As the dust begins to settle at the end of most dire four days of betting that Cheltenham punters have ever known, bookmakers across the land began counting the cost to the Nation’s punters.

Britian’s biggest bookies William Hill estimate that an unprecedented £60MILLION could be reaped in betting profits across the industry – after just four winning favourites from 26 races obliged for backers over the four miserable days.

A staggering £150 million a day was wagered industry-wide, on each of the four days of the festival, with another £1million per race staked on-course in cash – leading to a £600million turnover on the four day Festival.

That figure equates to around £24 million per race, for the 26 races, with betting reaching a £40million fever pitch on this year’s final-day feature race – The Gold Cup.

David Hood, spokesman for William Hill, said: ‘’This will go down in history as the worst set of results that Cheltenham punters have experienced. Time-after-time long-priced winners sailed back to the winner’s enclosure celebrated by just a handful of punters who had backed them. We’ve bloodied the punters’ noses – and the healing process could take some time.’’

In what can only be described as the most dire four days of betting that Cheltenham punters have ever known, the win of Imperial Commander was another nail in the coffin.

Previously billed as the ‘War of the Worlds’ by bookies, the titanic clash between Kauto Star and Denman became a damp squib in the Cotswold drizzle as the locally trained Imperial Commander at 7/1 upset the odds, but provided the locals with a lot to cheer about.

Punters across the land wagered a record £40million on the clash today, David Hood, spokesman for William Hill, said: ‘’Bookies couldn’t make it up this week, they have enjoyed some stellar results (only three winning favourites up to the Gold Cup), and it will take punters until the World Cup to get over the shocks this week.”

The Gold Cup wasn’t a complete ‘skinner’ for bookies, as both the winner and the third Mon Mome were exceptionally well backed each-way horses. “Mon Mome was the surprise gamble from 150-1 into 50-1, but I have no doubt that many remembered his Grand National win and kept the faith again. That said, he has saved Hills £550,000!“

A punter with a series of 10p accumulators confidently predicted that Imperial Commander and Denman would be placed winning £450,000, but Mon Mome’s last gasp effort to snatch third from Carruthers saved William Hill from that becoming a £1million pound win.

Gold Cup 2011: 4-1 Imperial Commander, Kauto Star, 8-1 Denman, Weapon’s Amnesty, 12-1 Big Buck’s, 16-1 Diamond Harry, Long Run, Punchestowns, Somersby, 20-1 bar (EWW 1/4 1,2,3)

Bookies Have a Bumper Cheltenham is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Kauto Star Gold Cup Favourite

Only Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Mill House and Best Mate have ever won the blue riband event three times, and all did it in consecutive seasons.

Kauto Star has already created his own unique piece of history by becoming the first horse to reclaim the prize 12 months ago, and another win for Ruby Walsh’s mount would add yet more lustre to his legacy. Having been kept fresh since winning a fourth King George VI Chase in spectacular fashion, champion trainer Nicholls is feeling bullish again.

“It is impossible to say he is better than ever as it was such a wonderful performance at Kempton,” said Nicholls.

“He worked with Master Minded last weekend and there are very few who can do what he did with a champion chaser.

“When he is fit he is lethal and there is nothing I can say to put anyone off him.”

According to the bookmakers, Kauto Star has most to fear from stablemate and 2008 winner Denman, who finished second 12 months ago after an interrupted preparation.

Yet again Denman’s last appearance before Cheltenham did not go to plan as he left his new jockey, Tony McCoy, on the floor in the Aon Chase which was won by another stablemate, Tricky Trickster.

McCoy is back in the saddle and the racing world is itching to see the two best horses and the two best jockeys competing in the highlight of the season.

“Denman did a very good piece of work with Tricky Trickster at the weekend. The more you do and the more you drill him the better he gets,” added Nicholls.

“You have to remember that before he ran in the Aon he gave 22lb to What A Friend and he went on to win the Lexus.

“He did have a little setback, but he is over that and do not write him off.

