Who do we like in the Triumph Hurdle lads?I think this race is going to the home team as the Irish handlers look to have a weak hand in this race.Solo jumped straight into 4/1 fav after a visually impressive display but the time clocked wasnt exactly lightening quick and im not sure really what he beat was anything special although his trainer has a decent record in this event.The one that catches my eye is Allmankind after an impressive display in the trial race in November.We know course form is a hugh factor in this race and he should go very close next month.
The weights for all 10 handicaps at The Festival: https://files.constantcontact.com/205db977201/f948d16d-3aa3-4e1e-a56d-c0e9f499e49c.pdf
Entries for Cross Country, Bumper, Mares' Novices' Hurdle and Foxhunter Chase: https://files.constantcontact.com/205db977201/f834a24f-691f-4b86-aabe-026fce331f4c.pdf
If he runs in the Ultima [Tuesday] then the Gordon Elliott trained Alpha Des Obeaux should not be disgraced Is a classy horse and has proven form in big handicaps Currently 25-1 or Non Runner no bet 20-1
My main fancy in the Novice Handicap Chase is Tower Bridge. 2nd in the same race last year sent off 6/1. Without A Plus Tard (who is fav for the Ryanair), he's coming back to the same race off just 1lb higher, and he was 4L clear of the 3rd. He has way more experience than pretty much anything bar De Plotting Shed (who I also like at a big price if he gets in!) which can only be a help. I am a huge fan of the trainer, I think that almost guarentees a good jockey too with the owner being JP and I think the 20/1 NRNB is fantastic value.
Bryony Frost who can get her horses to jump is entrusted to get Master Tommytucker around Newbury tomorrow. Hot Fav at 11-10
NTD seems ultra confident about BDM for the Gold Cup. Insisting (with good reasoning, and almost sounding bitter) that Santini's odds are ridiculous compared to BDM's and has helped himself to the 50s and 40s. Now best priced 25/1
'Dazzler' Jacob apparently told the forum's favourite trainer (I'm not sure how much the Suede / Munir axis and NTD, himself, would have welcomed this!) after the Cheltenham race in January that BDM was totally fired up, 100% and primed to run for his life, etc., etc. that day. Santini on the other hand was far, far, far from as fully wound up and using it as a merely a 'prep'. The fact that Santini triumphed given this was quite a feather in his cap and this would seemingly make it very hard for BDM to get past him next week. Do agree though that the comparative odds are a bit skewed at 7/2 and 25's (even more so when the grey was 50's!).
To use a footballing analogy this is the equivalent of The Arsenal qualifying for ‘The Champion League’ (it did use to happen…honest) and then saying ‘no, instead we will play in the Cock-en-nee 5-a-side League, instead’. Decisions like this just give fuel to those (and I do subscribe) who fully believe that The Festival has got to the stage where it is now so diluted that its bordering on turning into a parody of its once great self. And if Rich Richtea, the heir to the biscuit tin fortune, makes a similar decision we could have the total joke that would be the potentially 2 best hurdlers in training going for ‘The Tony Blair’s!