Been told snake eyes is not expected to win today. Minella fortitness is their best chance of winning the race.
Morning, troops. Hope everyone well. Cor blimey what a wonderful card ‘oooooooooooooop North’ at old Donny today. Really, really nice juvenile hurdle, novice hurdle and veterans chase (I’d love to see one of these at the Festival incidentally – through a pile of loot at such a heat and in no time it would become a seasonally highlight – especially for sentimental fools like me). However, for me it’s all about the ‘lucky last’ and the running of old boy PURPLE BAY (5.05). Unless his odds ease I won’t be getting involved as those bookie chappies are taking absolutely no chance with this one and going just 5/4 in a 17 runner affair. As I said first thing yesterday the rumours are very, very strong re this one and he could be very, very good. Good luck all.
Interesting conversation about Chatterbox and MTOY, last night I was reading what Henderson said after the race (I was looking at some of the plots in behind) and he said something along the lines of "One went on the ground and the other didn't" and that was the reason for the result. I agree that Chatterbox is a horse to watch, but I am with stick that the result needs to be taken with the salt applied.
NASS, on the morning of the race I told the great and the good on here that the markets were speaking in favour of Chatterbox over his odds on stablemate that day. It was all a seven barrows crooked plot which they duly landed. Funny how MTOY was caught flat footed by his stablemate huh! Lo and behold in his next two runs MTOY looks a different animal. I am not saying that Chatterbox isnt useful, just that the form that day was dubious. As for the Lac Fontana formline well we dont yet know if that holds water do we. I have tipped Chatterbox on both runs so far so I am in no way crabbing the horse, just dont think that he is the equal of his stablemate and not a Festival winner for me thank you!
The best each way bet you can possibly be on today is the old-timer FAIRWOOD PRESENT 10-1 Ludlow 4.50. He never fails to make the frame here and has had a prep in a p2p. A much better horse over 2m4f than p2p distance he will almost certainly give you a return. Favourite a poor jumper and habitually finds one too good.
McCoy should have been banned for the ride on MTOY that day - absolutely ridiculous with a capital R. I remember spouting a barrage of four letter words in the immediate aftermath of the race.
That bumper looks above average and there is no way I would be backing the favourite at 5/4. The other 4YOs in the race are particularly eye-catching - McCoy riding Bayley's Dream (by Presenting out of a Swain mare no less) for the wily old Webber, then the Honeyball gelding Sir Toby Tyler by Kayf Tara out of an Anshan mare, and finally, Alan King's Wilde Blue Yonder, an Oscar gelding out Blue Gallery, sire of Emma Lavelle's decent novice Blues And Twos. Additionally, the booking of Barry Geraghty on the Henry Daly-trained Kris Kin gelding Kris Spin is noteworthy, and there is another on of those "Minellafor_________________" whatever types thrown in for good measure as well.
Just read this on RP website: Francois Doumen interview "A real champion is a horse who could win everywhere and in different types of race. A champion shouldn't be running twice before a Derby and then win it and become a stallion. It's the wrong policy." Well said that man
Sir Des Champs has been intensively schooled since the poor round of jumping in the Lexus leading up the the face off with Flemenstar the other week. One on one with someone from England - not Yogi - and you can see the results where he put in a great round and was definitely better than Flemenstar in the air. That certainly goes a long way to assuage the worries I had about his jumping.
Talking of doing my dough, I see that Franchoek makes his debut for Edward Harty tomorrow. Did a shed-load on him for the Triumph Hurdle a few years ago.
I really think MTOY's proximity to the 3rd that day means the result shouldn't be taken too seriously. I think Chatterbox's more recent run is his best piece of form. I see Exeter hosts its annual Festival Preview night tomorrow with messers Pipe, Nicholls and Hobbs the (unpaid) guests yet again. Would love to read a write up of the night either from someone here or from another website. Fingers crossed there is one.
And here, for anyone interested, is a list of some (all?) of the upcoming preview nights. http://www.fatjockey.com/forum/showthread.php?1211-2013-Cheltenham-Festival-Preview-Night-Reports
And here is a line from one preview night past "Henderson also described Chatterbox as an unlikely runner in any of the Cheltenham novice races on the basis that they’re ‘coming a year too soon.’"
The Daily Star best each way horse today is Somemothersdohaveem 12/1, yesterday their selection placed at 11/1 Monday their selection won at 12/1 so I think today's has to be worth a small EW
