Less than two weeks to the Cheltenham Festival

Less than two weeks to go before the Cheltenham Festival meeting, the first major horse racing meeting of the year, and certainly one of the biggest horse racing gambling weeks of any year. The most prestigious Jump meeting in the Horse Racing calendar will this year will celebrate its centenary with twenty seven quality horse races over four days from Tuesday, 15^th March. Ante post gambling on horse racing is being offered by all the major bookmakers, with most offering free bets to encourage punters to get started on what will certainly be a gambling bonanza. Tuesday is Centenary Day, with seven races, including the Stan James Champion Hurdle. Favourites include last year’s run-away winner ‘Binocular’, already the subject of heavy gambling for this year’s race, plus of course ‘ Peddlars Cross, a recent winner over Binocular. Irish contenders include ‘ Hurrican Fly ‘, winner of the Irish Champion Hurdle, and ‘ Menorah’ who is having a great season with heavy gambling on his chances. Wednesday is Ladies Day, and ladies love horse racing gambling, with the Sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase as the feature race. This is always a big gambling event and the ante post odds look good , with the winners of the last three races leading the way again. ‘Big Zeb’, winner last year, and ‘Master Minded’ winner in 2008 and 2009 could look good ante post bets, with ‘Sizing Europe’, winner of last year’s Arkle possibly a good outside gamble. Thursday is St Patrick’s Day and horse racing gambling will be the focus of all Irish gamblers, with the Ladbrokes World Hurdle as the feature race. ‘ Big Buck’s’, winner for the last two years looks like being odds on favourite for a hat trick, but for the gambling fraternity there are two rising stars who may be worth a punt. ‘Mourad’ and ‘Grand Crus’ are both looking good odds.Friday is of course Gold Cup Day, usually the biggest horse racing gambling day of the Festival, and featuring the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup. ‘ Imperial Commander ‘, last year’s  winner is looking to be favourite in the betting, but ‘Kauto Star’ and Denman are still in the hunt along with ‘Long Run’.  For those gambling on a new winner, ‘Diamond Harry’ is the gambler’s tip.