Cheltenham Festival 2011

The 2011 Cheltenham Festival has some fantastic spread betting opportunities!
This year we're focussing on Extrabet.com, who have lots of great spreads -allowing you to use your racing knowledge to make a profit, often without even picking a winner!

At Extrabet.com/cheltenham they have a dedicated microsite with fixed-odds, spread betting, and casino promotions for this year's festival. There's also a lot of content there such as spread betting examples, various spread markets, and plenty of history/info on each day of Cheltenham.

These are the main spread markets being quoted and after each day's racing we'll be updating the Extrabet spread quotes. Beneath the main table we've analysed each market and given you last year's results and some useful background information to help you read the market more easily

"Festival Favourites"
A festival favourites performance index which allots points for finishing first (25 pts), second (10 pts) or third (5 pts) in the twenty-seven races over the four days. Last year's index finished at 140, which was under-performing due to the disappointing runs of favourites such as Go Native, Master Minded, Punchestowns and Kauto Star -all of whom finished out of the first three in their respective races.
This year's spread is set at 204-214, which looks a good assessment considering there are some strong favs such as Big Bucks, Quevega, Time For Rupert and Cue Card -all of whom are quite short in the market and have very strong chances.

"Number of Winning Favourites"
With 2010 yielding four winners and three 2nd places, it was a very trying Festival for all favourite followers. Things won't be any easier this time round for 'jollies' as the fields are big and yet again the competition intense. Whilst we believe that there will be plenty of favs in the frame, we would sooner be a seller at 6 rather than a buyer at 6.5 of actual winners.

"Festival Starting Prices"
If you analyse this market from a statistician's view, the Extrabet spread (330 - 345) gives you a winner's average SP of 12.5 / 1 which is a shade under last year's average winner SP of 13/1. The key to this index is the going -if the ground is heavy or bottomless then it becomes a possible test of stamina, which could allow big priced outsiders to become real contenders for the longer races. Watch the weather and for possible market moves upwards.

"Biggest Winning Starting Price"
For those old enough to recall Norton's Coin beating odds-on Desert Orchid back in the 1990 Gold Cup, you'll know that 100/1 winners do happen! As we've suggested, the going will play a huge role in whether an 'outsider' upsets the odds and breaks the 47.5 - 49 Biggest Winner SP spread.
Last year's 'outsider' was 40/1 Bumper winner Cue Card (now a short price for this year's Supreme Novice Hurdle) -so there could be a big-priced winner waiting in the wings...

"Festival Lengths"
The two biggest winning distances in last year's festival were both achieved in two mile races, so the potential is there for a thirty-length triumph in one of the 3m+ tests of stamina. In last year's 4 mile Novices' Chase, the first four finishers were 17 lengths ahead of the rest of the field -so a good chunk of the 102-110 spread could be eaten up in one race! Gold Cup day in 2009 produced in excess of 46 lengths due to the going being Good to Soft and the quality of the winners' performances.

"Biggest Winning Distance"
This market has been set at 16.5 -18 lengths, which, on first inspection may seem low considering there's been a 15+ length victory in each of the last three festivals. There could be a big one this time round -again, watch the weather and the going for clues.

"2nd to 3rd Place Lengths"
This is a tough one to call, but the beauty of this spread is that you'll be watching the battle for second place (even if you can't find the winner) and you'll have an interest in every race in the entire festival. At 107 - 117, probably better to be a seller in this market -this will ensure you start with a healthy profit on day one.

"Heads You Win"
This clue is in the title of this market -it's a 'close finish' index, with points being allotted on this basis: Dead Heat=50pts, Nose=30pts, Short Head=20pts, Head=10pts, Neck=5pts.
With the spread set at 41 -46 you will need more close finishes than last year, which yielded a mere 20 points. You need tight race finishes like the opening day of the 2009 festival where there were three necks and a short head in the first four races! Another spread where you have an interest in all 27 races, so a great one to be on board.

Now you've seen all the great markets that Extrabet are offering for this year's festival,
visit their microsite and get involved in the Cheltenham Festival spread betting action!