continued from page 1... After a superb lunch (and more champagne), some of us went to the grandstand to watch the third race. There’s nothing more breathtaking than watching the horses clear obstacles at top speeds with the famous “Cheltenham Roar” around you as the horses gallop towards the finishing line. Mark, 24 clearly read his race card, making educated decisions before placing his bet. I on the other hand took advice from anyone in a flat cap that seemed knowledgeable and passionate about a horse (that would be pretty much everyone there). As I counted my losses (by this point, I no longer owned a car!) and Mark cashed in his winnings, I spoke with Tom Gittins about what to look for in a winning race horse and making a bet.

What to look for: In a good racehorse
”There are three important factors: the horse, the trainer and the going. We had a horse of our own run today, Back On Line that really typifies what to look for in a winner: she loves to race, a great jumper, really digs deep. Because this is jump racing, you’re looking for a horse with stamina, whilst at flat racing, it’s about speed. Look for the breeding of the horse, go to the paddock, see if they look healthy, have a good coat. If the trainer is in good form like Alan King, whose runners have done well in the past week, that’s a great sign. The going is a good factor too, Cheltenham is unlike other race courses, with the hill towards the end, half goes right, half goes left, so a horse that has done Cheltenham before is a good sign.” What about the jockey? “With races going on up and down the country today, you can be sure that the jockeys here are the best, but the horse and training are the most important factors”

Advice on: Placing a bet
At this point it became clear why everyone went to Tom for betting advice: “Bet each way. It’s ultra competitive, it’s the Olympics of the horse world so bet for a horse to come in the first three. And make your own view and decision – don’t be swayed, research your horse. Follow that and you’re on your way.”

After the races were over, we went back to the Westcote Inn for supper. It was a brilliant and exciting day, and there really is a thrill of ownership!

About Betfair ROA:
BetfairClub ROA is the perfect introduction for anyone aged 18-32 interested in becoming an owner.
The club leases five horses for members to follow (Flat and jumps) and arranges stable tours and other racing-related social events throughout the season.
Membership is £199 per annum and provides the following benefits:

• Follow five Club horses running throughout the year
• Receive regular updates on the horses
• Attend Club stable visits and social events
• Gain access to exclusive BetfairClub ROA racecourse facilities on selected race days
• Obtain owners’ badges from a pool allocation when Club horses run
• Get a year's subscription to the monthly industry ‘must-read’, Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder Magazine
• Free £50 bet with Betfair

If you would like to join BetfairClub ROA phone Club Manager Tom Gittins on 01608 659988 or email betfairclubroa@roa.co.uk

What are the key races to follow?
On Tuesday, it’s the Champion Hurdle, Wednesday, Queen Mother Champion Chase, the World Hurdle on Thursday, and most importantly, Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

Spectating in Style: What to wear
Tweeds, herringbone and country style is in order here. As the jump racing season runs from October to April, the cold and wet weather doesn’t attract the top-hat and tails brigade like flat racing. For the chaps; tweed can be played with to suit your age and style. A tweed flat cap sitting on bed head hair, a pink Ralph Lauren shirt with blue decal, tweed jacket, blue jeans rolled up and Hunter Wellies gives the look of young, horse owning and money. You can look more traveled by adding an Argentinean belt (try Polistas.com) or go all English with a plain brown leather number. However you dress, an umbrella is a practical and stylish accessory to carry with you. James Smith & Sons not only have craftsmanship and heritage (established in 1830, and still owned by the same family) but will customise your umbrella to suit you.

Tweed jackets also work well with boot cut jeans, red terracotta jeans and matching tweed trousers. Your shirt shouldn’t be too town, but more country, think checks. When wearing a tie and handkerchief with tweed, avoid a matching pattern at all costs. The tie should complement the tweed and shirt (generally, a red colour with a racing motif is attractive) and the handkerchief brings it all together. For further advice, visit Cordings of Piccadilly.

Trilbies (preferably from Lock & Co.) should be darker than regular tan, and the fashion is to wear a size too small. It is unclear why this is popular – certainly larger hats are available, maybe it’s because most trilbies were handed down from father to son and have shrunk over generations.


Ladies with an attitude
Kudos to the brave ladies that wore summer dresses, heels and hats – they looked smashing. “Ladies Day” is only two years old at Cheltenham. It isn’t a tradition to dress in Ascot styles, so don’t feel compelled to do so as it was rather cold. Fur hats and Barbour jackets are really popular, but it is a look that can either send you up as a sexy fashionista or dowdy wife of a lower management city type. The trick is to maintain femininity when wearing this look, perhaps wear a smaller wax jacket over a pink shirt with jeans and brown leather boots. Zara Philips didn’t disappoint in a bold red duster jacket, black trilby, over a black sweater and trousers. Kate Middleton wore tweed well. It should be stylish, pretty and practical. Aquascutum is worth visiting for trench coat jackets worn over skirt with tights and a Mulberry bag.

Placing a bet:
Win: Single bet on one horse to come first.
Each Way: Bet on one horse to either win or come 2nd / 3rd.
Treble: Bet on 3 horses to win three different races, if one horse loses all stake is lost.
Accumulator: Similar to treble, but more than three races involved.
Forecast: Predict which horses will finish first and second in correct order.
Dual Forecast: Predict which horses will finish first and second in either order.
Tricast: Predict which horses will finish first, second and third in correct order.
Jackpot: Predict which horses will win the first 6 races, run a pool basis and payout depends on how many people are correct.
Placepot: Run on the same principles as the jackpot, but you have to predict which horses will be places.
Patent: Combine 3 horses in 3 singles, 3 doubles and 1 treble.
Yankee: 4 horses in 6 doubles, 4 trebles and a 4-horse accumulator.
Super-Yankee: 5 selections from different events: 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 four-fold accumulators, 1 five-fold accumulator
Heinz: 5 horses in 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 x 4-horse accumulators, 6 x 5-horse accumuIators, 1 x 6-horse accumulator.
Super Heinz: 7 horses in 21 doubles, 35 trebles, 35 x 4 horse accumulators, 21 x 5 horse accumulators, 7 x 6-horse accumulators, 1 x 7 horse accumulator.
Goliath: 8 horses in 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 x 4-horse accumulators, 56 x 5-horse accumulators, 28 x 6-horse accumulators, 8 x 7-horse accumulators, 1 x 8-horse accumulator.