Now that I am back home, here is the link to the Racing Post article: https://www.racingpost.com/news/the-biggest-ever-certainty-to-race-at-cheltenham/248119 "Unsinkable Boxer was rated 94 when he won that race at Plumpton on December 7, 1997. By the time he won less than two months later at Doncaster – his last race before Cheltenham – he had progressed 34lb in the eyes of the handicapper. Along the way he'd also been withdrawn with a vet's certificate on the morning of his Cheltenham qualifier at Warwick, yet remained eligible for the race having been declared overnight"
Wonder if it was the same vet as the one that Mr Henderson had all that trouble with a few years later?!? I’d forgotten that but yes you could qualify for the Final, in those days, even if you didn’t run! Meanwhile, I see that Jenson Button’s brother was a 14/1 chance for Unsinkable Boxer's heat then! This is totally off topic but I’ve just read his autobiography and it is both very good and refreshingly honest - recommended, pilgrims. I particularly loved that the opening chapter dealt with how to correctly pronounce the town name ‘Frome’ – which he hails from and isn’t a million miles from me. Brilliant.
He'll need to improve his jumping whether it's Arkle or JLT. They have time. Did smile at Joe Tizzard's interview on ITV yesterday. He almost said it was definitely the JLT that FO would go for. However realising that he was being far too candid he belatedly threw in the Arkle option. The Tizzard's have a lot to learn from Mr Mullins.
Been looking at the price of Bamako Moriviere over the last few weeks and was surprised to see he is not being considered for any of the novice chases given its Mullins and Ricci, his overall profile isnt typical of one of their superstars but its hard to knock his recent performances since getting his jumping sorted over fences. He absolutely outclassed Jury Duty and Woodland Opera last time and they won both Grade 2s at Punchestown today, 4 horses have run from that race and all 4 won. He certainly looked a better horse than his profile would suggest and ive backed him for the JLT at 25/1, nothing has impressed me more in Ireland so far so im disregarding his hurdles career and the fact he was running in the summer. Hurdles form suggests he will be better on good ground as well.
Faugheen was impressive today and has done everyone a massive favour. 5/1 Buveur Dair Faugheen looks the only possible threat to the Champ on class but youd want 5/2 about him staying sound till march never mind to win the race at 10yo Quite possibly the best 5/1 shot since World Approval
I know there are a few Movewiththetimes fans on the forum and Sporting Life are this morning doing a bit of a nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more re him. Dropped 1 lb to 145 after his run at Cheltenham last week after another run, over fences, he will be eligible for the novice handicap chase at the Festival (now a 0-145 event). Providing of course his mark doesn’t increase as a result of this subsequent run over the big ‘uns but this should be easy to achieve / control (almost did a nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more of my own there!). Thomas Campbell by comparison went up 10 lbs to 158 and as a result connections will have to go down the Graded route maybe even as far as the Stayers Hurdle crown.
I’ve been holding off backing anything for the Gold Cup but think it’s about time someone said YORKHILL is an outstanding 8/1 bet. Just go through the form of his JLT and it’s a seriously impressive list of horses he beat. The second from it won a G2 half the track last week, the third won a G2 on seasonal debut, the fourth was very impressive in the Haldon Gold Cup and Nichols rates him better than Twist Magic! Perhaps people are fooled as the horse doesn’t generally win that far but he’s the type would beat a 120 horse the same as he would a 160 horse! This horse has a monster of an engine in him, we’ve seen him hack up twice at the Festival and all ground comes alike to him. I guess the reason he’s 8s is it’s Willie Mullins bingo but his Gold Cup cupboard looks sparse to me, he’s well stocked up in the other divisions I’d say it’s long odds on this former Irish point winner gets a crack at the race he’s been bred to win. Brilliant price, looks the best chaser in it, for all I love Might Bite (King George certainty of certainties) I’d be hugely dubious of him over the last 2 furlongs. Thistlecrack was beat by a National horse, Sizing John will find its nigh impossible to back up a Gold Cup win and Our Duke shouldn’t be quick enough. Three years running at the Fez for the mighty YORKHILL, mark my word boys
2 years ago at the Festival Graham Wylie said he'd bought Yorkhill to win a Gold Cup. I wouldn't be at all surprised therefore if he rocked up in this. If he does 8/1 will look generous.
Our Duke is my main hope in the GC but I totally agree Beefy and have Yorkhill in a few bets. Not a massive investment because of the uncertainty about where he goes - Champ Hurdle/Champ Chase/RyanAir/GC. Does seem logical he will go for the GC because Mullins doesn’t have many options in the race and I would be hugely surprised if Douvan or Min stepped up to that kind of trip. Just imagine the run-in, Yorkhill will be trying to get on the Cross Country course while Might Bite pops for a pint in the Guinness village
I see that Princess Camilla has moved Carntop from Ralph Beckett to Jamie Snowden with a view to a NH campaign. 66/1 is available for the ‘Supreme Novices Hurdle’, people. High class recruit to the NH sphere as Carntop had a peak rating of 105 on the level and is both Listed placed and only finished 3 lengths off the winner in the ’16 ‘King Eddie VII Stakes’. The ‘roar’ these days before the Festival opener is the most unspontaneous, manufactured and pathetic thing I’ve heard for many awhile (it’s a case of ‘after 3 you must all roar. 1-2-3…’) but if Princess Camilla had the winner then the roar after the event would be the complete opposite of this (and probably only bettered if Mr Henderon had another ‘Altior’).
Will wait for Willie Hills to introduce NRNB. From memory they are one of the few firms who do not automatically contract ante post prices when NRNB for the championship races at the festival is started; particularly interested in Native River at 12/1 and Total Recall at 25/1.
I think Native River is really interesting...not mentioned much so far for the Gold Cup but clearly the plan is just that and with a quieter campaign. Who can forget he had a real busy one as also ran in the Hennessy and Welsh National and ran a real big race in the Gold Cup. I can see him running a big race in it this year providing he has no problems...he could be the one to be on.
