Cheltenham 2017 Updates

If you enjoy betting on horse racing, you doubtless are aware that Cheltenham 2017 is scheduled for March 14^th- March 17^th this year, and will include 28 exhilarating races with some of the UK’s top jockeys, horses and trainers competing for glory.  Here are some updates leading into the event!

• In terms of weather, right now the forecast is mostly cloudy on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday according to Weather.com.  Right now Friday also says mostly cloudy, though earlier today scattered showers were mentioned.  This means that conditions are likely to be dry through most of the festival, but there may be a little light precipitation, so that is something to keep an eye out for. 

• It is expected that the track on the opening day of the festival could be good, good-to-soft, or soft. 

• Several days ago, Gordon Elliott posted on his Betfair blog, “Unfortunately, The Storyteller pulled a muscle while exercising this morning and will not make it to the Festival.”  The Storyteller was set to run in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. 

• Another horse that will not be running in Cheltenham is five-year-old Finian’s Oscar, whose injury is described by trainer Colin Tizzard as a “minor setback.”  Even though Finian’s Oscar will not be able to race in Cheltenham, it is expected that the horse may be able to compete in Aintree's Grand National Festival next month.

• One fascinating story this year concerns Tobefair, a horse which literally was valued at nothing at one point of time.  Currently the favourite to win in the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle, Tobefair has won seven races in a row and is owned by 17 friends who frequent the same pub, Cresselly Arms in Cresswell Quay near Pembroke.  The horse’s trainer is Debra Hamer, whose training outfit is a small one with only eight horses in total.  This may be one of the greatest underdog stories ever—especially if Tobefair goes on to win.

• For months, punters and pundits have wondered whether David Pipe’s Moon Racer would be participating in Cheltenham.  The Guardian reports that he will indeed be participating in the Champion Hurdle.  Originally, it was assumed that the novice horse would race in the Supreme, with odds of 5-1.  Now that the news has emerged that he will instead be running in the Champion Hurdle, those odds have dropped to 10-1.  Pipe would likely have kept Moon Racer in a race against other novices, but the word is that his owners were eager to aim for a bigger prize. 

• Meanwhile, Brain Power is where a lot of the smart money is at for the Champion Hurdle.  Brain Power had a couple of strong wins before Christmas last year, and trainer Nicky Henderson can hardly seem to mention Buveur D’Air without also mentioning Brain Power in the same sentence.  

• If you are looking to bet on the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday, strongly consider Neon Wolf, who managed an outstanding win at Haydock last month. 

Excited to bet on Cheltenham?  Check out the Cheltenham races schedule, and then take a look at our guide to betting on Cheltenham.  While you are looking at the schedule, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the best promotions for Cheltenham 2017!