handicap contests.

? Martin Dixon (Prostate Cancer UK) (DRAWN 20)

Another member of The Horse Watchers syndicate and a Racing TV columnist to boot. Respected as a strong judge and with good reason too – a leading contender.

? Matt Bisogno (Barnardo’s) (DRAWN 21)

The man behind geegeez.co.uk, one of the best resources in the world of racing. Nobody else will go into this comp with as much data to hand, that’s for sure – could that give him an edge?

? Nick Goff (Ruth Strauss Foundation) (DRAWN 22)

Spend more than a decade working for Coral and then turned into a pro-punter in 2016. Known for his knowledge on football and NFL but not to be dismissed as a racing judge.

? Paul Ferguson (Alder Hey’s Children’s Hospital) (DRAWN 23)

Author of the brilliant Weatherby’s Cheltenham Festival Guide and one of the most detailed form judges in the game. One to avoid in the first round draw.

? Paul Jacobs (Leukaemia Research) (DRAWN 24)

Knows how to win – he’s a record breaking 5-times champion horse racing tipster – and ideally to be avoided in the first round matchup. Goes better than his beloved Everton.

? Paul Kealy (Great Ormond Street) (DRAWN 25)

Racing Post tipster who can be found in the paper and online. One of the biggest names in the competition and priced as one of the best contenders too.

? Richard Hoiles (MIND) (DRAWN 26)

ITV Racing’s commentator is one of the most famous voices in the sport and a meticulous researcher of the form book. Provides tips for RTV and anyone who’s seen his ITV eyecatchers segments will know he can find an ace or two up his sleeve.

? Sam Turner (Mary Stevens Hospice, Stourbridge) (DRAWN 27)

Perhaps more commonly known as the Daily Mail’s Robin Goodfellow, Sam’s years of experience ought to stand him in good stead for our knockout tournament.

? Stephen Harris (Marie Curie) (DRAWN 28)

Has been an odds-compiler, on-course bookmaker and pundit, who’s now a journalist and tipster for the Betting Expert website. Able to find decent priced winners and could go well.

? Stephen Power (The Racing Blogger) (Injured Jockeys Fund) (DRAWN 29)

Famous for his twitter interviews and travels through the racing world, along with some big bets. Will ‘wages’ be landed lads in the Cheltenham Knockout?

? Steve Jones (Centrepoint) (DRAWN 30)

Now the Daily Mirror’s ‘Value Scope’, who also writes for Unibet, podcasts for Matchbook and is a pundit for Racing TV. If he’s as successful this year as he is busy, you might have your winner!

? Tim Carroll (Injured Jockeys Fund) (DRAWN 31)

Sky Sports Racing presenter and pundit who is known for landing big priced international winners. Can he do the same here?

? Tom Stanley (Crohn’s & Colitis UK) (DRAWN 32)

One of the most well-respected faces on Racing TV who also writes a column for their website. Rightly amongst the main contenders in the betting.

The format of the competition will see the 32 runners go into the first round draw on Thursday to decide the 16 head to head matches on the first day of Cheltenham on Tuesday. WE ARE FILMING THE DRAW AND YOU CAN WATCH IT HERE ON THURSDAY!

To progress to the next round the tipster will need to beat their opponent on a £1 level stake basis – a notional £1 win bet will go on each of their selections and £2 on their daily nominated nap.

Wednesday will see the 16 remaining runners fight it out in 8 matches. On Thursday we’ll be down to the quarter finals with 4 matches and then the grand final on the Friday when the winner will be crowned !.

Dave Jolly, Head Of Trading at starsports.bet said: “This is a great fun idea and an exciting new format which have priced up CLICK HERE TO VIEW MARKET. There are lots of well known industry names putting their reputations on the line, all in aid of their selected charities. To avoid upsetting any friends or associates I’ve delegated the pricing !! Good luck everyone.”.

STARSPORTS.BET NRNB CHELTENHAM MARKETS

CHELTENHAM KNOCKOUT – THE RULES

(1) Our 32 nominated tipsters will battle it out over the four days of the Cheltenham Festival 14th-17th March 2023 in an ‘FA Cup’ style knockout match format.

(2) There will be 16 first round matches on the first day, Tuesday 14th March. The tipster will be required to beat their opponent. For each match the tipster who wins their match progresses to the next round, the losing tipster is eliminated from the competition. The daily score will be calculated based on the performance of their selections.

(3) Tipsters are required to make one selection in every Cheltenham race of the day. They can stipulate whether this selection is win or each way. For a win bet a notional 2 points is staked on their selection, for an each-way selection a notional 1 point is staked each way ie: 1 point win and 1 point place.

(4) In addition they will be required to nominate a daily best bet (NAP) which counts for double points. So for a win nap a notional 4 points will be staked, for each-way 2 points on both win and place.

(5) Results will be settled at starting price – and include any Rule 4 deductions. Place terms will be the same as the starsports.bet race markets. Dead-heat rules may also apply if applicable.

(6) In the event of a non runner or late withdrawal your selection will be automatically replaced by the SP favourite (for joint or co favs this will be deemed to be be the one with the lowest racecard number). Your original stake will apply eg: 2 points win or 1 point each way (double if it’s your nap choice).

(7) At the end of each day we will score each entry based on the above criteria. In the event of a dead-heat in round 1 we will deploy a count back system to determine the match winner. This will be based on number of winners and if still level, seconds, then thirds until a winner is found. From round two and the remaining rounds in the event of a tie we will take into account the aggregate score from that tipster in previous round(s) to determine the winner so previous good tipping is rewarded. If still a dead-heat then count back will then apply.

(8) The match format applies to day 1,2,3. On the final day (Friday) four tipsters progress to the final and they will compete against each other on this day (four-ball in golf terms) to determine 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

(9) Scores are reset at the end of each round so each round starts with both tipsters on ZERO.

(10) Selections must be supplied to Star Sports no later than 11am on the day of racing. Tipsters will be notified on entry mechanism,

(11) Daily selections will appear on https://www.starsportsbet.co.uk/cheltenham-knockout-tipping-competition/ from 12pm each day.

(12) On the conclusion of the competition we will contact the prize winners to arrange their prizes (starsports.bet account required) and also arrange to make the stipulated donations to their nominated charity.

(13) Star Sports reserve the right to adjust any rules which will be updated here.