Been offered a few freebie tickets for Cheltenham through work Some limited hospitality. Does anyone want them?
VIP WEDNESDAY Sending these out early guys - might have one or two more in the morning. 1.55 BANGOR ON DEE - OSTEND 14/1 - 0.25 EW 3.53 WETHERBY - BOWLING BUDDY 9/2 - 1 point win 4.15 WINCANTON - ONE TRUE KING 12/1 - 0.5 EW 5.00 WETHERBY - OUR BILLS AUNT 6/1 - 1 point EW 5.30 KEMPTON - FREAK ENCOUNTER 5/1 - 1 point EW Smaller bet for OSTEND who is the outsider in the race for the Bangor opener. The fav is 8/11 so hardly worth backing but sets a good standard. Theres only two places paid here but last time out faller OSTEND has yet to be seen to best ability. I am friends with the breeder of this horse so have followed it closely (same lad that gave us SHAGRAAN last year) - This is a class 3 affair but worth noting OSTEND ran well in the class 2 at Ascot last year off a mark off 126. Marks now eased to 117 and this is a drop in class. Last few efforts have been poor so we get good value for him. BOWLING BUDDY form 23111214. Keeps improving and step up in trip can’t do any harm for him. Conditions should be more sutiable for BOWLING BUDDY than David Maxwells OFF THE JURY in my opinion - prefers good ground rather than soft. OUR BILLS AUNT was well beaten in attempt to follow up surprise win at Leicester in January. She finished 12 lengths behind GENTLEMAN JACQUES (who runs tomorrow as well actually) - this GENTLEMAN JACQUES was clearly miles ahead of the handicapper so I think we can draw the line under that runner up spot and assume OUR BILLS AUNT can put another solid run together here. Form is solid, rarely outside the places - in last 15 races hit the money 70% of the time. I think ONE TRUE KING is a huge price here. 3lb claimer on, has multiple wins on soft. Main concern is still ground - can it handle heavy? Big drop in class, secondary concern is the long lay off… Saffie Osbourne back from the Dubai Cup will take the ride on FREAK ENCOUTNER again this time at Kempton. First run here, 1lb down in the handicap after a 3rd place at Chelmsford last week. Value is there to try again at 5/1 but mark is high. Seen to best effect when ridden prominently. Won recently when Carson made all on him at Lingfield. A low stall draw gives Saffie Osbourne that chance to get the early lead and that could see us back in the winner enclosure again with this one. Total points 3.75
VIP Saturday Newbury 1.20 NEWBURY - CREDO 10/3 - 1 point win 2.30 NEWBURY - JASMIN DE GRUGY 5/4 - 1 point win 3.05 NEWBURY - JURANCON 5/2 - 1 point win 3.45 NEWBURY - KANDOO KID 9/1 - 0.5 EW 4.15 NEWBURY - LOVERDOSE 10/3 - 1 point win Total 4.5 points VIP SATURDAY KELSO 1.10 KELSO - HELNWEIN 13/8 - 1 point win 3.30 KELSO - FAVOUR AND FORTUNE 6/1 & FLORIDA DREAMS 14/1 - 0.5 EWs 4.39 KELSO - LEADER IN THE PARK 11/8 - 1 point win
Cheltenham tomorrow My first bet is in the Ultima. It’s a race the Brits usually do well in. I’m on THE CHANGING MAN. Good luck to you all this week.
