Right lads, the time is almost upon us and I don't have a list of horses to avoid yet so i will lead the Preview thread this year. Can I please get a few nods from people who want to participate so I can gauge whether it's worth committing the time to it. It will be in the usual format but will suggest that, if there's a high level of interest in taking part, we stick to the grade ones races each day, the Foxhunter and a maximum of TWO handicap selections each. Cut off period for telling me you want to take part is Wednesday at 12pm. I'll then need everyone's preview's by Sunday afternoon at 12pm and i'll get the preview done on Sunday and have it posted before the end of the night on Sunday. So, for the avoidance of doubt: Tuesday: Supreme Arkle Champion Hurdle Mares Race Wednesday: Neptune RSA QMCC Bumper Thursday: JLT Ryanair World Hurdle Friday: Triumph Albert Bartlett Cheltenham Gold Cup Foxhunter
My analysis is nowhere near as good as most of you but if your short on bodies ill certainly be willing to participate.
Well done bobster for taking this on.i'd be happy enough to step aside and leave this to the forum gurus!
I've done the last 3 or 4 Bob so am happy to give someone else a chance. But if you're struggling for numbers I'm happy to throw in my tuppence worth
I did it two years ago and had a great festival, I didn't do it last year and had a shocking festival so count me in!
Looking back at last years I put up one winner, SIRE DE GRUGY, a five year old could've worked that one out. You'd have to be desperate for my opinion at Cheltenham!
Really hope you get Sir Barney in on this Bob, to provide some etiquette to proceedings and Shergy's view always makes a good read too I'm happy to chip in with an Irish perspective, if needed
Should try to get TC on board as he writes a brilliant review. And Woolly.....God we are spoilt for choice on here are we not with talented form students...too many to name!
Don't be so harsh on yourself you get a lot of things right and do some good reviews (we all make mistakes- like the mistake u have done by backing the TNO this year )
Bob, Not had a bash at one of these before but as I've got the extra time on my hands this week, I would like to chip in and let you fellas know which nags to avoid
Good man. I'll probably ask everyone to send me their write ups to my hotmail account instead of direct messages on here as word or equivalent will be much easier to do work with and collate.
Yes, I can put something down. Although I must admit that I’m going into this years meet with probably less confidence and views than for many, many years (I’ve to date only had 1 wager – Mr Henderson’s Cocktails At Dawn in the novices handicap chase). Myself, I’d prefer it if we concentrated on the handicaps or looked for value selections against some of the hotpots – things like ‘Douvan wins the first’, ‘Annie Power should dot up in the Mares’ ‘Un De Sceaux will win by half the track’ and 'Peace and Co should easily win the Triumph' has been done elsewhere and really offers nothing new.
You may very well be right. He’s been too keen and will he get up the hill?!? Was using those 4 hotpots as examples of saying what has been said a thousand times elsewhere more than saying they would all dot up. We need a fresh angle, pilgrims. You, for instance, won’t read Cocktails At Dawn will win the novices handicap chase in that many other places!
That's not a problem Barney. My idea was that most will say the obvious in the Arkle, Mares etc so would keep that very short and sweet much like they do during preview evenings. With everyone having a couple of handicap choices i was hoping we'll cover close to every race but it keeps it manageable for me to pull together and it will focus the mind on everyone's 2 handicap 'good things' as opposed to pin sticking in loads of races. Write as much as you want in the handicaps that you pick and keep the obvious as snappy as you want.
