The Cheltenham Festival is the most compelling four days of National Hunt horse racing in the annual sporting calendar.

 

With 28 races – seven per day – there is plenty of action for punters to go at. Backing favourites in the betting should reward them in theory, but how has that worked out in practice over the last decade?

 

Ahead of the 2018 Cheltenham Festival, we’ve compiled some key stats relating to how the most fancied horses have got on from 2009.

 

Only one outright favourite has landed the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in the last decade with another joint market leader also going in. Both of those victors in the Festival opener were trained by Willie Mullins.

 

Five of the last six renewals of the Arkle Challenge Trophy, meanwhile, has gone the way of fancied horses. Those trends hint at the possibility of mixed fortunes for Mullins inmates Getabird (6/4 with bet365) and Footpad (evens).

 

Four Champion Hurdle favourites – again all hailing for the yard of master Irish handler Mullins – have come in since 2011. It’s Nicky Henderson-trained star Buveur D’Air who took last year’s race that is fancied this time at 2/5 over 2015 renewal winner Faugheen.

 

 

During the last nine years, seven starting price market leaders have won the OLBG David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, but this is one of those skewed statistics. This is because Mullins wonder mare Quevega landed six successive renewals from 2009 to 2014.

 

No favourite has landed the National Hunt Chase for novices since this gruelling 4m stamina test was moved from the second day of the Cheltenham Festival to the opening day. The last three renewals (2011-2013) before the switch were all won by the market principal.

 

The 3m RSA Chase – also for novices over fences – is regarded as a key trial for future Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders, yet the last three favourites to win it came in odd number years.

 

Not since 2014 has the main fancy landed either the 2m 5f Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle or the 2m Queen Mother Champion Chase. Does that give bet365’s respective red-hot horse racing betting favourites of the 2018 renewals Samcro (1/2) and Altior (4/6) cause for concern?

 

In their own unique ways, the 3m 6f Cross Country Chase and Champion Bumper are sometimes just as competitive as the Cheltenham Festival handicaps. This is borne out by the fact just one favourite apiece has won either since 2009.

 

Each of the last JLT Novices’ Chase winners were sent off favourite, while the Ryanair Chase is another middle-distance National Hunt race in which the market principals have a strong recent record including three of the last four.

 

Don’t read too much into recent Stayers’ Hurdle stats as Big Buck’s dominated this 3m contest, winning four in a row (2009-12) and was favourite for his last three triumphs.

 

 

 

The Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is the newest Festival race after being introduced in 2016 and market leaders are two out of two in it so far. Laurina (evens) is seeking to give Mullins a hat-trick of winners in the extended 2m contest.

 

Triumph Hurdle favourites have a tremendous recent record with victories in each of the last three renewals of the juvenile contest for four-year-old horses. Henderson filly Apple’s Shakira (11/4) looks to enhance that further.

 

Only a couple of favourites in the last decade have delivered in the 3m Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. This year’s renewal looks wide open.

 

The market leader has gone in four times in the last nine renewals of the big one, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. That suggests yet another Henderson inmate, Might Bite, has a chance at 3/1.

 

Foxhunter Chase favourites are three from the last nine, but there is an extra element to consider with this race in that it is open to amateur riders only.

 

When it comes to those notoriously tricky Cheltenham Festival handicaps, well favourites have no fared well. No market leaders have won either the Coral Cup or County Hurdle in the last decade.

 

In fact, you have to go back to the 2014 Festival for the last time any favourite landed the spoils in any handicap race. Stats are only there to be disproved, but when it comes to Cheltenham they can certainly aid punters.

 

 

Its an era when northern trainers are dominating in jump racing. From northern base, Jonjo O’Neil, Tommy Stack, Rono Barry were champion jockey in recent years.

 

The jump racing trainers from north like John Quinn, Sue Smith, Brian Ellison and Donald McCain put tremendous efforts. Despite of their efforts, there is a decline of northern raiders participation in jump racing.

 

Its only Cheltenham Festival where northern trained runners participates in the races. Also, there is a regular decrease of northern trainers in recent years.

 

Even almost all the rich owners prefer to send their horses to the south for the training.

 

Brian Hughes, who has astonishing record of ridding 129 winners has teamed up with campaigner Jefferson for Cheltenham Festival 2018 and looking forward for some more success.

 

There are 28 races held at the Cheltenham Festival, with seven each on Champion Day (13th March), Ladies’ Day (14th March), St Patrick’s Thursday (15th March) and Gold Cup Day (16th March).

 

Have a look on these six leading northern runners at Cheltenham Festival 2018 –

 

1. Cyrus Darius( Champion Hurdle) – A talented horse, who is overpriced criminally going to run in Champion Hurdle. Its from the team Hughes and Jefferson. After his recent victory, he came out in finer form.

