UK Horse Racing Tips

The Crabbie’s 2014 Grand National is almost upon us. On April 5, this Aintree spectacular will once again get the nation talking, tuning in and having a flutter. Whether it’s an office sweepstakes, a tip from a friend or relative who ‘wins every year’, or a horse that amazingly has the same name as your long dead parrot we can’t help but find a reason to place a bet and get involved.

There is such history to this prestigious event, it epitomises tradition. Although officially starting in 1839 many view the winner of the first ‘unofficial’ Grand National to be The Duke. Without The Duke the Grand National as we know it probably wouldn’t even exist today. Moving on to 1927, the BBC covered the event for the very first time, heralding a new era for the festival, and bringing it to an audience of millions. That year the race was won by Sprig , perhaps not a name many of us would know. That’s certainly not true of three time winner Red Rum though, two of which were back to back. Trained by Ginger McCain the staggering achievements of Red Rum took the National to new heights.

Today interest in the even is as high as ever, and this year punters may well be spurred on by the fact that last year’s winner, Auroras Encore, won at an incredible 66-1, and 130-1 on Betfair. Suited by the ground on the day and given every chance by jockey Ryan Mania , the Sue Smith trained 11 year old took first place, followed by Cappa Bleu in 2^nd at 12-1 and Teaforthree 3^rd and 10-1.

This year’s Grand National looks to be a competitive affair. Teaforthree, trained by Rebecca Curtis stands out of the crowd somewhat, which is likely why it’s currently 10-1 favourite with most bookmakers. Curtis says of the ten year old, “He is in great form and has come out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup really well.” Second favourite is the Paul Nicholls trained Tidal Bay. Along with Rocky Creek, Tidal Bay is his main hope for the National. He’s likely to be ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, a big plus as this pairing has already resulted in a win this season. For a more ambitious punt, I wouldn’t rule out Tony McCoy’s Double Seven at 33-1. Despite the odds he’s won five times this year and if the ground is good he’s in with a shot.

So, if I was forced to give a finishing order for the top four places I’d go: Teaforthree (10/1) , Tidal Bay (10/1),  Double Seven (33-1) and Same Difference (40-1) and if that pays out and you bet on it feel free to buy me a house.

We all have a mate who informs us he has ‘never lost a bet in his life’. Everything he touches turns to gold. He can do no wrong. Of course that may well be far from the truth, but some punters really do have incredible luck or perhaps even fate on their side.

1) From £0.50 to £1,000,000

In 2008, an eight horse accumulator by lucky Yorkshire based punter Fredd Craggs, 60, bagged him an astonishing £1,000,000 win. What drove his decisions resulting in this 2,000,000-1 event you may ask? Was it the form, the trainer, the jockey? No, none of these he simply went with names that he liked the sound of. So apparent no hopers racing at Sandown, Dubai and Wolverhampton with names such as “Isn’t that Lucky”, “Racer Forever” and “A Dream Come True” (you’re not joking) resulted in this lucky man winning a life changing sum of money.

2) Lightening Strikes Twice

In 2001 an unnamed manchester 50-something pocketed a staggering £500,000 from an insignificant 30p 15 event accumulator bet placed at a William Hill in Lichfield. That’s odds of 1,666,666-to-one . The bet was placed on football, cricket and rugby outcomes. Unbelievably the same man won over £150,000 in a £2.50 accumulator bet in 1999 too at the same branch. Branch manager Janet Dyke paid out on both bets. “I was happy for him last night, but at the same time, I thought ‘Oh no, not again’. She said.

3) Magnificent Seven

One of the best known and most widely publicised big wins came as Frankie Dettori remarkably rode winners in all seven of his Ascot races in 1996. A £67 accumulator places on this exact eventuality by Darren Yeats of Morecombe, Lancashire, turned that sum into over £550,000. He used the money to move house and double the size of his business which was struggling at the time. Others weren’t so lucky on the day though. One unlucky lady had 50p win bets on all seven winners, collecting £19. If she’d done a 50p accumulator instead she could’ve won tens of thousands of pounds. I wonder what the biggest win ever is resulting from a horse racing free bet ?

4) Pop Picker

15 years ago, a 40 year old man placed a £30 bet in a Ladbrokes branch in Wales. The bet largely centred on the entertainment and music industry: Cliff Richard to be knighted, U2 to say together, Eastenders to still be broadcasting as well as Neighbours and Home and Away to still be regular fixtures on UK TV. All by the year 2000. He was right on all counts and walked back into the same branch that year to collect his £200,000 in winnings.

 2013 Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly is set to return to the Cheltenham Festival next month in the bid to retain his crown and be successful in the leading 2m hurdle contest for a third time.

It has already been a record breaking season for Willie Mullins’ hurdler as he reached Grade One victory number 17 in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on his opening run of the season. That is more than any other horse in history as it beats Kauto Star and American champion John Henry’s previous best of 16.

Hurricane Fly followed that up with a win in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 27. He took on two of his Champion Hurdle contenders on that occasion in Jezki and Our Connor and came out on top by over two lengths.

The 10-year has dominated the Irish Champion Hurdle in recent years and he made it four consecutive victories in the contest last month in his final run before travelling across for the Festival in March.

Hurricane Fly is currently locked at the top end of the betting with The New One in the Betfair market for the feature on day one.

Nigel-Twiston Davies’ runner won the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle 12 months ago in emphatic style.

He returned for the new campaign with a victory at Kempton where he came up against former Champion Hurdle winner Rock on Ruby in his first test.

Last year’s leading novice picked up the International Hurdle on his second outing of the campaign, but there was defeat in the Christmas Hurdle when My Tent or Yours finished ahead of him following a tactical race at Kempton. Sam Twiston-Davies chose to take up the running in the small runner field. A mistake at the last cost him ground which was crucial in a sprint finish up to the line.

The next exciting event on the racing calendar has to be the Cheltenham Festival, taking place in March .With more prize money than any meeting bar the Grand National, excitement swirls around this prestigious occasion held in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. The show-piece of the festival is the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The four day festival starts with Champions Day on Tuesday March 11th. Don’t miss the Championship Hurdle, or the Grade 1 Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy, won last year by Simonsig. Wednesday is Ladies Day, where we have an exciting seven day card. There’s St Patrick’s Thursday to look forward to on the 13th, where we anticipate the thrilling Ladbroke’s World Hurdle (favourite Big Bucks is available at 2-1). The festival culminates with the Cheltenham Gold Cup, won in 2013 by Bobs Worth, available at 9/4 and one of the main 2014 Cheltenham tips to win this year. Silviniaco Conti second favourite at 7/2.

Terry Biddlecombe is due to be honoured at the event this time around following has sad passing on 5th January. Biddlecombe both trained winning horses at the festival – including as Gold Cup winner Best Mate – and rode an amazing nine winners as a jockey, includng, yes you guessed it, a Gold Cup winner – Woodland Venture.

Despite there being flood warnings less than 10 miles away earlier this month, Cheltenham’s clerk Simon Claisse assures us that the the show most go on stating that ‘the track is in very good shape’. Fingers crossed this will be one party the weather won’t crash. Shown live on Channel 4, this is a national hunt extravaganza not to be missed.