My ante-post bets for day 1 are all running, can't say that will continue through the week though. 1.30 Aramon I feel he has a chance if the ground gets no worse than the current good-soft, soft in places. He won well a couple of runs back and only went down to Klassical Dream in a head-bobber last time but he is 16/1 compared to Ruby's mount on 6/1. That seems a huge disparity with both horses on an official rating of 154. The Racing Post say Aramon needs to take his form to a whole new level to be involved but I think it's worth remembering that one time short favourite Al Dancer won the Betfair off a mark of 141 and on retrospective handicapping was 11 lbs well in in the Handicap Race. 2.10 Lalor Had a setback when defeated at odds-on last time, a result blamed on the ground. The trainer stated that Richard Johnson had encouraged her to run the horse on the soft ground that day, based on winning at Aintree on soft over hurdles. The one run that is hard to shake from the memory is the dismal effort on soft in last year's Betfair Hurdle, where he was stuffed almost 40 lengths behind Kalashnikov, when having a decent looking mark of 137. If the ground doesn't get any worse than it is now, Lalor has a shout on the form of his earlier Cheltenham win. Very lightly raced for a 7YO horse it may be that he is best fresh and doesn't take a lot of racing. This looks a winnable Arkle that lacks some of the cachet of recent renewals. 3.30 Buveur D'air Backed him very early at 5/1 and topped up at various prices along the way. He shortened up with a good return to action but was overturned by the Flat speed of stable companion Verdana Blue (A mare I thought should have won the Greatwood but for a mix of her jockey leaving her too much to do and then being unable to weave a clear path) That reverse, allied to the best mares coming to the party has seen Buveur D'air back out to decent odds and allayed fears of a non-contest on the day. I covered my bets with some Apples Jade at 14/1 and I reckon they are the two who can win this. Laurina has ducked the big time all season and she has yet to face male horses with her form against mares and mostly at further than a mile. For me she is terrible value and I think Apples Jade will see her off easily. Gordon Elliott said all year that Apples Jade would go to the Mares race but his hand has been forced to some extent. If she is to win a Champion this might just be the best chance she gets. For me, Buveur D'air is the one they all have to fear and if he runs as he did a couple of seasons back he will be tough to beat. It was harder work last season and he has been through uncompetitive races of little significance on most starts between Champion Hurdles. I hope he brings up the hat trick. The rest of the card makes little appeal to me. I tend to leave the handicaps alone as it seems like bingo to me. Good luck.
Cheers rudey, haven't had a chance to loo. Joe (Eddie) has helped me out by sending me the Saturday runners ready for import so I'm going to do that now
Best of luck all hope you all have good ones! Quamino 4:50 20/1 Discorama 5 30 13/2 Both expected to go very close and hopefully Disco will make up for last year! Paul feeling very confident either way, so singles and each way double, hopefully be a winning double though! Champion Hurdle is such a tough race to call, wouldn't surprise me if Melon ended up winning it after all the AJ v Laurina v BA talk, Melon always runs well at Cheltenham
I've gone with Felix Desjy @ 25/1 ew (5 places) in the Supreme. The opener looks a right old minefield (the first of many) but having had another look at last season's bumper FD catches the eye. 7 lengths away in 6th is hardly anything to shout about but if you watch the first 0.5 mile he fighting his jockey all the way. Having used that much energy up early on I think he did well to finish as close as he did. He's raced up to 20 furlongs this season so I reckon Flanagan will gun him out off the front over this shorter trip and see who can keep up. He may well set it up for someone else but it should be fun to see him try.
1.30 Al Dancer 9/2 2.50 Crucial Role 20/1, Noble Endeavour 14/1, Coo Star Sivola 10/1, Singlefarmpayment 16/1 all each way 3.30 Apple's Jade 2/1, Laurina, 7/2 4.10 Benie Des Dieux 6/4 ap 4.50 Lough Derg Spirit 20/1, A Plus Tard 8/1 , Tower Bridge 6/1 all each way Gone for volume in the handicaps as you can tell.
1.30 - grand sancy / Thomas Darby ew 2.10 - hardline 2.50 - minella rocco / crucial role (novices have a great record in this) 3.30 - apples jade 4.10 - Limini ew 4.50 - Movewiththetimes (If jumps) / Lough Des spirit ew 5.30 - Discorama / skipthecuddles ew
Supreme- Fakir D'Odairies/Aranom ew Arkle-Duc Des Gen/Us and Them Ew Ultima-Give Me Copper/Mr Whittaker Champion-Apples Jade Mares-Bennie win/Stormy Ireland win w/o Bennie Close-Riders on the Storm /Highway 1 o 1 4 Miler-Ballyward/Gun Digger Ew Best of luck lads and lets hope for a cracking festival
Seriously people, with this storm coming in. Don’t be surprised if Cheltenham gets called off tomorrow.not a word so far about the forecast conditions from the jockey club. I remember many years ago waking up to the news the the racing had been cancelled due to high winds. We spent the day in the pub.
