Advantages Of Early Cheltenham Betting On Cheltenham Races

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I’ve always been a big believer in the power of early betting for the Cheltenham Festival.

While there’s a thrill in placing a bet on the day of the race, there are some distinct advantages to getting your positions in weeks, or even months, in advance.

For me, it’s a strategic approach that can lead to better value and a much more engaging buildup to the greatest four days in jump racing.

The most compelling advantage for me is the value in the odds. In the months leading up to the Festival, the betting markets are based on reputation, potential, and early season form. This is where you can find a future superstar at a double-figure price.

Once a horse wins its key trial race in January or February, its price will collapse. By betting early, I’m effectively buying at the ground floor price before the hype train leaves the station.

Another significant benefit is the reduced competition for prices. On the day of the race, especially for the championship events, millions of pounds are poured into the betting markets. This weight of money can cause odds to shorten dramatically, even on horses that might not truly deserve it.

By betting ante-post, I’m operating in a quieter market where the odds are often more generous and less influenced by last-minute public sentiment.

Early betting also allows me to build a portfolio. I can spread my bankroll across several horses in different races, securing attractive prices on each.

This creates a situation where, by the time the Festival arrives, I have multiple bets running at prices that are simply no longer available. Even if some of my selections don’t make it to the race, the ones that do can provide a fantastic financial cushion for the week ahead.

There’s a psychological advantage, too.

Having early bets running adds a layer of narrative and personal investment to the entire jumps season. I find myself following the preparation of my ante-post picks with a keen interest, watching their every run. It turns the months of November through February into a prolonged prelude, making the sport more enjoyable and giving me a vested interest in races I might otherwise have ignored.

Of course, I’m fully aware of the risks.

The biggest one is the non-runner. If a horse I’ve backed ante-post is injured and doesn’t make it to the Festival, my stake is simply returned. I lose the potential value I had locked in, but I don’t lose the money. This is a risk I’m willing to take for the chance to secure a much larger price. I mitigate this by focusing on horses with solid profiles and by not going too early on fragile types.

For a punter like me who enjoys the strategic side of betting, the advantages of early Cheltenham betting are too significant to ignore.

It’s a approach that rewards research, patience, and a bit of courage. Securing a 20/1 ticket on a horse that starts the race at 5/2 is one of the most satisfying feelings in punting. It transforms the Festival from a four-day event into a months-long campaign, and for me, that makes the final victory, when it comes, all the sweeter.