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Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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It’s The Day Of The Famous Cheltenham Roar

One of the greatest sporting events in the world is upon us because the 2019 Cheltenham Festival starts today. There are 28 races over the next four days in what is called the Olympics of National Hunt racing. The meeting brings together the best horses trained in Britain and Ireland in championship races over hurdles and fences and a variety of distances. There is also the champion bumper and cross country race. Fourteen of the 40 Grade 1 races this season take place at Cheltenham this week. 

There are betting markets for the leading trainer and jockey and we have already suggested Paul Nicholls is a backable price to train most winners. If he has a good week than Harry Cobden will ride several winners. He has the ride on Clan Des Obeaux in the Gold Cup and several other nice horses in the handicaps. He might have to ride at least four winners but HARRY COBDEN is the bet to be the top rider at Cheltenham at 16/1 with Coral. 

There has just been a wonderful week of Champions League football in which three of the four away teams won on the night and qualified for the quarter-finals. Two of the three winners were big outsiders to move into the last eight after the first leg of the ties. Manchester City will be hoping history does not repeat itself as they have a 3-2 lead over Schalke ahead of the home leg. However, they should join Manchester United and Tottenham in the next round after a match for which BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE is the best bet at 4/6 with Ladbrokes.    

Juventus host Atletico Madrid in the other Champions League fixture tonight but face a tough task in overturning a 2-0 defeat from the first leg. The final of the competition is being played at Atletico’s new stadium at the start of June but it won’t be a Madrid derby because Real were knocked out by Ajax last week. It could be an all-Manchester final which has never happened in any competition before. Atletico can keep things tight in Turin where UNDER 2.5 GOALS is the bet at 4/6 with Coral.   

Simon Holden Racing Club – By Simon Holden

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Firstly we said we would make Colin’s brother proud and we did  by landing an almighty plunge at Wetherby. The admirable Mare was as fit as a flea unlike some of her rivals and powered home. Plenty more where she came from at the Simon Holden Racing Club.

It was lovely to see Paddy Brennan who rode her look so happy although the smirk was wiped off his face when him and CUE CARD yet again fell in the next race. It was not a great surprise to me that Brennan got the old “Tin Tack” on the Monday and was told his services were not needed. Colin Tizzard does not come over to me as being one of the nicer chaps you will ever meet and after he received earache from the owner Brennan was always going to get the chop.

The King George and Betfair Chase wins and the fact that Brennan had relaunched CUE CARD’S career were quickly forgotten but before we weep for Paddy remember he only got the ride because Tizzard dispensed with the woeful Daryl Jacob. If young Harry Cobden ends up chewing the Haydock turf in the Betfair Chase they will either retire CUE CARD or perhaps Tizzard and the owner can toss a coin and take the ride themselves.

The curtain comes down on turf flat racing as Doncaster stage the November Handicap but we will play up our winnings by going to Wincanton for the big hurdle race. It’s the Elite Hurdle at 3pm and with heavy rain forecast it could turn into a real slog. I strongly fancy COEUR DE LION to win this and cannot believe 10/1 is available. The horse has been in great form on the flat and will be fully wound up. It proved at Sandown last season that a slog in the mud is right up his street and it’s worth a win bet.

I have some big plunges going down at Doncaster that you can still get involved with today!

Have a great punting weekend, I will be back next week I think however Colin Tizzard has asked for a meeting. In that case enjoy Andy Bells new column!

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