I was supposed to go to this last night but dragged into going to watch a boring 1-1 draw with czechs instead.Anyway this is what came out of it and is the best of the reviews i've seen available so far. Boston Bob and Nobel Prince (BGâs pick of the Festival) were also held in very high regard. Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins were brought in by conference call, they didnât give away too much, but Mullins picked out Sweet My Lord as his e/w punt of the festival in the Pertemps, and Nicholls outlined that he thought Zarkander was a very good e/w punt. DR = Davy Russell RW = Ruby Walsh BG = Barry Geraghty PP = Paddy Power CM = Colm Murphy DMcC = Don McClean JH = Jessica Harraington Tuesday 13th 13.30 Supreme Novices Hurdle RW - Darlan JH - Steps to Freedom (very high on this horse) BG - Darlan DMcC - Steps to Freedom 14.05 Arkle BG - Sprinter Sacre (thinks the horse is top class and won't be beaten) RW - Thinks Al Ferof must improve to beat Sprinter. Go for Al Ferof on PP's Money Back Special PP - Sprinter Sacre JH - Sprinter Sacre (BG informs her that this horse may be better than Moscow Flyer) DR - Peddlers Cross to place CM - Sprinter Sacre DMcC - Sprinter Sacre 15.20 Champion Hurdle RW - Hurricane, no doubts PP - Hurricane JH - Oscar Wells to place, Hurricane to romp. BG - Hurricane (nailed on) / Oscar is value DR - Hurricane CM - Binocular to be 2nd, better than people think DMcC - Hurricane Wednesday 14th 13.30 National Hunt Chase RW - Alle Garde on good ground PP - watch out for who Mullins puts in the race 14.05 Neptune DMcC - Monksland PP - Monksland good value RW - whatever Wille Mullins runs JH - Simonsig if runs 14.40 RSA Chase RW - Grand Crus is very beatable and reckons Sir Des Champs has a good chance if runs BG - Bobs Worth has a big chance (3 for 3 in Chelts) PP - Bobs Worth DR - Call the Police has a chance if runs JH - watch out for W Mullins who he runs CM - whatever horse D Russell rides (if he rides First Lieutenant in particular) DMcC - First Lieutenant *MO'L - e/w bet on First Lieutenant (Michael OâLeary was asked on a radio show for a pick out of his horses) **I got the feeling from the panel that First Lieutenant will win this race, but thatâs just my feeling! 15.20 QM Chase JH - Sizing Europe (but closer than people think!) DR - good ground = good for Zeb PP - Sizing Europe a cert RW - Sizing hard to beat DMcC - top 2 will be close CM - very happy with the way Zeb is going at the minute BG - Zeb willl be closer than people think to SIzing Thursday 15th 14.40 Ryanair Chase JH - Albertas Run / Rubi Light RW - Albertas Run could surprise everyone and pop up and win, Rubi Light vulnerable on good ground DMcC - Nobel Prince has a huge chance DR - Nobel Prince is his bet of the festival - NAP BG - Respect paid to Somersby CM - Nobel Prince and Somersby DMcC - Nobel Prince (but will be competitive) 15.20 World Hurdle RW - Bucks (w/ Thousand Stars doing well) BG - Thousand Stars is value, but Bucks will win PP - Bucks JH - Bucks DR - Bucks CM - Voler la Vadette e/w (he runs in this race defo) DMcC - Bucks (w/ thousand stars) 17.15 Champion Bumper **STEER CLEAR OF THIS RACE was the main opinion PP - Moscow Mannion best of the Irish, but Irish will more than likely not win it DR - Royal Guardsman JH - Moscow Mannion (although you should wait till the day of the race and see what the word is) CM â Nigel Twiston Davies horse, whatever he is called Friday 16th 13.30 Triumph Hurdle PP - Alot of money for Ranjann / Shadow Catcher / Balder Success RW - Ut di Sivola impressive horse, as is Pearl Swan JH - doesnt know DR - steer clear of this race!! BG - Lyvius (if she performs well in Newbury this Friday - watch out for this) CM - Sadlers Risk DMcC - Shadow Catcher good value 14.40 Albert Bartlett DR - Ipsos Du Berle is good horse BG - Boston Bob / Mount Benbulben DMcC - Mount Benbulben interesting horse **Boston Bob got very good backing by RW, no matter what race he is in, he doesnât think it matters. 