“The danger with Denman is that you go off too quick on him and get to the bottom of him too soon.

“He loves a battle and if he had got into a scrap with Niche Market at Newbury he would have loved it.”

One of the few viable alternatives to the big two is last year’s Ryanair winner, Imperial Commander.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ nine-year-old only went down by a nose to Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November, and returns to a course where he has won four times over fences after disappointing in Kempton’s King George VI Chase.

“He’s in really good nick and I’m very happy with him. He got within a whisker of beating Kauto Star at Haydock. I couldn’t be happier and I’m really looking forward to it,” the Naunton handler said.

“He certainly will have improved from Haydock. That was his first run of the season and he’s a big burly horse. He’s an awful lot fitter now and he’s really lean and mean and keen.

“The trip is not a problem, he stays forever.

“We’ll be riding our own race but we certainly will be up there with them. Three out at Haydock he had Kauto Star beat but he made a mistake there that turned the whole thing into a battle.

“He has a high cruising speed and can quicken off that. I don’t think we’re worried about tactics at all.

“He’s won four out of five over fences at Cheltenham. He was very wrong the only time he was beaten there. He damaged a hock and didn’t run for nearly a year.

“Otherwise without that he’d have been unbeaten there.”

Willie Mullins is pinning his hopes on Cooldine improving as much as he did last year.

His novice campaign was highlighted with an authoritative victory in the RSA Chase and he ran a sound trial in the Irish Hennessy on his latest start.

“He seems in good form on the gallops here during the week,” said Mullins.

“Last year he improved hand over fist from race to race and I’m sure he’s improved again since Leopardstown.

“I hope we can get into the money and it is all to play for after that. The race looks like a head-to-head and my fellow needs a good bit of improvement to get between the two of them but that is what we are here to find out.

“He will handle the ground and the trip will bring out his stamina.

“He put in a fantastic round of jumping last year and if he can do the same again this time it will put him right in the race.

Kauto Star is Lethal Says Champion Trainer is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Carl Harris @ Cheltenham

Its Friday and it is the day we have all been waiting for, Kauto Star has his date with destiny as he looks to land a third Gold Cup. Paul Nicholls will hope for better than Master Minded who he hoped would land a third Champion Chase but it was not to be!

So it is the final day of four heavy days at Cheltenham and we will need to get a few quid. It has not been bad so far, but it could be better!

Here are your free horseracing tips for Friday, Cheltenham Gold Cup Day at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival.

This is my favourite day of the whole year!

1:30 Cheltenham JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)

Last year Zaynar won the Triumph Hurdle and finished third in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday. Is there anything of the quality of Zaynar here, well maybe.

Certainly there have been a few performances of note this season and I think that Super Kenny who won on Monday would have had a good chance had he gone for the Triumph Hurdle.

The Irish are flying at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival, they have a great chance with Carlito Brigante but I think this will be one that stays at home with it being fought out between Henderson and Nicholls.I was very taken with both Advisor and particularly Soldatino. Nicky Henderson is the best trainer of hurdlers in my view and I think yet another French import, Soldatino can win the Triumph Hurdle.

After his last win Nicky Henderson was quoted as saying;

“He’s only been with me for five weeks and I haven’t really galloped him. We were going on what we were told which was that he could be a bit wild so we decided to leave in the earplugs which were used on him in France.

If he comes on for that he will win and win well. Soldatino is my Triumph Hurdle bet and one I am heavily on.

2:05 Cheltenham Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

I am looking at this race initially before I see the declarations and if Qaspal runs he wins, I think it is as simple as that! He bolted up in the Imperial Cup and will win at £75k bonus if he were to complete the double.

McCoy is in great form at Cheltenham and despite the competitive nature of the County Hurdle ,Qaspal could make a mockery of the jandicap and win in the famous McManus colours.

