Sadly, the Cheltenham Festival 2009 is behind us but we can look forward to the Spring Double starting with Aintree Festival starting on April 2 with the showpiece event the John Smiths Grand National on April 4 -  less than 3 weeks away. If you are considering having an ante post bet on the Grand National the following key trends may help. We’ve studied the profile of all horses available up to 33-1 with Ladbrokes at the time of writing, key trends to help you make considered judgements when trying to pick the winner of the world’s most famous horse race. Only 1 horse has carried...

The Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup is the most prestigous race in the National Hunt racing calendar. Reigning champion and ante-post favourite Denman was deposed by Kauto Star at the head of the market following a lacklustre return at Kempton.  There were excuses regarding fitness and an unsuitable track but our advice is to swerve Denman following his heart scare. Former champion and stablemate Kauto Star is now a best priced 2-1 withCorals but will have to defy an astonishing stat to retain his crown - horses beaten in the Gold Cup before are 1/58 since 1994! Admittedly this would rule out most of...

The Ladbrokes World Hurdle, formerly known as The Stayers Hurdle is the showpiece event for 4yr+ staying hurdlers. Inglis Drever wrote himself into the Cheltenham record books winning the event for the 3rd time last year but was the first horse older than 8 to win since 1988.  Last year’s runner-up Kasbah Bliss heads the market, best priced 6/5 with Sportingbet No 5 year old has won this event and plenty have tried so look for 6-8 year olds. The gruelling event requires horses to be fresh and the last 10 winners have raced 3 times or less during that season. Those are the only meaningful...

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the premier race for 2m Chasers featuring returning champ’ and white hot favourite Master Minded.  His only credible opponent, Voy Por Ustedes, runs in the Ryanair Chase - seemingly suited to a longer trip these days. There is only one reason to oppose Master Minded in this year’s Champion Chase - his price.  He is a best priced 1-3 with Boylesports. 10 of the last 11 winners of the Champion Chase had won a Grade 1 or Grade 2 chase in the same season which puts a line through most of this years candidates. Master Minded defied history by turning...

The Cheltenham Festival is the most eagerly awaited event in the racing calendar for National Hunt enthusiasts. The 2009 renewal is less than one week away and over the next 4 days we will preview the 4 Championship races starting with the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle. The Champion Hurdle is the blue ribband hurdle race in the racing calendar and there are good reasons to oppose red hot favourite Binocular, best priced 6-4 with Paddy Power. 9 out of the last 10 Champion Hurdlers had previously won at the Cheltenham Festival - it seems harsh to oppose Binocular on these grounds having finished...