How about: Tuesday - Supreme, Champion Hurdle, Novices Handicap Chase Wednesday - RSA, Coral Cup, Champion Chase Thursday - JLT, Ryanair, Plate Friday - Albert Bartlett, Gold Cup, Grand Annual Just 1 handicap each day and those with no interest can just not bother with a selection for those races? Bob, Beefy - I'm open to other suggestions, but I thought it a bit pointless if we all put up Douvan, Yarnworth, Thistlecrack for example.
I'll go along with that Oddy, I'll try to get a line or 2 on the handicap of the day! The weights arent out yet are they?
Min, Annie Power, No More Heroes, UDS, Outlander, Road To Riches, Shantou Village, Don Poli right, thats that sorted, you can concentrate on just the handicaps now beefy
As long as you guys still enjoy reading the utter drivel mixed in with the occasional Lord Windermere of course I will gents. I just hope, I say I just hope, that I don't take away any of Barneys regular readers. Thanks for doing this Oddy and the rest of you- it wouldn't be any good without everyone putting in their time and opinions and it's always been great from you all.
As for freshening it up, maybe a couple of he following ideas: Festival Banker and why. Festival dark horse. Festival forgotten horse. The 'Magic Hands' nomination sponsored by Nicky Henderson: - which horse is most likely to provide the biggest shock of the meeting in line with its odds by bouncing back to form. Any other categories along those lines that might be fun? Just throw ideas out there.
I make no apologies for not contributing. Conversely, if I did contribute it would have to carry one massive apology. I'm useless at this game, especially Cheltenham. I might do a write up on one handicap (outside this) just to prove my point. On second thoughts, that is hardly necessary Well done though to those that do. Thank you all in advance for the effort and thanks Oddy for organising
OK, having taking all views on board this is the final line up: Contributors: Beefy (BS), Bob (BB), Nass (NB), Oddy (OD), Sir Barney (SB), Stick (ST), Tam (TA), Toppy (TC), Woolly (WF) It would be a GREAT HELP to me during editing if you could prefix each of your thoughts with your initials as above. To give you an example, this is what Beefy's input for the Arkle might look like: "(BS) I can't be having that old dog Douvan winning and have gone for a sporting e/w chance to beat him ................" You get my meaning? When pulling the whole document together I need to identify whose posted what so that would be a great help. The other thing I would ask is that you please try and give short summaries for your selections. ROTOs write-ups were always superb but if all 9 of us write that much for each race the thread will end up like War and Peace Preview Sections: 1. "The Oscars" - please nominate, with a short justification: - Banker of the meeting - Lay of the meeting - Festival Dark Horse - Lazarus (forgotten horse / old warrior returning etc) - Widest margin winner 2. Champion Day / Tuesday - please contribute as follows: - Supreme Novices Hurdle - Arkle - Champion Hurdle - Other races (only if you have an opinion - not mandatory) 3. Ladies Day / Wednesday - Neptune - RSA - Champion Chase - Other races (only if you have an opinion - not mandatory) 4. St. Patrick's Thursday - JLT Novices Chase - Ryanair - World Hurdle - Other races (only if you have an opinion - not mandatory) 5. Gold Cup Day / Friday - Triumph Hurdle - Albert Bartlett - Gold Cup - Other races (only if you have an opinion - not mandatory) I'll break the preview down into these sections. As previously requested, please provide all input before midday on Sunday 13th March. Thanks.
Well done Oddy. I assume the "Other races" section is optional for those that think something is worth a mention in any of them?
Fantastic idea. A few categories to add for me would be: The AP McCoy ‘Stuff It Up’ Award – nominate who you think will make the biggest mistake at the festival, The ‘AP 4 JP’ Award – between which racing personalities will romance blossom at the meeting, and The ‘Simon Crisford’ Award – nominate who will be tops at Cheltenham re toadyism.
Oddy, is it mandatory that we give opinions on all the Grade 1’s at the meet??? Some I’ve little opinion on and others will be pretty dull stuff if I do (i.e. the Douvan and Yanworth heats). May be in the minority but my main stuff is for the handicaps especially the Fred Winter. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more…
