Cheltenham Festival 2026 Betting: Day One

It's Cheltenham Festival week, so - as per usual - I plan to place bets on each race and share my picks and results here on the blog.

With all that said, I've decided to go in a different direction this year. I haven't bought, nor read, any of the Cheltenham Festival guides I check out in the days and weeks before the meeting. 

The new direction, for at least this year (depending on how it goes!), is to run with results from a simulation I ran with Microsoft Copilot.

I gave the AI program the information for all of today's races. It ran each horse against each other and it came away with its own order. To be frank, I was unhappy with some of its predictions. I sensed it was simply running the order by their odds. 

So, to shake things up, I requested Copilot to select one horse from each race 'using a mixture of value and sensible plays'.

Here's what it came up with:

I dislike a few of these. The one I am not keen on whatsoever is 'The Mighty Celt' to win the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. However, all of these bets are each-way, so - at 18/1 - I would  consider myself fortunate if the horse places.

All seven horses have been placed in an each-way Super Heinz.

Results

Buffalo Hunt Update: Well, I've Found My First Colt!

I had a good result, when it came to last weekend's opening of NFL Panini stickers.

Pay close attention to the left and right stickers on the top row of the image.

Upon opening Saturday's packet, I found the first Indianapolis Colts player after three-or-four weeks of trying. I don't think you can get any better than unearthing Jonathan Taylor in this 2024 set.

That's not all. 

Immediately following Taylor was Taysom Hill - one of my favourite fantasy football players because of his versatility as a tight end, running back and quarterback. 

I couldn't believe I had both of them back-to-back.

As of right now, I have yet to find a Buffalo Bills player. Kinda. You see, also in Saturday's set was Amari Cooper. He was traded from Cleveland to the Bills around the time these stickers must have been in shops. However, he is representing Cleveland on these stickers. 

Cooper has since retired.

NFL free agency begins on Wednesday. It looks like I found the Devin Lloyd sticker at the right time because he'll no longer be a Jacksonville Jaguar come 1pm ET on Wednesday. 

Unless, of course, Lloyd and the Jags make a deal.

Carlito Was Magnum

I was yesterday-years-old when I realised Jay Hernandez - star of the Magnum PI reboot series which ran from 2018 to 2024 - played Carlito Brigante in a Carlito's Way prequel movie which was released in 2005.

No, I am fully aware of the movie's existence. I wrote about it in 2008. It was only until yesterday, when I randomly came across the DVD cover I managed to make the connection.

Hernandez is the most centred face on the cover above. Below is a photo I found from him in his role of Thomas Magnum.

By the way, it has been a long time since I've seen Carlito's Way: Rise to Power. I cannot recall much about the film. However, I most importantly remember thinking I would hate it, but came away surprisingly happy with myself for not passing on it.

The original Carlito's Way, starring Al Pacino, is one of my favourite films of all time. So, that's why I was not sold on Rise to Power before I checked it out.

Cody Rhodes Regains WWE Title, Set To Face Randy Orton At WrestleMania 42

Cody Rhodes regained the Undisputed WWE Championship from Drew McIntyre on last night's episode of WWE Smackdown. 

The result seemingly sets up Rhodes defending the strap against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 in six weeks time.

It was quite a hectic story to get to Mania (if that is the match) because McIntyre beat Rhodes earlier this year. 

I had Rhodes either winning last week's Elimination Chamber match to determine the Mania challenger or to backdoor his way into the WrestleMania title match another way. And when I write 'another way', I mean not as champ.

So I was doubly wrong. Although I was right by assuming Rhodes would be in one of the major bouts for next month's big event.

I had predicted a McIntyre .vs. Rhodes .vs. Jacob Fatu triple threat match because Fatu's interference in the three stages of hell match earlier this year was what led to McIntyre snaring the title away from Rhodes.

Fatu involved himself in last night's match as well. He stopped McIntyre from using a steel chair.

I am keen to see what now becomes of Drew McIntyre.

He has a potential feud with Jacob Fatu on the horizon. However, he has been beefing with the Smackdown GM - Nick Aldis. Could Mania see the two Brits battle it out?

I'd rather see McIntyre and Fatu involved in the title match although, as of right now, it looks like WWE is running with the Rhodes .vs. Orton singles match.

There's still time. I guess.

'High Pollen Today'

I've just seen an alert on my laptop that hasn't been around for quite some time.

It's March, by the way.

I usually get the itchy eyes, runny nose and everything else associated with hay fever in May and June. Not this early.

Coming to think of it, I've just recalled having to rub my eyes when I was outside doing the recycling earlier this week. I thought to myself back then that 'not long 'til Hay Fever Season'. Little did I know it would hit sooner than even I had envisioned (with my blurry eyes). 

'BAM - It's Time..'

Even though I know when it takes place, the Cheltenham Festival always finds its way to sneak up on me. 

I suppose it could be because it's the first sporting event I care about to pop up following the Super Bowl. I find myself in the post-season lull and then - BAM - it's time for Cheltenham.

This year's meeting takes place from Tuesday 10 March through to Friday. 

I haven't done any research at all for this year. There's a reason why. That'll become clear in Tuesday's post.

Today's Task

My task, for the start of the day, has been to check out new tumble dryers and washing machines.

I'll tell you this: it's a pain in the buttocks.

I have no idea whether the ones I am looking at will be able to stack up together. And other things.

I am looking to move away from the usual brand we use for these appliances - Hoover. I'm getting to the point where I feel that I might just stick with them.

You know that saying about better the devil you know? At least I know I can stack those together!