2016 Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup Day Preview PT 1

After a stellar three days of betting action for the punters it appears as though the bookmakers have one last escape possible on the final day of the festival to avert what could be one of the worst Cheltenham Festivals in modern history for those behind the counter. 

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After two days at the start of the festival with plenty of favourites getting home, things were complicated even further for the bookmakers as St Paddy’s Day prompted a slew of well-backed Irish contenders putting the bookmakers to the sword. The only non-Irish winner was England’s leading hope for the Ryan Air Chase - the even money Thistlecrack. 

Heading into the final day things look a bit tougher for the bookmakers and they will be praying that Cue Card doesn’t win the Gold Cup - particularly BetFred who laid the $1,000,000 insurance that a triple crown of jumps wouldn’t be won this year but having taken the Betfair Chase, the King George and now quite possibly the Cheltenham Gold Cup - Cue Card could be the icing on the cake on a rotten few days for the bookmakers. 

The opening race is a relatively tricky puzzle as the JCB Triumph Hurdle with the betting favourites being lukewarm so this one is definitely a race to watch the markets. Zubayr trades at a best price of 9/2 as the top choice but he will have to deal with the likes of Ivanovich Gorbatov at 11/2 breathing down his neck.