Festival Series Picks 2026
Friday March 13th bet 5 of 5
We are placing some £2.70 ew lucky 15s, so overall spend £405. We’ve had better starts to the Festival, but it was only 2020 when we had Indefatigable at 40-1 as the bet of the meeting in the Martin Pipe, so it’s not over till it’s over.
We placed our Club Bets early, but on reflection we’d probably have put Secret Squirrel in rather than Wilful based on their form with Alexei earlier this season. But we are on Wilful for the club bets. Whoa that was great timing for the Club bets!!
Selections and approximate odds below:
Cheltenham 2pm: WILFUL 11-1 drifted to 14-1 and won so well, which is the first good start we’ve had this week after the brutal interference for Mydaddypaddy in the Supreme on the opening day. Second was Sticktotheplan at 25-1 with Joyeuse at 12-1 in third with Cracking Rhapsody at 50-1 in 4th and Sinnatra at 9-2 in 5th.
Cheltenham 3.20: KING’S BUCKS 20-1 backed into 12-1 but behind a wall of horses on the bend. Johnny’s Jury at 20-1 won well from Fruits De Mer at 28-1 with The Passing Wife at 11-1 in third ahead of Mondoui’Boy at 14-1.
Cheltenham 4pm: THE JUKEBOX MAN 7-2 every chance, but faded before the last. Gaelic Warrior 11-4jf beat Jango Baie 11-4jf with Inothewayurthinkin at 8-1 in third ahead of Grey Dawning at 16-1 in 4th.
Cheltenham 4.40: PANDA BOY 5-1 backed into 4-1 and faded into 5th so just out of the places. Barton Snow at 9-2 beat fav It’s On The Linr at 7-2 with Musical Drive at 33-1 in third and Golden Son at 16-1 ahead of our lad in 4th.
Cheltenham 5.20: FIERCELY PROUD 16-1 finished 12th as Air Of Entitlement won at 10-1 from Hot Fuss at 25-1. With one winner returns on the day should be £354.24.
Thursday March 12th bet 4 of 5
With 123 memberships in this Series we have placed 3 x £2.20 ew Lucky 31s, so each costing £136.40 with an overall spend on the day of £409.20. The first four are all the same in each bet then we have two in the Cheltenham 5.20 and one with Frankali at 7-2 in the Chelmsford 6.30.
Selections and approximate odds below:
Cheltenham 1.20: LA CONQUIERE 11-1 drifted to 12-1 and lost her chance at the start. White Noise at 40-1 won well from Oldschool Outlaw at 15-2 with Place De Nation at 28-1 in third and Charme De Faust at 28-1 in 4th.
Cheltenham 2pm: SLADE STEEL 13-2 backed into 5-1jf and sadly no prizes for 6th, a couple of sticky jumps probably costing him the place. Meetmebythesea at 9-1 beat Gold Dancer at 25-1 with Regents Stroll at 5-1jf in third and King Alexander at 20-1 in 4th with Kiss Will at 11-1 in 5th ahead of our lad.
Cheltenham 3.20: MA SHANTOU 6-1 drifted to 10-1 and faded right out of it on the home turn. Home By The Lee at 33–1 beat Ballyburn at 11-2 with Bob Ollinger at 13-2 in third.
Cheltenham 4.40: BOLD ENDEAVOUR 7-1 drifted to 15-2 and ran very wide – just out of the frame we fear in 7th. Supremely West 10-3fav won well from Lavida Adiva at 22-1 with Ikarak at 40-1 in third and Letos 22-1 in 4th with Idem at 33-1 in 5th.
Cheltenham: 5.20: HERAKLES WESTWOOD 17-2/ WATERFORD WHISPERS 4-1 both gave their running and neither good enough. Ask Brewster 22-1 won just from Road To Home at 9-1 with Monbeg Genius at 18-1 in third ahead of Kim Roque at 9-2 in 4th.’
Chelmsford 6.30: FRANKALI 7-2 drifted to 6-1 and finished 10th. Another wipeout, one day to save the Series and the rain is coming, so going may well change.
Wednesday 11th March bet 3 of 5
Another £405 staked today with two selections in the first race , so a £2.70 ew Lucky 15 on the main 4 horses and £1.35 ew Lucky 15s on the two in leg1 with any three of the others
1.20 I’ll Sort That 12/1 & Sober 6/1 The first one was gamble of the race into 9-1 on the off and lost two places on the line to finish just out of the frame in 5th. King Rasko Grey at 11-1 won from Act Of Innocence at 10-1 with Zeus Power at 50-1 in third and Soldier Reeves at 150-1 just nodding our lad for 4th.
2.40 Buddy One 33/1 drifted to 40-1, but not good enough. Jingko Bay at 9-2fav won well from Fransiscan Rock at 50-1 in second with Storm Heart at 5-1 in third and Ballyadam at 40-1 in 4th ahead of Beckett Rock at 33-1.
