1 30 - Far West 2 05 - Tricky race with a few old crackers like starluck, punjabi, clerks choice etc but will go with Cotton Mill 2 40 - African gold 3 20 - Long run 4 00 - Backstage 4 40 - Hope Pipe wins it but think Paint the clouds will 5 15 - Oiseau De Nuit
What's with every thread getting 5* votes, i mean every thread seems to be getting it, even small threads with not much content!?
Lucky 31 CHELTENHAM 14:05 COUNTY HURDLE (HANDICAP) 2m 1f Tennis Cap @ 9/1 (GP) CHELTENHAM 15:20 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP 3m 2 1/2f The Giant Bolster @ 14/1 (GP) CHELTENHAM 16:00 FOXHUNTERS' CHASE 3m 2 1/2f Faasel @ 33/1 (GP) CHELTENHAM 16:40 MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP HURDLE 2m 4 1/2f] Double Ross @ 20/1 (GP) CHELTENHAM 17:15 GRAND ANNUAL HANDICAP CHASE 2m 1/2f Tetlami @ 16/1 (GP) Lucky 63 CHELTENHAM 14:05 COUNTY HURDLE (HANDICAP) 2m 1f Edgardo Sol @ 25/1 (GP) CHELTENHAM 14:40 ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES' HURDLE 3m Cloudy Copper @ 12/1 (GP) CHELTENHAM 15:20 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP 3m 2 1/2f Captain Chris @ 12/1 (GP) CHELTENHAM 16:00 FOXHUNTERS' CHASE 3m 2 1/2f Faasel @ 33/1 (GP) CHELTENHAM 16:40 MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP HURDLE 2m 4 1/2f Toner Doudairies @ 9/1 (GP) CHELTENHAM 17:15 GRAND ANNUAL HANDICAP CHASE 2m 1/2f Shooters Wood @ 16/1 (GP) Lucky15 MAIN BET CHELTENHAM 13:30 TRIUMPH HURDLE 2m 1f Far West @ 9/2 (GP) CHELTENHAM 14:40 ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES' HURDLE 3m African Gold @ 6/1 (GP) CHELTENHAM 15:20 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP 3m 2 1/2f Silviniaco Conti @ 9/2 (GP)) CHELTENHAM 16:00 FOXHUNTERS' CHASE 3m 2 1/2f Salsify @ 11/4 (GP)
1.30 Cheltenham Kashmir Peak 14/1 NB Praying that the forecast rain stays away tomorrow as John Quinn's 4 year old will definitely be seen at best effect on good ground and despite not coming here with an ideal preparation I think he's been hugely underestimated and I think he'll run a massive race which should be ideally run to suit. Formerly pretty decent up to 11f on the flat for Ger Lyons, Kashmir Peak made his debut for John Quinn at Market Rasen back in November when he struck me as a really, really good horse. Off a steady pace, Kashmir Peak jumped very professionally for his first start over hurdles and despite putting in a mistake at the last he quickened clear in the style of a classy animal as he responded instantly to pressure to quicken clear to score by 9L. Although the form of those in behind is poor, it was the manner of victory that really caught the eye and it was a highly impressive debut. Given the nature of victory, Kashmir Peak was stepped into a Grade 2 at Doncaster a month later when he made it 2-2 over hurdles with another impressive display - this time showing excellent battling qualities in a race and at a course that were against him. Sitting in 3rd early on, Kashmir Peak actually dropped back to 2nd last after jumping the 5th but Dougie Costello wasn't worried. Heading into the home straight, Costello brought Kashmir Peak to the stands rail and he was still travelling quite well as he kept his mount up to his work. After jumping the last level, he hit the front inside the furlong to repel the late challenge of Sametegal to score by 1L. I firmly got the impression that Kashmir Peak still had a bit left in the locker as he was always holding his late challenger and he showed a real gritty attitude that day on a galloping flat track that wouldn't have seen to his best effect. Kashmir Peak's last start came at Musselburgh at the start of February when pitted against Sametegal off level weights (received 3lb the start before). He jumped Novicey on occasion that day and took a keen hold and he was still going perfectly well when he stumbled after 4 out and unseated Costello but thankfully he galloped away unscathed. Its impossible to know what the result would have been that day but he certainly wasn't in any trouble at the time and I personally think he would have confirmed the form. Obviously in an ideal world I would have preferred him to have completed that race but John Quinn has decided to send him straight to the Triumph Hurdle without another run. Kashmir Peak has really shaped as if he will love a really fast run race which he is very likely to get here and I think he'll relish Cheltenham's steep up hill finish and undulating nature a lot. Dougie Costello had a difficult choice to make between Kashmir Peak and unbeaten stablemate Hidden Justice in this race and for all Paul Carberry is an eye catching booking on the latter Costello would have had first choice and I'm glad to see him maintain the partnership. Rain is forecast to hit Cheltenham at midday tomorrow and I'm really hoping it doesn't hit as the softer it gets the worse for Kashmir Peak's chances but I really hope he's allowed to take his chance as I'm on him at 33s antepost. Trainer John Quinn seems to have his horses in fine form at the moment and took this race last year with Countrywide Flame and clearly knows what sort of horse is needed to land this. Although Our Conor has been supremely impressive to date, I'm hoping Kashmir Peak can lower his colours and turn an average Festival for me into a great one. 2.05 Cheltenham Manyriverstocross 40/1 & Discoteca 25/1 My main bet is on Alan King's fascinating contender Manyriverstocross who had been off the track for 27 months with a stress fracture before reappearing in the Betfair Hurdle last month and if still retaining