15:20 Cheltenham - Jade De Grugy Grade-1, Class-1, Mares' Hurdle over a distance just short of 2m4f on good-to-soft ground. If odds-on favourite Lossiemouth drops the ball (which is doubtful) then this talented Doctor Dino mare can take advantage. Trainer has strong hand in this event, as stable saddles top two in the betting. Danny Mullins takes the ride for the one-and-only Willie Mullins. 9/2 best price in many places on the ATR site, at time of writing.
Darts of the first day are 1.20 Workahead 2.40 Happygolucky & Straw Fan Jack - although I don't fancy SFJ, I had to include as it was a good thing for me last in the plate 3.20 Had Golden Ace NRNB but was delighted it was pulled after the Mullins charade. Just added Dysart Enos without fav 4.40 Hot Fuss is all I have been looking at for the past 4 weeks 5.20 Gericault Roque in the last - some lovely races before long lay off and satisfactory return.
Hope we are all well and everyone is looking forward to four days of great racing. My darts for day one 13.20 Kopek De Bordes could hose up here but is a very short price in the opener. Henry De Bromhead is a cheltenham specialist and even though the yard was under a cloud recently I think Workahead is a good ew shout here. 14.00 Looks like the only danger for Majborough is the fences in front of him and should win. The Skelton horse can chase him home. 1440 The Ultima looks tricky as always and with yard firing at the minute i've sided with Henry's Friend for the Pauling team. Ive also backed Broadway Boy based on his course form even though his run lto was disappointing. Irish trained horses have a terrible record in this race so avoid them like the plague 1520 I love Lossiemouth but cant back her after such a hard fall lto and Jade De Grugy broke my heart last year by finishing outside the top three, mares eh! I'm coming back to good old Henry de Bromhead here who has a great record in this race. July Flower ew will be my punt. 1600 Constitution Hill should win but it won't be easy with BDA hot on heels. Forecast Con Hill/BDA 1640 I'm keeping this simple and siding with the boy wonder young Joseph's two runners in the JP silks- Putyourhandtogether and Beyond Your Dreams 1720 Im caught between Haiti Couleurs and Transmission in this one. I'd just about side on Transmission based on his recent course form even though he has Patrick on board. Best of Luck everyone
Famous Bridge ticks most of the stat boxes in the Ultima and was 4th last year off 139. He is just 3lbs higher this year and won the National Trial at Haydock last time in good style. He is my best bet on day 1.
OK, well in the absence of a comp, I working on a £10K virtual bank for the entire meeting First off is Tuesday 1.20 Kopek Des Bordes £1000 win at 11/10 4.00 Constitution Hill £4000 at 8/13 Wednesday 4.00 £1000 Jonbon at 10/11 Thursday - Friday 4.00 £4000 Galopin Des Champs at 1/2
Can’t do one this year Ron. My lad’s 14th birthday tomorrow so won’t have time unfortunately. May sort one for Aintree
I usually get increasingly desperate as Cheltenham week progresses however like others there a fair few races with very short priced favs which don’t interest me from a betting perspective so will just be watching. However a hail mary ew double on Day 1 with 2 ex Ivy Grower inmates. Happy Go Lucky in the Ultima and Kyntara in the NH Chase. Both now reside here in Shropshire with Mel Rowley. The current holder of the Welsh Grand national has proved more than capable and both of these have decent festival form which gives them each way claims off their current marks. Have backed them both in ew singles too. Good luck all.
Re Lossiemouth, its a swerve from me. Mullins said in the RP today that whilst she worked well last week he considered she would be 'just a runner' in the Champion and State Man had worked much better. Not the type of message I would want at 8/13 in another good quality race. I called my pal in Ireland today who seemingly has the in to one or two yards and he said, 'save your money for Friday and ABSURDE in the County Hurdle. Make of it what you will.
Absurde does look to have a great chance on Friday. 8lbs higher than last year but will be much better suited to likely better ground this year. Around 6/1 currently but will he line up?
