My slight concern is his 2 defeats to Barters Hill who, as we know, isa stamina horse. Does BD have the speed and gears for a Supreme? I suspect UDS won't be given a soft lead and I think his jumping will crack under pressure.
Think we'll know where the future of the Champion Chase lies on Saturday if Mr Mullins sends UDS to Ascot. I'd hope to see an electrifying performance, most especially in the jumping department (the clear chink in his armour). If he hopefully kicks Sire de Grugy into touch in that, I think we know Sprinter Sacre won't be regaining no Champion Chase.
Only value, in the main at this stage, left now in the handicaps. Most of the horses at the top of the markets in the Grade 1’s won’t be much shorter, if at all, come the morning of the race (and that’s if they make it to ‘tapes up’, of course).
Most interesting race of the year thus far and I am hoping that SIRE DE GRUGY puts this upstart in his place. For the sake of an interesting Festival we want some close matches rather than foregone conclusions. Interesting to see on that card Value At Risk back over hurdles! I will be having a big punt in that particular hurdle but not on him!
What do you think about Kilcrea Vale being given a perch of 147 after winning a novice hurdle (worth a total of £5k) and then falling in another?!?
ridiculous opening mark in my opinion Barney but there is a novice in the race that I feel has been absolutely thrown in!
Shantou Village is a big price in the AB at 12s. Only worry (as with Barters Hill) is whether he goes to the Neptune. Big fan of Vroom Vroom. Cant see anything wrong backing her NRNB for the WH at 10s ew Backing Lami Serge ew at 8s looks like value as surely will be 2nd to Douvan. I would be interested in Road to Ritches if he went to the Ryainair and Vautour went GC. Can be backed NRNB with 365 at 5s Young Master ew in the Ultima albeit with that clown riding couldnt be too confident.
Vroum Vroum Mag is heading the betting for the OLBG Mares hurdle at Ascot this weekend. Willie said he will know more on her target after this. I still think she goes to the Mares once Annie is declared a no go. Why else revert back to hurdles recently? Hardly protecting her mark for a handicap at the festival ???
Wow! Your right, I had my first proper look at all the festival betting there this morning and was a little taken back by the amount of shorties heading the market. Will some of them win, no doubt. Will they all win, well it will take a lot of luck to do so. Just remember Annie Power last year when every man and his dog apparently were on the big acca. I think Barney is right, much of the value is now only left among finding handicap winners and possibly selecting some each way shots in the novice events who could be possibly over valued.
I've always and will be a fan of Mullins so I'm looking forward to seeing his A guns strut their stuff.Problem is a lot of the value is now gone and accumulators will be the order of the day and one or two will be beaten.Question is which ones to avoid!The most solid bet to me is a treble on Faugheen/Douvan and Vatour if he runs in the Ryanair.Im on Min ante post Ew at a nice price but he hasn't really beaten anything so I don't think he can be confidently classed as banker material.I also think UDS won a weak Arkle and has questions to answer regarding his jumping,I guess we will know more at the weekend when he faces SDG.If Fanny Power does go the mares route I don't think I can back after what she did to me last year!Willie will have some other live chances but I'll need to study the form abit closer to their designated races before I go wading in.
Sternrubin in the County Hurdle is certainly interesting - Dickie Johnson making all on him would certainly fit the bill and Coral go a stand-out 20-1.
Doctor Harper is intruiging me, thrown in against 2 decent horses by Pipe and jumping soundly but clearly not good enough to win. I think they will be looking at the novice handicap chase on the first day or possibly grand annual on Gold cup day?
That was last year Oddy. Hendo said he came into this year thinking he was a Neptune horse but did a piece of work prior to Newbury that was all speed. That sounds like the right Supreme cocktail to me- speed and stamina. Love the way he quickened and went all the way to the line at Newbury- not something Hendos Supreme horses of the past all did (My Tent, Darlan (R.I.P), Binocular)
One I really like for the Triumph Hurdle is Alan King's Gibralfaro. Now he is already a general 16-1 third favourite but he is entered at Ascot this Saturday and I can see him winning that and taking the Adonis at Kempton, after which he will be challenging AOB's beast for favouritism. So I'll be taking some 16s before the race at Ascot this Saturday. Very exciting juvenile who put up an awesome performance at Kempton on debut.
I've had an ante post bet this evening on Augusta Kate to win the Champion bumper at HQ. I took 12/1 each way for it with Betfair. Speculative to say the least but I like her and if she makes it, should give a good account of herself. Bookies bound to take the piss even more this weekend if UDS wins, currently 7/4...what will the mighty layers go if he wins ???
