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Stephen Harris – bettingexpert: Cheltenham Festival

Stephen-Harris-225x300We’re into the month of March, and the Cheltenham Festival is nearly upon us. So it was only right that we caught up with the resident horse racing guru at bettingexpert, Stephen Harris.

We asked him how he feels about Cheltenham, how easy (or difficult) it is to pick a race winner, and how confident he is feeling about his number 1 favourite in the Supreme Novices Hurdle:

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SBC: Hi Stephen, what does the Cheltenham Festival mean to you?

SH: These days a lot of hard work with the free bettingexpert guide to produce and update! From a punting angle I am confined to Betfair these days and it does give an opportunity to play into a much more liquid market than usual (with plenty of public money rather than just the hardened sharks giving their cash a spin).

SBC: It’s good to see you working hard! How many times have you been to Cheltenham and do you still feel the same excitement?

SH: In my twenties I went every year and stayed locally. The buzz in the betting ring was electric until the exchanges took over…with some huge players backing their opinions on both sides of the fence. The roar on Day 1 as they line up for the first race is indescribable and everyone should experience it once.

SBC: It used to be a three-day festival, but now takes place over four; is there scope for making it five days?

SH: Less is more sometimes. The handicaps have already diluted some of the quality and spread the runners more thinly. That said I could easily see the Festival running from Wednesday to Saturday eventually, with the Gold Cup taking place as the highlight of the week on the final day.

SBC: Do you think the festival has become too dominant on the racing schedule? 

SH: Yes. Horses are not running enough, avoid each other and the overall interest in the sport dwindles Monday to Friday.

SBC: For all of our readers looking forward to having a bet, how easy is it to pick a winner during the festival?

SH: It is horrifically hard and there are very few secrets by the time the meeting comes around…every angle has been mulled over and dissected to death by the media and 500 preview evenings. That said, if top class competitive racing doesn’t get the heart pumping then you are in the wrong game.

SBC: And finally, how confident are you in your #1 favourite, Min?

SH: There will be a lot of long faces if it doesn’t oblige…and the UK rivals to Willie Mullins star do all look an average bunch on balance.

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Click here to read Stephen’s Cheltenham Betting Guide and Tips.

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