As racing very quiet with abandonments I had look at the Supreme Novices today and dug up King of Kingsfield at 20/1. Well actually I read Jamie Codd’s blog on ATR where he gave him a decent word and then had a good look at KOK’s form and watched a few replays on Sporting Life. I like what I saw he’s a really slick jumper and travels well. Gave an odds on shot a good beating lto. What I also like is he’s had plenty of match practice and already been involved in a few battles. Elliott reckoned he’s fast enough to win on the level. He’s entered in the Dublin Festival so that will tell us a bit more. However if(when) he wins there his price will contract so I’m on AP at 20s. Good luck me.
Whilst I like the Royal Bond form, he has seen the arse end of a few Chan. Maybe the County Hurdle if he can get in off a nice mark? Edit: Bloody hell forget it, just checked and he is best price 16/1 County Hurdle, 10/1 in places
We’ll see mate. His run at the Dublin festival will doubtless dictate where he goes at Cheltenham. At least he’ll only have the 2 options as I’d be pretty sure he won’t be going further than 2 miles. I just really liked his jumping and I much prefer his race portfolio to the 2 at the top of the market winning 4/5 runner races last time out.
Ruby's golden years - some great memories. Also what a good decision to move the 2nd last fence into the straight.
Champion Chase Boothill Think he is a serious horse and if anything goes wrong with the big two, these odds will freefall Each Way @ 25-1 [William Hill] Non Runner No Bet
Looks like A Dream To Share won’t be lining up in the Supreme. He only has an entry in the Grade 2 bumper at the DRF (which he won last year) as they haven’t been able to school him much over hurdles due to an injury setback.
Allaho ruled out. https://www.racingpost.com/news/fes...ltenham-festival-through-injury-ay2gn5b8gNMg/
Chantry House’s jockey clearly had one instruction in the Pertemps Qualifiers at Huntingdon today and that was finish 4th. Fair play carried out perfectly but had an anxious look behind after the last to check where his pursuers were . 12/1 for the final and his previous form would suggest he will arrive there potentially very well handicapped.
Yes, and isn’t it funny that it happens nowadays when they only race two or three times prior to Cheltenham? Perhaps they’re not as hardened as they used to be. Too much cotton wool!
This is just a theory, that could be rubbish but, if you go back to the days of my old favourite Forest King and how he was bred - he was tough as they come. Then there was Crudwell and so on. These days there are more and more NH horses with pedigrees laced with thoroughbred. The hardier thoroughbreds who run year after year are of course geldings so none of their hardiness is passed on. All the thoroughbred sires of note were, in general, put away after a few races on suitable ground so we have no way of telling how hardy they were nor if there were any weaknesses which may have come to light had they raced more often. No doubt some had undiscovered weaknesses which are being passed on. Tough thoroughbred sires like Ribot are no longer to be found, although Frankel is about the closest in the modern era
A further boost re Chantry House is that this morning the handicapper has dropped him 2 lbs to 143. That really was the perfect run last week - get him qualified and get a ratings reduction in the process!!!
A few thoughts (in addition to the above one on Chantry House) with the Festival in mind: (i) Following his run at the weekend former Champion Chase runner-up Funambule Sivola has been dropped another 3 lbs this morn by the handicapper. At 145 he is now a whopping 18 lbs below his peak chase mark. He is starting to potentially look very well handicapped. 33/1 available re the Grand Annual. (ii) Kyntara, who was 2nd in Warwick's Pertemps Qualifier earlier in the month, has been entered in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett. Now is this a frivolous entry or do connections really believe Kyntara is a 145 - 150 rated performer (what he would need to be to figure in that Grade 1). If the answer to the latter is yes is Kyntara amazingly well treated on 128 with a view to the Pertemps Final??? 20's available re the PF. (iii) An unraced (over hurdles), exceptionally well bred type has been entered in the Supreme . Gaucher is a 5YO Frankel gelding and his dam was Group 1 winner (2016 Prix Vermeille). Gaucher was a dual winner, on the Flat, in France and is with WP Mullins. 33/1 available re the festival race and he surely is one to look out for when he makes his timber bow. (iv) Talking of WP Mullins his Billericay Dickie was a very easy winner yesterday and must now enter discussions re the novice hurdles at the Festival. Interesting his dam has produced one other runner to run to date - Intellotto who is with Joseph O'Brien and he is high in the market for the Triumph. Could she have 2 winners come the festival??
I thought you might add something on Lossiemouth and the Champion Hurdle? I would love to see her tackle Constitution Hill but it won’t happen (not this year anyway)
I caught up with this race yesterday evening. She was very impressive but absolutely zero chance she’ll be taking on CH in March. That’s not Willie’s style at all.
Another horse from the weekend caught my eye for the Pertemps Final. Former Mcmanus horse Flight Deck. Ran a fine race in the Cleeve before giving way to superior horses. 33/1 currently
I liked the look of NO ORDINARY JOE on the weekend. No entries for Cheltenham as of yet. Finished 2nd there last year from a mark of 139. Currently rated just 1lb higher. I thought Walsh gave him a very clever ride on Saturday. Coming round the final bend with the big run in, he asked a question and I seen a quick burst before he pulled it left keeping behind the pack which is a great trick to also snatch the reigns up as you do that. I believe it had a fair amount in the tank and I’m looking out for a late entry.
I note that Emmet Mullins has declared Taghrooda's (winner of The Oaks and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes) brother, Almuhit, in the 'Pertemps Qualifier' at Musselburgh on Sunday. This will Alhumit's 2nd run for Mullins, E. It will be fascinating to see how he fares in the qualification heat, in just over 48 hours time, and is one to watch very closely this weekend, methinks (nudge, nudge, wink, wink and all that...). Currently, Almuhit is perched on 117 (UK). 121 was the lowest mark re last terms Pertemps Final. Incidentally, you can currently get 14/1, re Almuhit, for the Cheltenham Festival race.
