Still think he is the horse to beat come March don't forget he still is a very lightly raced horse which on his 're appearance as you say he looked overweight indeed,1st time he had run that distance on Soft ground second time he had actually run that distance and second time he had run on soft, stable couldn't buy a winner not really ideal conditions for his come back run. He would have needed the run and I can easily forgive him for that mis hap (for those reasons) come the March spring cheltenham hill when AP has got him roused going over the last he will duly oblige and steam up just like he did last year
Lord Windermere at 16/1 for the Gold Cup could be a snip. He has only won three of his twelve chases and two of them were at the festival.
Hope your right Woolcombe. Just wanna see it run again not ideal going straight to the festival. Look at Annie Power people is doubting her going straight to the festival .. Wins easily if anywhere near her best
Obvious it's not ideal but he has had run in him albeit disappointing but for the reasons above , and if conditions are the same then what's the point in if the ground was good then he probably would but he's had a wind op I'm sure Jonjo will have him sport on come the festival ao I shouldn't worry to much, with Annie Power if she turns up she wins, her next best in the market ADE she is not even in the same league she struggles big time with the boys but f she does get beat and big if it will be a from her own stable !
Only danger i can see from Annie Powers point of view would be Glens Melody and last years 3rd L'Unique, however the latter has been disappointing since but there is no doubt she will be trained with 1 race in mind. Thought Taquin Du Seuil ran reasonably well before tiring near end, jumping still needs to be ironed out but even after making a few hefty mistakes he was still travelling pretty well 2 out and then had nothing left to give, again another who should now be spot on for the big 1. Vibrato Valtat beat Top Gamble who is a 153 rated chaser, giving him 3 lbs and winning on the bridle going away. Looked a serious performance and he is the only horse just now i think can get near UDS. Will absolutely thrive off the pace he will be setting. Massively impressed with Coneygree who should be kept to the RSA in my opinion, only issue with this is the fact Kings Palace will also want to make the running and they could ruin each others race in doing so.
The RSA could become very competitive with Kings Palace don poli coneygree and Apache jack. Hope Apache Stronghold goes the JLT route looks a serious
Coneygree is an 8 year old already and I would go straight for the Gold Cup with him. He is a very good jumper and it isn't like he is the sort of horse who gambles at it, he just looks comfortable over them much like Denman did. No point waiting to be a 9 year old, I'd have a go right away in a Gold Cup year short of a nailed on superstar.
Each way Canadian; Vibralto Valtat 7/1 Arkle Champagne Fever 7/1 Champion Chase Cue Card 7/1 Ryanair Rock On Ruby 10/1 World Hurdle Lord Windermere 14/1 Gold Cup A bet that could provide a lot of fun.
Al Ferof ruled out of the festival by the way. What a shame for John Hales. Never quite fulfilled his potential for one reason or another. What a Supreme Novice that 2011 renewal was.
I followed you Stick with a L15 each way Taquin Du Seuil @ 40/1 Gold Cup Ballycasey @ 14/1 Ryanair Jollyallan @ 10/1 Supreme Monksland @ 16/1 World Hurdle
I see that Willie has both Champagne Fever and Ballycasey entered at Ascot and at Gowran Park surely he will send champagne over to ascot and Ballycasey stay in Ireland but what you think he is trying to confirm with these too, see if Ballycasey is up to running in the Ryanair and if he is send Champagne to the Champion Chase or they think giving him a crack at the gold cup but that didn't wrk at kempton maybe a year too early for him. But 4/1 for him at ascot is IMO pretty good value seeing that my beloved Balders success is 9/4 and Ptit Zig (who has not great form) IMO and is leaving novice status for the 1st time is 11/4
ATR report that the trainer is recommending the Ryanair to the owner of TDS Tward. That's an antepost down the swanny for me. To be honest as soon as McCoy got Carlingford Lough up to win on Sunday I thought TDS' chances of lining up in the CGC would be slim. I didn't think he ran too badly on Saturday but never got into a jumping rhythm as he got knocked a few times by other horses at the obstacles. Which ever way you look at it though finishing 4+ lengths behind Unioniste getting 5lbs is not Gold Cup form.
Cheers Chan, luckily its NRNB but even still that horse will stay all day long. Could still be a major player for the Ryanair but have a feeling he could be done for toe and needs a trip.
I had high hopes for TDS this season, but for whatever reason he hasn't trained on and I couldn't be having him as even an outside danger for any race he goes for. He's just not that good, and like at fishers cross has run dismally since his novice season, and doesn't look at all like rediscovering any sort of decent form
Looking at the Albert Bartlett and got to give Blaklion a decent chance at 14s. Those at the head of the market lack match practice currently IMHO. Not sure whether they'll get more runs into them before March. Got to look twice at a novice who has already proven his stamina up that hill.
If BALLYCASEY wins at Ascot on Saturday his 14/1 Ryanair odds will be halved. I've already backed him preseason and took a bit more after his 2m defeat at Christmas as he ain't a 2 miler and never seemed happy on the day. He did beat Don Cossack fair and square over the trip last year but people seem to have forgotten that very quickly. Could just be different class at this particular trip.
