2009 CHELTENHAM CROSS COUNTRY HANDICAP CHASE

We've got two stand-out runners in the 2009 Cross Country with L'ami and Garde Champetre both at nearly identical odds on Betfair. Currently, L'ami has the slight edge with a 4.00 payday contrasted with Garde Champetre's 4.6. We have a few other interesting runners in this one, but I really feel as though this one comes down to a battle between the two favourites. BETFAIR is our recommended place to go for Cheltenham Bets! Click here for your £25 free bet from Betfair.Dix Villez is listed at 9.2 with Wonderkid coming in at an even 12.00. Freneys Well is listed at 20 with Drombeag at 16.5 and Nadover at 17.00. In terms of the battle between the two favourites, I'm going to be backing Garde Champetre, the 10 year-old French runner owned by JP McManus. It would be the second year in a row that this horse secured a victory in this race having triumphed over Native Jack last year in an easy victory. This is compounded by the recent victory at Cheltenham over L'Ami in mid December. Although L'Ami had a victory in early February, I don't think it was against as difficult a field as this race will present and I am confident that Garde Champetre will secure the victory here. A reverse forecast between the two isn't a bad insurance bet and while this isn't one of the highest betting volume races, this year's event should go down as a classic encounter between two highly competitive stablemates.