‘Good to soft’ is the strong favourite for the first day
Bookmakers have revealed odds on what they think the ground will be on the opening day of Cheltenham Festival, with ‘good to soft’ heavily odds-on.
‘Good to soft’ is the clear favourite at 1/4 for the first day of the Festival, followed by ‘Good’ in second favourite at 7/2.
‘Soft’ is 13/2 to be the official going at Prestbury Park on the same day that Buveur Dair takes aim at the Champion Hurdle.
Elsewhere, ‘Heavy’ is an outside shot at 10/1 to get Cheltenham underway, whilst ‘Any other’ ground is the biggest outsider at 16/1.
However, punters agree with bookmakers that it’s likely to be ‘Good to soft’, with 62% of all bets on the market.
‘Good’ is also popular with punters, accumulating 22% of all bets on what the underfoot conditions will be when the festival begins.
A small number of rogue punters have backed heavy, with 6% of all bets being placed on their being testing conditions on day 1.
Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek: “Cheltenham Festival started in the worst conditions for 36 years in 2018 after taking a battering from the ungodly weather but this season doesn't look anywhere near as bleak.
“An area of high pressure is currently entrenched over Southern Britain, with record high February temperatures possible this weekend.
“The forecast is set fair at least until the beginning of March, which will see a lot of drying out of the ground at Cheltenham with the 7/2 on offer looking rather large at this stage.
Official going on the first day of Cheltenham Festival:
Good to soft – 1/4
Good – 7/2
Soft – 13/2
Heavy - 10/1
Any other – 16/1
