The Ladbrokes World Hurdle is my favourite race of the festival – a stamina test over 3m. Inglis Drever has been retired, and many punters are expecting last year’s runner-up Kasbah Bliss to triumph this year.

Even with rain forecast, Kasbah Bliss is an 11/10 chance. Francois Doumen reports him to be in good health following a stroming win in the Blue Square Hurdle at Haydock, and thinks that he will be good enough to win on soft ground.

Matt Chapman (At The Races) isn’t alone in thinking that Kasbah is a certainty. Jockey Christophe Pieux (pictured) will probably wait in the field before charging home late, so I think the odds will be bigger in-running.

Some may be concerned that he hasn’t won in 2 attempts, but he has progressed well over the flat last year. As a 7 year old he should take all the beating.

The current price is unappealing, but the in-running price will almost certainly be bigger because 4/1 Punchestowns travels very strongly.

He has won 2 from 3 starts, and had to give weight away to the talented Big Buck’s in the Cleeve Hurdle. Nicky Henderson will have him tuned up for the Festival, and he impressed in a racecourse gallop at Newbury on Sunday.

Paul Nicholls was going to be restricted to 25/1 Mobaasher, but 6/1 Big Buck’s has emerged as a popular bet. I won’t be having any more antepost bets in this race, but Big Buck’s would be a terrific each way bet if the ground is soft on Thursday. He stayed on well up the hill in the Cleeve, but had jumping problems over fences.

12/1 Fair Along has improved hugely now back to hurdles, and has a great place chance. He always runs well at Cheltenham, which is more than can be said about others.

25/1 Blazing Bailey has been placed in 2 World Hudles, and will go chasing next season.

33/1 Mighty Man will be ridden by Sam Thomas, and has been placed in 2 World Hurdles. The 9 year old was last seen in April 2007.

40/1 Lough Derg will probably go for the Coral Cup, but would still attract money in this race.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing odds for the Cheltenham Festival.

Champion Hurdle Betting

Champion Chase Betting

World Hurdle Betting

Gold Cup Betting

The Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle takes pace at Cheltenham on Saturday, and is a good form guide ahead of the World Hurdle in March. The race is off at 3.45pm and will be televised on Channel 4.

Nicky Henderson‘s Punchestowns is currently an 11/10 with Ladbrokes and will be sent off as favourite. In a slog over 3 miles on soft ground, the alarm bells are already ringing. He is a chasing type, who as form over the course and predicted going. With an odds-on favourite, you are always looking for an each way selection to fill in the places, and maybe give the jolly a scare. If Punchestowns does win, his 2/1 quote for the World Hurdle will be long gone.

4/1 Big Buck’s has emerged as a surprise contender over timber this year, because he was meant to be aimed at the Gold Cup. His jumping let him down in the Hennessy, but he won on his British hurdling debut at Cheltenham in handicap company. It remains to be seen just how good he is, but with Ruby Walsh on board, he has to be consdered.

There has been money for Blazing Bailey, now 7/1 from 10/1. He has had the misfortune to run into the great Inglis Drever several times, but may do better with the blinkers back on. He has been erratic but still retains his talent deep down.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see some money for 8/1 Fair Along. He has a brilliant record around Cheltenham, and will be ridden by the the under-rated Richard Johnson instead of the claimer Rhys Flint.

All of the above horses are exceptional but I’m still looking elsewhere for my bet. 20/1 Lough Derg is a game front-runner who completed back to back wins last weekend at Ascot. He has Cheltenham form and has the stamina to cope with the going and trip. David Pipe isn’t sure if he’ll be ready in time, so he could be declared a non-runner. Still, I’m on at 35/1 on Betfair and will cross my fingers that he runs.

I can see 25/1 No Refuge running a big race, but the bet of the weekend for me is PETTIFOUR at 33s. Nigel Twiston-Davies has had a mixed season, but still has a good 17% strike rate over timber. The trainer’s form means we are getting a brilliant price on a horse who deserves more attention. He was 5th to Punchestowns at Ascot last time out, but that can be excused after he made a mistake at the first. Perhaps he takes time to be wound up, as his January/February form reads: 11. He will be suited be the course and should relish a strong pace set by Lough Derg.

