S.P.Read Esq: Cheltenham Festival Friday

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

Another BOOM for the column !! A profit on Thursday of 148 points !!

CHELTENHAM SO FAR THIS WEEK: +923.00 points

I’m keeping the staking a little lower today, partly to lock in the profits and secondly (getting the disclaimer out of the way early) ….. Friday’s card looks damn difficult !!

In keeping with the (winning!) formula of the week – four trades today including, of course, the Gold Cup.

The JCB Triumph Hurdle opens up proceedings on the final day and Zubayr looks very much the one to be with. He won the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton last time out which has always been a key pointer to the Triumph.

Zubayr’s trainer Paul Nicholls has out-Mullinsed Willie Mullins by saddling five runners here and his more experienced pair of Clan Des Obeaux and Connetable should also run well but Zubayr looks to have great scope to improve further.

I could throw several potatoes at the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and still not land on the winner but I don’t want to desert Barters Hill who is unbeaten in seven starts and not exactly showing any signs of the winning run coming to an end. He battled on well to win a Grade 2 at Doncaster last time out over three miles having previously scored an impressive success in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

10 runners go to post for the Gold Cup and I could easily see an upset (of sorts) this year.

Smad Place is my idea of a win and place in the race. He finished 16 lengths adrift of Cue Card in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day but could be much better suited by the contours of Cheltenham and I think is a horse still capable of finding a little improvement. He is currently on a career high official rating of 168.

He was impressive when winning the trial race here in January – beating Many Clouds by 12 lengths and that form was given a timely boost by the runner-up romping home at Kelso last weekend.

The Foxhunter Chase has much greater interest this year with Victoria Pendleton riding Pacha Du Polder and I wish the partnership all the best but surely his stamina will come into question?

I’ll save my last bet at the meeting for the final race and a little win and place interest on Dandridge – right at the bottom of the card. He looked well-handicapped when winning at Doncaster last time out and is likely to be up with the pace from the start.

Good luck today and don’t forget to check out the Star Spreads bonus offers including a BUYERS BONUS in the Gold Cup where the SP of the winner will be added as a bonus if you buy the winner!

CLICK FOR CHELTENHAM MARKETS ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

BUY ZUBAYR on the 50/30/20/10 index (1.30 Cheltenham) for 10 points at 17
BUY BARTERS HILL on the 50/30/20/10 index (2.50 Cheltenham) for 10 points at 17
BUY SMAD PLACE on the 50/25/10 (SP ADDED IF YOU BUY WINNER. MAX £250 BONUS) index (3.30 Cheltenham) for 10 points at 12
BUY DANDRIDGE on the 50/30/20/10 (5TH = 5 FOR BUYERS) index (5.30 Cheltenham) for 10 points at 9

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)
17 Mar +148.00 (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.