2023 Cheltenham Festival Special Bets Markets

With arguably the biggest week in the UK and Irish racing year ahead of us at Cheltenham next week there’ll be any number of tipsters and pundits telling you that Constitution Hill is the best horse since Arkle, Willie’s targeted this horse at X race or Henry recently went two weeks without a winner.

While such information may prove helpful it can often be profitable to look towards the specials markets at big meetings and there’s no shortage of markets available when it comes to the Cheltenham Festival.

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Prestbury Cup

The Prestbury Cup as it’s now known, or Great Britain vs. Ireland as it’s been referred to at times in the past is the trophy given to the country who send out the most winners.

In recent years with big owners like Gigginstown House Stud and Rich Ricci having most of their horses trained by the likes of Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins in Ireland this has become something of an Irish benefit.

Throw in Kenny Alexander’s love of a good mare and the Cheveley Park horses at Henry De Bromhead’s Waterford stables and it’s clear to see why Ireland are a best priced 1/12 (with Bet365 and Betfred) to win the Cup.

Skybet are offering variations on the Cup market including a handicap market, with Ireland priced at 8/13 conceding 9.5 winners to Great Britain (backable at 6/5).

There’s also correct score betting from Skybet with Ireland to beat Great Britain by 20 winners to 8 currently backable at 6/1.

That is the shortest price of the quoted prices with Any Other Score available at 9/2.

With all options quoted adding up to 28 the 9/2 would bring in the possibility of either of the French-trained horses, Cleeve Hurdle winner Gold Tweet or Hugo Merienne’s Henri Le Farceur winning Thursday’s Stayers Hurdle.

Top Jockey

The award for leading jockey is up for grabs as always with Willie Mullins’ stable jockey Paul Townend the current favourite at a best price of ½.

It’s notable that this is a win only market so there’ll be no chance of backing one each-way with Nicky Henderson’s main man Nico De Boinville currently backable at a best price of 7/1.

Perhaps a sign of the times is that the next five in the betting are all based in Ireland with those who fancy a good Festival for the De Bromhead yard and Rachael Blackmore able to take 16/1 with William Hill about her securing the top jockey award.

It’s been a long time since an amateur won the title but Patrick Mullins gets plenty of good rides off his father and is currently a best price of 40/1 while Harry Cobden, currently third in the UK Jockeys Championship is a 33/1 chance.

Top Trainer 

The top trainer price is a foregone conclusion if you believe the markets with Willie Mullins a general 1/8 chance to take the title. 

Both Gordon Elliott and Nicky Henderson are available at 8/1 with all firms betting on this contest going win only.

Outside of the trio it’s 33/1 and bigger the remainder which brings in Paul Nicholls, Henry De Bromhead and Joseph O’Brien while Dan Skelton can be backed at 100/1. 

Meeting Long Interest

There are plenty of markets that can give punters an interest through the whole meeting with Biggest Winning SP and Total Winning Distances among those. 

Most firms will be betting on those two markets with Skybet currently making 33/1 to 40/1 and 50/1 to 66/1 (both inclusive) the joint 13/8 favourites in the Biggest Winning SP stakes. 

It’s notable that the shortest winner of this market since 2015 has been 28/1 back in 2016 while the 80/1 or bigger currently available obliged 12 months ago.

Those siding with the outsiders may strike an early blow in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle with the race throwing up an 80/1 winner, three 33/1 winners, a 40/1 winner and two 25/1 winners since 2012.  

For those who fancy no upsets across the 28 races then a biggest winning SP of 22/1 or shorter is available at 14/1. 

The Total Winning Distances is always an interesting market and one that could see overs backers strike a blow early with the short-priced Constitution Hill expected to deliver a victory in the Champion Hurdle.

The Champion Hurdle features prominently with the firms in the race with the biggest winning distance market also so punters could be sitting pretty at the end of Tuesday’s action if he wins as easily as many expected. 

Request A Bet

The Request A Bet feature has become increasingly popular in sports betting, particularly football in recent years and it’s well worth asking your bookmaker for a price if not immediately available to bet on online.

Most firms will have a list or requested RAB’s already including Constitution Hill & Facile Vega to win any race for example or a selection of horses just to place.

These are relatively new in racing but with many firms now active on social media and with the various Twitter and Facebook accounts responding to punters requests almost immediately at times it’s worth asking, a RAB could even give you interest through the week with say Willie Mullins to have a winner each day or Paul Nicholls to have four or more placed horses assuming a bookmaker will price such occurrences up. 

Other Specials  

Unibet have a number of specials up including Willie Mullins to train ten or more winners, 11 or more winners and 12 or more winners while Nicky Henderson and Gordon Elliott total winners is also available.

The same firm have Any Female Winning Jockey available to back at 5/6 while it will come as no surprise to learn that handicap king JP McManus is 8/11 to be Top Owner.