We all know that the Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner, and many of us will clearly have the Cheltenham Festival 2021 betting season circled in our calendars, it's natural if you are an avid bettor. However, before beginning to place bets and actually come to a decision on who has your money, it would be wise to check out the collated festival trends, statistics, figures and general facts for all of the competitors. The more informed you actually are, the better that puts you ahead in preparation for the Festival ahead!
Day One: March 16th on the Old Course
1.20 Sky Bet Supreme Novice’s Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
The past winners (five of them) actually have a rating of 153 or higher. Those winners were Vantour (155), Altior (also 155), Douvan (155), Klassical Dream (154) and Shishkin (153). This coming year, there are actually no British trained contenders that are rated higher than 149, equivalent to Metier. Appreciate It however, is rated close to that figure otherwise. However, the figures of this British handicapper are yet to be fully revealed.
2.30 Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f
A total of the 8/9 past runnings have been worn by horses with headgear, and the odds ranged from 15-2 or 28-1. Four of these times, we saw a 1-2 and during the year 2016, we saw a 1-2-3. The year where there was a missed target during 2018, Shantou was actually beaten by 14-1. 85 horses have worn headgear since 2012, whereas 116 have not. Coo Star Sibola was the only horse to manage a victory during this period, meaning if you had actually put on a £10 bet for all the horses that actually wore headgear, you would have profited £195. If however, you did the opposite and put £10 for those without headgear, you would have lost £1100 instead. Just some straight up facts there for you.
3.05 Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
The last 6 winners were Faugheen, Power, Buveur d’Air, Espoir D’Allen and Epatante. Honeysuckle is actually the only horse who actually had a blemish free season within the line up this year. 26 out of the 30 winners of this race have actually managed to win on their most recent start.
3.40 Close Brothers Mares Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y
The French bred horses have managed to make up for 21.2 percent of previous Mares Hurdles. They have managed to win 13 renewals. It could have actually been 10 in total if it was not for the fall within the final push by Benie Des Dieux. The favourite this year however is Concertista, who already has 9 wins in the race so far under her belt.
4.15 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 87y
France is certainly known for a great angle when it comes to Boodles. 9 of the past 16 winners all began their careers at the Boodles. This includes Gordon Elliot, who has managed to train the Aramax, and was definitely on to something if it was not disrupted by a suspension in 2013. Denise Foster also is a contender with Riviere and Teahupoo, both also running in France too.
4.50 National Hunt Chase (Novices’ Chase) (Grade 2) 3m 5f 201y
Gordon Elliot possesses horses in the National Hunt Chase too! While there have been 5 that failed to complete previously, four have won instead. The winners were Chiacago Grey, Cause of Causes, Tiger Roll and Ravenhill. All of the winners had beaten their previous starts in the Hunt Chase, however two did come back from a fall which occurred earlier (Chicago Grey and Ravenill).
Day Two: March 17 on the Old Course
1.20 Ballymore Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f
Those who are Bravemansgame supporters should not look here now. He happened to have won the Challow Hurdle, however the record of winners still does stand at 0 currently, from a total of 17. The Challow winner to win the festival in the same season was the horse Wichita Lineman, also winning the Albert Bartless during the year 2007.
1.55 Brown Advisory Novices Chase (Grade 1) 3m 80y
Monkfish is the hot favourite and again is yet to be beaten. There have only been two winners this century, that have managed to have a 100% record on the fences, and that is Denman and Don Poli of course.
2.30 Coral Cup Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 5f
Since the year 2000, there have only been 4 winners that have managed to run over 9 times, and the most obvious of them is William Henry. He had only 10 runs to his name, before the tenth happened to give him a victory. That was in the year 2019.
3.05 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 99y
Altior is a dual winner of this race, and the stats are pretty out there. Not only is the horse 10 years old, only one other had managed to win since the year 1978 and that was the Moscow Flyer. The same statistics and factors, have seen 22 failed winners and only 2 victories within the past three decades. 1975 is where the Moscow Flyer had managed to regain a crown. In terms of a triple winner, only Badsworth Boy had managed to be the only triple winner.
3.40 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f 37y
There have been 13 winners from the total 16 that have run the track earlier this season. Three winners have no experience of this track. It could benefit to keep a close eye on the race cross country during the last two months of the year.
4.15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 62y
A total of 9 winners from the past 10 have a rating of 138 and 147. The horse Sky Pirate is the favourite ante-post, but he has to surpass a rating of 152.
4.50 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m 87y
The Weatherbys Champion Bumper who had the most wins (ten times) since the year 1992, was Willie Mullins. Punters should take note here, as the market often gets his runners wrong. The past five winners were returned at 12-1 (Vinny), 16-1 (Fever), 25-1 (Hill), 25-1 (Relegate) and 11-1 (Hollow). The Mullins runners that were shortest priced finished in sixth, third eighth, fifth and second. Make sure to have a look at what Kilcruit runs.
Day Three Thursday March 18 (New Course)
1.20 Marsh Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 2m 3f 166y
There have been 5 of the 10 winners from Marsh Chase that have also won the Festival over hurdles. Envoi Allen is the unbeaten horse for all.
1.55 Pertemps Network Final (Handicap Hurdle) 2m 7f 213y
Foster is now taking control of the Elliots runners and the stable has had three past renewals. All six runners have been replaced remarkably too. Pipe has been able to make two races since 2010, with five horses placed.
2.30 Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f 127y
13 out of the 16 Ryanair winners have at least one Cheltenham win. Allaho and Melon lead with proposed possible wins, even though they do not boast any wins to date, despite being close in the past within the Festival.
3.05 Paddy Power Plate (Grade 3) 2m 4f 166y
Simply the Betts has become the seventh plate winner for Paddy Power. He was also the fifth novice to win the race. There are many who met the criteria this past year, with Farclas, Espoir Du Geye and A Wave Of The Sea being the particulars who were quoted 25-1 and also trained by Venetia Williams.
Day Four: Friday March 19th (New Course)
1,20 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 179y
The past 8 Hurdle winners for JCB, also ran in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown. Quilixious won the renewal from Busselton and Saint Sam.
1.55 McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 179y
7 of the 14 winners have actually been trained by the Mullins, with three out of the five renewals being taken by Dan Skelton. Two winners within this century have managed to score beyond the 150 ratings, so be cautious when supporting those beside the head of weights.
2.30 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y
Monkfish had edged 5-1 last year, however the previous renewals (6 of them) had been won by double figure odds such as, 50-1, 33-1, 14-1, 11-1 and 16-1. Monkfish is the only winner who has not been placed within the graded hurdle en-route.
3.05 The Wellchild Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
The last Gold Cup Winner who has not won a Grade One before the win, was Cool Dawn.
3.40 St. James’s Palace Festival Hunters’ Chase
28 out of 32 winners had begun their careers within the Hunters Chase. The ante-post favourite Billaway had started in points, however Bob and Co, Mighty Stowaway and Caid Du Berlais would find themselves bucking the trend.
4.50 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
David Pipe wanted to honour his father by winning the race. However, in 2009, with 20 runners, he got no closer than third place. Big Eared Fran received third place, Ashkazar received seventh and Gevrey Chambertin had pulled at 9-4. The hopeful runners this year for Pipe are Leoncavello and First Lord De Cuet.
