S.P. Read Esq: Cheltenham DAY TWO
Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to Wednesday’s second day of the CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.
Day two highlight is the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 3.30 and sees the second of the week’s uber hot-pots strut his stuff.
Altior landed the long odds-on yesterday – comfortably enough in the end but Charbel was still in front two out and it’s impossible to say how the race would have panned out but suffice to say that those who backed Altior would have seen their heart rates rise even further in the closing stages.
Douvan is likely to go off a very similar price today and might even drift slightly if Mullins fails to win the opening Neptune with one of his quartet (if you think that’s a lot he had 20 entered in the race at the four-day stage!!). There are two more races before the feature and if Mullins goes into the Champion Chase without a Festival winner it might well prompt the layers just to become that bit bolder.
Any negative vibes though should be set against the fact that Douvan is 8lb clear of his nearest rival and has had five straight wins since last year’s Arkle at odds of 1/6, 1/5, 1/6, 1/6 and 1/14 – that’s an even money acca !!!!
Two bets for me on Wednesday and I’m book-ending the card with a bet in the opener and closing bumper (conveniently leaving out the ultra-competitive 26 runner Coral Cup!).
The Harry Fry trained Neon Wolf looks a worthy favourite in the opener. His win last time out at Haydock was hugely impressive and he remains unbeaten in three starts under rules. The drying ground at Cheltenham will be faster than what he experienced at Haydock but he had previously won well on good to soft at Exeter and I’m not expecting this to be a factor.
Whatever happens with Douvan I’m hopeful that Willie Mullins will close the card with a winner. Next Destination who might upset his shorter priced stable companion Carter Mckay.
Next Destination will improve bundles for his debut Fairyhouse win.
I will look at these two on the Star Spreads indices but favour a buy of distances on the seven race card at 29.
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RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)
BUY DISTANCES for 25 points at 29 with Star Spreads
PROFIT/LOSS SINCE JAN 1 2017: LOSS 852.00 points
- 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.
