Tuesday, March 12 - Friday, March 15 This time in 7 weeks will mark the massive build up ready for the Tuesday, signalling the beginning of the Cheltenham festival. By the time the discussion begins running in the morning, that will give us a 50 day countdown marker until the Supreme Novice gets everything under way. This thread will cover form-lines, questions, suggestions, tips and, most important of all, any Cheltenham-related news articles. It will form a central source acting as a news feed - vital to the ante-post punter, in amongst the always-intriguing not606 Cheltenham discussion. What I hope we end up with is a great reference thread, so that come the Monday of Cheltenham week, everyone knows where to look for any news that has come out in the past seven weeks, a good idea of how horses have got on in their Cheltenham preparations, bits and pieces in terms of where antepost money is, who fancies who (not in that way, ladies and gentleman ) Your Cheltenham Festival 2013 Index Threads Cheltenham Festival Entries & Weights Schedule 2013 Cheltenham Festival - Index to Race threads Handicap Form Lines A Champion returns hungry for revenge... NOT 606 Cheltenham Festival Competitions Cheltenham Festival Stable Tours - video post - thanks to hawkeye The Cheltenham Festival Timeform Thread Cheltenham Festival Not 606 Ante-Post Portfolios Your tips for the Cheltenham Festival Championship Races What is your one free bet to be on? Banker/nap of the Festival Cheltenham Each-Way Good Things Festival Lays You are the trainer The meet up thread - Cheltenham Festival 2013 Festival's top trainer/jockey? Cheltenham Preview Nights (incorporating schedule and feedback) The Official Not 606 Cheltenham Preview Evening: 2013 Timeform Jockey Ratings: Cheltenham course specialists The NOT 606 Daily Threads where you can join in, or just view, the live discussions for this great annual spectacle Day 1 Tuesday 12th March - Featuring the Champion Hurdle Day 2 Wednesday 13th March - Featuring the Queen Mother Champion Chase Day 3 Thursday 14th March - Featuring the Ladbrokes World Hurdle Day 4 Friday 15th March - Featuring the Gold Cup Reviews That Was The Week That Was Highlight of the Cheltenham Festival 2013 Cheltenham Festival Review Have you ever seen a better chaser than Sprinter Sacre? Useful sites NewsNow Festival Cheltenham Site - All the information you need Festival Special The Cheltenham Festival Media Packs (Entries, facts and figures, past results) All the latest Cheltenham Festival Betting Odds, from Oddschecker Cheltenham Festival Special Micro Sites Racing Post Cheltenham Site ATR Cheltenham Site Skybet Cheltenham Site ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last year's Cheltenham Festival
CRUS PLANS ON HOLD- Racing Post The David Pipe-trained eight-year-old was pulled up before four out after being sent off the 5-2 favourite for Saturday's race and connections have reported him to have come out of the race quiet. Writing on his website the trainer said: "Sadly the results did not pan out our way and Grands Crus was particularly disappointing in the Argento Chase. "The Grade 1-winning chaser had been in good form at home since his fine third in the King George on Boxing Day and I was hoping for a really big run from him - the very testing ground would have been softer than ideal but I would not dream of offering that up as an excuse for this lacklustre effort. "He returned feeling sorry for himself and was quiet on Sunday. He will be freshened up now and all plans are on hold." Grands Crus had been as short as 7-1 for the Ryanair Chase, a race for which Flemenstar is the favourite at 7-2.
