The jumps season is picking up and that means that the stars of National Hunt racing are starting to re-emerge after their summer breaks.
This is an exciting time for UK horse racing betting as jumps season gets fully up and running and the long countdown to the Cheltenham Festival commences.
Now more than ever before, the focus is heavily tilted towards Cheltenham, as well as the other major spring festivals at Leopardstown, Aintree and Punchestown.
Here we will be looking at five horses that are likely to have a deep impact on the next National Hunt season and the accompanying horse racing betting.
The Power Players in Horse Racing Betting Today
At this stage in the new jumps season, with big names beginning to emerge from their slumbers, many punters will be forming their horse racing betting strategies for the months to come.
As such, we are picking out five potential superstars for this jumps season. They are Galopin Des Champs, Brighterdaysahead, Ballyburn, Teahupoo and Envoi Allen and you can find out more about them below.
1. Galopin Des Champs – Two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner
The Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs has won nine of his 13 races over fences, including the last two Gold Cups at the Cheltenham Festival. His defeats when he has completed have all been handed out by Fastorslow but Galopin Des Champs landed his second Blue Riband after that rival unseated his rider back in March at Cheltenham.
Mullins is the master at having him just right for the biggest of days. He will likely have stops at Punchestown and Leopardstown before the Cotswolds in March and he will be the one to topple back there with anyone betting on horse racing in the spring sure to be wary of the champion.
2. Brighterdaysahead – Mare to Make Amends At Cheltenham
The Gordon Elliott-trained Brighterdaysahead will have a score to settle when she returns to Prestbury Park in March. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned star was a huge favourite in the horse racing betting odds last season for the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle but she was only second behind Golden Ace. She soon atoned for that, landing the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April and has won seven of her eight races now after scoring at Down Royal on the next seasonal bow. The Mares’ Hurdle back at Cheltenham in March has been pinpointed as the major target and she could be set for Cheltenham Festival redemption when that day arrives.
She has been favourite in seven of the eight races in which she has run and has justified that billing six times. Punters planning a Cheltenham Festival acca in 2025 will be looking to Brighterdaysahead as a key performer.
3. Ballyburn – Star Turn Back for More
Ballyburn was the rising star of last season for Willie Mullins and the most talked-about horse heading to the Cheltenham Festival. There he won the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle as he pleased and he added another Grade 1 at Punchestown in April. He is easily considered one of the most exciting young horses in training now.
The debate for online betting purposes involves which way Ballyburn will go next – will he stay over hurdles or commence a season of novice chasing? Mullins has hinted it will be the latter and given he was largely campaigned over two-and-a-half-miles or more last season, the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in March is the obvious spring target.
4. Teahupoo – Elliott Star Can Stay at The Top
If consistency is the medium you most wish to judge horses on when embarking on horse racing betting online, then Teahupoo is one for the shortlist. He won the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and followed up with plenty to spare at Punchestown in May. He has won five of his seven starts since moving up in trip in late 2022 and his most recent season hinted he was an improved model with those major spring Grade 1 wins. He is still just seven years old and looks set for more major wins.
Teahupoo is a horse that likes to be fresh, so punters won’t see him running all that often. He won each of his three starts last season and got better with each outing. The staying hurdles division lacks a dominant force and this chap could be the one to fill the void ensuring he appeals as one of the most reliable horse racing betting tips for the season ahead.
5. Envoi Allen – Old Stager Clearly Not Done With
The oldest performer on our list is Envoi Allen, soon to become an 11-year-old but still a force to be reckoned with after he defeated Gerri Colombe on his seasonal comeback at Down Royal. Trainer Henry de Bromhead will be plotting a light campaign with the Cheveley Park Stud-owned star, already a Cheltenham Festival winner in the bumper, over hurdles and as a chaser. He couldn’t retain his Ryanair Chase crown last time but was a fine second to Protektorat after travelling well and it’s far from beyond logic to believe he can run another big race in the Grade 1.
He will be a decent price for that target and Envoi Allen’s ability to bounce back to his best form means he remains very much worthy of thought in the horse racing betting today.
Key Considerations When Betting on Horse Racing
The ‘formbook’ is the only place to start. This is a reference to past performances and future expectations. By studying the form of a horse’s past endeavours, punters aim to uncover clues as to what the future will hold. As with any sports betting, understanding the chances of a possible outcome is crucial and a review of the odds at Betiton is a good companion to form book study. Before we proceed, here are a few things you can expect to find at Betiton.
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Understanding Horse Racing Odds
Before betting on a sport, it’s important to understand the implications and meaning of the odds, any punter will be sure to have the horse betting odds explained before staking a bet. The odds in a horse race are essentially representative of each horse’s implied chance of winning, based on form, breeding and other factors.
Key factors that affect odds
- Previous form
- Course form
- Past performance over the distance
- Stable form
- Jockey form
Betting on UK Horse Races – What You Need to Know
There are lots of options for betting on horse racing in the UK, with the sport now subject to legal and regulatory scrutiny to ensure that punters are duly protected. All major bookmakers carry terms and conditions on their websites and customers should familiarize themselves before betting.
Responsible betting is also of paramount importance as gambling habits need to be healthy. Punters should choose a suitable amount with which to bet and stick within their limits. It’s also important not to chase losses or bet recklessly.
Choosing Reliable Sports Betting Platforms
At Betiton customers can pick and choose from all the leading markets from a wide range of racing action, including all the best of the UK and Irish action. The website is easy to navigate and every day the daily meetings from Britain and Ireland are priced up. Betiton is fully regulated for the UK and Irish markets, ensuring punters have a safe and secure betting experience that they can trust.
Why These Horses Are Transforming Horse Racing Betting
The five horses we have picked all have major end-of-season targets at the Cheltenham Festival, while they may also race at Leopardstown during the Dublin Racing Festival in February and at Aintree and Punchestown later in the spring. The ante-post markets for the major Grade 1s late in the season are constantly changing and these stars are key to that.
Trends and Shifts in Horse Racing Betting Due to Top Performers
As well as those end-of-season targets, these superstar jumpers will have targets in November and December as the Grade 1 races begin to take place in the UK and Ireland. They could be spotted at the likes of Kempton or Leopardstown during their major festive offerings. Their performances in the first half of the season will have impacts on the betting markets for those spring targets and may see them cropping up as horse racing betting tips along the way.
Top Betting Tips for Horse Racing Bettors
- Always study the formbook
- Pay attention to the form of the yard – is the trainer going well?
- Jockey bookings can be key – look for an in-form or experienced jockey, as opposed to a young claimer
- Look out for horses dropping or rising in grade – this refers to the quality of the race they are running in
- Follow the progressive horses, i.e. the ones that are improving from run-to-run and still have scope for better things
- Study the odds and make sure you are happy with the price you are getting
- Read up on some expert racing tipster advice to help your judgement
Conclusion
Each of the five horses we have selected has proven winning form at the Cheltenham Festival – the biggest stage in jumps racing. That cannot be quantified and it is a proven narrative over the years that horses that do well at Cheltenham tend to do so time and again.