With all the love about for Vautour I've gone and put him in a dutching ****er bet with Ptit Zig, really can't decide between the two. So expect Apache Stronghold to win.
Betting options are becoming slimmer and slimmer unless you are just following the short-priced Mullins runners. I cannot see the bookies giving too much away in hoping that Vautour makes a mistake and fluffs his lines whilst punters have the usual quandary with top-rated Ptit Zig of how he responds to his heavy fall last time. I would be looking at Balder Succes in the Ryanair Chase but he has failed to finish in three previous Cheltenham visits, so how about last year’s second Hidden Cyclone to go one better? The World Hurdle looks so wide-open that the betting is more like a handicap. Saphir Du Rheu won the Cleeve Hurdle from Reve De Sivola despite several mistakes but has failed to complete in half his four races. The other Nicholls’ runner Zarkandar was beaten at odds on by Reve De Sivola. I cannot find reasons to fancy any of the Irish contenders but I am curious about Tricky Nicky’s Whisper, beaten at long odds on in a novice chase last time and reverting to hurdles – can Barry Geraghty secure back-to-back victories?
LOL Gazboy was it you I remember asking me on here if that was me with the beard in the picture? crying
Topclass afraid not, I just sit and admire handsome avatars! Im waiting on daily mail confirming who is in Boston Bobs!!!
QMII watching the racing shows this morning I think they said Whisper was about 2 weeks shy of full fitness but cant be certain. Could this be prep for Aintree?
2.05 Run Ructions Run (4 win) Big Easy (5 win, 6 place) 4.00 Caid Du Berlais (5 win, 6 place) Buywise (4 win) 4.40 Just A Par (5 win, 6 place) Benbens (4 win) all @ bfsp
Obvious selections for me today, I'm hoping it'll be another good day for favourites 1.30 Vautour 2.40 Don Cossack 3.20 Zarkandar
Once again, nothing is begging me to back it. Missed the price on Vautour in the first, so small bet on Ptit Zig it is. Uixandre e/w in the Ryanair. Just cos price, and the champ. And in the "How many more times do they go round, wake me up when they're two from home" hurdle, Saphir Du Rheu is hjust aboot a backable price.
Small stakes EW Lucky 31/Singles/Doubles/Trebles and Placepot (highlighted horses): 1:30 - Vatour 6/4 (i do hold an ante post ticket for both Ptit Zig and Apache Stronghold too) 2:05 - Brother Brian 8/1 & Trustan Times 20/1 (combi fc/tc with Run Ructions Run also) 2:40 - Balder Success 8/1 3:20 - Zarkander 8/1 4:00 - Buywise 9/1 4:40 - Champagne James 9/1 (have also done small ew singles on Ballyoliver 40/1 & Across The Bay 66/1 and combi fc/tc) Best of luck all today
First day belonged to Ruby, second To Sam TD with the champ nowhere near the winners enclosure. On first look his book of rides today look like a right bunch of dodge pots too. However with the exception of Colour Squadron in the first I'd give the rest an ew squeak at decent odds. Regal Encore put in a much improved display lto and could still be ahead of the handicapper in the Pertemps. Unixandre has been very unimpressive so far this season but has his ground and a repeat of last years run in the JLT could see him getting competitive. At Fishers Cross has been called all sorts of names but only found More of That and Annie Power too good in this last year. He's been abysmal this year but he wasn't much better before this race last year. And let's face it you can never see enough of the lovely Rebecca in the ol winners enclosure. His last ride sees him on Kim Bailey's Une Ace. This one got to within 11 lengths of Vautour in last year's Supreme and is well thought of by the trainer. Lumped all together in a ew Lucky 15. Good luck all.
1.30 Apache Stronghold 11/2 Really like this lad- was always going to be a better chaser than hurdler and he has improved with each run this season. I strongly fancied him over Christmas in the 3m Topaz but Don Poli showed what Gold Cup stamina looked like and beat him on the run in. Apache has since come out and turned the tables on Valseur Lido over 2 and a half miles and I think the ground and the trip look perfect today. There is a very interesting pace angle here also. Vautour, Valseur Lido, and Ptit Zig all like to be on the sharp end and I think if Carberry times things just right, he can play a late run and nab these on the run in. Vautour was a smashing hurdler last year but despite 2 very good performances from 3, I still think he is better suited to the smaller obstacles and I do have a stamina question mark in terms of whether this trip will see him at his best or somewhere below it. 3.20 Monksland 16/1 (Antepost NRNB) Have always loved the horse since I saw him win as a novice in Ireland. I was absolutely gutted when he withdrew from the 2013 World Hurdle with a setback and it took him 2 years to get back on the track. Noel Meade said this morning how difficult he has been to train and they have had to do things a little bit differently with him. He retains a lot of ability and his return at Christmas was full of so much promise, running on late to be beaten 5L by Lieutenant Colonel and Jetson. On good ground, that is form I think he can reverse. He has the tactical speed but he also stays very well- I think if he is well in himself he has the ability to win this race and win it well. Carberry will play him late and hopefully a strong pace in this big field will play right to his strengths and he can fly up the hill and finally deliver on the promise his ability showed. He is only an 8 year old and this is just his 9th run over hurdles. He can progress and whilst he needs to, if he does I think he might be tough to beat. In the other races, I like Eduard 20/1 e.w in the Ryanair, as he has some solid form ties with Many Clouds, and also Un Ace 9/1 for AP McCoy in the 4.00 plate.
Everyone is probably already aware of the offer but I thought I'd put it up anyway. If you deposit £20 into Paddy Power they'll match it no strings attached I put £20 in, my account balance went straight to £40 and I withdrew the spare £20. You don't have to bet it and there's no conditions attached to it
