S.P.Read Esq: Cheltenham Festival Thursday

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to the third day of the CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

After a 840 point profit on Tuesday – I gave 65 back yesterday.

Sprinter Sacre was the one bright spot – and what a bright spot he proved to be, rolling back the years in the Champion Chase.

Day three of Cheltenham and St Patrick’s Day to boot – what could go wrong !!!

Thursday’s feature is the World Hurdle sponsored by Ryanair but Thistlecrack looks the easy jet in the race if he continues his winning streak.

He comes into this on a run of three wins at Newbury, Ascot and Cheltenham and is sure to take a lot of beating but I am looking elsewhere for a Star Spreads trade.

I’m quite keen on the Paul Nicholls trained Aux Ptits Soins. Nicholls has a much reduced team this year but proved what he can do yesterday in the Fred Winter when he had the 1-2 through Diego Du Charmil and Roman De Senam. Thank goodness I’m not a commentator with those two elongated names flashing past the post separated by a head !!

The ex-French Aux Ptits Soins (you’d never of guessed French of course with that name) has the least experience but the grey proved he could handle Cheltenham and the big occasion with a game win in the Coral Cup last season.

He hasn’t been seen since then after a series of problems but Nicholls has said: “Aux Ptits Soins had a load of problems in the autumn, but he is back working very, very hard now. I am very pleased with what I’ve seen so far.”

He comes here a fresh horse and there isn’t too much downside with a buy at 8 on Star Spreads.

In keeping with Gloucestershire County Council by-laws (1713) Willie Mullins is ordained to win the opener again – this time with Black Hercules whose progress over fences was temporarily halted with a fall at Navan last time out. Mullins also runs Outlander at a similar price and this one has already proven himself at Grade 1 level and I’m buying both of them.

The late decision to switch Vautour from the Gold Cup to the Ryanair Chase upset plenty who took owner Rich Ricci at face value when he said: “it’s the Gold Cup or nothing” and you can’t blame punters on that front but it probably was the correct decision for the horse. He was only nutted close home by Cue Card in the King George at Kempton and the drop back in trip might prove optimum – he is also a buy even at a high starting level.

The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup brings the day three action to a close and there were plenty of good words flying around for Doctor Harper at the Star Sports sponsored preview nights. He’s still inexperienced but confidence seems sky high. There’s a BONUS 5 points for Star Spreads buyers for fifth spot in this race!

CLICK FOR CHELTENHAM MARKETS ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

BUY OUTLANDER on the 47.6/23.8/9.5 index (1.30 Cheltenham) for 10 points at 15
BUY BLACK HERCULES on the 47.6/23.8/9.5 index (1.30 Cheltenham) for 10 points at 14
BUY VAUTOUR on the 50/30/20/10 index (2.50 Cheltenham) for 12 points at 34
BUY AUX PTITS SOINS on the 50/30/20/10 index (3.30 Cheltenham) for 10 points at 8
BUY DOCTOR HARPER on the 50/30/20/10 (5TH = 5 FOR BUYERS) index (5.30 Cheltenham) for 10 points at 15

FROM FEBRUARY
2 Feb -275.00 (SELL 1st WEST HAM MATCH GOAL 25 points at 47)
3 Feb +116.25 (SELL CHELSEA SUPREMACY 75 points at 0.55)
6 Feb -100.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 25 points at 44)
7 Feb -735.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 51)
8 Feb -1260.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 35 points at 41)
9 Feb +245.00 (SELL 1st WEST HAM MATCH GOAL 35 points at 52)
9 Feb -455.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 77)
10 Feb -490.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 76)
13 Feb -1295.00 (SELL 1st MATCH GOAL 35 points at 40)
14 Feb +315.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 35 points at 36)
15 Feb -350.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 80)
16 Feb +175.00 (SELL 1st PSG MATCH GOAL 25 points at 46)
17 Feb -1050.00 (SELL 1st ROMA MATCH GOAL 30 points at 55)
18 Feb +0.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 77)
19 Feb -150.00 (SELL 1st EVERTON MATCH GOAL 25 points at 49)
19 Feb -750.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 75)
20 Feb +275.00 (SELL 1st CHELSEA MATCH GOAL 25 points at 46)
20 Feb +1400.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 76)
21 Feb +0.00 (SELL 1st MAN U MATCH GOAL 45 points at 37)
21 Feb +840.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 70 points at 73)
23 Feb -1270.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 70 points at 72)
25 Feb +210.00 (SELL 1st MAN U MATCH GOAL 70 points at 32)
27 Feb -1500.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 50 points at 42)
28 Feb +1200.00 (BUY 3rd MATCH GOAL 80 points at 75)
28 Feb -68.00 (BUY TOTAL MATCH GOALS 80 points at 2.85)
29 Feb +4000.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 80 points at 78)
3 Mar NO BET
4 Mar -108.00 (BUY CORNERS 40 points at 10.7)
5 Mar +570.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 30 points at 56)
6 Mar -1200 (SELL 1st MAN U MATCH GOAL 30 points at 50)
8 Mar +90.00 (SELL 1st ARSENAL MATCH GOAL 30 points at 44)
9 Mar -240.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 30 points at 68)
10 Mar +150.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 30 points at 55)
12 Mar -470.00 (BUY CORNERS 100 points at 11.7)
13 Mar -320.00 (SELL 1st WEST HAM MATCH GOAL 40 points at 60)
15 Mar +840.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)
16 Mar -65.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.