Cheltenham 2020 Ante Post Thread

The CH is wide open same as it was at the beginning of the season.

The time to stop backing BVD was when he edged out Melon. Unfortunately people have their favourites with horses and follow them with their hearts like a football team and its their pockets that get burnt.

 

Master Tommytucker

Is a chaser trained by Paul Nicholls who really excited me when winning a beginners chase at Kempton last week

I know the great man thought he was the best horse they had last season but he broke a knee after a fall at Chepstow.

So to win last week on first run back and against good horses was impressive, and is my "Grade One" winner waiting to happen this season.

Far as the Festival goes think the JLT could be an ideal target and have had a small each way play at 25-1

 

Camp Mullins have a nice French import on their hands in the form of Fly Smart.I've taken a wee slice of 33s for the Supreme Novices.We should see him run over Christmas and I'm hoping for a pleasing first run for King Willy.

 

Then you would have missed the amazing prices at Newcastle and punchestown, normal punters where not backing him when he was losing at 1/5. He won half of the races he was backable in after his 2nd champion and easily level stakes profit at sp never mind best price in those races.

So don't think you've thought that through but nice try.

 

Big talk after a horse gets a season/career ending injury, couldn't make it up.

 

I see that Lieutenant Henderson is reporting that Might Bite may next be tried over hurdles. In response a few bookie chappies are now quoting him re ‘The Stayers Hurdle’ – 50/1 the biggest price on offer.

Not that dappy a plan at all, I would have thought, as Might Bite was a multiple winner over hurdles in his younger days. Plus, the Lieutenant has ‘form’ in bringing former top class staying chasers back for a crack at the Stayers – in ’16 Bobs Worth was 3rd in the race.

Meanwhile, I see at the weekend that this one jumped one of the Grand National fences after discarding the de Boinville boy! Might Bite that is not Lieutenant Henderson.

 

He jumped all the way round in second place after ditching his jockey. Loads of opportunities to bypass the fences but jumped them all, challenged and took the lead between the last two and then bypassed the last fence. If he had jumped that and finished first it would have been a very well timed challenge, as good as any jockey would have managed

 

Have you seen the pictures of might bite jumping into Native River? Could have been really nasty!

 

No. I watched the race and didn't notice that

 

Might Bite just wasn't getting home in his races last season. He kept fading out of it as something was amiss. I am not sure a 3 mile Flat race would help him based on last seasons efforts.

Buveur D'air is reported to be coming on well after his operation and is pleasing connections with his progress. You couldn't make up the ironic comment made by JP's Racing Manager Frank Berry though:-

“Touch wood, he’s coming on well,”

 

I have been considering Fly Smart for the Supreme. He looks to have the right profile to be a player in an open looking season with no strong candidate for the Supreme. Envoi Allen is short enough and his ultimate target is not set in stone given the trainer's comments and the position in the Ballymore betting.

I did see a tip for Fly Smart where the pundit mentioned that the Auteuil race where Fly Smart finished runner up had worked out extremely well with several future winners but when I checked the race it doesn't read quite so well because most of those winners had run several times and been beaten multiple times as well, so the form has its limitations.

Nevertheless, when Mullins and Rich Ricci are involved in an ex French import there is clear potential there and I am swithering about investing a few quid before he runs for Mullins.

 

Might Bite was clearly hampered. He was challenging up the inside and had to switch. Clever horse

 

Another hype job bites the dust in Andy Dufresne, probably be Albert Bartlett bound after that or just scrap Cheltenham this season.

The Envoi Allen form continues to stack up and where he goes will likely determine where a lot of other horses go to avoid him.

 

I said recently they simply must be considering it given how that division is shaping up, in a strong year no.

I initially didn't think the Royal bond looked up to much going into it but after it I thought I might have underestimated it and the runner up absolutely outclassed latest exhibition who has just comfortably accounted for one of the biggest names in the novice division.

 

Ron, what do you make of Andy Duffense action? Looks to me a bit like Samcro - high cruising speed but doesn’t find much off the bridle

 

Angels Breath out for the season.

https://www.racingpost.com/news/lat...ar-after-sustaining-serious-leg-injury/414841

 

Grade One Test on Boxing Day over 3 miles at Kempton, current odds of 3-1