Cheltz Fest 2021 Behind Closed Doors ?

[Quevega]

Because they may have passed it onto 100"s of people in transit. Hopefully it'll all have eased by then anyway with the news of the vaccine. Admissions to Southmead Hospital where my wife works has dropped again to a fairly low figure which is a great sign.

Brilliant, if Southmead numbers have dropped I'm having a street party

[Lobos]

Brilliant, if Southmead numbers have dropped I'm having a street party

They've not been under any sort of real pressure this time around but the surrounding area has been in T3 the whole time. None of it makes any sense.

[Istabraq]

Yep, because that's a trade completed and both parties happy

You continue to confuse me Lobos, are you suggesting that at the point of striking other bets one or more parties aren't usually happy ?
You cannot apply different rules to what is effectively the same bet.
Ultimately your suggesting that bookies would refund/void all festival bets cannot happen unless the festival does not take place.
I know financial traders who made fortunes shorting several stocks and futures just before the pandemic started controlling our lives, no-one will be voiding their positions on the basis the world wasn't aware of corona virus....

[jonthehammer]

Because they may have passed it onto 100"s of people in transit. Hopefully it'll all have eased by then anyway with the news of the vaccine. Admissions to Southmead Hospital where my wife works has dropped again to a fairly low figure which is a great sign.

tested before they come..........problem solved again

[Nortons who]

Really glad I raised this hot potato in post 796 !

I has already thought about this a while ago and have backed the strongest looking UK contenders in most races and have recently added some UK doubles, especially the
Henderson, Nicholls, Skelton horses.

I had considered laying EA and ABP on the Exchanges but I'm wary that some of that could be unpicked, as Betfiar has in the past voided Exchange AP bets for extraordinary circumstances, irrespective that we as AP punters might have already taken those into account.

My conclusion was that, lets all hope the Irish runners can take part but as a small mitigation I am adding a few more UK doubles where the UK selections are 2nd / 3rd favourities.

it would be a great shame if the likes of EA annd probably more poignantly ABP couldn't attend the Festival but unfortunately there are precedents, eg when Istabraq was rudely prevented a 3rd win in the CH due to Foot and Mouth.

[Istabraq]

it would be a great shame if the likes of EA annd probably more poignantly ABP couldn't attend the Festival but unfortunately there are precedents, eg when Istabraq was rudely prevented a 3rd win in the CH due to Foot and Mouth.

Cruely denied a 4th win NW...

[Ballybeen]

Personally I think elite sport will continue this time during any lockdown or restrictions.

I did hear on a podcast this week, possibly the weighed in one? So was maybe Tony Calvin said he had asked what the situation would be if no Irish horses and he said he’d been told it would be refunds.

I am going to go and double check now but pretty sure i heard that this week.

[Ballybeen]

36:56 into the weighed in podcast question is asked to Tony Calvin and he says he understands it’ll be justice refunds.

[Lobos]

36:56 into the weighed in podcast question is asked to Tony Calvin and he says he understands it’ll be justice refunds.

Great news for everyone.

[Nortons who]

For info I have written to William Hill, asking formally what their ploicy will be if Irish runners are unable to attend the Festival.

[Spectre]

The complications this poses is one of a few fundamental reasons I would expect travel exceptions for the Festival if we are still in Level 4 lockdown. I don’t foresee the Irish horses staying at home. Strict arrangements are sure to be put in place. As a betting man I’d lay short odds on the Irish horses being here.

If I’m wrong I’d expect the worst situation is the bookmakers will refund bets. The don’t have to but they will. They will not want to be seen profiting from Covid, even if they can. The bad feeling, and public and Government pressure would be far worse for business than the relatively small market they have antepost. I’d be very surprised if the ante post market is particularly profitable for them anyway, and in actual fact I think Covid has caused a lot more shrewd punters to get their act together earlier with a bundle of big odds on the right horses than ever before. A break even situation by refunding bets is hardly a disaster compared to the liabilities. The upside of just raking in ante post cash just isn’t worth it in the long term. The Bookmakers already fear what the Government may do with both taxes and the levy, and I expect them to avoid playing with fire. If they do they are likely to get severely burnt.

[Jorvik]

We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on twitter, we shall fight by email and on instagram, we shall never surrender!

[Bigfish]

We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on twitter, we shall fight by email and on instagram, we shall never surrender!

Now thats fighting talk. Prepare for war.. Cry havoc and release the dogs of ante post wagers.

[Nortons who]

For info I have written to William Hill, asking formally what their ploicy will be if Irish runners are unable to attend the Festival.

For info, the response I received from William Hill.

"Thanks for your email.

As it currently stand, the rules being followed on Antepost UK & Irish horse racing is below:

6. An ante-post bet will be made void under the following circumstances:

• The race is cancelled and is not run.
• A horse is balloted out under the rules of racing.
• The race is run at an alternative venue to the one originally scheduled.
• Entries for the race are re-opened.

https://williamhill-lang.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/15310/kw/antepost

If there'll be any changes or announcements in relation to Cheltenham 2021, this will be announced on the website once we have official news regarding this."

[Faugheen_Machine]

For info, the response I received from William Hill.

"Thanks for your email.

As it currently stand, the rules being followed on Antepost UK & Irish horse racing is below:

6. An ante-post bet will be made void under the following circumstances:

• The race is cancelled and is not run.
• A horse is balloted out under the rules of racing.
• The race is run at an alternative venue to the one originally scheduled.
• Entries for the race are re-opened.

https://williamhill-lang.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/15310/kw/antepost

If there'll be any changes or announcements in relation to Cheltenham 2021, this will be announced on the website once we have official news regarding this."

I wouldn't worry about it until it happens. It's the smallest of smallest margins that they can't travel by March, imo.