Qaspal and McCoy

2:40 Cheltenham, Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

This is a tough race to solve, usually. Weapons Amnesty proved in 2010 that his win in the race is 2009 is of a very high standard. Some very good horses have featured in this is recent times, the likes of Denman, Best Mate and Kicking King who went on to frank this as an important race.

The ability to travel, jump and finish well are key attributes if you are to win this race. So who will win the 2010 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle?

Enterprise Park is likely to go off the shortest of the irish horses and I think thatcould go well for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh. I also like the look of Restless Harry but the one that carries my money is Tell Massini. I think this is a proper horse, a really good one for the future. Tell Massini justified his cramped odds when bringing up his third straight victory under rules with an impressive victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, in December having previously won the Grade 2 Hyde Novices’ Hurdle at the same venue. he likes the course and has an oficial rating of 153, a very high class horse indeed.

I think with a break and natural progression Tell Massini can give Tom George a winner at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival.

3:20 Cheltenham; Cheltenham Gold Cup (grade 1)

The big one. Kauto Star v Denman. The 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Of course Kauto Star will win a third Gold Cup if he prevails here, but we saw Master Minded fail and now all eyes are on Kauto Star.

I think regular readers of the website will know by now that this is a big one and that I am 100 per cent behind Kauto Star. There is no doubt that Kauto Star has the tallent and the class to win. So does Denman. Is he value, NO!

But it is about more than value. The win at Kempton in the King George was simply sensational. Any horse that can do that gets my vote. The weather has held off and I think that the ground will be perfect of Kauto Star. That for me was the only doubt. I think Denman will be second and I think Tricky Trickster will be third. Cooldine is the only one I see possibly breaking the Nicholls hold on the race.

Kauto Star looks for a third Gold Cup at Cheltenham

Kauto Star the best bet of the day to win a third Cheltenham Gold Cup!

Gold Cup - the owners…

Cheltenham Festival, Fridays Horseracing Tips, Gold Cup Day 2010 is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Weird Al, one of the leading fancies for Wednesday’s RSA Chase, will miss the Cheltenham race after suffering a leg injury.

Arch rivals and stablemates Kauto Star and Denman head a field of 12 left in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday at the confirmation stage.

Solwhit has reclaimed his position in the ante-post market for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on Tuesday after connections confirmed he will be making the trip to Cheltenham. Ruby Walsh is advising punters not to forget Celestial Halo in Tuesday’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Edward O’Grady’s Alaivan heads up 29 possibles for Friday’s JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Paul Nicholls’ is due to run the unbeaten Advisor, while Nicky Henderson’s exciting prospect Soldatino is set to line-up for the Seven Barrows team.

Any doubts over Get Me Out Of Here‘s target for Cheltenham disappeared when he didn’t feature among the six-day acceptors for the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle.

Tell Massini tops six-day entries for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday. The Tom George-trained six-year-old takes a 100% record over jumps to the Festival having won all his three starts including twice over the course.

Voler La Vadette has replaced Quevega as favourite for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle on Betfair.

Check Back for more news later……

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Saturdays Cheltenham News, Lots of It! is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Kauto Star Gold Cup Favourite

The now-retired Pipe, twice a winner of the Champion, is in agreement with that line of thinking – and rates the seven-year-old Dunguib as the ‘banker’ of the showcase meeting. He told the Daily Mail:

“I would have done the same thing. The Irish think Dunguib is the banker and if I had to take five horses there he’d be my first choice. A fast-run race will be ideal for him.”

Pipe is also in the corner of Kauto Star landing a third totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup. He added:

“The ground looks to be favouring him more than Denman and he’s simply the best. Master Minded won well last time after the injury and should win another Champion Chase.”

Pipe also gave a good word to two contenders trained by his son, David. He said:

“Notus De La Tour is near top weight in the Fred Winter and he’s only had one run for the stable. But he’s a nice young horse who will want good ground. Ashkazar has been a little disappointing but the conditions (in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle) should suit him and I’m expecting him to go a lot better.”

