Gold Cup day looms and the climax to another Cheltenham festival. Early glance at the cards tonight have revealed Snap Tie off a very nice mark (137) in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle. Been out of action for a good while but was once rated 160 over hurdles and chased home (in close proximity) the likes of Harchibald, Punjabi and Captain Cee Bee. I'm sure Pip Hobbs will have him ready for this and he could be thrown in off 137.
For me all about Gordon Elliot and will be following these particular mounts: 1:30 Shadow Catcher 2:40 Mount Belbuben 4:40 Toner D'oudairies Good Luck all..
I hope Gordon Elliot isn't riding them catty. Good luck all tomorrow, I feel like a kid at Christmas!!!
I like Snap Tie as well Oddy. I'm all or nothing on boston Bob. Got some great prices and have gone in again a few times this week. If he loses that's me done for a while on on the old horses.
I hope so too Nass... Did you see how angry he was when Sam Thomas stopped him getting some breakfast on Tuesday?!! Haha
Bilbao are crucifying us tonight. Unbelievable goal. Better atmosphere.They've got a load of outstanding youngsters . Do the right thing Alex. Buy some of them!
Quel it's amazing the talent produced by the various Spanish youth systems ......................... they certainly are doing something right at grass roots level
My horses for my day at Chelts tomorrow - Sadler's Risk - interestingly he has been backed throughout the last week or so, I wonder if they had him slightly under prepared when he was beaten by Baby Mix. I think he will stay on strongly up the hill. Olofi - Obvious enough but I really like all of his form from this season and he does go well here. Brindisi Breeze - I think Boston Bob is the right favourite but I think the bookmakers have got the other BB wrong in the market. I really like the form and its a battle hardened horse. Long Run - said so much about this race already Cloudy Lane - likewise Art Professor - Bit of a longshot but I think it is a really interesting runner who gets in at the bottom of the weights. He has run big races at this track and the headgear could spark a revival. French Opera - top weight in the handicap, I must be bonkers. Looks overpriced and his jockey is riding really well.
My picks for tomorrow are 17:15 GRAND ANNUAL HANDICAP CHASE 2m 1/2f Kumbeshwar @ 14/1 (GP) 16:40 MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP HURDLE 2m 4 1/2f Oscar Nominee @ 12/1 (GP) 15:20 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP 3m 2 1/2f Weird Al @ 10/1 (GP) 14:40 ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES' HURDLE 3m Brindisi Breeze @ 10/1 (GP) 14:05 VINCENT O'BRIEN COUNTY HURDLE 2m 1f Raya Star @ 10/1 (GP) 13:30 TRIUMPH HURDLE (GRADE 1) 2m 1f Grumeti @ 7/1 (GP)
Have put this on todays thread but seems more of you are on here now. I have been given CONSISTENT 9.15 Good luck
My big hope for tomorrow is thast Sea of Thunder at least places in the Albert! If he wins they will hear me in Cheltenham ;-) Citizenship will hopefullt come late and win. Like the chances of Bourne in the M Pipe race and Astracad in the tricky last. Have a nice £50 EW free bet on Swan Pearl in the Triumph but placed that before they started and not happy with the way the majority of Nicholls horses are running! Will be cheering on Grumetti for Sticky. The big race tomorrow is all about Long Run and Kauto Star or is it? I have a lovely docket with 6s Long Run but he has not jumped well enough for my liking but the way Hendos horses are going he must have a chance. I like Wierd Al and have nice prices EW him and also large odds What A friend in the market without Long Run and Kauto As always the festival has been outstanding to watch with some superb jockeys and horses, shame the officials let themselves down with the nation watching ;-( Be lucky all who play tomorrow
My information is that Zenyatta has been looking forward to doing the Gold Cup thread for about 7 months
Not seen either of the games, but I don't think Fergie really wanted to be in this comp anyway. Man Utd getting knocked out might just be the final nail in the Premier League coffin for Man City!!
My best day ever at the Festival today. Gambling is like Golf though and even after a brilliant day there is always one that got away. 1.30 I will finish the Festival some way in front but it will be huge if GRUMETTI wins the Triumph. I backed him at 16-1 to win this and the Cheltenham trial when he got the race in the stewards room. My luck is in and my hopes stay with him. They will go one hell of a gallop with a number of front runners in the field. If they don’t cut each others throats I can see one of them, Urbain de Sivola going really well. The Irish are well represented and best of theirs could be Shadow Catcher. 2.05 Taking two against the field is sensible I think. REDERA is my first pick. I think he has plenty of improvement in him. He will need luck in running but I am sure he will go well. If Urbain de Sivola goes well in the Triumph then it pays a big compliment to IFYOULETMEFINISH. Thet dead heated at Taunton and both look pretty useful. Ifyouletmefinish may have come out on top that day had he hurdled better. 2.40 The Lavelle yard wont mind me telling you that they are sweet on the chances of Fox Appeal. Rocky Creek is one I like a lot, he thumped a very good sort from the Lavelle yard this season and he will surely run well. They are almost certainly playing for places though as BOSTON BOB looks a banker to me. His thumping of Mount Benbulben shocked me and the form is first class. 3.20 Edward Gillespie said on Tuesday that we have often referred to horses as the best since Arkle, he went on to say that a win for KAUTO STAR will remove the “best since” prefix! I hope he wins and then I hope he is retired. Tears due at 3.30. 4.00 I have arranged a box, oxygen and refreshments at the bottom of Prestbury Hill for Barbers Shop and Chapoturgeon. Having backed Salsify ante post I am happy to have another play in the form of MERCHANT ROYAL (16-1). Looked very impressive at Thurles on his latest start and looks to have plenty of scope. 4.40 My biggest bet tomorrow is on BOURNE (6-1) who could hardly have had a better compliment paid than that by Smad Place today. The form looks good and the yard are certainly bang in form. My only bet in this race although I was slightly tempted to have a saver on Street Entertainer who had a fairly “considerate” ride last time out! 5.15 The finale. I am putting my faith in what I think will be a good old fashioned Arthur Moore touch in the form of FREE WORLD (16-1). I thnk he has been laid out for this and I fully expect a good old fashioned punt. Nicky Henderson loves to win this race and Eradicate and Tanks For That should both go well. Slieveardagh should also go well.
I'll take solace in that hope. I did think United won the league on Sunday just gone. Our run in, on paper, is far easier than City's. To be fair to Sir Alex his line up tonight meant he was giving it a good go but we were just swept aside by Bilbao. Same old story i'm afraid, we're a few players shy of being a truly great team. Evra is a big weak link nowadays, the midfield, after Carrick, is either oft injured, too old to play week in week out or hugely inexperienced to render them sitting ducks in red hot atmosphere's like tonight. I'm sure Sir Alex will make a move or two this summer and within a couple of seasons (after this year) we'll be challengers for the Champions League. We are a way off that now though.
Congrats today Stick. You've been on fire since the bumper. Darroun's form is looking rock solid and i'm on him ante post at 20's. I fear everything but will stand pat on the Triumph. I think my boy has as good a chance as any but could easily finish tailed off at the back of the field. A very competitive renewal. Please can you all just cross your fingers for Boston Bob for me. After First Lieutenant finished second but ran so very well (and after a year long ante post punt by yours truly) in the RSA my heart has been well and truly broken. I tipped Boston Bob up very early this season and followed him since and I can't take another First Lieutenant disappointment!
cheers Quel, was picking the wrong ones in the toss up beforehand, thats how it goes huh. Some great shouts on here leading up to and during the Festival. Glad I joined.