My value bet of the day, that, so probably won't win. I rarely bet in handicaps, but since Cheltenham became the Willy Mullins Show (with supporting cast Nicky the Needle and Henry de Broomhandle), there's little to no value anywhere but handicaps. Will probably take on Kopek de Bordes with Workahead, and Majborough with L'Eau du Sud, small stakes just for the interest. And lump on Constitution Hill at 4/5 with Betfair Sportsbook's Odds Boost offer. That's the pro's bet imo, could even arb it on the exchange (but I won't). Roll on the flat.
I've done the day one mug acca like everyone else will have done, got a free bet on it. Besides that here's the rest: 1:20 - William Munny 6/1 (win with free bet) & Karbau 33/1 (ew with free bet) 2:00 - No bet 2:40 - King Turgeon 18/1 (ew 7 places) 3:20 - No bet 4:00 - No bet 4:40 - Slurricane 33/1 (ew 6 places) 5:20 - Gericault Roque 17/2 (win)/Stuzzikini 33/1 (ew 5 places)/Duffle Coat 40/1 (ew 5 places)
Day 1 and everything to look forward to, all of your picks looking solid ew bets with a few winners chucked in, but the reality that by day 4 it could be desperation just to get one placed...!! Anyway, lets see how we do today... 1:20 - Romeo Coolio, William Munny 2:00 - No bet, but would have L'eau Du Sud to place 2:40 - Henry's Friend, Whistle Stop Tour, Katate Dori 3:20 - No bet, but would have July Flower to place 4:00 - No bet, can't see Conny Hill losing though 4:40 - Hot Fuzz, Wendrock 5:20 - Transmission, Gericault Roque I will probably have a bet on some of the races as they come up, nowt much though... Good luck to all who are playing today, lets hope were still at it come Friday...
Oh go on then. Supreme - Romeo Coolio. I don’t like horses wearing hoods at Cheltenham and this race has a bit of a nutjob angle to it. The solid horses in it are Romeo Coolio and Workahead. The former has a higher level of form for me and is a good bet. Arkle - another race that could fall apart. The favourite has looked brilliant, but is he bombproof? Skelton’s is a stayer for me, and faster ground might find it out. Henderson’s horse is classy, but I’m taking the outsider of the field to do a Western Warhorse. I’m amazed Touch Me Not is 25/1 Ultima - good handicap. I like Henry’s Friend who has a graded win and also seems progressive. Happygolucky is the other I have to back… I fear it’ll bounce, but has the back form to make the price worth a go Mares - Lossiemouth should win, but falling last time out is a concern and I think you’ve got to take her on. I liked July Flower’s run for HdB and whilst she has loads to find, could she improve to feature in the finish? I think it’s worth a go. Queens Gamble would have been interesting at massive prices if the ground was drier. Champion - I want Constitution Hill to win, it’ll be great for the sport. However I feel you have to say that Brighterdaysahead is very interesting. We simply don’t know how good she is, and what happens if Constitution Hill comes off the bridle? I hope we see it and we see him deliver. Fred Winter - pick a straw. The two I came down with are Quantock Hills and Liam Swagger. The former threw away a race here when dead heating, but I do think he’s got loads of ability and I hope Cobden can smuggle him into the finish and not down the inside of the course!! Liam Swagger runs for one of the best new trainers in the UK, I like his form and he will surely enjoy the better ground. NH Chase handicap - I like the Irish in this. They seem to get their novices battlehardened, and Stuzzikini and Will Do are both very experienced in the context of this race. Yet they are 33/1 and 16/1 respectively.
I might stick a tenner on the 4-horse accy too but will look for e/w alternatives. With only 5 in the Arkle and 7 in the CH I think an e/w double on Romeo Coolio in the supreme and Kala Conti in the mares will be the way I go. Good to see Jack Kennedy back. In the other 3 races an e/w patent on Famous Bridge (Ultimate), Beyond Your Dreams (Fred Winter) and Haiti Couleur (NH chase). Small stakes stuff today.
Lucky 15 win for me today. Kopek Des bordes Jade de grugy State man (without CH) Stencil Good luck today guys
