Evening all Couldn't agree more Archers. That aside, i think there's a couple of nicely handicapped horses in Divers & Finger on the Pulse. Divers is racing off a 6lb lower mark than when he was third in this race last year. He'll also favour the ground drying out. Finger on the Pulse, Jewson winner off 135 & Galway plate winner off 138. Now running off 136. While he's pretty adaptable on all going, i feel he' at his best on good/good to soft and will also appreciate the ground drying out. Certainly both worth a small interest at big odds.
Happy that I am sitting on Grands Crus 6/1 & Walkon 12/1, if GC is as good as D Pipe seems to think he should be winning this off of his mark. Walkon goes well fresh and looks to have a good e/w chance.
Think you've got your greys mixed up there Woolly - just lifted this from Alan King's website: Walk On looks the part as he warms up for Paddy Power MONDAY is a schooling morning at Barbury, but, despite suffering a hangover from having the week-end double off on the social circle â Richard Hughesâs Champion Jockey party followed by Mike Cattermoleâs Stag lunch on Sunday â I braved raw temperatures and incessant drizzle to let you know how Walk On got on in his final âpopâ at first lot in readiness for Saturdayâs Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. âHe jumped superâ, declared Choc Thornton after taking Walk On over the triple line of fences on the all-weather three times, and Alan also expressed his satisfaction, observing âthat was just what we wanted, and he looks to be in great form for Saturday.â
I'm never great at working out handicaps and whilst I think this trip is ideal for Grand Crus I think I'd prefer to take the 16s Divers or 25s Wishfull Thinking before going near the 9/4 for the fav, though the Pipe's have had somewhat of a monopoly on this race over the years. Great spectacle of a race just not one to go punting mad on for me
I think Divers is a great shout. He has great form at Cheltenham, ground should be in his favour. He is weighted well looking at his form, particulary on a line through Quantitive easing. I also like Walkon, i know we all interpret form differently and In my case I always seem to see what i want to see!! But his impressive beating of Zaynar on his seasonal reappearance rings well to me given Zaynars win next time out. Given Michael Flips was well behind Zaynar and is weighted 2lbs higher than Walkon in this race I think 'potentially' Walkon could be well in. The cynic in me believes they ran him at Ayr at the backend of last season just to get his handicap mark down! The fact he alo ran so well on his debut the season prior (albeit a massive ijury caused layoff) and then his form faded makes me think he is especially good fresh. Given the prices, I will be having a dabble on these two greys!
I know you should never allow this to happen, but I am being talked round into believing that Walkon could possibly be good enough to win this. I have said before that I was a fan when he was a hurdler, but his chase form hasn't been anything to write home about, and I've gone right off him. However with a lot of very valid reasoning from other forum members my mind is being changed about this horse. Think any sort of value has disappeared though, I wouldn't be wanting to take 8s I'm afraid. Personally though I won't be having a big bet, if I have one at all, but still like Nadiya De La Vega and Micheal Flips as the value, along with Finger Onthe Pulse
I think we say this every time he runs at Cheltenham don't we? He is still 6lbs higher than when winning the Centenary Novices chase 18 months ago and ran like a drain last time out. Then again that could be part of the plan
I really think old Forpady is a good each way bet at 33/1. Goes well around Cheltenham and will appreciate the drying ground. He is getting on a bit and has to face possible improvers however I just think if he retains his ability he will give a good account of himself.
Hes six pounds better off than last year oddy when the ground apparently went against him. I certainly think that Its feasible mr Murphy undercooked him considerably last time
Does anyone think Hunt Ball can continue to progress further from last season? Last season i used to take Anthony Knott's comments with a pinch of salt, given his overwhelming love for the horse. Yet his statements that the horse had improved again kept coming up trumps. Seen an interview on ATR earlier and he seems keen that the horse has bulked up and is even stronger than last year. If that is so i would gather he will take some beating. Hunt Ball for me!!
I think Hunt Ball could be the main danger to my selection Al Ferof, as I still have this major nagging doubt about Grands Crus over fences, and Hunt Ball still could be a well handicapped horse. I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see him win the PPGC
Can't see any reason why Hunt Ball won't go close Smokin and esepcially with Knott thinkin he has improved futher, he was fairly spot on all last season wasn't he. I like Calgary Bay at a nice price to run a good race for Mick Channon, will need alot of things to go right and maybe even need to sprout wings, but 1st time out this season i'm gonna take a chance perhaps.
Walkon and Grands Crus were separated by a head when 4th and 5th in the RSA Chase off level weights. This time Walkon receives a stone. Will be an interesting measure on Saturday.
Its most definitely a plan. Its Ferdy Murphy! He ran a pants race before running 3rd in this last year off a 6lb higher mark. Also I stumbled across that he had a wind op over the summer. Not sure if I'll back him as haven't gone into the race in detail yet.
Its a great race, and depicts everything that is great about the NH game; horses returning year after year I cant remember how many times ive backed calgary bay but i wouldnt begrudge him another big success But my money will be on Hunt Ball this weekend
I've got - Divers @25/1 & Fingeronthepulse @129/1 the place market will no doubt get more generous by tomorrow afternoon.