15.20 Gold Cup DR - Long Run is the best horse in the race / Midnight Chase is a good e/w punt RW - Kauto needs to be at very best to beat Long Run - but he wouldnt back Kauto, nor would he get off him. Long Run should win it BG - everything is in Long Runs favour JH - Burton Port e/w PP - Long Run DMcC - Wouldnt back Long Run @ 5/2, and believes Weird Al willl push them and good e/w bet OTHER NOTES JH - Citizenship e/w whatever race she runs him in is a good bet Paul Flynn - Moondice doing very well - defo worth an e/w punt CHARITY BETS of â¬200 each DMcC - Nobel Prince with the lot CM - half on Scotsirish / half on Somersby BG - Bobs Worth with the lot DR - Nobel Prince - NAP JH - the lot on Steps To Freedom RW - half on Boston Bob (he will win) / half on Ted Spread (County Hurdle) PP - the lot on Sacre WILLIE MULLINS - Quevega and Hurricane in good fettle (will win) - Midnight Game in the Supreme (likes the hard ground) - BOSTON BOB is his real hope, he reckons he would be very disapointed is he doesnt win - Uncle Junior ahead of Scotsirish - both will love ground, but Scots has never won over this trip - Sir Des Champs is doing everything right, is a course winner, he is gonna be good - Loving Alle Garde, he will float on that ground. - Mourad is coming back to himself, defo worth an e/w punt - Champagne Fever has a huge cruising speed and will do well - Thousand Stars will run in the Champion Hurdle - E/W TIP of the FESTIVAL is Sweet My Lord in the Pertemps - Boston Bob is on track PAUL NICHOLLS - Bucks in good form (will win) - Oscar Whiskey is the only danger whatsoever. - Rock on Ruby is in good form, has a great chance - Prospect Wells has a good e/w chance - Crystal Bonus is someone that he is high on, good e/w - Harry the Viking is 4/4 this year, stays forever, has a good chance - Join Together is one of his best chances in the festival - REALLY likes ULK DU LIN in the Fred Winter on the wednesday - Banker = Bucks - e/w punt = Zarkander!
Cheers Ste. Cracking panel there! A few interesting snippets too. In particular: "RW - Darlan" - Does he think he would have beaten Zarkandar? "JH - Simonsig if runs" - Jessie Harrington is very good friends with Henderson so she might be more 'in the know' than some. "RW - Grand Crus is very beatable and reckons Sir Des Champs has a good chance if runs" - Mullins/Walsh both want him to run. Get Davy on First Lieutenant and Ruby on Sir Des Champs and that will do nicely. "RW - Bucks (w/ Thousand Stars doing well)" and "WM - Thousand Stars will run in the Champion Hurdle" - Suggests Ruby has no idea what Mullins is thinking!
My mate went to it last night and will be sending me his notes which should be similar from what i posted above-He did say in his txt the 2/3 panel were very sweet on Noble Prince but i would be waiting to see if there is good ground a few days prior to racetime.He also said Ruby was an arse and was very arrogant but there ye go!
Ruby has Boston Bob as his charity bet - but which race ? I assume he's Neptune bound and have backed him for that, reason being there's no Fingal Bay and BB works with Hurricane Fly so he can't be slow !! ps - Monksland is his danger, still an ew price at 7s as well.
Cracking stuff, STE, will add to my portfolio of Cheltenham Festival information, in fact this will be the only bit of info i will be reffering to at the moment.
