Cheltenham Festival takes place from Tuesday 15th to Friday 18th March 2022
As many of you will know the Cheltenham Festival 2022 will soon be upon us and for those who follow this kind of thing, it will provide four extraordinary days of racing. The event itself features 14 Grade One races across four seven-racecards as the best horses, trainers and jockeys go head-to-head.
Ross O’Connor from MansionBet has put together a comprehensive guide to Cheltenham Festival and thought our followers might enjoy this. It contains everything you need to know about following the Runners and Riders. Ross explains in more detail how the weather and track conditions can affect the race.
Whilst we don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun, we do feel bound to say www.thegroomslist.co.uk by Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd does not wish to encourage any irresponsible betting whatsoever. Whilst the odd ‘flutter’ here and there does no harm, we would remind our followers, all betting intrinsically involves risk so gambling without limits in place and or the funds that you can comfortably afford to lose can lead to problems for the individuals and their families etc.
Please, note the authors themselves have measures in place to protect anyone from crossing the line with any gambling https://www.gamstop.co.uk/. You may also wish to take a look at https://www.begambleaware.org/ or https://www.gamcare.org.uk/
Enjoy the read, having a flutter or abstaining from a flutter
Expert predicts how weather could impact Cheltenham winner
by Ross O’Connor
As many horse racing fans gear up for this year’s racing season, the experts at MansionBet have put together a comprehensive guide to Cheltenham Festival containing everything you need to know about picking a winner. Here, Ross O’Connor from MansionBet explains in more detail how the weather and track conditions can affect the race and how you can bear this in mind on the day.
One of the UK’s most hotly anticipated horse racing events is on the horizon: the Cheltenham Festival is set to return from the 15th–18th March. And while the races will take place in the run-up to spring, there’s just no telling what the classic British weather will bring.
Whether we get clear skies and sunshine or clouds and rain, the weather could have a big impact on your day at the races — and not just your outfit choice either! The weather can quickly change the outcome of the race.
But just how can the weather impact the festival? Below, I’ll outline how the conditions of the track might change, and how you can use this knowledge to place a bet.
What is the going?
As the weather changes, so can the conditions of the track, which bookmakers call ‘the going’. Rain and high temperatures can quickly affect moisture levels in the ground, and this can impact how the horses run. Some horses are better suited to racing on damp, heavy ground, while others prefer harder, drier ground.
Shortly before the race, a steward will be sent out to test the conditions of the track, and the results of the going will be posted around the racetrack and on TurfTrax. The ground will be given one of the following grades:
- Hard: Very dry. Races rarely go ahead on a course with hard ground.
- Firm: Dry. This is not used for jump races at Cheltenham.
- Good to firm: Dry with a little moisture.
- Good: Firm with a little more moisture.
- Good to soft: Softer than good ground but not holding too much water.
- Soft: Quite damp.
- Heavy: Very damp and muddy.
You can then use this information to make a more informed decision when placing a bet. In most cases, horses who have raced well previously on a certain going will perform well again under similar conditions.
If it’s a hot day
On hot days, the ground will likely harden and the going will be quite dry. Cheltenham won’t go ahead on hard or firm ground as it can be dangerous for horses and jockeys, so stewards will add a little water to soften it up and make it safe for the races start. For this reason, even on the hottest day at Cheltenham, the ground will get no firmer than ‘good to firm’.
But, while the going won’t make much of a difference to the race in hot weather, the temperature may have an impact on the horse’s speed. Research from the University of Roehampton discovered that an increase of just 1°C can slow a horse down by an average of 0.11 km/h. So, if this year’s Cheltenham happens to be on a warm day, you may want to think about placing a bet on a lighter horse whose speed won’t be as affected.
You may also want to check the current going and bet on a horse that’s used to racing on dryer, firmer ground.
If it’s a cold day
As is often the case here in the UK, the early spring may be a little chilly, but how can this impact the races at Cheltenham? Some horses may find it more difficult to race in colder temperatures, while others are better suited to these kinds of conditions.
Whether a horse can withstand the cold depends entirely on their health, breed, and metabolism. Cold blooded horses and those from colder climates are better suited to cold weather, whereas hot blooded horses may struggle. In most cases, British racehorses are hot blooded and are not designed to race in very cold temperatures, which can slow them down. Luckily, this can be the case for most horses in the race, so the disadvantage is evened out. However, you may also want to take a look at their past performance and training conditions, as horses who are used to training in cold weather may find it easier to race.
If it’s a rainy day
Unfortunately, it’s entirely possible that a mid-March festival will see a spot of rain, and this can have an impact on the going. The more rain there is, the wetter and heavier the ground will get. In most cases, the ground will be ‘good to soft’ — often considered the perfect racing conditions at Cheltenham. This is also the fairest of the conditions as most horses like to run on this type of ground.
However, heavier rain may make the ground ‘soft’ or ‘heavy’ and some horses may find it a little more laborious to run on this type of going. In these cases, it’s best to choose a horse that has previously run well on a heavier going.
If it’s a windy day
The wind can significantly impact how fast the horses race. In some cases, it can help, in others it can slow them down — it all depends on which way the wind is blowing. Tail winds can push the horses at the back and speed them up, while headwinds will impact the leading horses head-on, slowing them down. Horses at the back will be more sheltered by headwinds and can preserve their energy, meaning they may be able to overtake once the frontrunners lose stamina. So, be sure to bear in mind the horse’s position on the racetrack when placing your bet. Even side winds can affect horses on the outside of the track that are more exposed.
How’s the weather looking so far?
At the time of writing, Cheltenham is set to see some mixed weather over the course of the festival, but things will remain favourable (Met Office). While conditions are set to be windy over the whole of the country, the strongest winds will mainly be in the North.
Temperatures in Cheltenham are predicted to be mild, with no extreme cold or heat set to impact the race. Though, you may want to check for any rain before placing your bets. However, with another few weeks left to go before the event itself, be sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast in case anything changes.
Although Cheltenham Festival takes place mid-March, there’s just no telling how the early spring weather will turn out on the day. No matter if you’re attending in person or joining online, be sure to bear the weather in mind when placing a bet.
Please gamble responsibly and within your means. For more information visit https://www.begambleaware.org/