Have a decent antepost bet on Hurricane Fly, Sprinter Sacre, Big Bucks and Bobs Worth winning the championship races though. Asking a lot but if they make it to the day in one piece they have great chances.
4/1 is a great price. Does that French horse come over? The one that won the French Champion Hurdle? That is a machine. Solwhit is also extremely talented. I'd say he's the best horse BB would have run against in the World Hurdle if they both turn up. Quevega will go the David Nicholls route again but what a mouth watering clash that would be if she took on the boys.
Good thread. I like to see what everyone's backing in the lead up to the Festival. I've had two ante post bets this so far this year. Both placed during last years festival. One was my error thinking i'd got a great price about Sprinter Sacre winning the QM in a double with Quevega. Turns out i'd actually backed them to win their respective races one year apart. i.e Quevega to win the DN Mares race in 2013 and SS to win the QM CC in 2014. Here they are. I'll add to this as and when I add to them: Single To Win The New One @ 8/1OutrightOpen 2014 Champion Hurdle Stake: £30.00Potential Returns: £270.00 DoubleHide Details Quevega @ Guaranteed Price (4/5)WinWon 4:40 Cheltenham (09:40 PDT) Sprinter Sacre @ 4/6OutrightOpen 2014 Queen Mother Champion Chase Stake: £490.00Potential Returns: £1470.00
I've done 4 x £5 trebles and a £5 acc as soon as Cheltenham finished last year; Champion hurdle - the new one 8/1 Champion chase - sprinter Sacre 2/5 World hurdle - big bucks 3/1 Gold cup - silviniano Conti 12/1- I'm still convinced he would have gone very very close last year
Excellent thread guys to see how many ante post bets are actually successful.... Sir Des Champs for me in the Gold Cup. He didnt have things fall his way in March. McCoy up top and it rained pretty badly that day (I was there and got soaked!). With the usual jockey back on board and good ground I would take him to win that race come March 2014!.
Well I won a nice few quid last year ante-posting, had some VERY good wins on acca's including Simonsig (3/1 Arkle), Hurricane Fly (6/1 Champion Hurdle), Quevega (EVS Mares), Sacre (EVS Champion Chase) and Bobs Worth (8/1 Gold Cup), I was well upo and bought my Mrs a new car !!! I've already starting plotting for the Fest and have already started backing these bad boys ........... CHAMPAGNE FEVER - Arkle. His Supreme win was 3.5 seconds quicker than The Fly's Champion Hurdle win an hour later which is great speed and I see the Arkle being his target. Ruby will get an early lead and we know how tough he is to pass, he's 2 from 2 at the Fest (massive bonus) and I can see it being 3 from 3 in March, I love the Repeat Offenders !!! (prev Fest winners, it's proven around here !!) MY TENT OR YOURS & THE NEW ONE - Champion Hurdle. Preference is for MTOY, I think the Supreme form is awesome, his slick hurdling is a major plus and I think now he's a year older and stronger, he'll settle better and take some beating, currently nibbling at 6/1 and got £30+ on him in singles so far. He slaughted Forgotton Voice at Aintree on good ground speedy track and FV then went and won a nice flat race last month. The New One is the danger though, faster final section time than the The Fly's win, he looks the one up and coming sort to trouble the older brigade and he's a Repeat Offender which is a huge plus for me. As for the older brigade, I think The Fly is too old at 10, only TWO 10 year olds have won this race since it began in 1927 !! SIMONSIG - RyanAir Another repeat offender (seeing the trend) who is 2 from 2 at Cheltz Fest, he is the next chasing superstar and won the Arkle when scoping badly, he's much better than that and he'll prove it this coming season. I have also backed him for the King George & RyanAir double, come on !!! I think he could start off at Ascot in November in the Amlin Chase, then King George and then RyanAir - glory awaits !!!! I expect the likes of Cue Card, First Ltn, Dynaste and Al Ferof to go Gold Cup so get the 5/1 RyanAir price now as the race will cut up !!!! UN ATOUT - Jewson Think he's 10/1 at Paddy Power, got some nibbles and this race looks a likely target, especially as it's now a grade 1. He was never going to be a 2 miler but still ran a nice race in the Supreme, he'll probably end up a Gold Cup horse but I expect him to follow the Sir Des Champs route and go Jewson in March (same owner). AT FISHERS CROSS and BIG BUCKS - World Hurdle Loved the way AFC won the Albert Bartlett, never got near to coming off the bridle and his win over The New One at Cheltenham in January is looking better and better. He's staying over hurdles and I expect him to clean up all the big 3m hurdle races Bucks used to win on his way to World Hurdle glory. Well I can't leave him out of my bets, his record simply can't be ignored, talk about repeat offenders !!! However, he's been injured for a long time and Ruby said he's a very tricky ride, so it won't be easy and I do like AFC, he's tough and this could be a great race come March with the likes of AFC, Bucks, Zarkander, Solwhit, Celestial Halo all lining up. BOBS WORTH - Gold Cup Another repeat offender, 3 from 3 at the Fest and I can't see anything beating him in the Gold Cup. He's never been beaten once he's headed another horse and he's as tough as they come, he is simply the one to beat. Nicky Henderson said he was never fully fit last year (in recent interview) and wants more races this coming season so get the 3/1 now. I do rate Sir Des Champs but I simply don't think he can outstay Bobs up the hill, end of really !!! Silviniaco Conti doesn't look a Cheltenham horse (just my gut but I think he'll flatten out up the hill). I'm currently backing all of these in small singles and cross acca's with my fingers are firmly crossed !!!!
You have to consider The Fly and Our Conor as danger horses in Champion Hurdle! Ok 5 and 10 yrs olds don't have a great record in this race but both have festival form and records are there to be broken ! I have to say this looking the hotest race of the Festival if all make it to the start!
You have to consider Our Conor and the Fly as danger horses even though 5 and 10 yr olds don't a great record in this race. However records are there to be broken so make sure you cover them in your bets!!!!!! This for me is the stand out race of the 2014 Festival, so long as they all make it to the start, can't wait !!!!
I do agree with you Quevega Stain, it's just that I'm trying to nail it down a bit and the trends for these 2 are strong trends, so it's My Tent and The New One for me. Hopefully all the Champion Hurdle horses will get there fit and well and we'll have a race to remember,I will be there shouting my 2 on !!!!!
Decent sized bet on Hurricane Fly at 13/2 for the Champion Hurdle tonight. Only Paddy Power going that now.
I see your namesake is going back over hurdles Bob - any thoughts on that? Can he win a World Hurdle? Went down to a top notcher in Brindisi Breeze (RIP) in the Albert Bartlett so not out of the question that he could be competitive in the World Hurdle
My only serious bet was in March when I took the 6-1 about Our Conor for the Champion Hurdle, after seeing the way he demolished the Triumph field. He's still only 5-1 now, but despite him not having had a run over timber yet (ran in Sept on the flat over 12f) I'm happy enough. I had a small ew about Moyles Park at 20-1 also, but won't get too deep in the hole until the New Year!
I saw that oddy and very interesting , obviiusly the chasing road didnt go very well so back to plan B but surely if Big Bucks is back to anywhere near his best, AFC seemd to be going well enough coming back from a small injury to show he has what it takes to go close and Reve De Sivola trusty sort who usually runs well he will certainy have hooves full
They're putting Boston Bob back over hurdles because they think he over-exerts himself jumping fences and that's what caused the injury from which he is currently recovering. I think it could be a very interesting move.