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Martin Pipe in days gone by winning at Cheltenham;

Martin Pipe Marks Your Cheltneham Festival Card is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Kauto Star looks for a third Gold Cup at Cheltenham

We have got all the prices below, updated live so you can get the best price. All the Cheltenham Festival prices are now on Inrunningodds.com.

Kauto Star is looking for an historic third Gold Cup, emulating Best Mate, but Kauto Star did not do it in successive years. He was the first horse to regain the Gold Cup, last year, having won in 2007 and then was beaten by Denman in 2008.

Denman has drifted to a very big price now following his disaster in the Aon Chase at Newbury. Tony McCoy keeps the ride and will be looking to set the record straight after some criticism, dismissed as rubbish by Paul Nicholls. The 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup is the clash of the Titans, but in Denman and Kauto Star we have two magnificent horses. On Good ground there is only one horse in it, if it comes up heavy Denman would have a shout, but in his current form, Kauto Star will be hard to beat.

It promises to be a simply sensational festival and one race stands out- The Cheltenham Gold Cup;

Who are you backing? Get the best odds above, or take a £25 free bet from William Hill, below;

Kauto Star Odds On for Gold Cup- Best Prices Live is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Nicholls holds six entries in chasing’s Blue Riband event, with today’s winner Taranis now a 33-1 chance (from 100-1), and 10-1 from 33-1 in the market without the Ditcheat duo of Kauto Star and Denman. Alex Ferguson’s What A Friend, Grand National favourite Tricky Trickster, and My Will also hold entries for the race.

Kate Miller, spokeswoman for William Hill, said: ‘’Although it seems an impossibility, Paul Nicholls is equipped with an army of talented chasers, and every year he steps a little closer to emulating Michael Dickinson’s phenomenal feat from 1983.’’

Last year, just Exotic Dancer’s fourth prevented Paul Nicholls from saddling the first four home in the Gold Cup, whilst 2008 saw a Ditcheat trio fill the rostrum.

Paul Nicholls holds a strong hand

5-1 Paul Nicholls Gold Cup 1-2-3 (from 12-1)
10-1 Paul Nicholls Gold Cup 1-2-3-4
33-1 Paul Nicholls Gold Cup 1-2-3-4-5

Cheltenham Gold Cup: 5-4 Kauto Star, 9-4 Denman, 12-1 Imperial Commander, 20-1 Cooldine, 25-1 What A Friend, 33-1 Carruthers, Taranis, 40-1 Madison du Berlais, Money Trix, Notre Pere, 66-1 Albertas Run, Glencove Marina, Rare Bob, Tricky Trickster, 100-1 Air Force One, Aran Concerto, Calgary Bay, Casey Jones, Cloudy Lane, In Compliance, My Will, Schindlers Hunt, Trabolgan,150-1 Mon Mome, Roll Along, 500-1 Cerium, Mr Pointment ALL QUOTED (EW 1/4 1,2,3)
Gold Cup without Kauto Star & Denman: 11-4 Imperial Commander, 5-1 Cooldine, What A Friend, 10-1 Carruthers, Money Trix, Notre Pere, 12-1 Madison Du Berlais, Taranis, 14-1 Glencove Marina, Tricky Trickster, 20-1 Albertas Run, Casey Jones, Rare Bob, 25-1 In Compliance, Schindlers Hunt, 33-1 Air Force One, Aran Concerto, Cloudy Lane, My Will Trabolgan, 40-1 Calgary Bay, Mon Mome, 50-1 Roll Along, 100-1 Cerium, Mr Pointment (EW 1/4 1,2,3)

NICHOLLS NOW 33-1 FOR A GOLD CUP 1-2-3-4-5 AFTER TARANIS WIN is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

After a Win in the Betfair Chase Denman threw down a marker with a sensational performance to win the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, under Ruby Walsh. A simply sensational performance….watch Denman below from YouTube.

A special mention for Lydia Heslop, true emotion, one of the very best racing broadcasters in my view.

