Yeah just seen that..sounds minor from initial reports...from the report in the racing post it says plan is to step him up in trip. Interesting to see what races they put him in prior to Cheltenham.
Trying the following to hopefully get a few quid going onto Might Bite for Gold Cup :- Baron Alco 12s Betvictor Gold Cup Dingo Dollar 25s Ladbroke Trophy Might Bite 13/2 Gold Cup 3 doubles e/w treble
Definitely very sad news... will we have a repeat of last year with a 'Will he/won't he' be at Cheltenham with quicker than expected recovery? I wonder.....
So far: Arkle Draconien 20/1 e/w Champion Hurdle Laurina 12/1 win Ballymore Envoi Allen 20/1 e/w Stayers Hurdle Penhill 8/1 win Mares Novice Hurdle Daphne Du Clos 14/1 win Albert Bartlett Carefully Selected 20/1 e/w Gold Cup Presenting Percy 6/1 win Double Penhill-Presenting Percy
The forgotten mare of NH racing. Hasn’t run for nigh on 2 years but was a ready winner of a Listed Newbury Bumper back in February ’17. The alarm bells started sounding for me, re this one, when the yard started putting out conflicting information about her a week or so prior to the ’17 Champion Bumper. Almost simultaneous news reports stated she wouldn’t run due to ‘a minor injury’ and because ‘the race was too much for a 4YO filly’. Is supposedly back in full work but has to be a bit of a worry that she’s now almost 6 and yet to jump a hurdle in public. Really hopes she makes up for lost time though with a great season back at the coalface.
From The Stable Tour en At The Races: "Trainer Says: She has had a year off but she in good form and schooled last week. I am hoping she will be top-class." It's a very risky bet but let's hope she comes back healthy and in full shape. If so, she can stand up to anyone.
Ahead of his seasonal reappearance in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham this Sunday, Sceau Royal is available at 25/1 for the Champion Chase with most firms. I think he could well be a serious contender for the top 2 mile chases this season and can see him shortening markedly if he puts in a good performance on Sunday. His novice chase form was very impressive, particularly his victory in the Henry VIII Novices Chase at Sandown: http://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/video/20171209/2735319/16405953
Looking at the Triumph Hurdle I felt Elliott's Coeur Sublime looked promising. He beat Aidan O'Brien's Southern France in a Navan maiden and that was a decent effort. Not seen since that April race, he got a win in his hurdles debut that was nothing special on form but he had the race in command two out and I reckon he would have scooted clear if he hadn't lost his momentum with a mistake at the final flight. Aidan's Astronomer is only quoted by one firm but he's a talented flat performer on 106. I have heard little about his plans. With Coeur Sublime a hurdle winner and unbeaten in his two starts I feel he can improve and he looks like he'll go up that Cheltenham hill strongly. 20/1 makes him my pick at this stage for sure. Coeur Sublime 20/1 Triumph Hurdle
After the weekend two to look at festival wise frodon, that was a massive effort giving lumps of weight and lalor for the Ariel.
I only play a select few races ante post for Cheltenham but Lalor looked good in a year where quality is thin on the ground. 7/1 will do for me. He has a shed load to make up with Khalashnikov from the Betfair Hurdle but he simply never ran his race that day, about 2 and a half stones below his best. I will be hoping for decent ground at the Festival but I reckon another win will see him clear fav for the Arkle. Lalor 7/1 Arkle Chase.