This is someones blog from the london racing clubs chelt preview night. Tuesday Supreme Novices Hurdle - Lee Mottershead (LM) – An ordinary renewal. Gossip is for Darlan. But Prospect Wells at 25/1 non-runner no bet (NRNB) is interesting. Charlie Morlock (CM) – Darlan has bounced back from his fall at Newbury, and schooled well since. We shouldn’t ignore Tetlami but Darlan a better horse at home. Simonsig runs elsewhere. Cinders and Ashes interesting. Declan Rix (D) – Jockey likes Steps to Freedom, but Midnight Game has a better chance. He’s very sweet on Tetlami. Phil Smith (PS) – It takes a 152 rated horse to win this generally. Thirteen (!) horses are currently rated within five pounds of each other at the top of the figures. Darlan rated 148, Tetlami 145. But PS was sweet on Tetlami. Winners galore coming from his races, unbeaten over hurdles, by Daylami (shaping up to be great National Hunt sire), and stoutly National Hunt bred. Arkle - CM – Can’t see past Sprinter Sacre. “Sprinter can only be beaten by a clumsy jump” LM – SS unopposable PS – It takes a 160 horse to win an Arkle usually. Sprinter Sacre is currently rated 169, Peddlers Cross and Al Ferof rated 160. Doesn’t like Peddlers and thinks he’ll run in the Jewson. Memorable quote: “You could drive a coach and horses through Peddlers Cross’ chase form”. Also believes this is the best Arkle we’ve had for many, many years. D – Al Ferof offers the each way value. JLT Handicap Chase (formerly William Hill Trophy) - GP – Money for Hold On Julio PS – 10/11 won over three miles-plus; 10/11 finished 4th or better in a race at Cheltenham (any race). Interestingly, Quantitativeeasing, who is favourite, hasn’t won over three miles and needs to be in the first four to qualify for the Grand National. Champion Hurdle - PS – Generally takes a 170 to win the Champion Hurdle and only four here capable of that: Hurricane Fly, Binocular, Zarkandar and Rock On Ruby. Fly ran an ‘adequate’ race last time – form unreliable. CM – McCoy was guarded in his TV interview, but delighted with Binocular last time at Wincanton. Could be back to best. GP – Rock On Ruby the value. GP has backed him ante-post! D – ‘Hurricane Fly WILL win’ LM – Thinks Binocular will be shorter on the day. Cross Country Chase - ? – Halley of Tom George’s might be interesting [Editor's note: this one's a FIVE YEAR OLD!] Mares Hurdle - All – Quevega unopposable Pulteney Land Investments’ Novices Handicap Chase - CM – Triolo d’Alene was given by Hendo to his former school’s racing club as his best bet of the week! Wednesday National Hunt Chase - LM – Teaforthree has the assistance of JT McNamara (fine jockey in the context of the race). PS – Up The Beat was second in a Punchestown race that has worked out very well (Portrait King won it). “Up The Beat is going to win some really nice races in the future”. [Note, he's entered elsewhere so take NRNB if you go with this chap.] Neptune Hurdle - D – Boston Bob a serious contender based on heavy ground form giving weight away. Liked Simonsig as well, but would be surprised if Batonnier had enough class to win. Two to note at bigger prices: Make Your Mark (16/1) and Aupcharlie (50/1 bet365 NRNB). LM – Loved Boston Bob over Simonsig. CM – Likes Sous Les Cieux. Believes he’s better value at 14/1 than Simonsig at 7/2. Molotof is gritty but may not have the speed. [Editor's note: I want grit in this race!! 25/1 NRNB looks good] PS – High 140′s is the rating to win this. Simonsig 148, Molotof 145. Confident Boston Bob will win in whichever race he runs! RSA Chase - D – Willie Mullins wants to run Sir Des Champs here, but Mouse Morris adamant this is the place for First Lieutenant, and they won’t both run in the same race for the same owner. Grands Crus the selection if he runs. PS – Grands Crus rated 159. Denman posted a 161 when winning. Grands Crus has been off the track a long time now. Invictus has a great each way chance, and Bobs Worth will stay all week. CM – Bobs Worth can win. Can be sticky at his fences, but stays. Grands Crus is there to be beaten and Bobs Worth has a chance. Invictus respected as well. LM – Bobs Worth the best value. Three from three round Cheltenham. Queen Mother Champion Chase - D – Sizing Europe hard to get away from. CM – Hopeful for Finian’s Rainbow, but Sizing Europe is very good. Aintree a better target. LM – Sizing Europe hard to beat but no value. Kauto Stone at 20/1 NRNB looks a reasonable value play. PS – Sizing Europe looks bombproof. “I expect him to win”. Amazed he’s not odds on. Somersby and Kauto Stone both interesting each way with the non-runner no bet (NRNB) concession. Coral Cup - D – Dare Me has a big shout. (20/1 NRNB with betVictor) Fred Winter - PS – Look for less exposed horses, who have kept their true ability from the handicapper! Champion Bumper - D – Irish not great this year. Moscow Mannon the best over there. Horatio Hornblower interesting each way (25/1 NRNB). LM – Royal Guardsman from the Cue Card team interesting. CM – No idea but they’ll win Saturday’s Newbury bumper with My Tent Or Yours! PS – “I will be enjoying scones with real butter, jam