Already on at 25-1 ew Barney But those bookie chaps don't seem to have run for cover at the prospect of paying me out as he remains the same price! Keep the faith though
Interesting Q&A session with Paul Nicholls (posted on his Betfair column): If you could only take three of your horses to Cheltenham, which ones would you choose? Zarkandar, Conti and Far West. How do you rate Dodging Bullets' chances? I think he has a great each way chance. Would like to see it not too soft. He's in great form. Do you think Rocky Creek is a Gold Cup horse for next year? Yes, if he wins the Hennessy! If you could train any other horse other than your own running at the Festival, who would it be? Easy, Sprinter Sacre. You swerved Cheltenham with Silvianco Conti last year saying the track wouldn't suit. What's changed? We only missed Cheltenham because he was coughing after Ascot and I wanted him right for Aintree. What do you rate as your best outside squeak at the festival? Hawkes Point in the four-miler. Which Irish horse do you most fear this year? SirDesChamp? Hurricane Fly. Will you have Zarkandar ridden differently, in the sense he will be up with the pace and not held up? All three runs this year he has been on the pace. So why change a winning formula? Daryl knows him well. What is your best handicapped horse at the Festival? I'm hoping Sam Winner in the Pertemps. And a few others I hope. If you had Tidal Bay five years earlier, do you think he could have mixed it with the likes of Kauto and Denman? On current form? Yes. After training a National winner and multiple Gold Cup winners, what is next on the 'to do list'? Do it again! Apart from the 'big four' at the festival which other race would you especially like to win? One day I would like to win the bumper. Do you think Silvinaco Conti has improved as much as Bob's Worth has since they last met? Yes and I hope we get the same result again! What horse, who has a realistic chance at Cheltenham, has surprised you the most this season? Unioniste. With no Big Bucks who do you fancy for the World Hurdle? Oscar Whisky. What are your race day superstitions? If I'm on a winning roll, I wear the same shirt and tie. If you could go back and train a horse you've had differently, which horse and what would you do differently? I wouldn't have run Master Minded in last years King George. Who do you fear in the Gold Cup? Bob's Worth and Sire Des Champs. If you were given £100 what one of your horses would you back? As of today, I would have £50 each way on Tricky Trickster in the Fox Hunters at 20/1. Paul, if you could train a winner in the Derby or Gold Cup which would you prefer? Gold Cup Who do you fear most in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham? On form, Rolling Star and Our Conor. Is there more or less pressure going into Spring Festivals without Kauto, Denman, Big Bucks and Master Minded? Definitely a lot less pressure, but I know what I would rather! What is your best chance of a Grand National winner this year? Join Together. Your tip for the Arkle? Overturn. Which Irish horse would you like to have at Ditcheat? Flemenstar. Will Tidal Bay carry on next season? Yes hopefully starting off in the hurdle race at Wetherby again.
http://www.racingpost.com/news/live.sd?event_id=1042212 COTTON MILL GOES FOR COUNTY HURDLE COTTON MILL will attempt to make up for last year's Cheltenham Festival mishap in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle and not the Stan James Champion Hurdle according to trainer John Ferguson. Cotton Mill was leading the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle last year when veering to his left at the second last, unseating Denis O'Regan, and on his first start of this campaign finished five lengths behind My Tent Or Yours at Newbury. Cotton Mill is one of the favourites for the County - he is a top-priced 10-1 with William Hill, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power and Boylesports - and Ferguson said: "I'll probably go for the County Hurdle. It's possibly his last chance to run in a handicap if he continues improving the way I hope he will. "He's gone up 5lb but went so well in a slowly-run Betfair Hurdle over two miles. We know he stays further so a good strong two miles will probably suit him."
It looks like Mr Henderson will rely solely on Megalypos in next Wednesday’s ‘Fred Winter’. Not many animals go from running in a Grade 1 to a handicap but this old boy seemingly will. Ladbrokes go 14’s although there are sure to be more plots than in an Agatha Christie novel in this heat. Meanwhile, I see the great man has described Simonsig's most recent piece of work as ‘simply fantastic’. Overturn supporters be afraid...be very afraid!
They're very sweet on Simonsig Barney - even more so than Sprinter Sacre by the sounds of things. I think the fact that he isn't Paddy Powers lay of the Festival is very significant indeed.
Disappointing news this as was looking forward to seeing how he fared....time to consider retiring him as he keeps getting injured and picking up niggles if you ask me Imperial Commander misses Gold Cup • A lung infection means Imperial Commander has once again been denied the chance to try and regain his crown in the Betfred Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies was convinced the 12-year-old was back in the same sort of form which saw him defeat Denman and Kauto Star in the 2010 renewal. Having pulled up with a broken blood vessel the following year he missed a whole season but came back at Cheltenham in January with a fine run when only narrowly denied by Cape Tribulation in the Argento Chase. Twiston-Davies said: "He's got a lung infection so he won't be going to Cheltenham - that's that. "What can you do? It's an absolute sickener but they are very delicate creatures. "I'm sure he's still as good as ever, he's been in great form, but you can't rush them. Hopefully he'll be okay for Liverpool."
Monksland looks out of the World Hurdle. Meade reported at a preview night that he's unlikely to make the festival and he had a bad day with him today. Very weak on Betfair and looks definitely out.
Just a reminder that as I'm on a course this week I won't be about to put up the latest 6-day entries when they are released at midday. You should be able to find the full media release in the Press Release section of the Cheltenham website.
Just checked the weather forecast and it's set to go down to minus 5 overnight during the Fest at Cheltenham, anybody heard any worries from the course ?
Has anyone been as unlu as him in tuerms of getting injured at the worst times? Sad for anyone when it happens so close to the highlight of the season
Attention Reebok: Cheltenian runs in the Supreme http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/article/465/8543576/cheltenian-given-supreme-go-ahead The weather can **** off - no ****ing snow or frost next week or I'll fecking kill someone
Them BBC long range forecasts are **** though Wuby - they give possible temperature ranges and they put the range as wide as possible to cover their arses Monday night temperatures are quoted as between -5 and +7 - that's a 12° spready. **** me my cat could do better than that. It'll be +2°C and no frost, I guarantee it
Excellent news Oddy I have him ew at 40-1. Main bet Un Atout of course but a couple of little savers on Cheltenian and also Mozoltov at 25's Hope the forecasters are wrong - I've got heating in the motorhome, but diesel is more expensive than gold atm
