Cheltenham day 2 racing daily thread

This thing makes Quixall Crossett look like Kauto Star!!!

 

Well im off Get ready to see my N B A treble come in ,, Stick I'm taking that aa a tip in itself as you have gone quiet on the subject might have another £50 E/W on that basis lol good luck everyone

 

Ive lost heavier at Windsor on a monday night m8 will struggle to move one but please god ill make it to tomorrow

 

and i hope that signed card from last year

xxx

 

Got a piece of a mare in training with Charlie Longsdon mate, called Present Trend and despite her getting beat out of sight on all three starts it has been a blast. Staying pedigree and nicely bred so we should have some fun next year in handicaps.

 

Classy. We used to take it in turns to bring a sock stuffed with something and stitched up by mummy. If no-one brought one we used a block of wood. Failing that we made do with a stone.

 

we took the head of the weakest

then ate gravel and glass for tea

tough up north ron our rainbows are black and whte

 

When we tried that no-one wanted to be in goal; didn't like dealing with the corners and high crosses. Come to think of it we did have a lad from up north join us and he always painted a face on his sock. Never did know why.

 

Nice one!! Who gives a s**t where it has finished - I don't think there is a single owner in this game who has bought a horse expecting to make money. It's all about experience and the love of the sport in my opinion.

 

northern kid with brains not many about mate, hope he went on to be a teacher

 

Doubt it. He moved back up North, and he wasn't very strong.

 

you knew my dad


hello mam xx

 

My big fancy tomorrow is Dunguib in 2.40 - 12/1

Running off 154 tomorrow could prove very lenient indeed.

Beat Zaidpour (rated 158) LTO by 6 very very easy lengths receiving 7lbs would suggest that 154 is too low.

Ground may not be ideal, but course form is up there with any of his counterparts. Who can forget his Champion Bumper demolition, and should of followed up the year after had Mr O'connell not took him the scenic route.

OK he been away for 3 years but his run LTO suggests he can still compete, especially in h'cap company

 

1.30 Cheltenham

Faugheen 9/4

Much like last year’s beaten favourite Pont Alexandre, Faugheen looks a potential superstar and despite perhaps committing the same sin twice I think he’s the real deal. Incredibly impressive all 5 career starts, (4 Under Rules) Faugheen is clearly a horse with tremendous potential and I think he could take a serious amount of beating in this. An easy winner of his sole start in P2P, Faugheen absolutely trounced today's Supreme Novices runner up Josses Hill 22L on debut in a Bumper at Punchestown in May 2013 and he's been similarly impressive on his 3 hurdling starts to date. Wins over trips ranging from 2m4f - 3m in November/December last year never saw him come off the bridle and he beat some decent enough horses on every occasions and he unquestionably holds the "potential superstar" tag over his head going into the Neptune. His biggest competitor looks like David Pipe’s fellow unbeaten Red Sherlock who has done nothing wrong in his 6 career starts but I have just never warmed to this front running grey and I think Faugheen could prove in a different league to him. Although he's not one I'm willing to be going balls deep on, I certainly think he's the most likely winner for the formidable Walsh/Mullins combination and at 9/4 I think he's still a backable price.

2.05 Cheltenham

Corrin Wood 11/1

Despite jumping a little right handed at times, I have been incredibly impressed with Corrin Wood over fences to date and I think he could take quite a bit of beating in what looks a good renewal of the RSA. In 3 unbeaten chasing starts for Donald McCain, this 7 year old has shown he has great heart in a battle and I think the form of his last start when beating the previously unbeaten chaser Black Thunder (reopposes today) reads very well and I think he’s a superb each way bet at 11/1. Current market leader Ballycasey has certainly done nothing wrong in winning both his starts over fences to date but a fall when schooling at Leopardstown recently must temper enthusiasm and a big negative against him is that the last 10 winners of this had all had at least 3 starts over fences to date. I haven’t really warmed to Smad Place in general and I don’t think his chasing form stacks up to much at all frankly and I see no reason for Morning Assembly to turn around the form with Carlingford Lough, (who also looks a decent price at 8/1) with the latter bringing tremendous experience with a massive 13 runs over fences to date and proven ability to win on in a big field as shown when winning the Galway Plate (John Kiely did a brilliant job getting him into that off a mark of 133). Don Cossack also looks overpriced at 14/1 but I think Corrin Wood will take a fair bit of beating in this and I'm quite sweet on his chances who will have the services of the brilliant Richard Johnson after Jason Maguire's nasty injuries from Monday.