Our Connor Looks To Boost Triumph Credentials DESSIE HUGHES is hoping Our Conor can cement his position as a "serious" JCB Triumph Hurdle contender when he steps into Grade 1 company for the first time next month. Hughes, who landed back-to-back Champion Hurdles with Hardy Eustace in 2004 and 2005, has nominated the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on February 9 as the four-year-old's next outing, where victory would see his Triumph Hurdle odds of 16-1 shorten dramatically. "The next couple of weeks will tell us where we are with our big festival hopefuls and hopefully this fellow will have come out of his trial well," says Hughes in Wednesday's Weekender. He adds: "He won on the Flat for us last summer but was always going to be a hurdler and he won first time out like I expected - very easily. We raised the bar for him next time in a Grade 3 juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse and again he did his job as we hoped. "You never know how good they really are until they take on the better ones but he has done everything nicely so far. He is an exceptionally good jumper who acts on any ground and I would like to think he could be a serious Triumph horse." RE: MINSK Hughes also has festival aspirations for the highly-touted Minsk, who finished runner-up in the Grade 2 Slaney Hurdle at Naas earlier in the month. He too will prep for the festival in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown on February 9 before a possible tilt at the Neptune Investment Novices' Hurdle. Hughes says: "He came out first time this season and won his maiden hurdle like a class act at Punchestown. We then took on Jezki at Fairyhouse in December in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle and he travelled well for a long time before the ground took its toll. "His last run over two and a half miles at Naas wasn't his finest as he went far too fast early in heavy ground and set it up for Rule The World. He still finished second but is a better horse than he showed there. He will drop in trip next time for the Deloitte Novice Hurdle over two mile and a quarter miles. "He likes decent ground but it has been far too soft for him this winter. I hope he will go to Cheltenham on faster ground in the Neptune Hurdle." Minsk is a general 25-1 shot of the Neptune.
PUFFIN BILLYSureme Novice bound? -ATR Puffin Billy is likely to run in the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle over two miles at the Cheltenham Festival if the ground remains on the soft side. Trainer Oliver Sherwood had previously stated he was favouring the longer Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle for his unbeaten youngster, but the prevailing conditions have seen him have a change of heart. Puffin Billy was entered last weekend in the race won by Rebecca Curtis' At Fishers Cross, but Sherwood decided to swerve it as he did not fancy running him over two miles and five furlongs for the first time in heavy ground. "I was perturbed about running over that trip for the first time on very tiring ground," Sherwood told At The Races. "If it had been two miles I would have taken those horses on but, as everyone knows, Billy can be quite keen over two miles. "I was aware of him having a hard race quite close to the Festival. I was not scared of the opposition, I was impressed by them but I didn't want him having a hard race before March. "He'll go to Exeter on Sunday week for a Listed hurdle over two-one. He's in A1 form and I'm very happy with him. "He'll have entries in both races in March. I know I said I was swaying towards the Neptune but my gut feeling, if it's soft ground, (is) he'll almost certainly run in the Supreme and if it's drier than that, I might switch to the Neptune. I'm pretty certain we'll wait until closer to the race (before making a definite decision). "I'm sure punters will understand six weeks is a long time between now and Cheltenham. My gut feeling is two miles at the moment if the ground stays as soft as it is."
BHA. Emma Lavelle expects Kentford Grey Lady to revert to the mares' division come the Cheltenham Festival. Good enough to finish second to Quevega in the last David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle, the sturdy seven-year-old took a Sandown handicap in December and was a respectable third behind Reve De Sivola and Oscar Whisky in Saturday's Cleeve Hurdle. "She ran an absolute blinder," said the trainer. "Although she would improve a bit on that, and on better ground, probably the same could be said for everyone else so I think she will probably go for the David Nicholson again. "She might be chasing home Quevega again, although there's always hope she will beat her. I think we might have one more run in the Rendlesham at Haydock and then make a final decision."
Just looked at the strike rates of the posters in last years thread... Jesus Christ lads that was a woeful performance from you lot!
I don't think that DT's midweek tell a complete picture Bob. Players who work behind company firewalls can't usually join in those - as myself last year. I actually had a decent Chelts for once, with some reasonable priced winners including ride of the season and 20-1 shot Bellvano And I imagine I wasn't the only one to be firewalled! I have since retired and am really looking forward to my first uninterrupted Cheltenham, although whether the tipping will be any good is anyone's guess
I was only joking. Cheltenham is hard to predict sometimes. It was a rubbish week for some though by the looks of things.
I will try harder this year I am much more confident this season, I already know all the winners. Wait for my write up on the Byrne Group Handicap Chase, before the decs have been formalised too!
Seriously, we took some nasty hits that week. I am hoping to have learnt from the experience though. I had some bad luck antepost as Sir Des Champs went the Jewson route. But there were so many horses last year who were massive favourites- Hurricane Fly, Sizing Europe, and Boston Bob all looked Bomb Proof. The Supreme was a very hard race to solve last year as Cinders and Ashes was never really tested before the festival. Sometimes you can over analyse when you are seeking antepost value. Iv taken a much more simplified approach this year and I am happy where I am at. Hopefully we can really fight back strong at this years festival. I think we will.