and cream at this point” Thursday Jewson Novices Chase - PS – This is a Grade 2, and cannot be upgraded until it’s fourth year. It almost certainly will become a Grade 1 then. Cristal Bonus is rated 152, four horses (incl. For Non Stop) on 150. Bog Warrior is interesting with the NRNB concession. LM – If Peddlers Cross turns up here, he wins. (9/2 NRNB with bet365) D – Solix to turn around form with Champion Court. Pertemps Final - ?? – Sergeant Guib’s interesting PS – “If Buena Vista wins again, the Pipe’s deserve a medal”. In other words, no chance. One horse has the following form comment: “held up, headway four out, kept on steadily three out, never reached leaders” [Editor's note: if you figure out which horse this is, let me know!] Ryanair Chase - D – Rubi Light has good chance, but ground an issue. Lay Riverside Theatre for a place. Forpadydeplasterer is a good each way at a price (33/1 NRNB). PS – This is the best Ryanair so far. [Agreed!] Poquelin seems better giving weight to inferior horses. Somersby talented if he runs. Riverside Theatre has won on début all five seasons he’s been in training, but only followed up once. A classic ‘bouncer’? Rubi Light looks pretty solid. GP – Noble Prince trained specifically for this. Great Endeavour has a chance. Kalahari King at 20/1 might be too big. World Hurdle - CM – “I wouldn’t be backing Oscar Whisky to win the World Hurdle”. [Editor's note: Coming from Nicky Henderson's assistant trainer, I got the impression that they don't like Dai Walters and, if I was Walters, I'd be moving my horses. There was a real 'old school' arrogance about Morlock, and I don't mind conceding I took an instant dislike to him. Too many silver spoons in 'The Chemist's' yard for me.] PS – We don’t know where we are with Big Buck’s because he hasn’t been seriously tested for ages. GP – No bet, but Big Buck’s should win. LM – “Oscar Whisky and Thousand Stars have as much toe as Big Buck’s“. Believed Thousand Stars more likely to stay. (10/1 e/w NRNB betVictor) D – Mourad e/w Festival Plate - GP – Salut Flo well backed. Kim Muir - PS – Higher weighted horses tend to win, “presumably because there’s less chance of their amateur riders falling off the better horses”. [Nice!] Friday Triumph Hurdle - LM – Sadlers Risk is still liked by his yard, and by LM. Stays on well, has improvement and should like Cheltenham. PS - Low 150′s required to win this. Baby Mix might not get home in a true run race, a bit ‘doggy’ anyway, and perhaps more an Aintree horse. Liked Ranjaan. County Hurdle - no comments Albert Bartlett Hurdle - GP – Brindisi Breeze ran well last time, but this looks one for the Irish. Boston Bob wins if he runs. (10/3 NRNB betVictor) Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup - CM – Burton Port has a chance. “We thought he was slow, but he surprised us”. He could bounce though. Believes Long Run will win. LM - Long Run seems to have lost his ‘wow’ factor this season. GP – Synchronised has a chance. (LM chimed in, “I like Synchronised too. But then I like my granny, and she’s not going to win a Gold Cup!”. Spoiled it all by saying he liked Diamond Harry e/w. PS – Gloria Victis was best novice in the Gold Cup. He was unlucky to fall, BUT he wouldn’t have won anyway. Long Run rated 178, Burton Port 166 for their race at Newbury. Grands Crus has a rating of only 159! Believed Long Run was idling and would improve 3lb by Cheltenham. Kauto Star if he runs will have to repeat his 183 from Kempton to win, something he’s only done at Cheltenham once in five tries. Foxhunters - GP – My Flora has been well backed by the tweed-touters (point-to-point brigade). Chapoturgeon a doubtful stayer. Monkerty Tunkerty interesting, and not just because of the name. D – Cloudy Lane has a good chance. CM – Barbers Shop not expected to win by the yard. PS – Agreed, we dropped Barbers Shop 8lb for winning! Martin Pipe Conditionals Handicap Hurdle - no views Grand Annual Handicap Chase - CM – Hendo has seven entries for the race named in honour of his dad. Kid Cassidy is interesting, as is Tanks For That.
should add Hosted by Barry Faulkner, the panel was further comprised of George Primarolo (tote/Betfred PR man), Declan Rix, Lee Mottershead (Racing Post senior writer and current racing journalist of the year), Charlie Morlock (assistant trainer to Nicky Henderson), and Phil Smith (chief handicapper of the BHA
[Editor's note: Coming from Nicky Henderson's assistant trainer, I got the impression that they don't like Dai Walters and, if I was Walters, I'd be moving my horses. There was a real 'old school' arrogance about Morlock, and I don't mind conceding I took an instant dislike to him. Too many silver spoons in 'The Chemist's' yard for me.] Bloody hell. That's fairly brutal. P.S. Just posted a different report of the same preview on the other thread! I suppose two is better than one.
Great write ups Ste and Hawkeye. Really enjoy reading these reports. There's often some hidden gems in there. I particularly enjoyed Phil Smiths quote: âYou could drive a coach and horses through Peddlers Crossâ chase formâ. Harsh but true
