A good thread and some interesting comments. Work commitments meant a non attendance from me which was my first non covid no show in 20 odd years. I caught up with a fair bit on catch up tv but wasn’t anywhere near as invested (emotionally or financially) as normal. Post festival the view of many in the industry seems to be that the 5 day festival is as good as done. I just can’t have that at all. The 4 day festival threw up a 4 runner novice chase ffs. I thought A Plus Tard/Blackmore victory in the GC was very special as was Hendo’s Consitution Hill in the opening race. I did research the Cheltenham membership options that Nassau mentioned and that does look great value. Maybe something to consider down the line. Finally the don’t take me home crowd seem to have generated a fair bit of commentary on social media. Their many supporters seem to think that it’s the entitled toffs who are against them. I’m a million miles from that social strata but I consider them a massive bore. Coked up ******s singing adult nursery rhymes does not in my view constitute an atmosphere. The feats of the magnificent horses and their riders create enough atmosphere.
Bit of housekeeping. Gericault Roque up 7lbs to 140, The Glancing Queen down a pound to 140 and Broomfield Burg down 2 lbs to 132. Huge talking point though must be Constitution Hill. He did make the 170's. His new mark is 170 - up 22 lbs.
Barney, yes he was tremendously visually impressive, yet in a poor Supreme Novices. Mullins' pair jumped like idiots and yes, Jonbon is a decent hurdler. The rest were, well, pretty dire. To rate him within 5 lbs of Timeform's rating of Sea Pigeon and 6lbs below Golden Cygnet can only be based on the handicapper's impression, not the opposition. Personally, I think it's way too high at this stage, whatever he may achieve in the future.
I never got round to days 3 and 4. Maybe one day I will!! Seems a long time ago already! Any antepost slips?
Has ante post betting contributed to the ruination of the pricing on the books in and around festival time ? The second it's over the betting begins for next year. I am very, very rarely an ante post bettor but I used a 10 euro free bet on Sir Gerhard 8/1 CH, Constitution Hill 5/2 Meghan Markle and Shiskin 5/1 CC. Pays over 1,700 but the likelihood of it happening, well, around 170 in one , give or take.
In my opinion, three things have ruined antepost betting for Cheltenham - 1 - Diluted race programme - Which race does a novice chaser go for? The 2 mile, 2 1/2 mile, 3 mile or even the former 4 mile? Same for novice hurdlers. Then you've got the question of will the Supreme/any other novice hurdle, go chasing rather than going for the Champion or Stayers Hurdle? Then you've got a top class mare, does she stay in mares company, or face open company? Does the Mares novice hurdle winner go for the mares hurdle, or over fences for the mares chase? As such, you've got horses in so many markets, and unless you've got a line to the owner, you've no idea which way the trainer will persuade them to go!! 2 - Cash out - People love this function of modern betting, but it is a double edged sword. You (a bookmaker) won't offer a massive price on one knowing that if it wins an egg and spoon race around Clonmel, that others will shorten it and you will be left with the potential of losing money before the antepost bet actually runs. This means that people can play in the margins, and get nice returns, but it also means the margins are squeezed so many fancy prices no longer exist. 3 - Non Runner Money Back - Closer to the festival, the big killer is this "offer". This links into point 1, you get a much shorter price with the fail safe of money returning when it runs in a completely different race. However what this means is that markets are artificially skewed and the punter seldom gets any value. If you wait for the day you probably get bigger prices on the majority of a field.
Not got involved in any 2023 wagers yet - for many of the reasons you mention. But the most interesting, and standout, quote at the min, in my book, would be Blazing Khal at 25/1 for the Stayers Hurdle. Don't think I've ever seen a staying novice hurdler come up the hill like this old boy did at Cheltenham, last December, and it was such a shame that injury ruled him out of the '22 Festival. One other quick point re 2023. It is amazing how many horses who performed so well a fortnight ago will remain novices for next term - Gaelic Warrior, El Etait Temps, Ahorsewithnoname (all over hurdles) and Gericault Roque and Mister Coffey (over fences). Could any return in 2023 and win a Grade 2 or Grade 1 novice-only heat?!? Re the Hendo pair Ahorsewithnoname has had her 'visit' to Golden Horn put on hold (for at least 12 months) and could Mister Coffey be the one to finally win the forum's favourite trainer The Grand National??? Next term both the NH Chase and/or the Grand National have already been mentioned as possibles for the 7YO son of Authorized.
Mr Coffey will need to do the first half of the NH Chase or Grand National in a horse box to have any chance.
Cor blimey that's a bit harsh!!! Did the steward forget to put the T in your late morning GnT?!? Mister Coffey seemed to handle 26 furlongs, on soft ground, at Cheltenham no problem. Even earning the comment 'stayed on' from our pals at the Racing Post as he sped from the final fence aided and assisted by the forum's favourite Corinithian, the younger Mr Waley-Cohen. And a mark of 141 looks lenient in my view with future GNs in mind. A step up in trip I think could, potentially, be ideal and don't forget the distance in both the NH Chase and GN has been reduced. Wonder what price Mister Coffey will be when prices are released for the 2023 GN (which will probobly be about 5 minutes after the running of the '22 version). Anything 20/1 or bigger has to be of serious interest. Doesn't it?!?
On the subject of novices for next year I see that the connections of the 5YO Saint Palais (153 rated chaser, 4/5 over the big 'uns this season) has said that in term 2022/23 he will be campaigned as a novice hurdler. If he can transfer that chase rating to hurdles then he will be a serious, serious player as a staying novice hurdler next season. 20/1 currently available re Saint Palais and the Albert Bartlett. Too put that mark of 153 into some perspective The Nice Guy earned exactly that when winning a fortnight ago and the last British winner, Kilbricken Storm, got 149 after his Albert Bartlett victory. Look I know not all horses have transferable form between fences and hurdles but if Saint Palais does...
Rare bone condition rules Shishkin out of Sandown finale It seems that the reason for Shishkin flopping at Cheltenham had nothing to do with the ground, a rare bone disease, so meaning he will miss out the Sandown race...
That's a bit harsh, old boy. I'm surprised as I expected better from you. As they say round my way, 'In Lieutenant Henderson we trust'. He was simply reporting the news to his adoring public after an extensive consultation with the vet (not THAT vet incidentally). A quick point re one I mentioned above. I see they are risking the novice status (for next term over fences) of running Mister Coffey in the Topham on Friday. The de Boinville boy replaces the forum's favourite Corinthian aboard the 7YO. Any thoughts???
