I'm off to Cheltenham tomorrow and looking forward to it tremendously. Goulanes is my main punt so far, but can't settle on what I really fancy for the big race. Currently got small e/w's on Astracad (20/1), Attaglance (28/1) and Carrickboy (25/1). Probably indicates I don't really fancy anything but as winner usually comes from first 3 in the market I probably haven't found it in my current slelections! Have backed Cross Kennon in the 3.00 as thought 20/1 too big. Good luck all tomorrow.
3.00 Cheltenham Recession Proof (Nap). His last run over hurdles (off a rating of 137) was a tremendous fifth place behind Al Ferof, Spirit Son, Sprinter Sacre, and Cue Card, in the 2011 Supreme Novices. Given those horses were rated between 142 and 160 over hurdles, his mark of 136 in this contest makes him outstanding at the weights. He suffered a double injury after that run and wasn't seen since- until two recent runs on the Flat heralded his comeback. Admittedly, there's a lot to be taken on trust, but the booking of Bryan Cooper is highly significant. If that ability is retained, he'll win this. Recession Proof. Best Price 16/1 (various). 1.50 Cheltenham. Spring Heeled. He ran a great race behind five time winner, Double Seven, at Limerick. Barry Geraghty again takes the ride, and he should certainly fight out the finish. Spring Heeled. Best Price 7/1 (Various) 2.30 Cheltenham. Kumbeshwar (Each Way) Alan King's horses are in tremendous form and Kumbeshwar stayed on like a lion to be fourth behind Somersby, Module, and Cue Card, in the recent Haldon Gold Cup, at Exeter. He made up well over 10 lengths on the run in, after being outpaced when Somersby and Module went clear. Admittedly he had fitness on his side. His chasing career to date has been very in-and-out, but all his chases in the last year have been against the very best- including two seconds against Sprinter Sacre and Sanctuaire. He runs today off a very attractive mark of 148- over what should be his best distance. He'll certainly need everything to go right, but is worth an each way punt. Kumbeshwar. Best Price 40/1 (various).
Small stakes e/w Lucky 15 on 4 of the big-field races at Cheltenham today: 1.50 Tour Des Champs. Looks well in at the weights here, especially with joint-fav Bradley who was behind him in the race won by Balthazar King here last month. I'm wanting a horse to be race fit in this but Burton Port, Knockara Beau, Spring Heeled and Monbeg Dude all look to have plenty of weight and I would hope that Tour Des Champs has come on a little bit from his last run and, as a 6YO, is open to more improvement than some of his rivals. Ground-wise his career wins have mostly been with cut but his run behind Balthazar King last time, which was arguably a career-best, was on Good, so I think he will have no problem with today's ground. His 4th in the Scottish National (10lbs better off with Godsmejudge today, and with fitness advantage) also shows that today's trip should hold no terrors and at 8/1 he looks to have a solid e/w chance. 2.30 Battle Group. Moved from David Pipe to Kevin Bishop last season and ran up an amazing sequence - Grade 3 handicap hurdle on the Thursday of the Grand National meeting (mark of 131), 2 days later on Grand National day he took the listed handicap chase at Aintree (mark of 131) and then reverted back to hurdles at Haydock to take the Pertemps long distance hurdle off a mark of 146. That makes today's chase mark of 150 potentially lenient as he was a convincing winner at Haydock and there looks to be more to come. In the Aintree chase he had John's Spirit 19 lengths behind and, although that one has a 13lb pull in the weights today, Battle Group won with so much in hand that the difference in their prices today makes no sense to me. Battle Group is now with Johnny Farrelly who has already had a hurdles winner in his fledgling training career and at 20/1 Battle Group looks a tasty price to give him his first big winner. 3.00 Cinevator. As I wrote earlier in this thread, this fella was given a ridiculous chase mark of 132 after winning a very ordinary beginners chase at Fontwell and on his next run he was well beaten by Alan King's Pantxoa. He was dropped to 124 for that and ran an absolute blinder to finish 2nd, at 50/1, in a 2m5f handicap chase at Wincanton. He was never really travelling in his last race at Kempton, when pulled up, and putting him back over hurdles today looks a very interesting decision. He has 3 hurdles victories to his name, all over extended trips, the last one coming off a mark of 120 at Exeter in April. The booking of Brendan Powell catches the eye and I am hopeful that the switch back to hurdles will see him run a cracker. He is certainly not a 33/1 shot. 4.05 Vilja. This is a very strong looking bumper but I fancy David Pipe's apparrent "second string" Vilja to go well at a decent price. This is a filly who is bred for the job, being sired by Bach who has had some very useful performers in the NH spehre such as Shoegazer and Frascati Park (a triple bumper winner) out of a point-to-point winning mare. Vilja ran once in a P2P and, although it is always difficult to judge the value of form in that sphere, she could do no more than win by a distance and it would be nice to see the Kilpatrick colours, made famous by horses like Sabin Du Loir or Tarxien for Martin Pipe, back in the winners enclosure. 20/1 about his chances this morning.
