The festival that always seems so far away is finally here.From a punting perspective I think there are better bets to be had later on during the week but here are my thoughts on tomorrow excluding the two handicapps. Bring it on!!! 1.30 I backed dodging bullets a few weeks back each way at 14s and i'm still confident he will come in the top three.My tenth or yours price is to skinny and favs and henderson dont have a great record in this race.I wouldnt put anyone backing champagne fever and it looks like there is some money coming in for him. 2.05-I'm on a quevega/sprinter sacre/simonsig/dynaste accumalator at 10s,i think dynaste is the weakest of the four but i'm still hopefull.Overturn is sure to set a frantic pace but I think Geraghty will leave this late and pounce near the second last to take this in style. 3.20 I'm a big fan of zarkander and think he will take this race.History is against hurricane fly and he hasn't beaten anything much in Ireland and might struggle to get up the hill.Rock on Ruby is sure to run a good race and will push zarkander all the way. 4.00 W'ont be having a massive bet on this race but fancy the favourite arabella boy to go well.Enda Bolger has a cracking record in this race and he won the cross country at punchestown last month
Un Atout Overturn (NB) Cloudy Too Hurricane Fly (NAP) Arabella Boy Quevega Shangani Let battle commence!!
13:30 - Un Atout 14:05 - Overturn 14:40 - Tour Des Champs 15:20 - Grandouet 16:00 - Uncle Junior 16:40 - Quevega (NAP) 17:15 - Carlito Brigante
Here's where I am at the moment: Jezki Simonsig Knockara Beau Hurricane Fly Arabella Boy Quevega Fourjacks At least 3 of those are likely to change several times between now and tomorrow
13:30 - Un Atout 14:05 - Simonsig 14:40 - Our Mick 15:20 - Zarkander 16:00 - Bostons Angel 16:40 - Quevega 17:15 - Carlito Brigante
Does anyone know what race Son of Flicka will be racing in holds more than one entry and i'm wanting to do a lucky 63 spread over the 4 days. I'd like to back this horse but don't know which race to put in my bet?
Lets role boys Champagne Fever & Dodging Bullets Got to stick with Overturn, on at 7s. Hey Big Spender (NB) Hurricane Fly or Zarkandar. FFS A New Story (would be a heck of a story) looks weighted well enough to win if he's as good at 15 as he was at 14 and 13. Quevega (NAP) Johns Spirit
My thoughts on a few races: 1.30 I will come back to tomorrow, I had a good look today and kept coming back to MTOY but I don't think he will win for some reason! Arkle - Simonsig is a certainty for me, Overturn will set the race up! Simonsig jumps and stays will get a lead and run away from Overturn up the hill Champion Hurdle - The Fly had problems last year and we didn't see him until January, he still managed to finish 3rd and best of those from off the pace! No pace angle this year, I can see ruby sitting close to the pace and cantering away approaching the last hands and heels Quevega wins Will look at the other races tomorrow but will have a big treble on Simonsig/The Fly/Quevega Will top up the funds with a bet on Hull tonight who I strongly fancy
I am very much against the shorties tomorrow but my only main concern is the going for Overturn. 13:30 - Champagne Fever(Melodic was my pick before he was pulled. Gave Jezki 3lbs whilst only beaten just over 1L. Has proven course form and doesnt mind the soft ground, this is sure to be a fast run race and he will stay much further than this 2m) 14:05 - Overturn 14:40 - White Star Line(I like Our Mick but the stat/trend with regards to horses winning this with more than 11.00 weight is very concerning) 15:20 - Zarkandar(Will be playing on PaddyPower with the Fly offer. With the going Soft i believe that will rule out Cinders & Ashes/Grandouet and i dont believe Binocular/RoR will have enough this year) 16:00 - Bostons Angel 16:40 - Une Artiste(Quevega's times have been getting slower each year and with a bit of juice in the ground i hope Une Artiste who has course form to go with it can get the better of the super-mare) 17:15 - Carlito Brigante
1.30 Un Atout 13/2 Win & Cheltenian 28/1 EW 2.05 Arvika Ligeonnire 7/1 EW 2.40 Loch Ba 12/1 EW & Monkerty Tunkerty 16/1 EW 3.20 Rock On Ruby 4/1 Win NAP 4.00 Uncle Junior 7/1 Win 4.40 Un Artiste 11/2 Win & Swincombe Flame 40/1 EW 5.15 Druids Nephew 7/1 Win & Hazy Tom 16/1 EW
There could be a new expletive record from yours truly tomorrow if Bostons Angel wins the cross country. I've backed him 3 times this season and each time he has flattered to deceive before being readily outpointed, the last time behind Arabella Boy, who I think will win decisively tomorrow and will be carrying my dough. If Bostons Angel wins I shall be cussing from the rooftops.
I predict that Zarkander will be the new favourite for the 2014 World Hurdle about 3.30pm tomorrow when Paul finally accepts that he lacks the pace to win a Champion. Anyone agree??!
Puffin Billy Tullamore Dew Boston's Angel Radjani Express All EW Then on the day, I will decide who I fancy in the Champion and also do a place bet on something in the mares hurdle.
Here's my picks for day one: 1.30 Champagne Fever - Puffin Billy 2.05 Simonsig 2.40 Merry Kind - Fruit O'Rooney 3.20 Zarkander 4.00 Outlaw Pete - Leac An Scail 4.40 Quevega 5.15 Colour Squadron - Ohio Gold Good luck guys, should be a good one!!
1.30 My Tent or Yours 2.05 Simonsig 2.40 White Star Line 3.20 Hurricane Fly (NAP) 4.00 ??? 4.40 Quevega 5.15 Carlito Brigante
A bit like Bensalem 2 years ago? The best handicapped horse wins this - in the 1980s 4 horses carried 11-00 or more to victory, in the 1990s 3 horses
