Cheltenham Festival 2024 Megathread

I've never cheered a horse as much that I haven't backed as that.

 

Corach Rambler has just each way nudged me into profit for the week assuming I don’t get silly and lump all my balance on a sure thing someone recommends on here in the last 3 races…

 

It’s a bad day again for the bookies ….big awwwwwww

 

Can’t see beyond fav in Hunters

 

Well done sir, i've had two good ante post bets placed so far t'day, Rivier d etel in the next will be icing on the cake.

 

And there it is, all my winnings on Rivier d Etel!

 

Hope people made a profit. After all my analysis and lots of winners selected I'm only up £15. Beats losing but a tad disappointing

 

I’ve finished up but only because of the Bet365 super boosts and Langer Dan….
Have enjoyed it … thanks everyone for your posts and predictions etc

 

Escaped with a modest profit of about £80-£100 which would have been £800-£1000 if Dinoblue hadn’t crapped out at the end.

 

The cake was 5hite without the icing, sorry sir, i'll be better at Aintree. No bets nar for a month.

 

In the red to the tune of £28.77.

Worth it though for a fun four days!

 

I refer to my post a week last Sunday, KCP. In particular:

The second is that it appears that the bookies have become considerably cuter with their analytics, which is causing the search for value prices on selections to become increasingly more difficult. When the exchanges came along their effect was to make the bookies have to compete for business. These days it's rare to see on-course or off course bookies departing from the current exchange price. The bookies have in effect mingled with the market, making the search for value extremely difficult. At the same time, their terms of business have become tighter. For example, Bet365's best odds guarantee now operates only from 8am on raceday, meaning that the prices may already have contracted following 48 hour declarations. This presents difficult choices, as you don't want to 'catch a cold' by backing a subsequent lengthener without the insurance of BOG. Still, off with the doom and gloom and on with the show!

I'm finding it almost impossible at the moment. In consequence, my betting has tailed off considerably compared to former days. Don't want to sound like a sad old git, but the game has changed!

 

Have been taking Cheltenham off

Have been taking Cheltenham off work for the last 38 years.

There were 6 of them in my front room this aft.

We all agree that it is not what it used to be. Small fields, too many races and Mullins.

Had my best ever week, without going odds on. Bob Dylan always told me there was a slow train comin.

There are 37 other worse weeks to remember.

 

Glad to hear you've had a good week, Mr G. My methods are struggling at the moment. There again, it may be that I'm getting older, and too cautious!

 

First of the 4 super boosts not to come in. Desi wasn't going to lose the big race though, so still in the black for the day and we'll up for the four days by a couple of hundred.

 

Yep

 

Having worked on course with bookmakers over the years : they have Betfair / Betdaq on their screens and operate by hedging their liabilities off with them .

 

Yep - true Connor. But I also think they take their lead from the exchanges in the first place, given that the exchange markets will have been up and running from final decs time, whereas the on-course lads will price up much later. And I think the off-course bookies have way smarter analytics these days, which is affecting the availability of 'value' prices. Occasional, 'fun' punters or 'day-outers' will probably care little about all this. But it has become more difficult to bet successfully on a more frequent basis. We need an 'edge', mate!

 

Finished up in front only had 3 bets all week 2 wins and a down-the-field and all English hosses. Could have had more but who wants to back all the odds on favorites,

 

I salute your selectivity, Mr Colliers!