Sports

Traders Change Prices for Cheltenham After Latest Action

Published

5 years ago

February 13, 2020

The Cheltenham Festival, slated to take place from Tuesday, March 10 to Friday, March 13, is one of the most eagerly awaited horse racing events on the National Hunt racing calendar in the UK. Each day will feature 7 races, with the first starting at 1.30pm GMT, and the last race taking place at 5.30pm GMT.

Punters closely monitoring the racers in the next few weeks and are set to bet on Cheltenham guide bookies the world over. And based on the latest race results traders are scrambling to change their prices on the favorites for the Cheltenham Festival.

The Gold Cup

This race is jump-racing’s Blue Riband, and it the finale for the Cheltenham Festival. Slated to take place on Friday, March 13, this Grade 1 racecourse is 3 miles and 2/5 furlongs long and has 22 fences that need to be jumped.

With a prize of £625,000, the Gold Cup is the most valuable non-handicap race in the UK, and only the best horses run this course. This year, there are about 28 potential runners, of which, Al Boum Photo is the big favorite, with odds at 7/2 to win the race. Santini has a 5/1 odds of winning the race, Delta Work has a 6/1 chance and Lostintranslation and Kemboy have 7/1 chances of winning.

However, the one horse that everyone has their eye on this year is Native River. According to the report by SportingLife, Native River won the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday, February 8.

Native River’s ranking before Saturday was at 14/1, but after the race, his odds went up to 12/1 for winning the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the National Hunt’s top minimum-distance chase, and is the main event of Day 2 at the Cheltenham Festival. Slated to take place at 3.30pm on Wednesday on March 11, this race will be run on the Old Course, which is about 2 miles long, and has 13 fences.

The Guardian reported on Altior’s last race, where he won the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury. Altior is expected to race in the Queen Mother Championship Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Ridden by jockey Nico de Boinville, and trained by Nicky Henderson, Altior has already won the Queen Mother Championship twice before, and now the odds on him have gone up; he is now at 2/1 joint favorite, along with Defi Du Seuil, to win it again this year. The racer’s previous odds were 3/1.

Cancun Pour Soi will currently be running with odds of 5/2, Cyrname with odds of 8/1, A Plus Tard at odds of 8/1, Cilaos Emery and Min at odds of 10/1, Politologue has odds of 20/1, and Sceau Royal and Dynamite Dollars have odds of 25/1 to win the Chase.

The Brown Advisory Handicap Chase

For this Grade 3 race, Clondaw Castle, who won at the races comfortably on Saturday at Warwick, has finally caught the eyes of punters and traders. Expected to run at the Brown Advisory Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Clondaw Castle is now a new favorite, and his rating has been cut from 25/1 to 16/1 to win the race.

The Mares Hurdle

The favorite for the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham, Indefatigable, has a current rating of 12/1 after she won her race at Warwick by a massive 6 lengths on Saturday.

Another surprise jump in ratings goes to Rouge Vif, whose odds to win the Arkle Change have gone up from 33/1 to 20/1 after he won the Agetur UK Kingmaker Novices’ Chase on Saturday, February 8, at Warwick. The 6-year old horse won his race by an easy 7 lengths.

The Pertemps Final

One For The Team won his Newbury race, and traders set his odds at 14/1 to win the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham. This will be One For The Team’s first showing at the Festival, so this horse, trained by Nick Williams and ridden by Chester Williams will be one to watch at the big races in March.

Ballymore Novices Hudle and Supreme Novices Hurdle

Chantry House, trained by Henderson and ridden by Barry Geraghty, won the 2-mile long Betfair Exchange Novice Hurdle in Newbury on Saturday. This 6-year old had made his debut at Cheltenham, and this was his second victory, keeping his record unbroken. Thanks to his victory at Newbury, Chantry House’s odds have jumped up from 20/1 to 10/1 for winning the Ballymore Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham this year.

Chantry House’s chances to win the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham have also gone up to 10/1 after this good performance in the last races.

