I always like horses that attract early attention. More often than not "connection and their friends" cannot wait to get on fancied horses so early movers can be quite significant. It's also a reason that I take my hat off to Bet365 as they price up all the handicaps "blind".Others follow suit when they can see who Bet365 could be taking a good hiding on. So with all that said it very much goes against the grain that I am tipping NORTH LONDON 8-1 2.00 Lingfield tomorrow. Others have already been punted but I am opposing them as I think this horses last piece of form is head and shoulders above anything else in this race. He ran HOME RUN to 5.1/2 lengths at Wincanton with another recent winner just in front of him also. That run was a huge improvement from anything he ad previously shown and I am sure the handicapper wouldnt let him in so lightly now. Will Kennedy was on him for the first time that day and takes the reins again today. My only reservation is the trip as this is 3f further and he has failed to stay in the past, however, such was the step up in form I am prepared to take the chance.
Lingfield 3.35 Double Dash 9/4 Like the look of this tomorrow, some early money for it on Betfair but peanuts really.
I would be lumping on this with you Boris if it were not for the fact that its a 3 miler. Massive ask him seeing out the trip IMHO.
Double Dash is a horse I'm a big fan of and if he stays the 3m (which I think he will) then he should be very hard to beat.
Yeah thats the worry isnt it, but its such a poor race, and its Lingfield so its not the stiffest 3 miles, I think he might get away with it. Hes by Sir Harry Lewis so he must have a chance of staying a sharpish 3, a couple of times at 2 1/2 he has looked like a step up would suit, and couple of times he hasnt so im not totally sure. But I think he could be different class in this field and will take the chance.
I always have a 2nd look when Mark McNiff sends a bumper runner over to the UK and this season he has sent over just 2, with Josh Deets winning at 16/1. In the 4.10 at Lingfield McNiff saddles Celtic Monarch, a Celtic Swing gelding out of an Ela-mana-mou mare, and at the forecast 8/1 he makes a bit of appeal in a very open looking bumper. Pricewise gives his view on the Champion Chase tomorrow and I assume he'll be putting up an each-way prospect. I suspect he may well plump for the still unexposed Williams Wishes who has put in 2 spectacular performances on his comeback this season and will likely head to Fairyhouse before Cheltenham. His target remains undecided but I hope connections will have a crack at the place money behind Sprinter Sacre.
I wonder if he will put up Cue Card Oddy? He's still the closest anyone has got to Sprinter, and the King George might put connections off a Ryanair distance until next season, so an e/w punt might make sense, depending on the price. (Edit: Best price 20/1) However can he really oppose Sprinter? I wonder if he will go the Sanctuaire route and argue that he did not run to form in the Tingle Creek (especially after falling in a hole and finishing up behind Kumbeshwar). He might say that good ground suits better, and that the way he stayed on at Kempton over Christmas suggests that Nicholls might restrain him for the first half mile at Cheltenham and then look to quicken up on the faster spring ground to save something for the finish. None of it makes a difference however, Sprinter Sacre wins by 5L+ for me.
Lovely horse Celtic Swing. My favourite at the time and named one of our afghan hounds after him. Went unbeaten at open and championship shows as a puppy (up to 12 months).
Yep My bookie going 8/15 on Sprinter Sacre (don't worry, he's not on oddschecker) for the Champion Chase - very tempting to lump on, I think he'll go 1/3 or shorter after running away with the Victor Chandler this weekend
It's not a bad shout Toppy, for me he places in the CC if he goes that route and he's 20/1. But why would they want to run behind SS again? They had to take him on once and did so in the Arkle. Cue Card ran bloody well that day and in hindsight I think they should have sent him straight at the Champion Chase. Surely they have to go Ryanair now, a race that I think he'll win (and said so in our 3 predictions for the season back in October or whenever it was) rather than 2nd or 3rd at best to SS. If anything were to happen to the fav it's a different ball game but God forbid that.
anyone want sam thomas's breeches? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHELTENHAM-GOLD-CUP-WINNING-JOCKEY-SAM-THOMAS-AUTOGRAPHED-BREECHES-24-OCT-2008-/111000256153?pt=UK_Sports_Memorabilia_ET&hash=item19d8217e99 must be the financial climate.
No bids ............... what a surprise 200 ****ing quid my arse - my brother picked up a Barca shirt signed by Messi for less than that
One from my tracker tomorrow Ffos Las 3.15 BALLYBOKER BOY 13/2 If fit enough to do himself justice after his break then he should be going close in this race.
Interesting to see him in the Betfair Hurdle entries........that'd be a novel way to warm up for a Champion Chase.
Pricewise my arse. He is good in some races but like many of us, he doesn't know when to STFU and go with the jailcase. Pricewise is no different in his thought process to some of the lads on here. I hope he stays away from Monksland in the World Hurdle.