3.20 Vanillier 8/1 into 13-2 and ran on late into third with upfront Final Orders at 7-1 beating Favori De Champdou the 2-1fav.
4.40 Vanderpoel 8/1 backed into 15-2 and ran a gallant 7th losing three places after jumping the last. Martator at 66-1 just beat Jazzy Matty at 8-1 with Break My Soul at 20-1 in third with Release The Beast 10-1 in 4th and Jasko Des Dames at 33-1 in 5th.
5.20 The Mourne Rambler 7/1 under Colin Keane won well for us at 15-2 from Met Ta Ceinture at 14-1 with Bass Hunter at 8-1 in third with Boycetown at 22-1 in 4th and Diamant Dore at 40-1 in 5th. Phew a winner at last! With Vanillier placed it’s not a disaster day. On first check returns are a slightly more respectable £280.53. We live to do battle another day. Dug The Tyre is fighting them on the beaches of Tenerife and other members are taking on the bookies on the Costa Del Cotswolds or Benidorm as it’s better known. Squirrel 🐿️ will most likely now be slightly squiffy after day two at Cheltenham. Shout out for the Racing Breaks Legends Lounge that was very civilised on the opening day.
Tuesday March 10th Bet 2 of 5
We have placed some £2.70 ew combination Lucky 15s, so overall spend on the day £405. We will post up anything we hear – either before racing, or during racing. We can’t wait for that ROAR! We know the Henderson horses are well fancied in the first three races, but that’s obvious.
Selections and approximate odds below:
Cheltenham 1.20: MYDADDYPADDY 8-1 was backed into 6-1 and an unlucky third, but Hendo’s Old Park Star at 15-8fav won from Sober Glory at 9-2.
Cheltenham 2.40: MUSTANG DU BREUIL 13-2 backed into 7-2fav, but not good enough as Saratoga at 10-1 with Winston Junior at 5-1 in second and Kylcot at 40-1 in third ahead of Pourquoi Pas Papa at 16-1 in 4th and Quinta Do Lago back in 5th.
Cheltenham 3.20: BLAZE THE WAY 16-1 shortened to 14-1, but squeezed out on bend. Johnnywho at 18-1 beat Jagwar at 3-1f with Quebecois at 10-1 in third and Blow Your Wad at 14-1 in 4th with Leave Of Absence in 5th.
Cheltenham 4pm: ALEXEI 16-1 drifted to 20-1 and made a mistake at the last when challenging, sadly just beaten into 4th as Lossiemouth at 7-5fav won with Brighterdaysahead in second and New Lion just edging our lad for third.
Cheltenham 4.40: PEAKY BOY 25-1 made a juddering mistake and lost all chance. Returns on the day with just one placed and a Rule 4 were £27.22.
Saturday March 7th Bet 1 of 5 remaining 4 Cheltenham Festival days
We are placing some £2.40 ew combination Lucky 15s, so overall spend on the day £360 – we currently have 110 memberships in on this syndicate.
Selections and approximate odds:
Sandown 1.50: WOLF WALKER 12-1 tried to make all, but faded before the last. Scorpio Rising 9-2jf won well with Get On George at 33-1 in second with Gee Force Flyer at 20-1 in third and Kala’s Cousin at 9-2nd in 4th ahead of Unknown Entity at 10-1 in 5th.
Sandown 2.27: STAR OF GUITING 20-1 drifted to 25-1 with the ground going against us and never really in with a shout. Mondo Man 5-2fav won cosily from Wreckless Eric at 11-1 with We’re Red And Blue at 12-1 in third and Messerschmitt at 50-1 in 4th ahead of Afadil at 18-1 in 5th.
Sandown 3pm: BURDS OF A FEATHER 3-1 drifted to 4-1 and withdrawn after pulling the jockey’s arms out en route to the start. Ti’Mamzel at 8-1 beat Millstatt Abbey 3-1fav with Lennon Grove at 8-1 in third.
Sandown3.35: SOUND AND FURY 13-2 drifted to 7-1 and ran wide throughout – no surprise when fading at the final fence and well beaten by Calimystic 11-5fav with Tune In A Box at 9-4 in second and Certainly Red at 50-1 in third.
Gowran 4.18: EL CHAMPO 14-1 drifted to 18-1 and was pulled up, so a wipeout on the day as Jigoro at 12-1 won from Maidenstreetprince 14-1 with Mount Frisco 10-3jf in third. Must do better at Cheltenham – Hendo fired in a treble today, so his horses are in form.
Tuesday March 10th Bet 2 of 5
Wednesday March 11th Bet 3 of 5
Thursday March 12th Bet 4 of 5
March 13th Bet 5 of 5