Saturday's Meetings Fairyhouse N/H 7 Races 12:30-3:55p.m. Cheltenham N/H 7 Races 12:40-4:10p.m. Doncaster N/H 7 Races 12:55-4:25p.m. Uttoxeter N/H 6 Races 1:05-4:00p.m. Lingfield A/W 6 Races 1:20-4:15p.m. Chelmsford(E) A/W 8 Races 4:40-8:15p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
So let me take you back to what I class as the first day of the National Hunt season, the curtain raiser at Chepstow (lovely track, good quality jumps racing). We started the card with two divisions of a novice hurdle, which previous winners included Altior! In division one we saw Pym (138) beat Deyrann De Carjac (128) with a good amount of distance to Volcano (121) and Umndeni. The time for that race was 4m 0.30s In division two we saw the experienced Rocco (130) beat Bennys Bridge with Reserve Tank and Supremely Lucky (129) well beaten in third and fourth. The fifth horse started its handicapping off 114 (and whilst has been disappointing and is now around 100 and over fences). The winning time of that race was 3m 59.60s Now if you want to watch the race back - https://www.attheraces.com/atrplayer-popup/VOD/1063173?showResult=yes You will see Bennys Bridge failing to settle in the first part of the race, behind a steady enough pace. He shows major inexperience throughout and yet still looks the likely winner at two out. The fact that Paddy doesn't pick up the whip shows how inexperienced the horse was and yet he ran so well throughout. The fast forward to Ascot in November where Bennys Bridge was 10/1 to beat Didtheyleaveuoutto and Thomas Darby! He fell at the second that day so we don't know much from that race. He then went to Market Rasen on boxing day, and finished a beaten odds on favourite in a race where the first four home finished within 3.5 lengths of each other. It was a falsely run race and he pulled and raced freely before making good progress in the straight. Again he wasn't unduly punished by Paddy Brennan. The winner that day went on to run a solid race against Thomas Darby, whilst the second is a lightly raced Hemmings horse trained by Nicky Henderson. So given he has strong form with high 120s low 130s horses, and now he is going handicapping off a mark of 119 (1lb out of handicap) I think that alone makes him of massive interest. However what makes him of greater appeal is that I think he has been crying out for a race that is run at a proper gallop, and one that tests the stamina and travelling speed of the field, rather than the false pace he saw last time out. Paddy Brennan is a master around Cheltenham, and I fully expect him to have Bennys Bridge covered up early in the race and to smuggle him into the front rank coming to the last, preferably against the stand rail, and this time I think the whip will be raised and I think Benny's Bridge will show that the handicapper has him completely wrong.
My TV selections Cheltenham 1-50 Kings Writ 2-25 Terrefort 3-00 Jarveys Plate 3-35 Paisley Park Doncaster 2-05 Bailarico 2-40 Lady Buttons 3-15 Go Conquer The lovely Lady Buttons is being returned to timber, and to be honest I can't understand it. Ok she won a listed hurdle 3 runs ago, but she is a far better chaser than a hurdler in my opinion. However it's the opinion of her connections that count, and to be fair she has a very good chance of winning the mares hurdle, although without my Lady Buttons rose tinted specs on, I'd be having a serious look at Chica Buena who on official ratings is 4lb inferior to the Lady, but is entered here on 13lb better terms. At Chelts, in the small but infinitely tricky 3-00 I am siding with Jarveys Plate to handle his penalty for his listed C&D win lto and make it a double. Fav here is McManus owned, Hendo trained, Birchdale, but I see Brewin'upastorm being the bigger danger to my selection. The Cleeve hurdle is a minefield, but I'm putting my faith in the Emma Levelle trained Paisley Park, who is on an upwardly mobile profile, unlike those with questions to answer such as Sam Spinner, Uknowhatimeanharry and Wholestone.
Right , just back from the wine bar. Met this geezer whose mates with Henderson’s vet, tells me there’s a bug in the yard but then tells me adjarji is a shoe in tomorrow. I did quiz him thoroughly and he did seem genuine but that was after a bottle of Viognier.
florida , you love dem wine bars , then again not much else in cheltenham apart from wetherspoons ! Hendo does have an issue though , many of his aren’t hitting the high notes recently , exceptions aside , conversely Alan Kings haven’t been right all season until last few days ....
There are 2 Wetherspoons pubs in Cheltenham. Plenty of other watering establishment depending on your taste...Copa, Tailor's, Revolution, Yates all in the centre..many more and the feathered fish quite near racecourse. Albion house for something different - members club pay 2 quid to get in for live music. Or take yourself up to the Montpelier area which is full of restaurants and upmarket bars/pubs like the beehive..
The beehive is one of my locals, was in John Gordon’s last night after half price champers in the daffodil for a most agreeable dinner.
Get you Florida living it up in posh Montpelier... One of my fave pubs in that area is Harry Cooks free house..quite good for sport and they put on live music too..don't mind the Slug and Lettuce actually which is a few dòors down..
Whilst talking about that area of town, not expecting to see Coo Star Sivola’s silks on the wall of the lav in The Ivy the other week!
My arrows for today. 1.50 Chelt Ballyhill 3.15 Donc Brian Boranha 3.35 Chelt Black Op 4.10 Chelt Benny’s Bridge EW Lucky 15. Good luck all, have a great weekend. PS. I’m hoping to get blind drunk today enjoying the racing and then falling asleep around 5pm so I don’t have to watch the Everton game later
Morning all. On the basis that course form counts for more at Cheltenham than most other courses I've had a small wager on Agrapart in the Cleeve hurdle. Should be a cracking race in any case. Have a good weekend everyone - although if you're a Newcastle fan I'd be quite content if you're a bit unhappy at 4-45....
Quite a lot.as I’ve said before you meet these kind of people all the time here. He might have been the forums favourite Henderson sycophantic disguise. And he knows Jacob so he says, I had no reason to disbelieve him.like I say just passing it on.
Well, that would pay over 400 /1 , but you're right the place is full of Bragg Ards who love name dropping to impress , it's how they live their lives , all I can tell you is that one horse will win each race !