2. Cloudy Dream(Arkle Trophy)– Again Hughs and Jefferson team up to make Cloudy Dream run in the Arkle. Although Arkle Trophy is the ultimate destination for Cloudy Dream, Altior is there in competition.

 

According to Ruth, the yard is not scared of one horse.

 

3. Double W’s(Close Brothers Chase)- A talented seven years old is a preferable choice for good grounds and considered as a strong traveller by Ruth.

4. Forest Bihan(Arkle Trophy) – Lots of eyes will be on him in Arkle. Last time he has beaten the Cloudy Dream and this time also they are going to run in Arkle as competitors.

5. Baywing (National Hunt Chase) – Expectations are high from the young chaser only if the ground is soft. In case rain does arrive, Baywing has capability and stamina to win.

6. Sam Spinner(Stayer’s Hurdle)- An extremely talented flag bearer for the North, he is an obvious choice for Stayer’s Hurdle, feature race of St Patrick’s Thursday.  Stayer’s Hurdle is the most prestigious long-distance hurdling event in horse racing and is one of the highlights of the festival. William Hill provides latest St Patrick’s Day tips and results, visit their site for more details on this special event.

 

A funny horse racing themed racetrack practical joke from the Impractial Jokers.

The anticipation for the Grand National is increasing day by day. Bookmakers are giving extremely appealing offers such as the Best Odds Guaranteed and the money back offers etc. Many of the major online bookmakers hold licenses issued by the UK’s Gambling Commission which means that your money will be safe and you will always be paid your winnings.

 

Freebets is the one place where you will find all the best bookmakers of the world having a team who are hugely experienced in the online and offline betting industry. Only the most interesting and relevant news is published about the betting industry here. You can find all the best tips, odds and predictions about the Grand National betting that you won’t find anywhere else.

 

Avail the William Hill’s offer of Bet £10 Get £30 and Coral’s offer of Bet £5 Get £20. Paddy Power is giving a £20 risk free bets while Ladbrokes is giving a bonus of £50. Also, Betbright, Betfred and Boylesports are also giving great offers. All these offers do come with particular terms and conditions, therefore don’t miss giving a close reading to these terms and conditions before you start placing your bets.

 

1- L’Escargot

 

L’Escargot halted the winning run of Red Rum in the 1975 Grand National. Red Rum had won both the 1973 & 1974 Grand National but the third time L’Escargot inflicted a heavy defeat of 15 lengths to the legendary Red Rum. He was owned by Raymond R. Guest and trained by Dan Moore.

 

Besides the Grand National, he won the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup twice to emulate the great racing horse Golden Miller. He has also been included into the US National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

 

2- Bobbyjo

 

The Irish trained runners had not tasted a victory at Aintree for many years. Twenty four years before, L’Escargot had run to victory in 1975. It was the famous jockey Tommy Carberry who had ridden L’Escargot to victory in that race.

 

For the 1999 Grand National, Tommy who was a trainer then put his son Paul on the Robert Burke owned racehorse Bobbyjo to compete in the big race. Bobbyjo at 10/1 achieved the very feat which L’Escargot had achieved in 1975 to delight of all the Irish fans.

 

3- Papillon

 

The Irish had waited a long time for a winner after L’Escargot. However when Bobbyjo broke the jinx, the next winner came in very quickly. It was the Ted Walsh trained Papillon who triumphed in the 2000 Grand National.

 

The American Mrs Betty Moran was the owner of Papillon. Since she was not a great fan of the Grand National, therefore it took some persuasion before she allowed Papillon to compete in the big race.

 

It was the first time that the great jockey Ruby Walsh was competing in a race. Both Ruby Walsh and Papillon shone on the big day and won the 2000 Grand National title.

 

4- Silver Birch

 

When Silver Birch won the 2007 Grand National, it was the fourth time that an Irish trained horse won the big race from the previous five years. Silver Birch was first owned by Paul Barber and Des Nichols and then from 2006 Brian Walsh had taken ownership of the amazing racehorse.

 

He was considered as a favourite for the 2005 Grand National when Paul Nicholls was his trainer. However, an injury had ruled him out of the race. He competed again in the 2006 Grand National but fell at the largest fence on the course.

 

In the 2007 Grand National, Robbie Power was the jockey aboard Silver Birch. This time, he defeated McKelvey by 3/4 of a length to grab the title.

 

5- Rule the World

 

Rule the World’s victory in the 2016 Grand National was quite an emotional moment for Mouse Morris who had lost his son Christopher less than a year before this win. The Irish trainer dedicated this win to his late son Christopher who had died from carbon monoxide poisoning while he was travelling in Argentina.

 

Rule the World did not take the lead for most part of the race. At the last fence, he was third and was quickly making progress over others. He managed victory in the end by 6 lengths while The Last Samuri came in second and Vics Canvas in third. It was one of the best moments for the young jockey David Mullins, the son of Tom Mullins and grandson of Paddy Mullins.