FIVE RIVERS Huntingdon 3.00 8-1 turned in a very lack lustre performance last time over a trip that was certainly too far. The time before however he had put in a sterling display until falling two out at Kempton. On his last two runs he has raced off a mark of 112, just 2lbs higher than he his most recent winning mark of 110. He is over a more suitable 2m 4f tomorrow and for some reason the handicapper has seen fit to drop him to 104. The Greatrex yard have been in form of late and the lad Thomas Garner is definitely useful for the extra seven pounds off his back. The market is already speaking in his favour having opened at 12's and he certainly looks a worth a punt!
300 Huntingdon Last Shot 7/2 Going head-to-head with you here Stick I feel this one has a good chance of opening his chase account at the seventh time of asking. Finished 4 lengths 3rd conceding a lot of weight to the winner and second over 2m last time out. I feel the step back up in trip will help along with the addition of blinkers for the first time. Add to that the Venetia Williams yard is flying at present makes him a solid bet for me. One other that interests me although he is a bit of a monkey is Kauto The Roc 10/1 400 Huntingdon. Accepted that he doesn't always put it all in but on his best form is weighted to go close in this. Singles and a small double for me, good luck!!
Two for me at Leopardstown 2.10 Grey Monk Decent wee maiden here, Thunder And Roses will probably be favourite as he just about sets the standard but he has had a couple of hard races recently and has had a few chances now, clearly capable of winning a maiden but I dont think he is anything special and he looks beatable here. Operating is another with form well up to winning a maiden, ran his best race to date when close 3rd behind Anonis and The Paparazzi Kid on Boxing Day, but Anonis kicked every hurdle that day and the Paparazzi Kid is a bit of monkey so it probably flatters him, cant get the image of Rory Omoore beating him 25 lengths out of my head and I think he will be underpriced again here. Not much to say about Upazo other than I cant be having him, disappointing favourite on all 3 runs this season and he will have to show something else to even get involved in this. That brings me to Grey Monk, 8 length winner of a point from the impressive bumper winner Ceasar Milan, ran a really promising race behind Ned Buntline on hurdles debut but got turned over in weaker race when strongly fancied last time. Im willing to give him another chance as I think the ground was just too soft for him at Fairyhouse and with the better ground here and the step up in trip I think we will see a different horse. Im hoping he might be overlooked a bit in the market tomorrow but we will see, im convinced he is the best horse in the race in terms of future potential over fences and im confident of a big run. 3.40 Rupert Lamb 9/4 Straightforward, progressive chaser, he has the beating of The Real Article on their last run and although Dylan Ross is classy on his day, he has to be produced perfectly and I cant have him going past Rupert Lamb. Savello appears to have a bit to find on form, Cootamundra could be the danger if this race isnt coming too soon for him, but hes another who I just dont see going past. 9/4 looks a fair price. Decent bet.
Morning all, a little ew patent on this pleasant Sunday. Ballyvoneen 12/1 Sedgefield 3.50. Better ground should see an improvement on recent performances. Global Flyer 10/1 Huntingdon 4.00. 3/3 at this track and back to a winnable mark. Citizenship 12/1 Leopardstown 3.20. For no other reason than I seem to be following this one of the cliff! Good luck all
Morning folks. For me the most interesting horses running today are probably the Irish festival hopes taking part in the legendary workouts after racing this evening at Leopardstown. Not sure if it's televised or that but you can garner some juicy knowledge from it. In 2007 Sublimity worked over a dozen horses in a piece of work there and scooted home at 16s in the Champion (was gambled heavily into that price). Conversely Moscow Flyer worked very poorly at this meeting prior to his last race in the Champion Chase in 2006 when he was retired. If anyone does hear or see anything of note it would be worth hearing.
Right, a few small bets today, I am going with ground horses. 3.00 Triffolet EW This horse traveled well at Wincanton last time out, before not getting home, he looked like he needed a return to better ground and he gets it today. He won on good ground in hunters and I think he is better than his bare form suggests at the minute. Weak race. 3.30 Award Winner EW Another horse whose form isn't inspiring, but he has shown good form on better going and again he gets it today. He was a little more encouraging last time out and I think the better ground will see him run a better race, and at 33s he is a fair price for a horse who has won off higher marks (albeit over fences) and he is one of those horses who is either winning or tailed off. 4.00 Midnight Haze EW (NAP) This horse is well handicapped and he is much better on ground that is what I call "spring" and that is what he has today. He is rapidly dropping down the handicap after a tough winter on bad ground (Kempton perhaps the exception - but it seemed testing enough) and I think this trip and conditions is set to suit. He could be a blot on the handicap now back on better ground. I like him a lot. 4.30 Coffee (NB) Two wins came on good ground, poor since and dropping back to similar mark. AP to get a winner for Jonjo. Good luck all, just over a week to go!!
False rumours George, he confirmed to ride My Tent or Yours on Friday I think it was. I note we have stuck up the exact same Cheltenham preview report on the preview thread, though you're about 2 minutes ahead of me in doing so
Where did you hear that BOS? LOL I didn't even notice. Ron will be able to clear that up I imagine, or Oddy!!
ATR report that he is riding the favourite. Surprised he's confirmed his choice so early,normally a last minute decision. A sign of confidence or due to the fact he's never ridden Jezki before?
Sporting life website George http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/article/465/8532781/mccoy-sticks-with-tent-camp McCoy also had the option of partnering fellow JP McManus hurdler Jezki, trained in Ireland by Jessica Harrington. My Tent Or Yours is favourite for the Supreme after easily winning the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury for the Nicky Henderson team. McCoy told The Telegraph: "I ride My Tent Or Yours in the Supreme Novices' and I imagine Robbie Power will continue his association with Jezki. "They are first and second favourite, but I have great faith in My Tent Or Yours after the way he won the Betfair Hurdle. This was not a hard choice as I think he is a really good horse." --------------------------------------------------------------- Gives me even more confidence in MTOY as he think he's well clear of this lot but APs history of picking in the Supremes should probably be putting me off
2.20 Sedgfield: Solidago 14/1 e.w This looks a really interesting runner to me. The McCain favourite, Cloud Creeper, ran a good race behind New Years Eve and Ptit Zig last time, but he was 28/1 to do so that day, and New Years Eve has done absolutely nothing to advertise the form. For that reason, I'm passing him over at such a short price and I have turned my attention to this 14/2 Irish raider. He has actually got some solid enough bits and pieces of form over in Ireland. He made promising headway two starts ago before being totally done for speed (over 2m), and did not run at all badly when beaten 28 lengths behind the very smart Venture Capital, who we so sadly lost on Friday . He shapes like a horse who would get 2 and a half miles well and I suspect a better pace would suit him, which he has struggled to get in testing Irish conditions. He can improve for the ground and the trip today and he is against much, much weaker oppoisition. The concern is his hurdling- if he can improve the standard of that then he looks a strong chance of making the frame here today, and the 3lb claim from the jockey will not do him any harm.
Sedgefield 3.20 - Along Came Rosie Horse is back on a winning mark, 5 lbs lower than when it won over C&D here last year(13/03/12). Put in a decent performance LTO but its back on its preferred surface today with some good in the ground. Owners have confirmed the horse has had a wind op and they are confident of a big run today. Already been nibbled at in the market from 6s down to 9/2.
When everything else in racing is failing you can still go to the Meade/Carberry combo for a bumper winner....ANGE BALAFRE stunning price at 9-2