his ability as a 8 year old I think he's got a chance much better than his odds suggest given that his recent run will clearly bring him on an awful long way. A pretty talented horse on the flat, Manyriverstocross proved equally as talented in his juvenile hurdling days when comfortably landing a Grade 2 way back in December 2009 before he ran an absolute blinder to finish 7th in the 2010 Neptune Hurdle but his finishing position does not do that run justice. At the 2nd flight, Manyriverstocross was hampered horrendously by the fall of Quel Esprit in front of him and Choc Thornton performed miracles that day to stay on board in an incident that surely took an awful lot out of the horse as he dropped back to the rear of the field. He showed tremendous resolution to get back into the race after that to finish a 15L beaten 7th as he was taken care of after the final flight when his chance was gone but he surely would have been challenging for a place had that horrible incident not occurred. That was his 2nd last start before a stress fracture saw him off the track for over 2 years with his final start prior to the injury coming on his seasonal reappearance with an absolutely belting run in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham when finishing 3rd off a mark of 138. The form of that race is absolutely superb with the winner Menorah a high class hurdler who would go on to run superbly in the Champion Hurdle. Furthermore, the runner up Bothy went on to go down by a short head on his next start over hurdles off a 9lb higher mark in the similarly competitive Totesport Trophy before running an absolute blinder to finish 2nd in the Coral Cup when running into the very well handicapped Carlito Brigante off an 11lb higher mark that season. The form was franked over and over again by those in behind which include Any Given Day, Olofi and Get Me Out Of Here and it was a superb effort. Additionally, he may not have even been 100% wound up given that it was his first start since the Neptune 8 months earlier but it was clear that he was a very progressive horse at the time. Its a shame his injury sidelined him for such a long time but he made his belated reappearance in the Betfair Hurdle last month where he shaped as if he still retains his ability as tomorrow's jockey Wayne Hutchinson definitely took care of him as he came home to finish a promising 10th. That run should have improved his fitness no end and I really don't think Alan King would be risking him at the Cheltenham Festival given they spent so long nursing him back to health for a spin around. Given his lengthy absence, the handicapper has dropped him to a mark of 135 and he's undoubtedly very well handicapped on old form if he is the same horse of 27 months ago but at 8 years of age I certainly don't think its out of the question that he is. He's proven he goes well at Cheltenham at the other course and seems to handle any ground and a strongly run 2 miles should see him at his best. Alan King clearly has his horses in fine form as he had the first two home in the Coral Cup on Wednesday and although he's clearly got a big question mark over his head that is more than factored into his price at 40/1. He's a risky proposition and by no means guaranteed to run a big race but it would be absolutely fantastic for the patience of connections to be rewarded if he were to land this very tricky handicap. Going into this Festival, I strongly felt that Gigginstown would give the extremely talented young jockey Jane Mangan a horse with a very good chance in a handicap and I'm hoping she has just that on Gordon Elliott's Discoteca. Another horse who I will be praying the rain doesn't arrive for, this 5 year old comes here on the back of a couple of lovely runs in big handicaps at Leopardstown on soft ground and if getting a sounder surface that Elliott has time and time again stated he needs I think he's going to run a huge race despite being 8lb higher than his last run. A fine horse on the flat for Andrew Balding, Discoteca started off his hurdles career a little slowly for Elliott before really finding his feet when scoring 4 times consecutively between April and July last year before disappointing slightly at the Galway Festival on his final start last season. After a run at Dundalk to blow away the cobwebs, Discoteca ran a fine 5L beaten 4th on handicap debut off a mark of 130 at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival before improving again when finding only Tennis Cap too good over the same C+D off a 2lb higher mark last month as he was beaten by 3.5L. That day the winner had first run on Discoteca but it wouldn't have made a difference as Elliott's charge couldn't quicken up on the soft ground. Tennis Cap reopposes tomorrow and is currently battling it out for 2nd favouritism but I think the (hopefully) better ground and 13lb swing in the weights (when you include Mangan's claim) will allow this progressive looking 5 year old to reverse that form. Jane Magan is value for every ounce of her 7lb claim and despite being only 18 she is already a heck of a rider and someone who will have a long future in this game. I see her booking, which allows Discoteca to race off a lovely weight of 10-5, as a definite positive and for those of you who aren't familiar with her trust me -she's excellent. Gordon Elliott clearly has his horses in fine form as he landed the Fred Winter on Wednesday with Flaxen Flare and despite having to overcome a mark of 140 I think this improving 5 year old looks primed to run a big race.