Agree with that Toppy - I had two 20/1 winners at the festival last year but didn't mention either of them in that thread, one in the bumper and the other Bellvano. Looking back though, I did tip Voler La Vedette to chase home Big Buck's and the exacta paid a lovely 23.90 Love my classic analysis of the Ryanair though: "Lay Riverside Theatre all day, he isn't a Cheltenham horse" mind you, it was Geraghty that won the race
I had to exhale. Funny thread. Your champion is here now so all our fortunes are much brighter this year.
MONKSLAND Noel Meade says he would not swap Monksland for any other horse in what looks set to be a wide-open renewal of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. With four-times winner Big Buck's sidelined by injury, the stage is set for a new staying star to step up to the plate in March, but at this stage it is difficult to know how many of the leading contenders will even run in the race, let alone win it. Reve De Sivola and Oscar Whisky dispute favouritism after finishing first and second respectively in Saturday's Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham and Monksland would appear third in line, with leading mare Quevega unlikely to line up and doubts over the participation of Tidal Bay. Meade's six-year-old certainly looked the part when winning on his first attempt at three miles at Leopardstown over Christmas and the trainer is looking forward to seeing him line up at Prestbury Park. "He's good at the moment and he's going straight to Cheltenham," said Meade. "There are plenty of people hoping their horses will be good enough and plenty of contenders and we're one of them. "The two horses in England the other day both ran very good races I thought and we'll just have to see where we fit in. "We think there is a bit more improvement to come from our horse and if anything, he might be a shade better horse on better ground. I wouldn't swap him."
QUINN HOPING KASHMIR PEAK CAN BRING REPEAT TRIUMPH SUCCESS -Sporting Life A decent horse for Ger Lyons on the Flat, the four-year-old has made an excellent start to his career over obstacles, impressing on debut at Market Rasen before claiming a Grade Two prize at Doncaster. Quinn saddled last year's Triumph Hurdle hero Countrywide Flame and believes Kashmir Peak measures up well ahead of his run in this weekend's John Smith's Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial. "He's in good fettle and he'll probably go to Musselburgh at the weekend I think," said the North Yorkshire-based trainer. "We think he's a fair horse. There are a lot of good horses around and the Triumph Hurdle is a difficult race to win, but we like this lad a lot. "I suppose he's comparable to Countrywide Flame last year in that they both have Graded form and they are two tough horses. We'll know more after he runs this weekend." Kashmir Peak is not the only smart juvenile hurdler Quinn has in his care, with both Doncaster scorer Calculated Risk and runaway Wetherby winner Hidden Justice also held in high regard. They too could come into the reckoning for the Triumph, depending how they perform in the next week to 10 days. "Calculated Risk is a nice horse as well and the plan is for him to go to Huntingdon next week. Hidden Justice will run at either Catterick or Sandown this week," said Quinn. "They'll all be entered in the Triumph Hurdle, I think they're all fair horses who should win their fair share of races." Kashmir Peak is a best priced 16-1 for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, with Calculated Risk and Hidden Justice both available at 33-1
PONT ALEXANDRE NEPTUNE BOUND- Mullins -ATR Pont Alexandre looks a future star for trainer Willie Mullins after he ran out a mightily impressive winner of the Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. On a day when stablemate Hurricane Fly stole the show in the BHP Irish Champion Hurdle, Pont Alexandre confirmed his arrival on the scene with a stylish display as part of a four-timer for the trainer. He had looked a bit special with a highly convincing successful first run for Mullins and owner Rich Ricci in a Grade One at Navan last month and the five-year-old reinforced that impression when making all the running in the pouring rain under Ruby Walsh. The 4-7 shot was never challenged and pulled away in the straight for an 11-length romp over Sizing Gold, with Our Vinnie third. It was a performance that had Cheltenham written all over it. Mullins said: "It was a huge performance to make all in that ground and in that weather and to burn off the horses behind him. He just destroyed them with that good jump at the second-last. I'm looking forward to going to Cheltenham with him, but what I'm really looking forward to is sending him over fences. "Ballycasey (the winner's stablemate) looks like he might go for the Albert Bartlett, while Pont Alexandre seems to have plenty of speed and will go for the Neptune." Paddy Power slashed him to 3-1 favourite from 6-1, while William Hill went 5-1 from 7s.
