SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
UK bookmakers are gearing up for four days of enticing racing at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival (10-14 March), as UK Racing’s biggest event prepares to say goodbye to champion rider AP McCoy.
McCoy a Cheltenham legend with three Champion Hurdles, two Gold Cups and a Champions Chase win, will be looking to add to his festival haul for one last time. UK newspapers this weekend speculated that the Ulsterman may see + £40 million in wagers on his last Festival rides. The 2010 BBC Sports Personality is set to grab all the headlines, in what may well be remembered as ‘McCoy ‘s Farewell Festival 2015’.
Nevertheless Cheltenham remains a key week for bookmakers, and of further significance in 2015 as UK bookmakers have been hit by unfavourable football results early in the year. William Hill and Sky Bet will look to claw back betting losses made in January as all Premier League favourites won their respective matches.
2015 Festival highlights are set to include the Stan James Champion Hurdle (10 March), which will see Ruby Walsh ride fast running rookie horse Faugheen. AP McCoy is third favourite in the eight horse field with Jezki. Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase sponsored by Betway is set to be a shootout between former winner Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy.
Thursday sees AP McCoy ride his final Ryanair Chase on Uxizandre, in what has been billed as the festival’s most open race. The Festival finishes with the Betfred Gold Cup which will see legendary trainer Paul Nicholls attempt to equal a Cheltenham record of five Gold Cup wins if Silviniaco Conti comes good.
UK betting enthusiasts are set to be rewarded with added value racing offers and incentives throughout the week, in what may well be the best value Cheltenham Festival of all time.
