The ITV7 rolls over to a £500,000 jackpot on Friday and our Dave Smith tries to crack the game again with his race-by-race guide.
The 2021 mid-March centrepiece is here and though it will be a Festival like no other due to the lack of crowds, you can still feel part of the action by playing the ITV7.
The completely FREE game allows players to select their fancies for Cheltenham and sit back and soak up the action from Prestbury Park. And as well as the incredible prizes on offer in the ITV7 (see below), there's an extra incentive to play against fellow Sporting Life lovers as our League (SLITV7) has a £1,000 prize pot to the winner.
The competition mode begins at 4pm on March 14 - check out how to get involved and the full terms and conditions below, and pit your wits against our very own experts and tipsters in what promises to be a seriously competitive league.
ITV7 Sporting Life League - Join now!
Head to itv7.itv.com and if not already logged in to Sporting Life, sign in using the same account details, then click 'Leagues' on the top banner.
When prompted, enter 'SLITV7' to join the Sporting Life League and you will automatically be in with a chance of winning the £1,000 prize which goes to the top scorer across the entirety of the four-day Cheltenham Festival.
Friday's ITV7 tips!
There's £500,000 on offer in the free-to-play ITV7 and our Dave Smith has the guide you need for the crucial races...
13:20 Cheltenham - JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) - 2m 179y
On all form, time and visuals, ZANAHIYR is an extremely impressive animal. This son of Nathaniel won his last start in a scintillating time over in Ireland beating Boodles runner-up Saint Sam by some 7 1/2 lengths; last place that day? Jeff Kidder, the winner of the Boodles. It's exceptional form by anyone's standards and he's taken to defeat the British hope Tritonic who perhaps wasn't fully revved up on his first try over hurdles but confirmed his place at the top of this market with a powerful run around Kempton.
13:55 Cheltenham - McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race) - 2m 179yAmazingly, three trainers have won 12 of the last 17 renewals of this devilish handicap and all three have live chances. However, the selection is taken to buck that trend. YOU RAISED ME UP was declared for this race last week and connections are ebullient around his chances. He drops back into handicaps after a decent break and his low mileage is another plus. Third Time Lucki was expected to contest the Skybet Supreme but was re-routed after a below-par display in Musselbrough whilst Thyme White has claims after unseating when seemingly travelling well last time out.
14:20 Fakenham - Shereford Handicap Chase - 3m 38y
MAGIC RIVER has been knocking on the door recently and is taken to land a fairly low grade contest. He may have competition from Zee Man but Milton Harris' charge may just have the better stamina.
This looks wide open with plenty of these appearing to be crying out for the step up in trip. FAKIERA's form was given something of a boost by the run of Gaillard Du Mesnil on Wednesday. He was a staying on fourth behind Wille Mullins' charge the last day and he should come on for the extra distance. Stattler was ahead of the selection that time but he looked to be coming to the end of his run and the drying ground won't help. Adrimel represents the best home chance and he will almost certainly give his all.
15:05 Cheltenham - WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) - 3m 2f 70y
A fascinating and wide open renewal with plentiful stories, not least of which is the bid of Al Boum Photo to win for a third consecutive time. He will be given a nice tow into the race by front running Frodon and he cannot be ruled out given his record around here. The one who makes most appeal though is CHAMP after his sensational victory last year and extremely pleasing return this season over an inadequate trip. He is capable of a couple of heart stopping moments though and that's factored in. Native River was sensational around Sandown and significant rain would help him. He's maybe overlooked.
15:40 Cheltenham - St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase - 3m 2f 70y
With the absence of amateur riders, the professionals take over. There are plenty of these horses who like to be up with the pace and that could suit something getting some cover. STAND UP AND FIGHT is one such example after rallying late on when seen over in Ireland. This step up in trip will certainly suit him and he's taken to make it a 1-2 over stablemate Staker Wallace, another who may be played late.
ELIMAY looks to be another Mullins' mare with a 'bankers' chance here. She has only been defeated once under rules, to Alaho and that's convincing form in anyone's book. She's versatile ground wise, having scored on good ground and romped home against Shattered Love (who she re-opposes here) on heavy ground last time out. Magic of Light is a fine mare but this may be too short a trip so Colreevy is suggested to give the favourite most to think about.
Full Terms & Conditions
Significant conditions
- Enter the SLITV7 league to be in with a chance of winning the £1,000 cash prize
- One entry only per person
- Entries from when the league opens on 14/03/21 until 19/03/21 (final day of Cheltenham Festival)
- Free to enter
- Eligibility Restrictions apply. Further T&Cs Apply. 18+
Players
- This Promotion is open to persons aged 18 years or over, resident in the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands and Republic of Ireland. In order to ensure the security of the promotion proof of age and identity may be required before, during or after entry to the Promotion. Entry to the Promotion is free.
- If the Promoter has reasonable grounds to believe that a participant is participating in the Promotion through multiple accounts, all entries by such participant will be deemed void and the participant shall not be permitted to participate in the Promotion or receive any prizes.
- Participants are required to take part in the Promotion in their own name and any participant found to be taking part in the Promotion in the name of any other person will be disqualified.
The Promotion
- The Promoter has made the league available from 14/03/21 until 19/03/21, (the “Promotional Period”)
- In order to enter the league, participants must enter the valid code for the SLITV7 league
- One winner will be determined by whoever scores the most points over all four days of the Cheltenham Festival combined and finishes top of the SLITV7 league
- In the event of a tie, the winner will be selected by a random draw.
- Only one entry is permitted per person
- Any entries outside of the Promotional Period will be deemed invalid.
- Promoter’s staff are ineligible to win the £1,000 prize.
Winners and Entrants Verification
- The winner will be notified within 72 hours from when the SLITV7 league finishes. Once the winner is notified, they must send a screenshot of their team entry and confirm their name and date of birth. Failure to provide these details by this time will result in the prize being forfeited.
- If the winner has not responded by 17:30 on March 21 2021 or is not available to accept the Prize for any reason which is beyond the Promoter’s reasonable control, then the Promoter reserves the right not to award the Prize, or to select an alternative winner from all other entrants.
Use of the Prize
- The prize is £1,000 available for finishing top of the SLITV7 league at the end of the Cheltenham Festival 2021.
- There is no alternative to the Prize and unless agreed otherwise in writing by the Promoter the Prize is non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Once verified, the prize will be credited by bank transfer to the winner within 28 days of the winner being announced.
- The Promoter reserves the right to substitute the Prize for a prize of equivalent or greater monetary value, if this is necessary, for reasons beyond its control.
General Terms
- If any provision or part-provision of these terms and conditions are or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal and enforceable. If such modification is not possible, the relevant provision or part-provision shall be deemed deleted. Any modification to or deletion of a provision or part-provision under this clause shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of these terms and conditions.
- All Promoters General Terms and Conditions apply.
The Promoter
Promoter is Hestview Limited, 2 Wellington Place, Leeds, LS1 4AP