Cheltenham Festival tips: Who to back, according to which Premier League team you follow
Thursday 12 March 2015 22:39, UK
Everyone is after a tip for the Cheltenham Festival, which kicks off on Tuesday, but deciding which one to trust is a tricky business. Not any more! Lewis Jones has simplified the process to tell you who to back, based on which football team you support...
CHELSEA fans should back DON POLI (RSA Chase, Wednesday: Sky Bet Odds 9/4): A ruthless machine that isn’t flashy or flamboyant, but will stay all day and achieve champion status.
MAN CITY fans should back BOBS WORTH (Gold Cup, Friday: Sky Bet Odds 14/1): Getting on a bit and has flopped on the big stage this season, but well capable on his day of beating anyone.
ARSENAL fans should back SPRINTER SACRE (Champion Chase, Wednesday: Sky Bet Odds 3/1): Elegant, graceful and at times unbeatable, but his heart has been questioned.
MAN UTD fans should back HURRICANE FLY (Champion Hurdle, Tuesday: Sky Bet Odds 8/1): A former great and multiple champion that has had his nose blooded in recent years at Cheltenham. Write him off at your peril.
LIVERPOOL fans should back UN DE SCEAUX (Racing Post Arkle, Tuesday: Sky Bet Odds 4/7): Flamboyant, free-flowing and breathtaking to watch. Likes to go hard from the front, but could fold in the final furlong.
TOTTENHAM fans should back VAUTOUR (JLT Novices Chase, Thursday: Sky Bet Odds 2/1): Had his ups and downs this season but packs a powerful punch on his day. However, his inexperience may prove costly.
SOUTHAMPTON fans should back BELTOR (Triumph Hurdle, Friday: Sky Bet Odds 7/1): Mixing it with the big boys from comparatively small surroundings. Youthful, full of beans and with a talented man in his corner.
EVERTON fans should back ZARKANDAR (World Hurdle, Thursday: Sky Bet Odds 9/1): A highly-rated beast that only wins races in Europe these days. Needs to snap a losing domestic run of seven races.
STOKE fans should back REVE DE SIVOLA (World Hurdle, Thursday: Sky Bet Odds 18/1): A solid bet to run his race despite regularly slipping under the radar. When others are all over the place, he is organised and knows how to battle.
WEST HAM fans should back CHAMPAGNE FEVER (Champion Chase, Wednesday: Sky Bet Odds 5/1): Tactics. Tactics. Tactics. It’s all that’s discussed when this horse is in town at Cheltenham.
CRYSTAL PALACE fans should back SIRE DE GRUGY (Champion Chase, Wednesday: Sky Bet Odds 3/1): Roared on by fanatical supporters waving red and blue scarves, this fella, who is owned by Palace fans, has improved as the season has gone on.
SWANSEA fans should back THE YOUNG MASTER (RSA Chase, Wednesday: Sky Bet Odds 7/1): Started at the bottom (beaten off a mark of 94 over hurdles) but progressed impressively through the ranks and now finds himself at the top table.
NEWCASTLE fans should back BOSTON BOB (Ryanair Chase, Thursday: Sky Bet Odds 12/1): Much is expected but winning a major race in the UK has been beyond him so far. Usually splits opinion and chaos isn’t too far away.
ASTON VILLA fans should back FAYETTE COUNTY (Martin Pipe Handicap, Friday: Sky Bet Odds 25/1): Full of talent but yet to display it. However, a man named Tim is back in form and is capable of lighting a fire in his belly.
WEST BROM fans should back HOLYWELL (Gold Cup, Friday: Sky Bet Odds 10/1): Short of pace but full of heart. Started the season in reverse but has been revitalised at just the right time.
HULL fans should back VERY WOOD (National Hunt Chase, Tuesday: Sky Bet Odds 4/1): Enduring second-season syndrome after tasting success at the Cheltenham Festival last year but flopping on two occasions this season.
SUNDERLAND fans should back PTIT ZIG (JLT Novices Chase, Thursday: Sky Bet Odds 4/1): Apparently too good to go down but fell last time out at Ascot. Talented, but questions to answer.
QPR fans should back UN TEMPS POUR TOUT (World Hurdle, Thursday: Sky Bet Odds 12/1): A horse that cost a whopping £450,000 at the sales but who has yet to deliver on his bulky price tag. Bleeding his well-meaning owners of hard cash.
BURNLEY fans should back THE NEW ONE (Champion Hurdle, Tuesday: Sky Bet Odds 3/1): Everyone’s favourite horse, who is likely to come up just short in the big one.
LEICESTER fans should back COLBERT STATION (Kim Muir, Thursday: Sky Bet Odds 25/1): Trained by a man who doesn’t mind to rattle a few cages, this horse has a fighting chance of victory despite his massive odds.
