Tiger Roll was such an easy winner last year that is tempting to look no further. Looking for an outsider, my first port of call was Pleasant Company who almost got up to beat Tiger Roll 2 GNs ago. However, Pleasant Company is now a 12yo and is 2lb worse off so I can’t see him reversing the form. Might Bite is the class horse but has been disappointing since his Gold Cup run. But I did notice him jumping for fun when riderless from the 4th and came with a nicely timed run to almost overhaul Native River (as I recall he only missed one fence). It is interesting that Nicky Henderson sends him here; he may take to these fences and run a blinder With Tiger Roll probably having a third GN his main target, I really like the look of Easysland. He came over in December to win at Cheltenham over the CC course, making it 5 wins on the trot. Went back to France and won another CC race over nearly 4 miles, and has now been sent back to Cheltenham for this race. Looks like a perfect preparation for this and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him come over for our GN in 2 to 3 years I marked him down as a banker for this at 5/1. Now 3/1 best price so no ew option now and no longer a betting proposition. However, with Tiger Roll at Evs, if you fancy the fav, 4 points on him and 2 points on Easysland would give you a return of 25% on your stake
I agree Ron - Easyland is a huge threat in this race and with possible question marks over Tiger Roll following his recent defeat looks to be the bet here.
Sorry it's a poor review compared to Oddy's professional write-ups. I struggle a bit with a mouse and on screen keyboard
Not a race I usually bother with (when I used to go to the festival it was always the one race I gave a miss and went for a quiet pint instead). Added interest of course with Tiger Roll this time around and the French seem to be mounting a determined challenge. I'll have a look after final decs and see how the odds are then.
I might actually go and watch the race this year. Unless I get hungry and want to get food whilst they go round and round in circles for a while. it is a really interesting renewal, and I think Tiger Roll is the good thing of the week, he needs to complete to be able to run in the Grand National and I think he has a lot in hand over the French horse. I actually think the horse that is most intriguing in the entries is Peregrine Run, who I expect will go elsewhere, but if he turns up then I will be snaffling some each way prices about him. The addition of Might Bite makes it a tad more intriguing, but he isn't the horse he was, and I think he will find this far too testing (he might end up in the Arkle Bar a lap too soon)
