Monthly Archives: February 2020

One of the ‘golden rules’ espoused by legendary racehorse trainer Barry Hills was, ‘Never bet odds-on. If you could buy money they would sell it at a shop down the road.’ Granted that Barry Hills funded the establishment of his first training yard, South Bank Stables in Lambourn, Berkshire, with his winnings from a bet on Frankincense in the Lincoln Handicap in 1968 and in his heyday, in the Nineties, fully expected to supplement his training fees by winning £50,000, or £60,000, a year from the bookmakers, his words are worth taking seriously.

What professional punter Clive Holt dubbed the ‘glorious uncertainty’ of horse racing is what keeps bookmakers in business and the history of the sport is awash with prohibitively long odds-on chances that could have, and perhaps should have, won, but did not. Even in the real show-piece events like the Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup where prices are typically more generous due to the size of the field, favourites have been known to come a cropper. That’s why, in my view, it’s a wise move to use betting offer sites such as https://www.thebookiesoffers.co.uk/cheltenham-betting-offers to scour through some bigger odds selections and free bet offers. It’s important to try to have as much going for you as possible when you’re gambling.

When it comes to short-priced losers, the notoriously fickle racing gods are no respecters of reputation. The shortest-priced loser in the history of British racing was Royal Forest, who finished second of four, at odds of 1/25, in the Clarence House Stakes at Ascot in September, 1948, and was ridden by none other than Sir Gordon Richards, arguably the greatest jockey of all time. The previous June, at Chepstow, Sir Gordon suffered another mishap when Glendower, sent off at 1/20 in a match for the Chepstow Stakes, whipped ‘round at the start, dumping the 26-time Champion Jockey on the ground and leaving his solitary opponent, Markwell, to finish alone.

In the sphere of National Hunt racing, Jerry M, better known for winning the 1912 Grand National under Ernest ‘Ernie’ Piggott, grandfather of Lester Piggott, had earlier suffered the ignominy of being ‘turned over’ at odds of 1/20. In another match, the Open Steeplechase, at Newbury in 1909, Jerry M fell and was remounted to complete the course. Over a century later, in 2018, Tree Of Liberty, trained by Kerry Lee, equalled that unenviable record when finishing second, beaten 2½ lengths, in the three-runner Alfa Aggregate Novices’ Chase at Ludlow.

So with all of this firmly in mind, don’t always see favourites as sure things. Instead take the time to seek out value bets and combine that with the numerous betting offers that are available right now. A good starting point for this fresh approach would be the upcoming Cheltenham Festival. ‘Sure things’, like only the other day, Native River being withdrawn from the Gold Cup, can’t escape physical limitations. So get your thinking cap on instead of going for the obvious options. In the long term your banking bank may well thank you for it.

Carlisle racecourse is a right-handed thoroughbred horse racing track located at the heart of beautiful Blackwell village in Carlisle, England. It is famous for holding flat racing in the summer and National Hunt races during winter. The 2.41 kilometer racecourse is owned and managed by the Jockey Club Racecourses. It was founded in the year 1904, after being moved from another venue to its present site. On the 2nd of July 1929, the racecourse made history when it became the first British racecourse for the Totalisator Board (a betting club) to operate their betting system.

The racetrack has been holding a series of races annually, and the most notable of them all include; Carlisle Bell, Eternal Stakes and ApolloBet Mares’ Chase. Carlisle Bell was inaugurated in the year 1599, making it one of the most ancient races. It was named in relation to the bells given to the winners of the race as an award during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1. The race is run over a distance of 1,609 meters on a turf surface, and is only open to horses aged three years and above. The Eternal Stakes is scheduled for June of every year, and was first run in 2015 at Carlisle racecourse. It is open to fillies aged three years and above, racing over a total distance of 1,383 meters. Just like the Eternal Stakes, ApolloBet Mares’ Stakes was first run in the racecourse in the year 2015. It is the longest of them all, with horses covering a distance of 4,023 meters as they jump over a total of 16 fences. It takes place every November and horses aged four years and above take part in it.

Besides racing, Carlisle is also a venue for events such as conferences, seminars, exhibitions, parties and even weddings. It has a maximum capacity of 470 people with an ample parking space making it convenient and comfortable.

Can you believe that it’s already almost upon us? The clock is ticking down to the 2020 Grand National, and it barely seems 5 minutes since the previous one. Could it be that old(er) age is making the years feel shorter for me. Well existential crisis aside, let’s hope my mind and body can stand up to what’s bound to, once again, be a heart pounding and enthralling encounter. There is history in the making to be had this Grand National (with Tiger Roll going for his third Grand National victory in a row) and so that always adds an extra element of excitement into the mix. In the run up this year’s National, let’s take a look at the current favourites with bookmakers, and their claim to being up to the task.

Tiger Roll

Currently 6-1 favourite, and understandably so, this Irish bred thoroughbred takes the top table when it comes to Grand National tips. Tiger Rolls credentials go without saying and so many punters can’t see past him. Winner of the previous two Grand National races, it was inevitable that the Michael O’Leary owned horse would attempt a record breaking three in a row. It’s not often that records are broken in a race with so much history, and so it was an opportunity that couldn’t be passed up. The odds are justified based on the fact that we already know that Tiger Roll has what it takes, and its recent performances have given us no reason to believe otherwise. Trainer Gordon Elliot has now even confirmed that “all being well” the ten year old will remain in training after the Grand National, and so this may not be the Swansong that some viewed it to be. The National of course is never a formality so time will tell if it’s a record breaking effort, or a race too far.

Native River

A 12-1 shot in mid February, Native River has been there, done that and got the t-shirt (or at least the saddle!). Welsh Grand National winner in 2016, Denman Chase in 2017, 2018 and 2020 and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in 2018. The only prize missing from the endless list of accolades is however quite a notable one, The Aintree Grand National. Trained by Colin Tizzard and with £1,000,000 in earnings to his name, many had been willing Native River on to take the National. There are unknowns, he’s a great jumper but would he be able to take to the taxing National hurdles? Owner Garth Broom also sounded a word of warning recently, saying that the immediate priority for the chaser is a second Cheltenham Gold Cup win. Broom cautioned that if he pours everything into that performance, he may not have enough in the tank going forward.

As it turns out, he may have had a point about pushing his luck. As, hot off the press today, it emerged that Native River has been withdrawn from the Gold Cup due to injury (and hence the Grand National too). This season ending tendon injury is no doubt just one of the many twists and turns that we’ll see in the run up to the 2020 Grand National. This should shake up the markets.

Burrows Saint

Also at odds of 12-1 is Burrows Saint. The Irish Grand National winner has had an impressive season and his display in Fairyhouse last April more than spoke for itself as did the recent Punchestown performance. The 7 year old looks to have plenty of gas in the tank and no shortage of ability. A versatile character racing off his Irish mark of 156, there’s plenty of reasons to think Burrows Saint should be in the running. It might, though, be worth keeping your powder dry in anticipation of a prep race over the fences. Depending on his performance that may inform your betting decisions.