Londoners are keen on Andy while the north can't get enough of Yanworth. See below for a break down of the rest of the UK.
With just a day to go until the start of this year’s Cheltenham Festival, we’ve examined the numbers to see which horses have been backed in the ante-post markets in each region of the UK.
London
- Total bets placed: 17%
- Most Popular: Ballyandy 8% Yanworth 5%
Londoners have been the busiest region on Oddschecker, accounting for just over 17% of total Cheltenham ante-post bets through the site. Of those, Supreme Hurdle hopeful Ballyandy is the most popular horse with 8% of the bets. Last year’s Champion Bumper winner was an impressive winner of the Betfair Hurdle last time out and has been tipped for Festival success by our very own Andy Holding.
Second on the list is Champion Hurdle contender Yanworth. Alan King’s 7yo added the Kingwell Hurdle to his season’s haul last on his most recent outing and was the subject of heavy support from Oddschecker users off the back of that victory and is a 3/1 to be crowned this year’s Champion Hurdler.
South East
- Total bets placed: 13%
- Most Popular: Alpha Des Obeaux 9% Djakadam 6%
Close behind London in the Oddschecker pecking order is the South East who are responsible for 13% of the ante-post bets through OC. Topping the list for them is Mouse Morris’ Alpha Des Obeaux. The 7yo held multiple entries across the four days but it’s the RSA Chase where he is the shortest odds at 13/2 and 7% of bets from the South East are on the Gigginstown horse. Willie Mullins’ two-time Gold Cup runner-up Djakadam is the best of the rest with 6% of bets and is available at 4/1.
North West
- Total bets placed: 11%
- Most Popular: Native River 9% Empire of Dirt 8%
Punters in the North West are next in our list accounting for 11% of bets. Of those, 9% from the area are for Nicky Henderson's Charli Parcs who looks set to head for Friday's Triumph Hurdle. The news that Thistlecrack will miss the rest of the season will have been music to the ears of 9% of ante-post players up in the NW as they now have a favourite's chance in the Gold Cup having backed Native River.
|
Area |
Percent of ante-post bets |
|
South |
42 |
|
North |
27 |
|
Midlands |
16 |
|
Wales |
3 |
|
Ireland |
5 |
|
Scotland |
6 |
West Midlands
- Total bets placed: 10%
- Most Popular: Yorkhill 7% Djakadam 5%
Up next is the West Midlands with 10% of all ante-post bets. Leading the way for them is Willie Mullins’ JLT favourite Yorkhill with a 7% share of the bets. And it seems the West Midlands just can’t get enough of the Co Carlow trainer as his Gold Cup contender Djakadam is next in the list with 5%.
South West
- Total bets placed: 10%
- Most Popular: Neon Wolf 9% Djakadam 6%
Also with 10% of the grand total is the South West. They too are keen on Djakadam in the Gold Cup (well 6% of them are at least), but majority of their money is on Neon Wolf who’s 15/8 favourite for the Neptune Novices Hurdle.
Ireland
- Total bets placed: 5%
- Most Popular: Alpha Des Obeaux 8% Jezki 7%
With Cheltenham the second home for many an Irishman, it’s well worth a look at who they are backing this week and it’s no surprise to see that two Irish horses top the list. Alpha Des Obeaux has his fans on both sides of the Irish sea and he’s responsible for 8% of all Irish bets through Oddschecker. Not far behind is Jessica Harrington’s 2014 Champion Hurdle hero Jezki who has attracted 7% of all bets from the Irish.
And the rest:
Yorkshire
- Total bets placed: 9%
- Most Popular: Yorkhill 6% Defi Du Deuil 5%
North East
- Total bets placed: 7%
- Most Popular: Djakadam 8% Ballyandy 6%
East Midlands
- Total bets placed: 6%
- Most Popular: Melon 8% Vroum Vroum Mag 7%
Scotland
- Total bets placed: 6%
- Most Popular: On The Fringe 6% Airlie Beach 5%
Wales
- Total bets placed: 3%
- Most Popular: Moon Racer 12% West Approach 5%
East of England
- Total bets placed: 3%
- Most Popular: Native River 9% Finians Oscar 7%