4.40 Cheltenham Paint The Clouds 33/1 NAP I have been waiting months and months for Warren Greatrex's 8 year old to resurface and although its going to take a mammoth effort from both horse and trainer to win this on the back of a 518 day absence I am convinced Paint The Clouds is going to run a massive race having sneaked in at the bottom of the weights. Not seen since October 2011, Paint The Clouds was in the form of his life winning 5 on the bounce (twice over fences) before injuring himself up the run in on his final start and if fit and raring to go I think he's going to go very, very close to winning this off a mark of 131. After winning his first two starts in bumpers for Alan Swinbank, he was moved to Warren Greatrex's yard for his hurdling career and after a slow start to his career over timber he won at the 5th time of asking to score comfortably on his seasonal reappearance as a 5 year old back in October 2010. He didn't go on as expected on his next 3 starts but his trainer finally got to the bottom of him in the spring of 2011 as Paint The Clouds and A P McCoy went a perfect 5-5 on what were his last 5 career starts. After two comfortable successes over hurdles, the switch to chasing seemed just as easy for him as he recorded another couple of facile successes under the champ in May of 2011 before taking the summer off. He came back to start the 2011-2012 season over hurdles in October 2011 at Cheltenham in a Class 2 handicap off a mark of 130 over 3 miles where he ran out a pretty ready winner despite injuring himself in the run in. Sitting prominently throughout, McCoy sent Paint The Clouds to the front after 3 out and he still had loads left in the locker when 1.5L clear at the last and if you watch the head on he starts to hang right with about 150 yards left to go which is when I think he knocked into himself and injured himself. Despite that, McCoy only had to keep him up to his work before he realised the problem after the finish where he immediately dismounted him. Its a shame that a horse who was so progressive had his career curtailed by injury and it really seemed as if the sky was the limit had he stayed fit and healthy. Warren Greatrex stated a month later he would be off for a year so at least your sure that he was always going to be off for such an extended period of time. I also found a very interesting interview with the trainer from November 2011 where he referenced what McCoy had told him stating "he absolutely loved him. McCoy actually said after his last win, that we should keep him hurdling, and if we could get him into a race at the festival off a low mark, no horse would've touched him." Given that he was sure to go up to at least a mark of 137 for his latest win had he stayed fit, it demonstrates the high regard and talent of the horse and I fully believe every word of it watching back all of his wins. Fast forward to now and I think its very, very telling on the back of those comments that he is making his long awaited reappearance at Cheltenham and I feel he is incredibly well handicapped off a mark of 131 now that the handicapper has reassessed him after his absence. I e-mailed the yard last month and was told by the stable's Racing Secretary "he really is a lovely horse that will give it his all on the day". He also went for a racecourse gallop at Kempton at the end of February which should have freshened him right up and Greatrex has stated recently that he is "extremely well" and "on fire" at home and I get the overall impression that they are very excited about his chances. Although the Pertemps Final was his target of choice, he didn't get into that but he has barely scraped into this off bottom weight. In this conditional jockey's handicap, Ryan Mahon is certainly a good booking given that he is very experienced and I think a fine young jockey. Obviously trying to overcome a 518 day absence is going to be a huge ask but there is no doubt in my mind that he has been aimed to make his reappearance at the Cheltenham Festival all season. He goes extremely well fresh winning on debut and both his seasonal reappearances comfortably which is obviously a massive positive on the back of such a long lay off. Although I'd ideally prefer he was racing over further, the steep upward finish and a strongly run race over the extended 2m4f trip should be fine at a course where he is 2-3 and, although he probably handles soft, all of his wins have come on a sound surface so I'm hoping rain tomorrow is only minimal. Warren Greatrex has his horses in really fine form at the moment and I am very confident of a huge run from the now 8 year old Paint The Clouds as I feel he is a very, very well handicapped horse and I strongly believe he's got a great chance of landing this. 5.15 Cheltenham Rody 9/1 Keeping this short but I think Tom George's very progressive 8 year old is primed for a huge run. 3-4 over fences, Rody has been a very impressive winner on his last 2 starts and the form of those victories couldn't be any stronger. 2 starts back he beat Rouge Et Blanc who has subsequently come out to win twice subsequently and is now rated 28lb higher than that defeat and Rody's last win off a mark of 127 where eased down to win by 8L reads just as well. The runner up Eastlake scored impressively off the same mark in a better race on his only subsequent start whilst the 3rd Kapga De Cereisy also won his next two starts impressively. Additionally, the 4th The Chazer won his next start and given that Rody thumped all of them the 13lb rise to a mark of 140 seems very fair. Paddy Brennan again takes the ride and given that he is very unexposed and progressive he looks primed for a big run in the Cheltenham finale and hopefully he is good enough in what is an extremely open and hard to win contest.
