I think it is safe to say most of us are going to be betting on many races this week during the Cheltenham Festival. You should also remember that there are other ways to make money from your Cheltenham knowledge that don’t necessarily require you risking money in the traditional way, or risking any money at all.

Select A Cheltenham Stable

Each year for the major events the Racing Post run their select a stable competition. This involves picking ten horses from the Festival, two of which you will nominate as bankers. The bankers will score double points. Points are scored on how well your horse finishes and what sort of sp it finishes at if it wins.

The competition can be found here Select A Stable and costs £5 to enter. There is £32, 500 up for grabs in prizes.

It is also fun to play this competition amongst work/university friends. You each pick a stable under the rules and put a nominated amount into a kitty. The best stable at the end of the Festival takes the prize pool.

OLBG Tipster Competition

There is a free tipster competition run at OLBG.co.uk that offers a number of cash prizes for various sports. All you have to do is register with the site (for free) and submit your tips whenever you see fit. OLBG run a special Cheltenham Tipster Comp over Cheltenham with £1, 000 up for grabs.

EBA Chief Of Cheltenham

Expert Betting Advice are running a tipster competition over the Cheltenham Festival with a trophy and cash going to the winner, a cash prize going to the runner up and a cash prize going to the biggest priced winner. All you have to do is pick three horses each day.

OHR Cheltenham Tipping Comp

A tip must be submitted for each race and a small prize will be awarded to the winner. This competition is more for a bit of fun and interest in each race than anything else. Click here for more details – OHR Cheltenham Festival Tipping Comp.

The overnight storms in the UK have received plenty of publicity but how will they actually affect the going for the 2008 Cheltenham Festival?

The Rain

There were varying reports of how much rain would fall but the actual amount given by the clerk of the course is 10mm. There should be another 3-4mm today and 2mm overnight.

The Wind

Wind has a drying effect on the ground so plenty more rain would be required for the 10mm so far to have full effect. If the wind continues all week then expect very dry ground by the end of the week.

The Official Going

The ground on the old course is good, good to soft in places. The ground on the new course is good to soft, good in places and the ground on the cross country course has been left as good.

The Week Ahead

So we are going to start the Festival off with good to soft ground and it should dry throughout the week. By Thursday it should definitely be riding good and it might even be verging on good to firm by Friday unless there is more rain throughout the week. Hopefully there will be enough showers to stop the clerk of the course finding it necessary to turn on the taps.

What Horses To Back

Back horses who have won at least on good to soft at the start of the week and keep an eye out for good ground horses by Friday. Horses that have only ever won in the mud are highly unlikely to be suited.