Recommendation:

3pts each way @ 33/1 Pettifour [Bluesq, 1/5 odds 1,2,3]

1/2pt win @ 25/1 Lough Derg [Ladbrokes]

bookies.com compares odds between bookmakers for antepost horse racing:

Cleeve Hurdle Betting

World Hurdle Betting

Letheby and Christopher Chase Betting

(Mudlover NOZIC looks a great bet at 11/2, William Hill)

Cheltenham Festival 2009 Betting

The feature race of tomorrow’s televised cards is the Hennessy Gold Cup, where 17 runners will each be hoping to emulate Denman‘s victory last year.

2.40 Newbury HENNESSY GOLD CUP CHASE 3m21/2f

11/2 Big Buck’s (167)

Stablemate Denman won this race last year at similar odds, and we all know what happened next. Paul Nicholls has been talking this one up for some time now, earning the horse ambitious 25/1 quotes for the Gold Cup. Even if he was to win this race, I wouldn’t be sure about backing him for the festival. Big Buck’s made a few mistakes at Aintree in his last race, and he’ll need to put in a better performance to win this. Kauto Star was hugely disappointing last weekend, meaning that the bookies are happy to push the horse out to 11/2 from 5/1.

6/1 Air Force One (168)

Reported to be in the ‘form of his life’ by trainer Charlie Mann, and should come on for his Ascot run, in which he finished 2nd to Roll Along. A decent alternative to the favourite, but you’d be happier taking the 10/1 on offer earlier this month.

7/1 Character Building (157)

A big scopey chaser, this one fills the Denman mold, who he finished 3rd to in last year’s edition. He stays well and jumps fluently and currently well fancied for the Grand National at 25/1

8/1 Island Flyer (166)

Should improve for his appearance at Wincanton and carried the ideal weight, 10 stone. No surprise to see that he has been subject to a mini gamble, and has been halved in price from 16′s.

9/1 Albertas Run (165)

Won the SunAlliance at Cheltenham last season, and I think he could well turn the tables on Big Buck’s after finishing 3rd in the same race at Aintree. The race wasn’t run to suit, but the Hennessy should have a strong gallop as the Newbury course is flat. He didn’t give a true account of himself at Carlisle this month because of the ground, but is entitled to come on for the run. AP McCoy’s ride has been supported into 9/1, a price that I’m happy to take.

14/1 Oedipe (172)

Nicky Henderson is in terrific form and Oedipe looks to have a good chance, having found 2m4f inadequate at Punchestown. Will go on any ground and shouldn’t need prep race.

16/1 Slim Pickings (160)

Perhaps he doesn’t stay the Grand National distance, so he’ll be one to keep an eye on this Saturday. Will jump well and should be tip-top after a 2m prep race at Navan. Each-way chance.

16/1 Royal County Star (160)

The Irish haven’t won this race for some time now, but Tony Martin will be hoping that a prep race at Navan has blown away the seasonal cobwebs.

18/1 High Chimes (160)

Horse has been on the upgrade but more will be required to win a top class race like this. Another that will welcome any rain before the off.

19/1 Dear Villez (160)

Won the Munster National and will love the ground. Could well run a big race for Paul Nicholls.

21/1 Snoopy Loopy (172)

Snoopy is going for the Order of Merit and was a shock winner of the Betfair Chase last week. His big price probably reflects the view that the 2 races are too close together, but don’t rule him out!

25/1 Verasi (157)

Reported to be fit and well and will welcome the forecast 5mm to 6mm rain between now and the race. Trainer gives him an each-way chance.

30/1 Knowhere (167)

Will find it difficult under top weight, but Denman defied the same penalty to win it last year. This horse is classy on his day but probably best watched. Having beaten Snoopy Loopy and Exotic Dancer last time out, I make him around a 15/1 shot.

40/1 Always Waning (163)

Likes a strong pace, but Peter Bowen is probably relying on Snoopy Loopy to get in the money. Targeting the National, in which he is 100/1 in the antepost market.

50/1 My Will

Hasn’t raced since April 2007, and jockey booking confirms that Big Buck’s is the stable’s main hope.

50/1 Madison Du Berlais (168)

Was ‘lazy’ at Ascot when beaten by Air Force One.

66/1 Monkerhostin (167)

A massive price for such an honest horse. Monkerhostin won the Bet365 Chase last season at Sandown but disappointed in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby when he made a mistake. Phillip Hobbs believes the horse will act on the ground and will like the course. Let’s hope that we aren’t discounting a big price winner after we thought 50/1 Snoopy Loopy was a massive price in the Betfair Chase last weekend.

Recommendation:

2pt each way 9/1 Albertas Run

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Cheltenham Gold Cup 2009 Betting

Grand National 2009 Betting