Nobody given this a start so far and it's a good days racing in my opinion! Even though I vowed to give it a miss for a bit on Tuesday or whatever I'll have a stab at tomorrow with my usual treble and accum. So for treble I'll have Fix it Right @ Doncaster, shutthefrontdoor and Vincenzo mio @ Cheltenham. Haven't looked for accum yet as im just about to leave for jamies italian in dundrum for the Christmas party from work but I will post when i look again! Good luck all!
I usually don't get involved in these types of races but I think Johns Spirit is a certainty tomorrow.
Why are you so confident? I though he looked worth opposing given he won last time off 10'2 and now has to carry 11'9. Colour squadron gets 2 lbs for a 3/4 beating, Ataglace on 9lb better terms for a 5 1/2 defeat. I know that's a basic way of looking at form, Not saying it can't win but just wondering why you think it's a certainty.
Guys, Ruby goes to chelters for 1 ride for Mullins. Let's take the hint. the French horse needs further and softer. Manly bet on glens melody for me
They've been playing games with him Hawkeye. I think he's a few lbs better than the current mark and the way he idled LTO gives me loads of hope/expectation that he'll pull out more if challenged. They've kept Richie on board which is a nice touch. Gemix runs as well tomorrow. I loved his win against Solwhit in France. Solwhit is a brilliant horse and he brushed the World Hurdle winner to one side. Solwhit could have been over the top that day and Gemix has subsequently lost but still an exciting prospect. So are the other horses in that field. I'd be disappointed if Salubrious could win though.
Fair enough, ataglance is my idea of the winner. Interesting race that last one, Wouldn't be surprised whatever won.
Back from holiday and what a days racing to come back to tomorrow- 13.15 - Tanks For That- 11/2 A number of reasons i like this fella tomorrow, he is 2lb lower than when runner-up in the 2012 Grand Annual, when second to has to be one of the rides of the decade if not the century the late Bellvano and is also the pick of Barry Geraghty. Would have needed the run lto and is very well treated and even tho he is not the easiest horse on his day he will be very hard to pass
13.50 Cheltenham- Milan Bound- 11/2 Another very tough race this, and the front two in the market are very good horses but even tho he has a bit to find on form, but is unbeaten in this sphere. But even tho Kings Palace thrashing of Creepy and Monbeg Dude looks better and better. I just feel there is alot more to come from my selection and with champ on board he is a good value prices
Thought id get my selections up nice and early for a change. Try and go through the card at Cheltenham but ultra competitive as always. 12.10 - Cadoudoff - Be interesting to see if Stick is around for this 1. Ran into 1 thats for sure in Royal Irish Hussar(who also runs today at Donny for a 4 timer) the form of that race looks very solid with Keltus in particular running a big race on Thursday against his elders. Good to see Coleman retained for the ride also. 12.40 - Sam Winner - Jumped and travelled very smoothly LTO against his 2 main rivals and just started to run out of gas 2 out(still only 3L down on them who both had a run previous) meets Le Bec on better terms here and money has been coming in for him already. 1.15 - Petit Robin - This is a dart to be honest, minefield of a race. Runs well fresh and Ran a respectable 5th to MTOY in the betfair hurdle last season too. Henderson has saddled 3 of the winners in this in the last 9 years. 1.50 - Potters Cross - Ran well in the Persian war to finish 2nd, then went up in trip and absolutely demolished his rivals whilst making mistakes on the way round. McCoy is the on McManus horse so would be interesting to see who he would have preferred if he had the choice. Kings Palace is the obvious danger and the 3lbs weight difference will be handy. 2.25 - Johns Spirit & Easter Meteor - Johns Spirit needs no explaining, on a massive upward curve and took another big handicap LTO when idling out in front after being left alone when Easter Meteor fell. Easter Meteor is now 1lb better off and would look to have a huge chance if both manage to produce the same sort of form. 3.00 - The New One - Love Zarkandar but im pretty certain we will see them attempt 3m next time out after he gets utterly trounced by this very special horse. His turn of foot over 2m - 2m 4f is just devastating and he even finds a lot off the bridle(Flat race when he beat MTOY was a perfect example). No doubt see him shorten in the market subsequently for the champion hurdle but im hoping for a race vs MTOY over a stiff circuit that will see MTOY winning to make him a more appealing price! 3.35 - Glens Melody - Won a grade 1 at the punchestown festival over 2m 2f beating her more fancied stablemate Tarla. Then went up in trip on seasonal reappearance and won easily. Ruby comes over for this ride alone which is a tip in its self. I feel the French horse needs a few furlong more and alot softer surface and is vulnerable. The danger will be the McManus horse who won a decent looking handicap last month and is 3/3 over hurdles. Others of note: Karinga Dancer makes his chase debut but the odds dont look appealing. Royal Irish Hussar should make it 4/4. Fox Norton ran him to a neck when giving 8 lbs but will need to improve a lot on that run to play a part. Harry The Viking makes his seasonal reappearance and is 2/2 at doncaster. Should hopefully get back to winning ways.
Lay LE BEC at 2/1 tomorrow. Sam Winner and Shutthefrontdoor ought to turn that around tomorrow. Also lay ROYAL IRISH HUSSAR at odds on 4/6. 1.50 Cheltenham MILAN BOUND 5/1 looks a really nice price. He is unexposed and his bumper win in Ireland suggested he was above average, with BENEMEADE 9L back in 3rd and even firther back WICKLOW GOLD, who won a maiden for Willie Mullins. He will improve as he goes up in trip and the ground is okay for him. If the Pipe horse were to beat him giving 3lb, that would be a taking performance so I think 5/1 for this lad is a really interesting price and I can see this lining up at Cheltenham in March. 2.05 Doncaster BROUGHTON 9/1 As I said, I want to take Royal Irish Hussar on as I think his win over Duroble Man and the reopposing Nifty Fox has taken a knock for form. Town Mouse was a narrow winner from that recently but nowhere near Triumph hurdle standards and this looks a horse waiting to be turned over by an unexposed one. John Ferguson is surely going to have a Triumph hurdle horse in his ranks at some point with so many lovely ex-flat horses going to him, and I like Doncaster as a starting point. Kashmir Peak upset the shorties last year in this and I anticipate the favourite being turned over here too. A tactical affair with Zarkandar and The New One again, with the blinkers back on Zarkandar, who reverts back to the minimum trip again. Zarkandar saw off the speedster Grandouet in this last year but theground was testing that day and he might struggle to keep The New One behind as he holds a lovely change of pace. A shame that we don't get a bigger field and a truly run affair- I think the Champion Hurdle will be wide open in March in terms of assessing the true value of form. For me, whatever happens today, The New One will relish the better pace in the Champion Hurdle come March.
Im going to attempt to see it out but anything like the last few displays i shall be calling it a night or else I wont have a computer come the morning!
apparently Mel Culinan is sitting in for pricewise tomorrow - she has picked- Colour Squadron & Salut Flo how dare Tom Segal have a week off
Not sure if I will have the opportunity to watch the racing tomorrow so probably a no bet day. I do however like the look of Tap Night in the 2.25 pm race at cheltenham. No reason why horse can not improve again and ok McCoy has not picked him but I think he's got an each way squeak at a big price. In the International hurdle - blinkers are back on Zarkandar I see so Im expecting a test for the New One but cant see Zarkandar beating The New One.
