Cheltenham Festival 2013 - the debrief

From a betting perspective, something of a curate's egg of a Festival - the favourites seemed to oblige when I took a chance and the outsiders obliged when I supported the favourite. It was ever thus.

Here are the profit / loss figures for the blog's Festival selections at recorded starting prices:

Tuesday 12th March
                                                                          RET
Dodging Bullets           9th   12/1    0.5pts EW  0.00
Zarkander                   4th     7/2        1pt WIN  0.00
Countrywide Flame     3rd   16/1    0.5pts EW  2.50
Fruity O'Rooney         5th   10/1     0.5pts EW  1.75 (layer pays 5 places)

Wednesday 13th March

Pont Alexandre          3rd    6/4F       1pt WIN  0.00
Unioniste                    4th    5/2F       1pt WIN  0.00
Milord                         4th   16/1      0.5EW       2.50
Sgt Reckless              13th   8/1         1pt WIN  0.00

Thursday 14 March

Dynaste                    2nd  11/8F       1pt WIN  0.00
Ely Brown                 6th   20/1       0.5EW       0.00
Cue Card                  1st     7/2          1pt WIN 4.50
Oscar Whisky           PU     9/4F        1pt WIN 0.00
Hunt Ball                   4th     8/1         0.5EW    1.40 (Rule 4 10% deduction)

Friday 15 March

Long Run                 3rd     7/2           1pt WIN 0.00
The Giant Bolster     4th    16/1         0.5EW    0.00

Total outlay:  15pts
Total returns: 12.65pts
Profit/loss:     -2.35pts
Win strike rate: 6.67%
Loss as % of turnover: 15.67%

An honourable mention must go to Ely Brown (20/1) who ran a fine race in Thursday's Pertemps Final but faded out of the placings up the famous Cheltenham hill.

For the future:The New One following his victory in the Neptune.

Ride of the week: Liam Treadwell on the front-running Carrickboy who obliged at 50/1 in Thursday's Byrne Group Plate.
  
Quote of the week, courtesy of Channel 4's Simon Holt: 'Sprinter Sacre - a steeplechaser from the gods.'

Upset of the week: 20/1 shot Oscar Delta's unseating of 18 year-old amateur Jane Mangan when appearing to have Friday's Foxhunter Chase in safe-keeping. Form book reads: '3 lengths clear last, staying on looked in command when jinked left and unseated rider flat.'

And finally spare a thought this evening for J.T. McNamara who remains in an induced coma following his fall from Galaxy Rock in Thursday's Kim Muir.