S.P.Read Esq: Cheltenham Festival Tuesday

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

They say a picture speaks a 1,000 words, well I’m not sure there is anything more intimidating than the sight of three Willie Mullins horse wagons pulling into Cheltenham.

Lined up together, in resplendent green, like army tanks ahead of the Battle Of Prestbury Park which gets under way at 1.30pm on Tuesday.

Be sure to check out the full range of markets on Star Spreads markets including a bonus Willie Mullins offer.

If your horse finishes second to a Willie Mullins trained winner Star Spreads will add 5 points to all 50 indices. (Buyers only).

If not, settle back and watch the action unfold on C4 or Racing UK – whichever takes your fancy.

A couple of months ago it looked rather Willie Mullins one-sided, it still might well be but suddenly there’s a degree of vulnerability.

Sporting brilliance can be politely applauded, but it’s vulnerability that really gets the punting juices going. However brilliant a performance in any sport, performances that are one-sided don’t do it for me. I suffered too many Steve ‘interesting’ Davis snooker wins in the 1980’s 🙁

Faugheen’s unfortunate absence from Tuesday’s featured Champion Hurdle has robbed us of the chance of seeing a defending champion strut his stuff but the race has a whole new complexion and questions are now being asked. Will the relatively late decision to switch Annie Power to the Champion Hurdle pay off ?? She saved the bookies millions by falling in the mares’ hurdle last year and is now a warm favourite for the biggest hurdle race of them all.

The race looks wide open for my money and the perfect opportunity for some each-way thievery. Nicholls Canyon’s form is rock solid and he appeals each way far more than a straight win on Annie Power does. At bigger odds, I can easily see Top Notch grabbing a share of it. He is closely matched with Identity Thief on Newcastle form but more than twice the odds. He races over the minimum distance here which I think is spot on for him.

We’ll get an early barometer on Willie Mullins with the performance of Min in the opener and the market will react one way or the other to his latest runners based on how Min runs such is the Mullins Festival factor and running on liabilities.

I can’t really have Min. He’s done absolutely nothing wrong in winning two races at Punchestown but will need to improve further to win this and whilst that is entirely likely I don’t really want to be guessing on a short priced favourite. I’m not sure he’s in the same league as the last three Mullins winners of the race Champagne Fever, Vautour and Douvan. Altior is a little more battle hardened and can start the meeting well for Nicky Henderson.

I’m not going to try and get Douvan beaten in the Arkle. He looks set to follow up Un De Sceaux’s win in the race last year.

Vroum Vroum Mag is the other short priced Mullins runner on the card in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle. She bids to give the trainer an eighth successive win in the race after the extraordinary exploits of Quevega (six wins) and Glens Melody last year who was the lucky benefactor of Annie Power’s fall.

I really can’t see any holes in her form and whilst wholly unoriginal she is my day one nap.

CLICK FOR CHELTENHAM MARKETS ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

BUY ALTIOR on the 50/30/20/10 index (1.30 Cheltenham) for 12 points at 20
BUY NICHOLS CANYON on the 50/30/20/10 index (3.30 Cheltenham) for 15 points at 16
BUY TOP NOTCH on the 50/30/20/10 index (3.30 Cheltenham) for 15 points at 8
BUY VROUM VROUM MAG on the 50/30/20/10 index (4.10 Cheltenham) for 30 points at 32

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)

• 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.