Denman then headed the Gold Cup market and people were writing off the dual Gold Cup winner Kauto Star, but then we followed the Christmas star to Kempton for the King George, and Kauto Star won a historic fourth sucessive King George, but watch this, he pulverised a quality field, he won by a distance.

Wow is all you can say! Kauto Star is not done with yet, far from it! So now the scene is set for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in 2010. If Tony McCoy rides Denman, as he looks likely to do, it will be even better, Walsh v McCoy, Kauto Star v Denman. It gets no better than that!

A race to look forward to, but there are some seriously good races to look forward to at Cheltenham. Is Zaynar good enough to win the Champion Hurdle? Is Dunguib the next National Hunt Superstar? Who will fill Kauto Star‘s shoes in a couple of years? There are many questions to answer.

Then it is back on the flat. 2009 was a year that saw Sea The Stars, a true great. He is a horse of a lifetime but in my view St Nicholas Abbey could be the flat star of 2010. His racing Post trophy was sensational and he could win the Derby in my view.

There are some huge races to look forward to, 2010 is looking like a vintage year, before it has even started!

Why 2010 Will be a Wonderful Racing Year! is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Equine legend Kauto Star made history at Kempton Park this afternoon where the crack chaser romped to a glorious fourth straight win in the William Hill King George VI Chase.

Four King George's for Kauto Star

Kauto Star will now grace the record books as the only horse to win four successive renewals of the Boxing Day highlight – outflanking the famous grey Desert Orchid who made Kempton his own with four non-consecutive wins last century.

David Hood, spokesman for William Hill, said: ‘’Kauto Star can now boast ‘legend’ status after his fourth consecutive win, and his victory has rounded off an incredible year for the industry.  Financially it won’t be pretty, but cost to the bookies is irrelevant as today will be a day that Racing remembers forever. ‘’

William Hill – proud sponsors of the King George VI Chase now offer odds of 6-4 that Kauto Star can round-off his amazing career with a fifth win in 2010. Hills have also promoted the nine-year-old to 7-4 from 9-4 favourite for next March’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, where he stands above his stable mate Denman in the betting.

6-4       Kauto Star to win a fifth consecutive William Hill King George VI Chase



Cheltenham Gold Cup: 7-4 9-4 Kauto Star, 9-4 Denman, 10-1 Cooldine, Imperial Commander, 25-1 Joncol, 33-1 Albertas Run, Notre Pere, What A Friend, 40-1, Barbers Shop, Madison du Berlais, 50-1 Aran Concerto In Compliance, Killyglen Niche Market, Rare Bob, 66-1 Cappa Bleu,Schindlers Hunt (Others On Request) (EW 1/4 1,2,3)

Kauto Star Won by a Distance at Kempton

Kauto Star Lights Up Kempton to Make History is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Denman Officially back to his best

He said: “That was something special – he’s only the third ever horse to win two Hennessy Gold Cups and, along with Arkle, one of just two to win it off top weight twice. He’s definitely up there with the greats. When he won the Gold Cup, I had him on 182 but I dropped him 8lb for his three runs last year of which the best run was the Gold Cup, but it wasn’t anywhere near what he’d done the previous year. I’ll almost certainly use Niche Market and Barbers Shop as marker horses who’ve both run their race.

“They’ll stay on their ratings for this race, Niche Market on 145 and Barbers Shop off 156. There’s three and three-quarter lengths between those two and What a Friend, so I’ll probably raise What A Friend 4lb to 156. It’s then another three and a half lengths to Denman, so he’ll go up the same 4lb as What A Friend. Then it’s just a question of what I call the three and a half lengths, which if I say 4lb, it takes him back to his Gold Cup-winning rating of 182.

“He ran off 174 at Newbury so he’s back to his best. Kauto Star is on 186 and after the Betfair Chase we’ve got Imperial Commander in the mix on an official rating of 174. If they all make it to Cheltenham, the Gold Cup should be a fantastic contest.”

Handicappers View of the Hennessy and Denman is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk