Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide 2023

Your Best Bet for the Cheltenham Festival!

The 2023 Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide, again written by Paul Ferguson and Guest Authors, is the complete guide to The Festival, with every fact, stat and trend covered to help you make the most informed bets throughout the best week of the year.

Last year’s guide featured gems like these:

Breeding Angles, by Jess Stafford:
FIRST TIMERS
"Another sire having a first runner at the Festival this season is Galiway, who will be represented by Willie Mullins' leading juvenile for the Triumph Hurdle, Vauban (Waldfest)."
Vauban won the Triumph Hurdle @ 6-4

The Bumper Division, by Paul Ferguson:
".....rather like last year, the top two would appear to set a very high standard."
Facile Vega beat American Mike (exacta paid £6.40)

And, ".....The Model Kingdom deserves a mention....who could be considered for Aintree or the Grade 3 at Punchestown. She quickened up stylishly at Navan and looks to possess a smart turn of foot."
The Model Kingdom won the Punchestown race @ 9-2

Banker Or Bust, by Rory Delargy (Day 4)
Concertista (Mares Chase) - BUST (unplaced 2-1F)
A Plus Tard (Gold Cup) - BANKER (won 3-1F)
Colonel Mustard (County Hurdle) - Lively Outsider (3rd @ 13-2 (available at 20-1 when going to print))

SPRING HORSES TO FOLLOW, by Paul Ferguson

DELVINO - won Gr.3 in March @ 9-2
EDWARDSTONE - won the Arkle @ 5-2
L'HOMME PRESSE - won the Brown Advisory @ 9-4
STATE MAN - won the County Hurdle @ 11-4 (available at 8-1 when going to print)

Keepin' It Fresh For Aintree, by Paul Ferguson
"The aforementioned Clan des Obeaux is certainly one of the leading lights from Ditcheat, who will be fresh ahead of his Bowl defence on day on." Clan des Obeaux won the Bowl @ 13-2

Of all Trends/Statistics, the outstanding horse for any race was SIR GERHARD (Ballymore Novices' Hurdle) thanks to his profile, being a Point-to-Point winner, a bumper winner and a Grade 1 novice hurdle winner. Available at much bigger odds at the time of publication, the Champion Bumper winner was subsequently rerouted to the Ballymore (from the Supreme) and was heavily-backed, returning @ 8-11.

Leading Contenders comments read:
SIR GERHARD
"Not a certain starter, but is likely to be considered for this. Speed is often needed to win the Ballymore and he has the right profile for this race."

Plenty more nuggets and fantastic editorial from the likes of Graham Cunningham, Sam Turner and Donn McClean..

KEY FEATURES:

• Now in its 24th year
• Extensive trends analysis of ALL 28 races
• Positive & negative trends boxes for quick and easy referencing
• Editorial from Guest authors – Graham Cunningham, Rory Delargy, Donn McClean, Jess Stafford & Sam Turner
• Detailed Analysis of the Irish challenge
• ‘Banker or Bust’ analysis of the big Festival favourites
• Exclusive Aintree preview included with Grand National analysis and race by race trends for the key races from the Aintree Grand National Festival
• Spring Horses to Follow section