The one name that is on everyone’s lips for winning the Ballymore Novices Hurdles is Envoi Allen. His odds are stacked at 5/4 to win this race.

Sports

Prep Soccer Names Saint Louis University Men’s Soccer Player Jackson Delkus as the 2024 Nationwide #1 Soccer Player for Fall 2024

Published

1 month ago

October 9, 2024

Jonathan Grilli

Photo courtesy of Jackson Delkus

By: Georgette Virgo

“Prep Soccer” crowned Jackson Delkus, a 6’0″ forward from St. Louis, Missouri, the top high school boys soccer player in the nation for 2024. The former Laurel Springs student and St. Louis City SC Academy standout earned this prestigious ranking through his skills, versatility, and dedication to the sport.

Delkus’ rise to the top spot is no surprise to those who have followed his journey on the soccer field. Last July 2024, Saint Louis University’s Men’s soccer team proudly announced Jackson Delkus as part of their 2024 recruiting class. “Top Drawer Soccer” recognized him as the #1 player for the Class of 2024 in Heartland.

A Versatile Powerhouse on the Field

His versatility and record-breaking speed characterize Delkus’ playing style. Primarily positioned as a forward, Jackson Delkus excels in multiple positions across the front line, including left-wing, right-wing, and striker. His seamless transition between these roles makes him a threat to any defense.

Saint Louis University head men’s soccer coach Kevin Kalish speaks highly of Jackson Delkus. He mentions, “Jackson is a powerful attacker with incredible speed and a high work rate who can make plays in the attacking half of the field. I have watched him for most of his youth career, and he is an intense competitor who thrives under the spotlight.”

His well-rounded skill set complements Delkus’s offensive skills. Despite his natural inclination toward attacking play, he has developed strong defensive capabilities, often tracking back to support his team’s defense and disrupt opponents’ plays. This two-way play style has made him an asset to his team.

Breaking Records and Pushing Limits

As a soccer player who always strives to bring his A-game, Jackson Delkus is committed to self-improvement, as highlighted in his weekly one-on-one striker training and impressive physical achievements. He holds the freshman record for sprints at Chaminade College Preparatory School, showcasing his exceptional speed of 11.72 in 100 meters and 25.17 in 200 meters.

His December 2023 speed record of 23.4 miles per hour at Legion of Strength, a training facility frequented by professional and amateur athletes in the St. Louis area, further strengthens his speed record.

From speed, Jackson Delkus also shows his ability to score. During the fall 2021 season, Delkus’s speed and skill combination made him the top scorer for the St. Louis City SC Academy U16 team.

These feats of athleticism are not mere numbers; they translate directly to Delkus’ performance on the pitch. His pace allows him to beat defenders, create space for teammates, and capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Aside from improving his speed and scoring, a big part of Delkus’ training is to develop his weaker foot, resulting in a playing style that keeps defenders guessing. “Although I’m naturally right-footed, I’ve put in countless hours to improve my left foot,” Jackson Delkus shares. “Now, most of my goals come from my left foot, which gives me a significant advantage on the field.”

The young forward has also unintentionally created his signature look on the field with his terrycloth headband, making him easily recognizable to fans and opponents alike. This trademark has only added to his growing reputation in the soccer community.

A Bright Future Ahead

As Jackson Delkus joins Saint Louis University’s Men’s soccer program, expectations are high for his continued development. His combination of speed, skill, and versatility positions him as a potential game-changer at the collegiate level and beyond.

Despite his recognition and strong presence on the soccer field, Jackson Delkus remains grounded and focuses on his continued growth as a player. “Being named the top high school player by Prep Soccer is an incredible honor, but I know this is just the beginning,” he mentions. “I’m excited to join Saint Louis University and continue pushing myself to new heights.”

Delkus’ rising career as a soccer player, highlighted by his recognition as the nation’s top high school player, is a valuable addition to this portfolio and a crucial step toward his journey of playing professionally.

However, Jackson Delkus believes there’s still much to achieve. With his abilities and limitless potential, he looks forward to continuously impacting the sport today and in the future.