Cheltenham Festival 2015: Three Sources of Hidden Value

One of the biggest racing festivals of the year, Cheltenham, is set to get underway on March 10th and, as ever, the fight for supremacy will be a tough one. Four days of racing will give aspiring tipsters and betting pros across Europe a chance to ante-up and boost their bankroll no less than 27 times.

As ever, the biggest events on the roster are the Championship races, but these showdowns don't necessarily offer the best value for those looking to boost their Cheltenham EV. On Day 1 the Arkle Trophy promises to steal the show thanks to Un De Sceaux and Vibrato Valtat jostling for position at the top of the betting ladder.

For many, Un De Sceaux is the clear favourite to take the honours in this hotly contested race, but outside of the top two the race for third is a much closer affair. Vautour is the third favourite by most bookmakers' standards, but there's a lot of interest in Clarcam. When checking out the latest Cheltenham Festival odds, Clarcam is priced around 10/1 and, according to many insiders, this runner represents a great each-way betting option.

Already this year Clarcam has proved he can handle hurdles with a Grade One win at Leopardstown at the close of 2014. As impressive as that win was, the more significant result from that race was the Clarcam was able to defeat Vautour in the process.

A solid win over the third favourite in the Arkle is no mean feat and while Clarcam might not have the edge over Vautour's stalemate, Un De Sceaux, the five-year-old will certainly give a good account of itself next week.

Grind Out a Profit with Carlingford Lough

   by  Paolo Camera 

Continuing the trend of looking at outsiders with great prospects, Carlingford Lough could be one to cause an upset in the Gold Cup. The eight-year-old might be passed his prime and patchy over certain jumps but there's no doubt he's a gritty horse. Not afraid of tough ground and built to grind out top three finishers, this horse could be another great each-way bet for those looking to score some value this Cheltenham Festival.

Currently priced at 10/1 with most operators but available as high as 11/1, Carlingford Lough proved he still has the talent to beat tough fields with a win in the Irish Hennessey earlier this year. Not only that, but this horse will provide AP McCoy with his last Cheltenham Gold Cup ride and that could give the pairing some added incentive come race time. Indeed, if the ground is soft and the field becomes compact during the middle stages of the race, then Carlingford Lough's determination and McCoy's famous final drive could easily push this horse into the top three.

Arctic Fire Could Blaze a Trail

   by  Carine06 

The final Cheltenham 2015 tip if you're looking for some value, or should we say "non-value", is Faugheen. The Champion Hurdle favourite is currently the runaway favourite by the bookies' standards, but his owner - Rich Ricci - believes the price is too short. Although it may be a marketing ploy to deflect attention away from his hotly tipped prospect, Ricci has gone on record as saying that The New One could pose a serious threat to Faugheen.

Although the candid owner stopped short of saying his hurdler will be beaten, his insight does suggest that there may be better value somewhere else in the market. Aside from The New One standing a real chance of taking the title, many experts are tipping Arctic Fire as a fantastic outside bet. Despite a recent run of poor form, the six-year-old showed a huge amount of talent as a youngster and this promise combined with a 14/1 price tag appears to be too much value to pass on. Each-way would certainly be a sensible bet for this race.

Cheltenham 2015 will be yet another impressive spot on the horse racing calendar and it can also be a great spot for your bankroll if you play the field correctly. Like a canny poker player seeking out the best value, Cheltenham has a slew of prospects away from the limelight that could earn you a lot of money this year. In fact, the three horses we've tipped in this article should be given serious consideration if you're planning on anteing up next week.