Might Bite Favourite for The Gold Cup 2018

There's plenty of talk about this year's Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup.

From the 13th - 16th March, Cheltenham, Prestbury Park, Gloucestershire, come alive with National Hunt racing of the highest order.

According to William Hill, Might Bite is favourite to win at the Cheltenham Gold Cup. With a host of Grade 1 races, punters have plenty of choice. In truth, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the pinnacle of National Hunt racing. Few races capture the attention more than this historic steeplechase. A grueling 3 miles 2 1/2f. Twenty-two fences. A helter skelter of sharp left turns. This Grade 1 race is open to horses aged five years and older.

Where is your money going?

Inaugurated in 1924, Red Splash took the spoils for trainer Fred Withington, ridden by jockey Dick Rees.

Golden Miller won this race five consecutive years (1932 - 1936). He also won the Grand National 1934.

Other exceptional talents include Best Mate who won three times (2002, 2003 & 2004) for trainer Henrietta Knight, ridden Jim Culloty in the ownership of Jim Lewis.

Kauto Star is still held in esteem by many modern punters for Paul Nicholls, ridden by Ruby Walsh. The only horse to regain his title.

Sizing John who won last year for trainer Jessica Harrington, ridden by Robbie Power. Minella Rocco and Native River finishing second and third, respectively. Sizing John is one of few horses hoping to make this consecutive wins.

This year's Gold Cup takes place on 16th March - 3:30 Cheltenham.

Might Bite could well start favourite for this year's race. Nicky Henderson has fighting chance of following in the hoof prints of Bob's Worth who won for the stable back in 2013. His leading challenger Might Bite is a nine-year-old bay gelding owned by The Knot Again Partnership. This son of Scorpion has a great profile. Five wins on the bounce, favourite on each of these contests, when backed to odds as short as 1/7f. An official rating of 169 brings added credentials. William Hill have Might Bite priced 3/1. In 2013 Bob's Worth won by seven lengths when starting 11/4f.

Sizing John, last year's winner, is likely to put down a stiff challenge.

How many favourites win?

In the last 15 years 8 favourites have won featuring a strike rate of 53%. Impressive, hey? When you consider 6 other winners have been priced less than 10/1 it proves the point that favourites hold a big advantage. The only big priced winner in the last 20 years being Lord Windermere (2014) who scramble home by a short head at odds of 20/1. In 1990, Norton's Coin made history as the biggest priced winner at 100/1, when foiling Desert Orchid from making it consecutive wins after beating Yahoo in the mud in 1989.

Conclusion: In the last 17 years a solitary horse has won at odds bigger than 8/1. If that characteristic follows suit, it could well pay to stick with the favourites. With favourites achieving a 40% strike rate in the last decade Might Bite could be a jolly punters take out their wallet to bet big.

A race to savour.

Native River for Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018

It's time to think big with the illustrious Cheltenham Festival 2018.

From the 13th - 16th March, National Hunt racing goes full speed ahead at Prestbury Park, Gloucestershire.

Lots of top-class racing with an abundance of Grade 1 races. Race fans are being spoiled this year with a card with unrivalled excitement. No other meeting comes close to this high octane betting bonanza.

Cheltenham is synonymous with betting and boy do people bet big. Money talks and there are plenty of opinions when it comes to this National Hunt meeting that gets the pulse racing. Any horse racing fan would literally kill for a ticket and be part of the Cheltenham roar.

What's your favourite race? For many, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the highlight of the National Hunt racing calendar. Run over a distance of 3 miles 2 1/2f this Grade 1 race is open to horses aged five years and older. Twenty-two fences stand between winning and losing.

There have been a number of exceptional talents who have won this race over the decades. 

Golden Miller, who won the race on five consecutive years from 1932 – 1936. It would seem near impossible in this modern era. Not to say that some of these modern-day stars haven't put their name in lights.

Three time winner - Best Mate victorious from 2002 - 2004. 

I bet these names spring to mind:

Exceptions to the rule. Kauto Star, Denman & Long Run.

Sizing John who won last year for trainer Jessica Harrington, ridden by Robbie Power. Owners, Ann and Allan Potts attaining a victory and applause of a jubilant crowd beating Minella Rocco and Native River. 

Get ready for the latest Cheltenham betting offers from all the leading bookmakers. Including:

• Paddy Power: Claim £20
• 888 Sport: Bet £10 get a £30 free bet
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The Cheltenham betting tips are warming up. Are you ready to bet big on 16th March - 3:30 Cheltenham. With bookmaker incentives like never before you really can't miss these offers.