2.40 Cheltenham

Son Of Flicka 33/1

An old favourite of mine, Son Of Flicka won me a small fortune when I put him up at 40/1 when winning this contest back in 2012 and although I'm not as confident as I was back then I still think he looks well worth a bet at 33/1 off the same mark of 135 as that success despite now being a 10 year old. Donald McCain and connections of Son Of Flicka landed an absolutely massive punt in the Coral Cup 2 years ago when he was backed from 66/1 into an SP of 16/1 as he came home a convincing winner which apparently netted the owner close to £1 million as he put his poor season's form behind him on soft ground to score. It looked as if McCain was plotting him up again for last year's Festival with 5 complete no shows saw him fall to a mark of 138 but for one reason or another he didn't run at Cheltenham and it wouldn't have surprised me if the owner and McCain had a falling out as he moved all of his horses to the Tony Coyle yard where he has had 4 starts over fences (much better hurdler) where has has run with credit on his last 3 starts. His new handler came out last month and said he has been running over fences to protect his mark of 135 over hurdles and that he was afraid to run him over timber in case the handicapper dropped him a few lbs and his decision seems like a wise one as Son Of Flicka has barely scraped it into the race and shares bottom weight of 10-7. Given that his owner clearly likes a punt, you've got to assume that once again Son Of Flicka's season has been firmly aimed at the Coral Cup and, with good ground badly needed, connections couldn't really have asked for more ideal conditions. With an excellent record at Cheltenham, off bottom weight and off the same mark as when winning this in 2012, you've just got to hope that he has the same ability now a 10 year old but if he does 33/1 could look absolutely huge come 2.50 and I'd be absolutely delighted if he can win this for the 2nd time in 3 years.

 

3.20 Cheltenham

Sizing Europe 12/1

With Sprinter Sacre out for the season, this looks an absolutely awful renewal this year. For all he looks the best horse in the race, I couldn’t back Sire De Grugy with serious doubts about his ability to handle the track at Prestbury Park but even still he may prove too good for this lot. Captain Conan looks very short at 5/1 and Arvika Ligeonniere has to be just isn't the same horse going left handed. Baily Green’s indifferent form this year shouldn’t really be criticised as Mouse Morris has all his Cheltenham runners in brilliant form and his 2nd behind Simonsig last year would surely give him every chance at 10/1. Although doubts surround Sizing Europe's ability now a 12 year old, I don't think his latest two disappointments definitively show that he's over the hill and I'm hoping there is enough life in the old boy to win this in what would be one of the stories of the Festival. An amazing servant to trainer Henry De Bromhead, Sizing Europe is a 6 times Grade 1 winning chaser and dual Cheltenham Festival winner and there is absolutely no question that he comes alive at Cheltenham. Having won this in 2011 the year after he was successful in the Arkle, Sizing Europe has been runner up in the last two runnings of the Queen Mother Champion Chase which were much better races than this and a replication of any of those 3 runs would more than likely be enough to win this contest. The main 'black spot' against Sizing Europe this year is he is now a 12 year old and how much ability remains but I think it's well worth noting that his only defeats last season as a 10/11 year old came at the hands of Sprinter Sacre and I certainly think there is definitely enough reasonable doubt about his 2 poor runs this season to suggest that he's still got the ability to win this. The first of which came in the JNWINE Grade 1 over 3 miles at Down Royal when 2nd to Roi Du Mee but he's never stayed that far in my opinion (3rd defeat in that contest) whilst I think it's definitely fair to say that Andrew Lynch went off way too hard in front at Leopardstown when he could only finish 4th. Scratch those two efforts from the formbook and, despite his veteran status, Sizing Europe is a major player in this contest. Henry De Bromhead pops on some cheekpieces for the first time and if he's the force of old I think he could run a blinder in this at a very decent price.

