just got a £50 free bet so done a Quevega & Bobs worth double ALso i remember I did a Mrs Ricci horses Yankee
Few today County - Regal Encore QMCC - Captain Conan (Henderson positivity is infectious with this one) Novice Handicap Chase - Attaglance (ridiculously well handicapped)
Another one today. Just spotted Son of Flicka amongst the Coral Cup entries. Tipped up by ROTO if memory serves me correctly for this same race in 2012 where he obliged at 16s having been 66s in the morning. Apparently the owner walked out of cheltenham that day with carrier bags stuffed with cash. Has switched yards since then and the trainer has stated that the campaign has been over fences to protect his handicap mark and this is his target. Son of Flicka needs good ground to show his best and I suspect he'll get it judging by the forecast. He's back down to a similar mark to his 2012 success when he fairly romped in. If it does come up soft I suspect he won't run. So at 33/1 I've had a go each way NRNB.
Has there ever been a Festival less appealing for an ante-post punting than the 2014 variety? In the case of a huge number of novice hurdlers and chasers we’ve had no idea which race they will be aimed at (and in some cases still don’t) whilst as 90%+ of recent races have been run on ground far removed from what will be the case at Cheltenham next week form displayed in 2013/14 is largely, I’m afraid, irrelevant. Anyway enough negativity as it’s the birthday today of old boy Fred Done (rhymes with cone) I’ve dipped my feet into the Cheltenham markets and done a bit of business, NRNB, with that chap. SADLER'S RISK @ 25/1, Pertemps Final CHANGING THE GUARD @ 33/1, Grand Annual The latter I’ve been banging on about for ages. Has been laid out for the heat and has deliberately not raced over fences since August in order to protect his attractive perch. Last summer he won twice at God’s own racecourse, Newton Abbot, before running an excellent race against some classy types at Galway. A recent spin over hurdles will put him spot on for the Festival’s ‘lucky last’. The former was a very useful horse on the level and as a juvenile hurdler. Moved across the water to Henry De Bromhead in November has had one run over hurdles this term when an eyecatching 7th in a qualifier for Final. Has the class and the ability to go very close off 145 here. The 2 vouchers now keep my 33’s on LONG RUN for the Grand National company in my ante-post locker.
feeling a bit diorganised for the festival atm but have had a couple of ante post bets in recent weeks Bobs Worth 5/2 Gold Cup Sire de Grugy 11/4 Champion Chase I have remembered to book my leave for next week though
Backed Royal Boy for the Neptune tonight at 13/2 - I think this race will cut up quite badly and Barry Geraghty has been raving about this fella. I think he could be more like 7/2 on the day so 13/2 looks decent value.
Latest going - the greenish area of good-soft has been steadily increasing this week. Looks like we will have perfect, natural good-soft on day 1 with Simon Claisse saying today that he will be leaving the hose pipe in the shed. http://maps.turftrax.co.uk/latestgoingreport.asp?course=Cheltenham
One more for this correspondent INDIAN CASTLE @ 6/1, Kim Muir As I’ve said on the thread for that contest his trainer has an excellent record in the race, he’s been aimed at it, an excellent amateur has been booked and the horse looks potentially much better than his current perch of 140. Quite confident re this one. Regular readers take, and I do mean take, note!
My last ante-post selection is NRNB: Mr Henderson’s VOLNAY DE THAIX @ 16/1, The Boys race (as with the ‘Champion Chase' I refuse to refer to this race by its official title). This is a most promising and potentially extremely useful type who is 3/5 over hurdles thus far. Joined the forum’s favourite trainer over the summer and then won his first two races ridiculously easily, for that good egg, at Kempton Park and then Newbury. His most recent run saw him put up a most solid effort when splitting Irving and Splash of Ginge in a Grade 2 at Ascot. The former of this pair has gone on to win another Grade 2 (under a penalty) whilst the latter obliged in the Betfair Hurdle last time out. That is extremely hot form and therefore to be perched on just 138 Volnay De Thaix looks very reasonable treated next week. He could be far, far better than this, people. Mr Henderson has won the ‘boys race’ in the past and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one add another victory to his Festival total next week. I believe those bookie chappies are being unusually generous in offering 16/1 re his chances.
Big Bucks 4/1 - WH Hinterland 11/1 - QMCC Kings Palace 3/1 - AB Ted Veale 7/1 - Grand Annual. Look's like Martin want's a spin out in the Arkle now instead Killultagh Vic 11/1 - CB Pearl Castle 14/1 - TH look's speculative enough now Irving 8/1 - SN Not too bad looking at this stage , hopefully one or two can oblige anyway I've also done a few multiple bet's for smaller stakes that look ok the the minute so here's hoping. Good luck to everyone except those who have different selections in said races
Oddy: I don't want to disillusion you, but I suspect 'leave the hosepipe in the shed' is some disgusting West-Country euphemism. Barney could probably tell you more. If he (SC) went on to say 'But I'll roll it out again if the approach to the open ditch looks a bit dusty', I think that would probably confirm it.
He's on my radar again and although I'm not really a fan of the angle of going from chasing to hurdling they had no real other option as a poor performance over hurdles would have seen his mark drop and he probably wouldn't have gotten in. Now a 10 year old, clearly can't be as bullish as I was 2 years ago but off the same mark of 135 as his 2012 triumph and with him likely to get good ground I've certainly seen much worse 33/1 shots than him. I'll be on again.