Also a fiver win trixie on: Royal Irish Hussar Shutthefrontdoor Timesremembered Right, that's Cheltenham sorted out
Really decent card at Cheltenham. I think the favourites win the first two but no value in the odds. So its the 4 TV races ; Burton Port [ew} - 4th in gold cup and 2nd in an RSA chase. Thrown in off 158 IF JJON has got him back to anywhere near his old form. At the odds worth an each way punt Radjhani Express- ridden by the much maligned SWC but his 5lb could prove very useful here. Slammed Tap Night at Ayr and won the 2m4f novice hcap at Festival. Should go well though Henderson horses not really firing yet. Recession Proof (ew) - Agree 100% with Tamerlo. Won a Tote gold trophy and 5th in a very hot Supreme novices . Well treated on handicap and Quinn team in good form. Toubeera- form of his last win looks very good with the 2nd winning a handicap off 129. Good luck to all
What another great days racing we have today. A couple that i like that i will be likely backing come March also. Champagne Fever - made for fences and up in trip. Perfect. Jewson bound by the looks of it African Gold - Another bred for the bigger obstacles and should be a big player this season with the RSA his focus Timesremembered - Bolted up last time out at Chepstow and won with 6l eased up. Looks like he can handle any ground and the trainer is in great form currently. My darts in the big handicaps fall on: Monbeg Dude - Won this last year before going onto win the Welsh national. The danger looks to be Bradley as he has a big swing in weights compared to last year. Nadiya De La Vega/Finians Rainbow - If the Finians Rainbow from 2012 turns up, he makes a mockery of these however we havent seen him for some time now. By the ground is a bonus and so is the track. It could be a plot by the yard to keep Finians in as top weight to give Nadiya a light racing weight and will be playing both. Salubrious - Won a hot handicap at the festival and finished 5th in a very hot listed race at the national meeting. Up in trip and we could still see more improvement coming.
First post on here so be kind please. just going to do a small e/w lucky 15 12-40 Herod the gt 1-50 Quentin Collonges 2-30 Battle Group 3-35 Toubeera good luck Guys
Very impressive from the Mullins hotpot Analifet. Absolutely pinged every hurdle and made it look very easy
Good afternoon Jamba - hope you and the missus got home safely I slept for 10 solid hours last night/this morning. I'm seriously thinking of getting out of bed soon Tam: you convinced me re Kumbeshwar, and although my main bet is on Ballynagour at 16's, I had to have some of that ew 40-1 I'm with Oddy re Tour Des Champs in the earlier race, and I'm assuming - but could be wrong - that Pricewise has gone for Bradley, hence the rush of money? Over at Wetherby, I really like the chances of Mojolika in the 3-15, had a good 4th place livener recently and a certain place at 10-1 Good racing today and tomorrow too, good luck all
Anyone else subscribe to the following mathematical theory: Paul Nicholls - Ruby Walsh = Crap Season ?
What a lovely jumper of a fence. Slight mistake 2 out but overall looked good. Excited for the season ahead
Has he had anything run well yet this season? This statement will probably come back to haunt me if his horse beats Timesremembered later on!!!!!!!