Nicky Henderson could well have a Cheltenham to savour. His leading challenger for the Gold Cup is Might Bite. This nine-year-old bay gelding is owned by The Knot Again Partnership. This Irish-bred son of Scorpion is very much the new kid on the block compared with a number of old faces. He's unbeaten in his last five races, favourite on these starts as short as 1/7f. With an official official rating of 169, this newcomer has a profile of a class contender. Might Bite is presently price 4/1 with leading bookmakers. Henderson won the Gold Cup with Bob's Worth back in 2013? Bob's Worth started 11/4f that day and ran out a tidy seven-length victor.

This is a tough, rough, battling race that isn't for the weak or mild. Sizing John, last year's winner will see to that, coming back for more. It would be a brave punter to take on this hefty charge. He is a 6/1 shot to be a supreme consecutive winner.

One horse with true credentials is Native River, trained by Colin Tizzard. This son of Indian River finished third last year fancied to go well. A winning return, when odds-on at Newbury, beating the field with a touch of class, speaks well for this proven horse. I fancy this gelding to hit the frame at 6/1.

Other leading fancies and prices: Might Bite 4/1, Native River 6/1, Sizing John 6/1, Our Duke 8/1, Killultagh Vic 10/1, Road To Respect 10/1, Definitely Red 16/1, Minella Rocco 25/1, Total Recall 20/1, Edwulf 25/1, Blaklion 40/1, Coney Island 33/1, Cue Card 33/1, Djakadam 33/1, Outlander 33/1, Anibale Fly 40/1, Double Shift 40/1, 50/1 Bar.

The Gold Cup is a race won by many a fancied horse. Lord Windermere, who scrambled home by a short head in 2014 when 20/1. He was the biggest priced winner in the last twenty years. I wouldn't look beyond the favourites and favour Native River to put that second place to good experience come the big day.

Be lucky.

A Mighty Bite for Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018

The Cheltenham Festival is getting closer by the day.

From the 13th - 16th March, National Hunt racing goes crazy at Prestbury Park, Gloucestershire.

With a plethora of Grade 1 races, punters are spoiled for choice. Let's face it, this occasion of equine brilliance is all about winning. The Cheltenham betting experience is like no other. They say money talks and that is often the case for many victories which see an enthusiastic crowd caught up in the moment of watching some of the greatest horses making history. 

For many, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the highlight of the National Hunt racing calendar. This contest is run over a distance of 3 miles 2 1/2f. This Grade 1 race is open to horses aged five years and older. Twenty-two fences make the difference between success and failure.   

Remember the horses which made history and set the standard for others to follow. 

The likes of Golden Miller, who won the race on five consecutive years from 1932 - 1936. In this modern era, we have seen exceptions to the rule.

Best Mate - three-time winner from 2002 - 2004. 

Who could forget Kauto Star, Denman & Long Run.

Last year, it was the turn of Sizing John who won for trainer Jessica Harrington, ridden by Robbie Power. Owners, Ann and Allan Potts rejoicing the victory with a vocal crowd when defying Minella Rocco and Native River. 

Get ready for the latest Cheltenham betting offers from all the leading bookmakers. Including:

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• Betfair: Non Runner No Bet on All Cheltenham Championship Races

This years renewal sees the Cheltenham betting warming up by the day. Come the big race on 16th March - 3:30 Cheltenham will you be holding the winning betting slip? 

One trainer who has a number of leading hopes for this festival is Nicky Henderson. His leading challenger for the Gold Cup is Might Bite. This nine-year-old bay gelding is owned by The Knot Again Partnership. This Irish-bred son of Scorpion is very much a new face compared with many annual campaigners of this steeplechase. Unbeaten in his last five races, favourite on these starts as short as 1/7f. His official rating has increased with each success to 169. Can this gelding hit the headlines for Henderson like Bob's Worth back in 2013? Remember that day when he started 11/4f to run out a tidy seven-length victor.

This race has always taken some winning. With Sizing John, last year's winner, coming back for more, it would be a brave punter to not fear a number of opponents.

Other leading hope, as far as the betting is concerned, include:

Native River, trained by Colin Tizzard. This son of Indian River finished third last year when strong in the betting. He made a winning return when odds-on at Newbury beating the field with a touch of class. This looks a challenger who could go very well for each-way bettors.

In general, the Gold Cup is won by a horse fancied in the betting. It may be wise to keep that in mind. The biggest priced winner in the last twenty years being 20-1 shot Lord Windermere, who scrambled home by a short head in 2014.

Fingers crossed your bet goes well.