Kauto Star And Denman Set Cheltenham Apart Proclaim Betting Analyst

Cheltenham Festival takes centre stage this week, and according to a few prominent betting and horse racing analysts, wagering activity is poised to explode. The four-day event that starts today and finishes on Friday, is an undeniable highlight of the jumps calendar.

In many respects, few events match the drama of Cheltenham. And it seems the betting experts are just as eager as the fans for the action to get underway.

Kauto Star and Denman helped spark frenzy

Over the years, Cheltenham has gained more prominence. The Gold Cup, for example, is a blue riband event, and there have been two horses inextricably linked to this race. Kauto Star, a two-time Gold Cup winner, won 23 of his 41 career races, including five King George VI Chases, before retiring in 2012.

Denman, meanwhile, stormed to a seven-length victory over his great adversary Kauto Star in the 2008 Gold Cup, and he was put to sleep in 2018. The rivalry of Kauto Star and Denman arguably sparked a greater interest in Cheltenham and sets it apart from other festivals. Those are the thoughts of Entain’s Racing Trading Director, James Knight.

Speaking to SBC News, Knight said:

“The races that really get the pulse racing are when we get two or three superstars heavyweights slugging it out.

“Probably the best example of that in my lifetime was the Kauto Star v Denman clash in the 2008 Gold Cup - punters were arguing for months about which horse would prevail, and you simply don’t get that level of engagement and excitement at other big horse racing Festivals.

"This year probably lacks a Kauto Star v Denman, but there are extremely talented horses going head-to-head for the first time.”

The ‘Olympics of horse racing’

Given the prestige of the event and calibre of horses involved, many punters will flock to the best Cheltenham betting sites to place a wager. Although the November budget has been blamed for losses experienced by notable gambling groups, including Entain, which owns Ladbrokes and Coral, Cheltenham holds a special place in the hearts of punters and operators.

Explaining the importance of Cheltenham, Fitzdares Marketing Manager, Henry Beesley, said:

“Cheltenham is always the biggest betting week of the year for us. It’s often described as the ‘Olympics of horse racing’, and for good reason.

“The combination of top-class racing, incredible atmosphere and tradition makes it unmissable. For our clients, who have historically been primarily racing fans, Cheltenham is always a highlight of the calendar, and we don’t see that changing anytime soon!”

Bettors to take advantage of offers

Free bets are part and parcel of playing at reputable UK betting sites. Bonuses come in all shapes and guises for the biggest racing events, including Cheltenham, and these can often include specials, such as whether British or Irish trainers will pick up more winners over the week.

Nevertheless, Cheltenham is always trying to reward new and existing players. James Mackie, who works as a PR Executive for Flutter, which runs several revered brands, including Sky Bet and Betfair, thinks the gamut of offers available spices things up.

He said:

“From a punting perspective, they get to take advantage of lucrative offers across the week, including superboosts, extra places on races, and our bespoke offers, which this year is ‘Get a free £10 bet when you bet £10 worth of racing multis every day of the Cheltenham Festival.

“The Cheltenham Festival offers the four busiest betting days of the year for horse racing punters and, like many, I can’t wait for the action to unfold.”