Evening lads.
Henderson has been unbelievable so far. McCain has been almost as good. Mullins is hitting a little bit of form with his Neptune horses running very well in defeat and his bumper horses once again proving their is only one King of the Bumpers. Nicholls... ahem. Has anyone checked whether he knows Cheltenham started this week and not next?
Onto my selections:
Jewson 1.30 Peddlers Cross (7/2)
I think McCain is going to prove to us all that taking him out of the Arkle was the sensible move. If this lad runs up to his previous festival form (I know it has been over hurdles and these are fences) then nothing will live with him. We saw today with First Lieutenant how much a horse can be transformed by lovely spring ground as opposed to horrible, turgid, sticky winter slop. I think Peddlers will prove alot of the doubters wrong on Thursday. Sir Des Champs is the obvious threat as is Solix (based on trainer form).
Pertemps Final 2.05 Buena Vista e/w (11/1)
Maybe he's getting a little long in the tooth for all this but at the end of the day this lad excels at the Cheltenham Festival where he has form figures of 6365211. He's 2lbs higher than last year but has a 10lb claimer on his back as opposed to just 5lbs last time so in effect runs off 3 lbs lighter. A huge run is on the cards.
Ryanair Chase 2.40 Somersby e/w (6/1)
I am convinced he's got a huge run in him at this trip. His win last time out is now looking like a serious piece of form and at 6/1 is a fair each way price.
Ladbrokes World Hurdle 3.20 So Young e/w in the w/o Big bucks market (10/1)
I keep trying to convince myself to go against Big Bucks as I'm not backing that champ at likely prices and my acca's are down the toilet! The one's I prefer is So Young. I'd be shocked if he can beat Big Bucks but the form of last years Neptune is unbelievable. Rock on Ruby now Champion Hurdler, First Lieutenant could/should arguably have won the RSA had he not been keen over the first mile and a half. Rock solid form. Trifolium beaten like he didn't exist last time out. He's now run second in the Supreme Novices. Again rock solid form. It does worry me that Paul Townend opts for Thousand Stars as he will love the extra trip but I want a bit of value if i'm against Big Bucks and Thousand Stars run last time out worries me slightly. Ideal scenario is Big Bucks wins, So Young second.
Byrne Group Plate 4pm Divers (7/1) and Schindlers Gold (50/1) both each way
I backed Divers last year and will be going in headfirst again this. Loves Cheltenham. His trainer has obviously laid him out for Thursday. Schindlers gold is really interesting - dropped down the handicap like a lead balloon after being given a mark that was most probably incredibly harsh during the summer. I love the trainer though and know he can ready one for the festival. Cynical me says they've been pulling him up on purpose to get his mark down... well it's worked.
Kim Muir 4.40 Be There in Five (50/1) e/w
This is a decent amateur. Needles uses him when he's got a winner to land and i'm expecting a big run. His recent form is dreadful admittedly but if he'd have won at any point there's no way he'd be getting in here with a workable mark. The way Henderson's horses have been flying today I feel like this is a horse I have to back at big odds.
Henderson has been unbelievable so far. McCain has been almost as good. Mullins is hitting a little bit of form with his Neptune horses running very well in defeat and his bumper horses once again proving their is only one King of the Bumpers. Nicholls... ahem. Has anyone checked whether he knows Cheltenham started this week and not next?
Onto my selections:
Jewson 1.30 Peddlers Cross (7/2)
I think McCain is going to prove to us all that taking him out of the Arkle was the sensible move. If this lad runs up to his previous festival form (I know it has been over hurdles and these are fences) then nothing will live with him. We saw today with First Lieutenant how much a horse can be transformed by lovely spring ground as opposed to horrible, turgid, sticky winter slop. I think Peddlers will prove alot of the doubters wrong on Thursday. Sir Des Champs is the obvious threat as is Solix (based on trainer form).
Pertemps Final 2.05 Buena Vista e/w (11/1)
Maybe he's getting a little long in the tooth for all this but at the end of the day this lad excels at the Cheltenham Festival where he has form figures of 6365211. He's 2lbs higher than last year but has a 10lb claimer on his back as opposed to just 5lbs last time so in effect runs off 3 lbs lighter. A huge run is on the cards.
Ryanair Chase 2.40 Somersby e/w (6/1)
I am convinced he's got a huge run in him at this trip. His win last time out is now looking like a serious piece of form and at 6/1 is a fair each way price.
Ladbrokes World Hurdle 3.20 So Young e/w in the w/o Big bucks market (10/1)
I keep trying to convince myself to go against Big Bucks as I'm not backing that champ at likely prices and my acca's are down the toilet! The one's I prefer is So Young. I'd be shocked if he can beat Big Bucks but the form of last years Neptune is unbelievable. Rock on Ruby now Champion Hurdler, First Lieutenant could/should arguably have won the RSA had he not been keen over the first mile and a half. Rock solid form. Trifolium beaten like he didn't exist last time out. He's now run second in the Supreme Novices. Again rock solid form. It does worry me that Paul Townend opts for Thousand Stars as he will love the extra trip but I want a bit of value if i'm against Big Bucks and Thousand Stars run last time out worries me slightly. Ideal scenario is Big Bucks wins, So Young second.
Byrne Group Plate 4pm Divers (7/1) and Schindlers Gold (50/1) both each way
I backed Divers last year and will be going in headfirst again this. Loves Cheltenham. His trainer has obviously laid him out for Thursday. Schindlers gold is really interesting - dropped down the handicap like a lead balloon after being given a mark that was most probably incredibly harsh during the summer. I love the trainer though and know he can ready one for the festival. Cynical me says they've been pulling him up on purpose to get his mark down... well it's worked.
Kim Muir 4.40 Be There in Five (50/1) e/w
This is a decent amateur. Needles uses him when he's got a winner to land and i'm expecting a big run. His recent form is dreadful admittedly but if he'd have won at any point there's no way he'd be getting in here with a workable mark. The way Henderson's horses have been flying today I feel like this is a horse I have to back at big odds.
