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TUESDAY

 

1.30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle

2.10 Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase

2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase

3.30 UniBet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy

4.10 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle

4.50 National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Steeple Chase)

5.30 Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase

 

WEDNESDAY

 

1.30 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle

2.10 RSA Chase

2.50 Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race)

3.30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase

4.10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

4.50 Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

5.30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race)

 

THURSDAY

 

1.30 JLT Novices’ Chase

2.10 Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race)

2.50 Ryanair Chase

3.30 Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle

4.10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase)

4.50 Trull House Stud Mares Novices’ Hurdle

5.30 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (0-145)

 

FRIDAY

 

1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle

2.10 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle

2.50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

3.30 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase

4.10 St. James’s Place Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup

4.50 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (0-145)

5.30 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase Challenge Cup

 

 

Who will you be backing for the festival?

 

A thread where you can post your tips, news and if you are going to the event.

Champion Hurdle:

 

Buveur D'Air 7-12f

Faugheen 13-2

My Tent Or Yours 10-1

Yorkhill 12-1

Wicklow Brave 14-1

Melon 16-1

Elgin 20-1

Min 20-1 (Will run in Champion Chase most likely)

Apples Jade 25-1

Chtibello 33-1

 

Champion Chase:

 

Altior 8-11f

Min 7-2

Douvan 9-2

Politologue 10-1

Un De Sceaux 12-1 (Will run in Ryanair)

Great Field 16-1

Special Tiara 16-1

Yorkhill 16-1 (Will run in Champion Hurdle)

Charbel 25-1

Top Notch 25-1

 

Stayers Hurdle:

 

Supasundae 4-1f

Yanworth 5-1

Sam Spinner 11-2

Penhill 10-1

Bacardys 12-1

L'Ami Serge 12-1

The New One 12-1

Apples Jade 14-1

Unowhatimeanharry 14-1

Wholestone 16-1

 

Gold Cup:

 

Might Bite 4-1f

Native River 6-1

Sizing John 6-1

Our Duke 9-1

Killultagh Vic 10-1

Road To Respect 10-1

Definitly Red 16-1

Total Recall 20-1

Coney Island 25-1

Edwulf 25-1

 

Top Notch out of the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

 

Vroom Vroom Mag has been retired and out of the Mares Hurdle.

Last years Gold Cup winner. Sizing John out of the race due to injury.

The going at Cheltenham is now soft, heavy in places following 14mm of rain overnight.

The going at Cheltenham is now soft, heavy in places following 14mm of rain overnight.

 

Not to mention a whole bunch of snow recently! :P

 

Even though I live in Cheltenham, I've never actually gone to the festival - though I did once win a sweepstake on the Gold Cup. :)

Details of ITV's Cheltenham coverage

 

https://www.itv.com/racing/cheltenham-2018-...w-you-can-watch

 

Disappointing to hear that there is only 5 runners for the Arkle. Again probably due to the soft/heavy ground. It will be the softest since 2013, I think.

 

 

Douvan confirmed for Champion Chase with Ruby on board and then rumours of an Altior injury...whats going on here?

Confirmed that Altior will run.

 

Heavy ground for first day. First time since 1982.

Wishing all runners, riders and connections a safe week.

Thank you Footpad and Buveur d'Air had them on the nose to win.

 

A great Champion Hurdle that was, shame to see Faugheen fade back towards the turning for the home straight.

 

 

Hoping that the Champion Chase can produce a great battle between Altior and Douvan. Although I have my doubts.

 

 

Congrats Altior, shame to see Douvan fall but glad they're both okay.

Glad to see Douvan back on his feet following that fall. It could have been a different story, would have been great to see them battle at the finish line.

 

Gutted to hear about Ruby Walsh out of Cheltenham with a suspected broken leg.

 

 

If both horses are on their prime, it could be some race between Un De Sceaux and Cue Card although I think Cue Card only struggle up the hill.

Jockey changes for Ruby Walsh's rides today following his injury:

 

1.30 Invitation Only - Paul Townend, Kemboy - David Mullins

2.50 Un De Sceaux - Paul Townend

3.30 Bacardys - Patrick Mullins

4.50 Laurina - Paul Townend, Salsaretta - Robbie Power

Cheers Penhill in the Stayers. 3 out of 3 in the championship races.

Current Odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup:

 

(Coral)

 

Native River 9-2cf

Might Bite 9-2cf

Our Duke 9-2cf

Kilultagh Vic 10-1

Definitly Red 11-1

Road To Respect 12-1

Edwulf 16-1

Total Recall 16-1

Minella Rocco 22-1

American 25-1

Bachasson 25-1

Djakadam 33-1

Outlander 33-1

Double Shuffle 40-1

Tea For Two 66-1

Saphir Du Rheu 66-1

Shantou Flyer 100-1

 

 

Who do you think will win it?

 

Going off at a tangent :

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-55...Cheltenham.html

 

And they're off... to the lapdancing club at Cheltenham: Male racegoers are being ferried to pop-up strip joints in MINIBUSES as spa town descends into debauchery

 

Shuttle buses ferrying champagne-fuelled men to doors of pop-up strip clubs

Critics have accused promoters of turning festival into a hotbed of debauchery

Trinity Cheltenham handed out leaflets warning dancers may have be exploited

 

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I guess my invitation got lost somewhere. :kink:

 

Vidcapper, Cheltenham. ;)