Cheltenham Festival Begins for Online Punters

Irish horses will be in the running in one of Britain’s most prestigious race meetings

The Cheltenham Festival begins today, Tuesday, drawing all attention around the United Kingdom and Ireland to one of the most prestigious meeting in the region’s racing calendar, and the second most valuable behind the Grand National.

Repeat Irish Success?

Ireland dominated proceedings at Cheltenham Racecourse last year, with 13 Irish-trained and 16-Irish bred nags coming away with wins. The festival is a favourite for Irish punters, and the meeting usually coincides with St. Patrick’s Day.

More than 20,000 Irish punters are expected to make the trip to England this week for a massive betting spree, and millions of euros could find their way back to the country thanks to betting success and positive publicity.

Get the Edge with Tip Advisor

William Hill Online is the only bookie to offer its customers real tips by proper punters on all UK and & Irish Horse Racing and Greyhounds through its Tip Advisor platform – and this will be available throughout the Cheltenham Festival 2012 dates of March 13-16.

If you are thinking of backing a horse, just click on the racecard and see what everyone is saying about it first. Follow and be followed and create a list of your own hand-picked punting mates. You’ll see their live comments and follow the information they provide.

William Hill Prepares

William Hill is anticipating a “perfect storm” for Cheltenham – which it said was the most hotly-anticipated week of racing for the entire year, or “The equivalent of Christmas to many grown men.”

The online bookmaker estimated around £250 million would be wagered for the entire week, enough to cover Lionel Messi’s anticipated transfer cost. It also expects one in five Cheltenham wagers to be placed via mobile betting accounts from smartphones.

William Hill is taking wagers on all the major races, including the Champion Hurdle, World Hurdle and Queen Mother Champion Chase. In addition, customers can bet on the number of repeat winners of Four Championship Races (Hurricane Fly, Sizing Europe, Big Buck’s and Long Run).

Friday’s Gold Cup will be the most popular for betting, and William Hills odds are as follows: Long Run, 6/4, Kauto Star, 7/2 Grand Crus, 6/1, Burton Port, 7/1, Midnight Chase, Synchronised, Weird Al, 12/1 Quel Esprit, 16/1, Captain Chris, 20/1, Medermit, What A Friend, 25/1, Diamond Harry, Tidal Bay, Time For Rupert, 33/1, China Rock, 40/1.