Back the Veterans at the Cheltenham Festival

Anyone who loves National Hunt racing will be counting down the days to the start of the Cheltenham Festival. This takes place between March 15 and 18 and is four days of brilliant racing with gambling opportunities galore. Who will be the big winners this year?

The Cheltenham Festival is an event full of gambling. high emotions, close finishes and champions crowned. One of the great features of racing over fences and hurdles is that old favourites keep making their return for you to bet on. It’s also a meeting that has been dominated by Irish trainers, but British trainers will be hoping for success this year.

Whereas in flat racing the top horses are often retired to stud by the time they are four or five years old, that’s not the case in National Hunt racing. Gamblers can welcome back the horses that they have had success betting on for many years.

If you are looking to bet on the Cheltenham Festival, take time to choose the right sportsbook to join according to horse.bet.

One such horse is Tiger Roll who may well be having his last race at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. The two-time Grand National winner won’t be able to be backed to win a third at Aintree next month. After the weights were announced for the race, his owner decided the amount given was just too high, so he withdrew him.

He will however be heading to Cheltenham this month. The target is a sixth win at the festival by landing the Cross Country Chase that is being run on Wednesday March 16l. Those who have bet on Tiger Roll in this race in the past are probably still counting their money. Tiger Roll is bidding to win the race for the third time and follow up his 2021 success.

Tiger Roll is now 12 years old, that just shows the difference between National Hunt and flat racing. His form this season has been disappointing but then again it was last year, and he still won gamblers plenty of money. A third Cross Country Chase for the horse that won the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham eight years ago, would have many a gambler cheering and crying at the same time.

The same would apply if Paisley Park were to win a second Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday March 17. There are so many amazing emotional stories that come out of this meeting. Paisley Park is owned by Andrew Gemmell, who has sadly been blind since birth. It was in 2019 that his horse won the Stayers’ Hurdle, and it was a memorable moment for all gamblers, even those who hadn’t backed him.

Paisley Park is 10 years old now and form had dipped. January of this year saw him take part in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham and it was another emotional afternoon. There are times when you place a bet, and it doesn’t take long for you to believe it’s a losing one. That was the case in January as Paisley Park initially refused to race and was left many lengths behind the rest of a very talented field.

A fair few gambler would have torn up their tickets. Even a commentator thought it best the horse be taken back to the paddock. However, Paisley Park began to make up ground and ended up winning the race by three-and-a-quarter lengths. Could another festival win be just around the corner?

Not since 2004 has a horse won the Cheltenham Gold Cup for a third time. That feat could be repeated this year if Al Boum Photo wins the race on Friday March 19. Those betting on this top race at Cheltenham in both 2019 and 2020 were on a winner.

Last year saw the Irish runner attempt to win for the third year in a row. However, those backing him were in for a disappointing afternoon. Al Boum Photo could only finish third this time around. It was a day to bet on the runners of Henry de Bromhead. He trained not just the winner Minella Indo but also the runner-up, A Plus Tard. He’ll be hoping for more success this year.

Betting on a third win in four years for Al Boum Photo isn’t too bad an idea though. 2022 began for this runner in a very familiar manner. Anyone going to the New Year’s Day meeting at Tramore in Ireland will be used to betting (and winning) on Al Boum Photo.

He’s won the Savills Chase for the past four years and won by four lengths this year. Traditionally it’s his only run of the season before heading to Cheltenham in March. Will history repeat itself again this year and the Willie Mullins trained runner again win the Cheltenham Gold Cup?