4.00 Cheltenham

Star Neuville 7/1

I'm very, very sweet on the chances of Enda Bolger's 8 year old Star Neuville and after the tragic passing of Our Conor I would be absolutely delighted if Barry Connell got a very small bit of better fortune by winning the Cross Country Chase. Formerly with Shark Hanlon, Star Neuville showed some good form in bumpers, over hurdles and fences with a close up 3rd behind last year's RSA winner Lord Windermere over fences and a victory over Vesper Bell in a Maiden Hurdle proving classy efforts and he joined Enda Bolger in April last year. Having shaped extremely well for an awful long way in the La Touche Cup at Punchestown before being pulled up 7 out, Star Neuville ran an absolute blinder a mere two days later when a never nearer neck beaten 3rd over 3 miles at the same venue in the Irish Field Cross Country Chase and it very much seems to me that this has been his target since then. Off bottom weight and a rating of 130, I'd be absolutely stunned if this mark doesn't underestimate him quite a bit and he warmed up with an excellent 3rd on his first start in 10 months over hurdles last month which should have put him spot on for this today. According to owner Barry Connell, Enda Bolger said "he’s probably the best jumper of banks that he has had in a long time" and having had a wind operation over the summer I'm sure of a very big run from the 8 year old from the yard who have had 5 winners from the 9 runnings of this contest. Scraping in off a low weight of 10-7 looks a massive advantage in this contest with none of the last 4 winners carrying 11 stone (7 or 9 overall; Uncle Junior and Spot Thedifference both carried 11-12) and given that the other 4 horses towards the head of the market all carry at least 11-7 it's a huge positive in his favour. Surely prepared to the second by the brilliant Enda Bolger, I'm sure he's desperate to win this race having not done so since 2009 and I'm very confident that Star Neuville can deliver him his 5th win in the 10 runnings of this contest.

4.40 Cheltenham

Dawalan 8/1

Couldn't make head nor tail of this contest after looking at it for an hour so have backed Dawalan at 8/1 with the view to laying off my stake as I think he'll be the subject of considerable market support.

5.15 Cheltenham

Killultagh Vic 10/1 & Neck Or Nothing 25/1

An incredibly hard puzzle to solve and I like two in this. I was very impressed with the way Killultagh Vic quickened clear off the front last time when it looked like he had gone a generous gallop throughout and that was probably the most impressive performance I’ve seen in a bumper this year when beating (a probably undercooked) Golantilla who reopposes and was 3rd in this last year. Although Ruby Walsh prefers Shaneshill and Paddy Mullins rides Black Hercules, Willie Mullins has won this with 'unfancied' runners the past 2 renewals and he looks to have a very strong three-pronged attack on his quest win this for the 3rd year running.

The other horse I like the look of in this race is Neck Or Nothing who will be having his first start for Philip Hobbs having left Tom Hogan. Described by his former trainer as “a machine”, Neck Or Nothing won on his first start last October when apparently only three quarters fit and still green at Punchestown in impressive fashion before being sold to Roger Brookehouse for £200,000. Neck Or Nothing’s final start came for Hogan in a Listed Bumper at Cheltenham last November and he was travelling very well swinging into the home bend before jumping the path, landing awkwardly and ruining all chance he had. Despite Denis O’Regan taking it very handy on him thereafter, Neck Or Nothing didn’t really lose any ground on the principals in front of him and I think he would have gone extremely close in a race won by the still unbeaten Red Sherlock. On that evidence I could see why Tom Hogan, trainer of Dual Group 1 winning Gordon Lord Byron, said he’s “never had a young horse like him” and I think he certainly looks a very lively outsider at 25/1 with the excellent Richard Johnson taking the ride. Of the English horses (I suppose Neck Or Nothing is one now!), I've definitely been impressed with Modus’ two victories to date but this flat bred horse needs to prove himself over 2 miles and away from testing conditions and he’s now a bit short for me at 10/1.

 

I think I can, probably not, but first I must look at the racecard...............

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Morning all!!

Got 30 mins until the train gets here but just wanted to post up my selection of the Champion Chase - Arvika Legionnaire 9/1

That is all, have a great day boys and girls!!

 

....Actually, I think he had troubles with his cell phone, which only seems to work in Berlin!..

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The placepot today is going to be huge isn't it? If we can get either Faugheen or Sire De Grugy out of the top three it will be monumental in size. Lets hope its the latter as I have gone in with the former now Royal Boy is out.