Close but not close enough Brave- Cheltenham all the way!! It Rocks!!! Beer, Nice Weather (most the time), the finest animals in the world (thats just not talking about the horses,) but seriously it is a great 4 days!! Where else would you find the greatest athletes(now I am talking about the horses) all in one place!!
So much can happen between now and next March but you have to say that HF, Long Run and BB are above-average holders of their titles and will take some beating. Having said that I would be amazed if all three won because a) they all have to get there, b) things can and often do go wrong at Cheltenham and c) something could come along which is better on the day. That's why we all love the game - it is never predictable.
I agree 100% with you Fulkes.The only one I think that will either not make it or will get beat is HF it is such a competitive race (not saying the others arent) but the other 2 are way above the rest of the field!!
Beef: Nice one mate, IF the lad turns up in March you have an outstanding bet there Big Bucks is such a great horse, loves racing and always gives that maximum effort. Long Run has the ability and potential to be champion for a long time IMO, hopefully he will stay fit and well One that i will be following next season in the longer hurdle races is Rigour Back Bob, he looks a nice horse too.
TBF GDC my ante-post bet on Hurricane Fly has already been paid for many, many times over, I've backed him 6 times and 6 wins so I'm forever indebted to him. There's not many horses you can say that about Also I'm sure quite a few of your ante-post selections didn't get there and of the ones that did I'm sure quite a few done sweet FA. Getting there's one thing but it's not much good if you're 100-1 ante-post bet ends up 12th! I like to think he would have a better chance than most on the big day. Also show me the Cheltenham horse who definitely will get there at this stage I hope and I'm sure most people want Hurricane Fly back to defend his crown as no doubt if he does it's not hard to imagine him pulling out Ruby's arms going to the last full of running like, well, like all the racess he's been in for the last couple of seasons. You can imagine some people are praying he doesn't make it though, which is a little bit sad to be honest. (Not disimilar to those who cheer at a horse falling or unseating at the last). There the sort of people who revel as much in someones failure as their own success, which is somewhat sad. I hope you're not one of those people GDC hoping something happens to a horse and then coming on here being unbearable
Beef: I live for Cheltenham mate, want all the best horses there fit and well, makes for better racing and far better betting opportunities. Before the internet betting came along i used to go mental in the bookies at the clowns who bemoaned a horse falling without even checking to see if the poor thing had got up! I've been around racing for over 30 years so have great respect and admiration not only for trainers, but owners and especially all the yard staff who often get forgotten about especially when a horse is lost mate Hopefully that answers your question! As for ante post bets, that's the way i like to gamble and it works for me very well. Anyone be it on here or anywhere that declares they always get their selections to the races is living in cuckoo land. 6 out of 6 wins with 'the fly' you did very well not to bet ante post the times he didn't make it then He is an awesome jumper of hurdles and although i could never consider backing him ante post i certainly hope he makes it there as he without doubt makes the market for ante post betting! Istabraq was IMO the best ever Champion Hurdler that I saw, he won bundles for me and i'm sure thousands of others ante post but why oh why did they run him that final time I will start an ante post betting forum so we can keep check of everyones decent prices mate, always makes for good reading, best of luck fella
Wayward: As you know mate my success rate ante post at the festival, Epsom, Aintree, St Leger and Arc are very bad So bad that i cannot enjoy racing any more
Well £1600 is alot of money for a horse that rarely fancies it! lol Having said that though, I would have gone for it had my fiancée not given the thumbs down! lol I REALLY believe he will go very close in the champion chase should he line up!
Fair does GDC I take your points Never backed the 'Hurricane' ante-post before last season and tbf I think not many people should have done. If I recall properly he only 'missed' one Cheltenham which he was expected to appear in as in 2010 he was ruled out from the start of that campaign wasn't he? Cheltenham was never likely after getting the 'chop' I think they pretty much ruled him for the entire season. I think I'd be out for the season too if that happened me so I can't hold that against him In 2009 it was always 50/50 whether him or Cousin Vinny would go Supremes or 2m5f novice race so it was 50/50 getting the right race? So again I'd never have dreamt playing until it was confirmed where he would run. The thing I look for in ante-post is will the horse run in that race? If yes, there's no other targets, then tick box. Too many pile in on these handicap horses which are entered up in 3 or 4 different handicaps. Thats not for me! Then does the owner or trainer have another horse who could go down that route instead? This always has to be considered. And the one I find most important does said horse have the CLASS and ABILITY to, if not win, go very close if he performs to his ability? Thats what humours me most about a lot of ante-post punters, too many back a value horse as opposed to one good enough to win! I'm yet to see much payout for 33-1 or 66-1 sixth or seventh placed finishes At least Hurricane Fly, especially at 5-1, ticks all the boxes I look for. I've no crystal ball to see whether him, Binocular or Peddlers Cross will be lining up on Champion Hurdle day or do I know ground conditions! But I do know he ticks the boxes I'm looking for The ante-post column sounds very good, I'll certainly keep tabs on the value bets the forum are lining up
Well I've had a few small wagers whilst online, so far I have - CH - Spirit Son and Zarkander, both EW are my only small wagers so far. Tough to beat The Fly but there's no chance I'll be backing The Fly ante-post with his Fest record. However, I piled in on him at 4/1 on the day last March and will do the same next March if he turns up fit and well (which I hope he does). WH - no bets but nowt will beat Big Bucks. Maybe Nicky Henderson may step Oscar Whisky up in trip ???? GC - have backed a few EW, a decent EW punt on Time For Rupert and a similar bet on Weapons Amnesty, nowt daft as returning from injury but if they're placed I'll be happy. Long Run will probably win, he's likely to improve but my 2 are the rpesent value IMO. CC - I love Finians Rainbow but Cheltz is not really his track, I think he'll win a big race on a flatter track. I've only got a few small win bets on Sizing Europe, nowt else. Captain Chris would be of interest as Arkle winners have a fine CC record of late, he needs to travel better IMO but he's VERY tough and that's a great attribute.
I agree Ruby- Oscar Whiskey would be a decent contender for BB- But we will have to wait and see, Benny- Hope he does go close- as I said he is a talented horse when he decides to race. but know how you feel, I had a chance to have some shares in a horse but decided to turn it down due to the missus lol. So I just bought an ex r-horse instead!
I've stopped looking for a while. Whilst going through the form I discovered that Backspin, one of the few horses to beat Al Ferof, died at the age of 6. I hadn't realised that. Very sad. I think Zarkandar, Spirit Son, Al Ferof and Bobs Worth could shake up the hurdling division.
Although something of an old rogue Channinbar also has his good days and did earn almost £23k for connections in season 2010/11. In fact he must be good as on one occasion he even finished in front of the legendary Tataniano (although it must be stressed that one had valid excuses that day). A mark of 155 does though mean he is going to be hard to place and may be forced to run in the 'top table' races for the immediate future. A tilt at the old Champion Chase would therefore be more than likely for Channinbar this term. Oddschecker meanwhile, I note, have already activated their 'Cheltenham Festival countdown clock'! As I write there are 234 days and 19 hours till 'kick off'!
