Use these strategies to bet the Cheltenham Festival races

Racing with jumps is not as common in the North America as in Europe. But fans over here will get a chance to learn more about the two main jumping styles of horse racing when the important Cheltenham Festival takes place this week in the United Kingdom.

Held at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire, the meet runs from Tuesday through Friday and offers a wide variety of hurdle or chase races to bet.

Perhaps the most famous race of the week is the Cheltenham Gold Cup (G1), a chase event, and it is three miles, two furlongs and 70 yards, with 22 jumps.

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Most American readers will wonder about the difference between a hurdle and chase race. According to a Free Racing Tips guide, “A hurdle is usually made of brush and has some flexibility, making it easier for horses to complete the race.”

In contrast, fences are used for races designated as chase. Unlike the hurdle, “Fences are higher and require a horse to have a good jumping technique.”

Horses with a good jumping technique can overcome a lack of speed, as they might make up a few lengths in one jump depending on whether the leaders falter.

Another noticeable difference is the start of each race. Instead of breaking through a gate, the horses gather around in a seemingly unorganized formation and go.  

Otherwise, most of the handicapping principles relating to class, speed, pace and trip should apply. As in any flat race, each horse needs to go from one point to another before the other horses. Jumping only adds another factor to the equation.

Of course, the lack of traditional past performances hurts, but readers can browse through a website such as Sporting Life in order to access a horse’s individual records. In that data, there are also useful charts to study for each race.

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American bettors will miss the intuitive format of TimeformUS or DRF Formulator, but you're not exactly having to bet blind. Also, many graded stakes replays for jump racing are available on YouTube.

With those points in mind, here is analysis for one important race each day.

Tuesday

3.30 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (G1)

This complex race includes two-time defending champion Buveur D’Air. Yet, the money is falling more toward Apple’s Jade at the moment, as the hyped mare rides a four-race win streak coming into this race. Also gaining attention as the third choice is the undefeated six-time winner Laurina, who is also unproven.

Apple’s Jade likes to show speed, but the pace scenario does not favor her because the race includes another pacesetter in Global Citizen.

As an example of Global Citizen’s speed, the 7-year-old gelding set the table in the Unibet Christmas Hurdle (G1), which also included Buveur D’Air and Verdana Blue.

Buveur D’Air settled in second-to-last, while Verdana Blue trailed the short field. Global Citizen flaunted his speed on the lead uncontested.

But Buveur D’Air did not settle toward the back for long, as he inched his way forward in the middle stages and reached the lead by the second-to-last jump.  

Verdana Blue followed his stablemate though and tipped out for a clear run late. To the surprise of many, she also managed to mow down her stablemate for the win.

If Verdana Blue gets another pace setup, she has a chance to duplicate this performance, but the main choice here will fall toward Buveur D’Air.

Wednesday

3.30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase

No chance for a surprise in this race. The defending champion Altior comes into the Queen Mother Champion with an amazing 17-race win streak.

His lone 2019 start was fine, as he outclassed two overmatched opponents in the Matchbook Clarence House Chase (G1). If one wants to nitpick, though, Altior’s tendency to veer left on the jumps is something that is constantly pointed out.

But the habit is not affecting his ability to win.

American racing fans will also recognize Altior’s sire, High Chaparral, who won the 2002 and 2003 Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Thursday

14.50 Ryanair Chase (G1)

Bettors prefer Footpad in this contest, but he does not give off the impression of an invincible horse like Altior. His odds are hovering around a mild 3-1 to 7-2.

For an alternative, Un De Sceaux might contend for the win. The 11-year-old gelding competed in this race last year, finishing second to Balko Des Flos. The defending champion is present in this edition with questionable form entering.

More recently, Un De Sceaux gave Altior a brief challenge in the late stages of the the Tingle Creek Chase (G1) before settling for second in the end.

Un De Sceaux is a beautiful jumper who managed to match Altior stride for stride heading into the last jump. Once they hit the straightaway, Altior then picked up his momentum and put Un De Sceaux away. But the latter threw down a good race.

Bookie odds place Un De Sceaux as the fifth choice, which gives him some value. 

Friday

15.30 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (G1)

Here is the “Kentucky Derby” of the chase world.

Other handicappers are skeptical of the favorite Presenting Percy because he has only appeared once since last year, when he took the RSA Insurance Novices Chase (G1) at the three mile and 80 yard distance.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is three miles, two furlongs and 70 yards. Note that Presenting Percy won at three miles and five furlongs back in 2017, which means the extra distance should not pose a problem.

Then, Presenting Percy took the long break and reappeared on Jan. 19 in the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle (G2). It looks like this horse switches between hurdle and chase events often, and he did win the race as a warmup for the Gold Cup.

Where is the problem here?

Time to chalk out. Presenting Percy is the choice.