Another going for the Gold Cup... Aye Right could be headed for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup after his creditable run in the Cotswold Chase there on Saturday.
Had a look on Oddschecker, just now, to see if there had been any movement re Impulsive One's Cheltenham price (for the Boodles/Fred Winter, he's not in the Triumph - in fact the Lieutenant hasn't a single one of the 59 Triumph entries.) ahead of his run in the 'Scottish Triumph Hurdle', of the morrow, at Musselburgh (1.32). Just a little bit, of movement, with Unibet - 40/1 into 33's. It should be noted that Impulsive One's current perch of 127 wouldn't have got in 2 out of the last 3 Boodles/Fred Winter's so I would envisage connections wanting to see that rating upped (although not massively) following tomorrow's race. Re the Pertemps Qualifier on the same Musselburgh card (2.40) nothing really appeals to my eye with a view to the Final. I do note though that the above mentioned, Streets of Doyen, didn't make the Musselburgh line-up. Surprising given the way he shortened for the Final earlier in the week. After tomorrow's heat only 3 more races left for him to qualify...
My 'Performance of the Day' bauble would go to Ahoy Senor. And I didn't expect to be saying that at the commencement of today's action. But one absolutely loved the way that he jumped, travelled and then quickened up to oblige in the Towton. He also seemed strongest at the finish and oozed Class with a capital 'C' this afternoon. Personally, I would have thought the absolutely ideal race for him at the Festival would be the NH Chase but it appears that connections have far loftier targets (and I can fully understand that) with either the Festival Novices or the CGC the ambitions. Best prices for these heats are 6/1 and 25/1 (20's NRNB) respectively. Was really won over by Ahoy Senor today and wouldn't think the CGC was a barmy idea. I guess how stronger a contender you think he is depends on your views re the current, established, crop of staying chasers. And I tell you what, team, A Plus Tard (and Angels Breath providing they can ever, ever get him back) apart I don't think there is a better one out there than Ahoy Senor. And on top of that winning the CGC in '22 may be a lot easier than winning it in '23. So I say going for it may be the way forward...
This report on Sporting Life's website does not make pretty reading for some of the leading UK trainers - it documents the number of Cheltenham festival runners they have had since their last winner. Top of the "cold list" is Alan King with a staggering 86 runners since Uxizandre landed the 2015 Ryanair under AP McCoy at his last festival. Nigel Twiston-Davies is next with 81 winnerless runners since Ballyandy took the Champion Bumper in 2016. The list then goes on with Venetia Williams (78), Charlie Longsdon (71) and Evan Williams (56). King and Twiston-Davies have won some of the biggest races of the festival between them - King taking the Champion Hurdle with Katchit and the Champion Chase with Voy Por Ustedes and Twiston-Davies having that memorable treble in 2010 when Imperial Commander's Gold Cup victory was followed up by Baby Run in the Foxhunters and Pigeon Island in the Grand Annual. He followed this with the RSA Chase - Bumper double in 2016 courtesy of Blaklion and Ballyandy.
I'd never have said it was that far back for some of the trainers listed. I would maybe go back and say 2019 for some, especially King, that is hard to fathom. Where is it all going wrong?
Maybe the UK trainers aren't using the same vet as Elliott and Mullins In all seriousness, the races over here are generally small fields with little prize money. The owners with money will be better off sending their horses over to Ireland. Bigger races, more competitive, more prize money. I'm not sure that’s what is happening but that's my thought on it.
The staggering additional fact re that Alan King figure is that 14 out of the 86 actually went off at a single figure price so its not as if he hasn't saddled any fancied runners. Far, far from it...
Lot of money going on Brazil (TalkSPORT will be covering the Festival and that name must be an absolute marketing dream for them) right now in the Boodles / Fred Winter after his 13 length win at Naas yesterday. A general 14/1 shot yesterday morn now a best priced 8/1 - as low as 6's in places. This 4YO Galileo gelding has got a wonderful pedigree being a full brother to Capri (St Leger and Irish Derby victor) and Passion (Irish Oaks placed),
G. Elliot told the Racing Post that all seven horses that have qualified for the Pertemps will run the race.
Pertemps Tullybeg 20/1 e/w bet365, others 16/1 and 14/1NRNB Trained by G. Elliott, last race was at Cheltenham in October when he qualified (5th) under top weight (Travelled strongly, tracked leaders, ridden and raced wide home turn, 4 lengths down last, outpaced run-in), goes well fresh (F4121).
Good call - also, he was ridden by a conditional that day and has been dropped 4lbs to 136. Classic Elliott - should get in off that and with Davy Russell or Jack Kennedy riding you'd think he would be at least 10lbs well in. There are a couple of others who caught my eye with a similar profile - qualified and then not run again to protect the mark. The Aintree winner Koshari for example - he certainly has the class to win off 151.
Those bookie chappies really are giving nothing away in the Champion Chase, right now, and over the past few days the front 4 have all shortened in price.
They seem to get more ridiculous every year. Looking at the 5 non-handicaps on the Tuesday, the favs are currently 2/1 (Constitution Hill), 2/1 (Edwardstone), 1/2 (Honeysuckle), 3/1 (Tellmesomethinggirl) and 3/1 (Stattler / Run Wild Fred). Scandalous with a capital and underlined and bold S