Very interesting you liking Paint The Clouds ROTO, was the first one that jumped off the page at me. Wazza is a top man at getting a horse fit on the gallops - look how straight his bumper runners are first time out. If anyone can do it then he.
1:30 Our Connor / gassin golf e/w 2:05 Hisaabaat /punjabi 2:40 African Gold /Our Vinnie 3:20 Silviniaco Conti / monbeg dude e/w 4:00 Salsify 4:40Edeymi /Make your Mark 5:15 Rody
Todays on course bets starting to take shape 1.30 Far West 2.05 Ifandbutwhynot/Princeton Plains 2.40 Our Vinnie/African Gold 3.20 Bobs Worth 4.00 ???????????? 4.40 Ma Filluele/Toner D'Oudaries 5.15 Renard/????????
Main bets today... Large double on Rolling Star and Bobs Worth. Also done them in singles and thrown them in a Yankee with African Gold 6/1 and Viva Colonia 14/1
Today's picks: Triumph Hurdle - I've backed Rolling Star to win at 100/30, I think he posesses both the speed and stamina required to win this and he can kick off a very good day for Mr Henderson County Hurdle - I loved the way Hisaabaat finished in the Triumph last year but the handicapper has been really harsh on him so I'm looking further down the field and think Ifandbutwhynot has a great chance with Timmy Murphy in the saddle. Also a small e/w dabble on Peter Bowen's Kian's Delight who looks fairly treated and his trainer is adept at producing a horse in perfect nick when fresh. My pick for the Albert Bartlett in our preview evening was Cloudy Copper but he is a non-runner so I will take At Fishers Cross to give AP his first winner of the meeting - his defeat of The New One is looking very good and the rain is forecast to come which will help him. I've backed Long Run e/w in the Gold Cup as I believe he is nailed on for a place, but also a strong fancy to win. Bobs Worth has had an interrupted prep, SDC has a stranger on his back and Nicholls couldn't win a summons at the moment. Add in the headgear for Long Run and plenty of rain and I think the forum's favourite trainer and corinthian will be celebrating. I'll see if I have any money left on the account for the latter races
At Fishers Cross was payed a massive compliment by the New One the other day, and there's been money for the Curtis charge all night. I'm on. A very open Gold Cup. Only the dearth of Nicholls winners this week is causing me to hesitate over Silviniaco Conti, but to a form book punter, he has to be the one. Bob's Worth is feared, others are respected, but I think the punting boots are going on.
It's not disgraceful, everyone knows the risks betting ante post, and jockeys, owners and trainers, will do what's best for themselves not whats best for punters. They didn't ask anyone to put money on there horses
How is JP McManus/Jonjo O'Neil doing what's best for himself by declaring his horse a non-runner and allowing his retained jockey to ride for Gigginstown? Hope he fecking falls off. The perils of ante post punting are big enough, without this kind of nonsense. I would be absolutely livid if I'd backed Sunnyhillboy antepost (I'd also be a fecking lunatic who knows nothing about horse racing, but that's by the by)
The horse obviously had no chance if connections are happy to step aside for Mccoy. Jockeys don't get many chances of winning the gold cup so if someone offers him the chance to ride the second fav, he has to take it imo.
