Graeme Rodway: 'Lots of people think this race is a lottery that should be watched rather than bet on - it's not'

Our top tipsters talk you through their Cheltenham Festival betting tactics. First up: deputy betting editor Graeme Rodway.

Does your form study or betting routine change at all during Cheltenham?

The great thing about the Cheltenham Festival is that this has been the main aim for most of the horses all season, so you don't have to worry about the possibility of runners using these races as a prep run for other ones and therefore being short of their peak. With that out of the way, you can focus purely on finding the best horse in the race rather than trying to second-guess whether this race is or isn't the plan. I suppose the long-winded answer is yes.

Do you prefer to get most/all of your bets on before the first, or go race by race?

Whether I'm at home or at the track, I always do all of my bets between 8.30am and 10am on raceday and then don't have any other bets for the remainder of the day. I find the best prices are often available in that window and it helps me keep my discipline through the meeting.

What is your view on multiples betting at Cheltenham?

I'm not really one for multiple bets personally but know plenty of people who like to do them, particularly at the festival. I've heard that bookmakers prefer laying them on horses who race on the same day and are less keen on multiples that traverse all four days. But I don't know whether that is true or just an old wives tale!

Is that different from your normal stance on them?

No. I still don't really play them myself, whether it be at Cheltenham or away from the festival. It's hard enough to find one winner, let alone trying to find three or four. Willie Mullins seems to do it regularly, though, so if I were to do a multiple at Cheltenham I'd concentrate on his runners.

What's a type of bet that everyone forgets at Cheltenham, but shouldn't?

All of the Tote bets. The Tote pools are strong for the festival and that is particularly true for the Exacta, Trifecta, Jackpot and Placepot. Most people forget about pool betting after such a long build up from an ante-post perspective, but they offer some fantastic opportunities for big wins.

Do you tend to take a breather at any point in the week?

No. There is plenty of time to take a break once the meeting has finished. These are the best four days of the year bar none and you don't want to miss any of it. Immerse yourself purely in racing and then take the week afterwards off to recharge your batteries. Enjoy every second.

You're allowed to consign one myth of Cheltenham Festival betting to the bin. Which would it be?

"Experience over the fences is key in the cross-country race." It isn't. Lots of people think this race is a lottery that should be watched rather than bet on. But the truth is it's not a lottery at all. In fact, the best horse usually wins and it has thrown up a few good ones in recent years. Delta Work won it last year coming straight out of Grade 1 company, dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll is a three-time scorer and 2020 winner Easysland had never run at Cheltenham before his victory. Class carries the best through.

Also in this series:

Keith Melrose: 'Look out for enhanced place terms that make each-way multiples particularly attractive' 

Robbie Wilders: 'Don't include short-priced favourites in extensive multiples - odds-on chances are always beaten' 

Tom Segal: 'I rarely bet each-way and prefer to back a couple in a race instead' 

Paul Kealy: 'I get involved with exactas and trifectas - you know the pools are going to be strong' 

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