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Well after a great day on Thursday we hope the trend of improving every day continues. We had both big race winners and a host of placed horses (8/1, 9/1, 9/1, 10/1, 20/1, 20/1) .... Boom in !
Onto day 3 action, where the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the star turn. The ground has been steadily drying all week and the scene is set, although heavy rain is forecast in the afternoon which may just require horses to have that extra bit of stamina going up the Cheltenham hill. A recipe for almost perfect jumping ground. So the stage is set ... by 3.30 today we will know who has the leading role and who are the bit-parts.
Day 4
Triumph hurdle
In the big novice hurdle division it's 1-1 this week between the english and irish. This seems another head to head between Our Connor and Far West. This is a close call but we have to go with Our Connor. I think we can expect a good run from Kashmir Peak. This fella is highly regarded and after winning a Grade 2 at Doncaster he fell when mounting a challenge against a useful Nicholls yardstick who reopposes here. John Quinn also has a knack of producing spring novices like Countrwide Flame and Blythe Knight. Swynmor is also a fascinating entry at an astonishing price. The former useful flat racer was looking like the easy winner of the Finale hurdle at Chepstow when falling at the last, he is way too big at around 25/1.
In the big novice hurdle division it's 1-1 this week between the english and irish. This seems another head to head between Our Connor and Far West. This is a close call but we have to go with Our Connor. I think we can expect a good run from Kashmir Peak. This fella is highly regarded and after winning a Grade 2 at Doncaster he fell when mounting a challenge against a useful Nicholls yardstick who reopposes here. John Quinn also has a knack of producing spring novices like Countrwide Flame and Blythe Knight. Swynmor is also a fascinating entry at an astonishing price. The former useful flat racer was looking like the easy winner of the Finale hurdle at Chepstow when falling at the last, he is way too big at around 25/1.
County hurdle
Another very competitive handicap (as if we hadn't had enough of those this week) and a race usually targeted by the Irish, let's start with their interesting contenders, particularly Gordon Elliott's. Discoteca is 5lb better off with Tennis Cap today and we think has the beating of the Mullins horse so why he is over twice the price is beyond us. Ted Veale is short enough considering he has never encountered ground this quick. Shadow Catcher was strongly fancied for the Triumph last year by Gordon Elliott and has had a quiet time since but his run when splitting Hisabaat and Countrywide Flame is top notch. He will strip fitter for a recent A/W run at Dundalk. Cotton Mill should run a big race and Denis O'Regan is adamant after today's race you'll never see him on this mark again. He was giving Simonsig a run till carrying out last year and ran fantastically in the Betfair Hurdle first time out this year. He swerved the Champion Hurdle for this. Claret Cloak maybe worth an e/w punt. He goes well on the ground and judged on his run behind good yardstick Raya Star he may have a chance here. I think we can write off his last run. For sentimental reasons we'd love to see Punjabi go well with Geraghty on board but there's no reason to think he's half the horse of old just yet.
Another very competitive handicap (as if we hadn't had enough of those this week) and a race usually targeted by the Irish, let's start with their interesting contenders, particularly Gordon Elliott's. Discoteca is 5lb better off with Tennis Cap today and we think has the beating of the Mullins horse so why he is over twice the price is beyond us. Ted Veale is short enough considering he has never encountered ground this quick. Shadow Catcher was strongly fancied for the Triumph last year by Gordon Elliott and has had a quiet time since but his run when splitting Hisabaat and Countrywide Flame is top notch. He will strip fitter for a recent A/W run at Dundalk. Cotton Mill should run a big race and Denis O'Regan is adamant after today's race you'll never see him on this mark again. He was giving Simonsig a run till carrying out last year and ran fantastically in the Betfair Hurdle first time out this year. He swerved the Champion Hurdle for this. Claret Cloak maybe worth an e/w punt. He goes well on the ground and judged on his run behind good yardstick Raya Star he may have a chance here. I think we can write off his last run. For sentimental reasons we'd love to see Punjabi go well with Geraghty on board but there's no reason to think he's half the horse of old just yet.
Albert Bartlett
At Fishers Cross may finally get McCoy off the mark for the week. He has very solid form and the last minute rain will only help his cause. I know the Henderson cam this a lot of Utopie Des Bordes and believe he represents one of their best value prices of the week at around 10/1. Le Bec is a great each way price at 25/1. After winning first time up very nicely he was just touched off by Taquin De Seuil, who went on to win the Challow.
Gold Cup
I still feel the Gold Cup is a muddling affair this year without a genuine standout contender. My golf pro says the best way to work out what club you need is first to work out what club it isn't ! Therefore if a 5 iron is too big and a 7 iron won't get you there, it must be a 6 iron. My Gold Cup thinking follows the same process. I still have to question some of Sir Des Champs form, I'm not sure if Silviniaco Conti handles the track here and Long Run may find this a mile too short on this ground! Therefore by process of elimination in the search for a winner we end up with Bobs Worth. He loves it here, has good form is a confident selection. Best each way in the race is the aforementioned Long Run and if you want bigger price The Giant Bolster isn't bad.
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| Bob showing his Worth last year |
Foxhunters
One of the strongest Irish fancies of the week and one of my bankers of the week is Salsify. Defending champion and winner of the best Irish trial since, I can't see him losing. I've always had Chapoturgeon down as a non-stayer and on softer ground than last year he goes backwards for me. Of the rest Cottage Oak is the one I'd fancy to fill second spot and he's a good each way price. He's done nothing wrong this year and won well in the Walrus at Haydock.
One of the strongest Irish fancies of the week and one of my bankers of the week is Salsify. Defending champion and winner of the best Irish trial since, I can't see him losing. I've always had Chapoturgeon down as a non-stayer and on softer ground than last year he goes backwards for me. Of the rest Cottage Oak is the one I'd fancy to fill second spot and he's a good each way price. He's done nothing wrong this year and won well in the Walrus at Haydock.
Martin Pipe Conditionals
Sometimes it pays to side with the best jockeys in affairs such as this and our first selection is Ma Filleuile ridden by the able Jeremiah McGrath. This mare beat Swincombe Flambe last time and she franked the form against Quevega on Tuesday. Toner D'Oudairies is expected to go well but has been chasing and runs in this as he didn't get into any of the chases this week. Our other selection is Make Your Mark for the Mullins/Gigginstown combo. He had a good novice season and with only one run this year will strip fitter and is unexposed.
Grand Annual
The annual 'gettin out' stakes is yet another tough handicap. Named after Nicky's father in recent years, he always produces some for this and had 3 of the first 4 home last year and 3 of them return here. We fancy his best chance to be Anquetta, who is well in with Tanks For That and only had his first run this at Mussleburgh recently. Going well 2 out he just didn't quite finish his race probably due to a lack of fitness. Kid Cassidy was favourite for this last year and off a 2lb lower mark has to be fancied and the Henderson/Carberry combo produced the winner last year. Of the rest Kumbeshwar and Oiseau De Nuit could go well but at a big price we like Viva Colonia. He appears to like this better ground and a recent change of scenery has done him well. His last run was a cracker beating 3 good sorts. He also handles the track as his 5th in Greatwood proves.
Thanks for reading each day and I hope you have had a few of our horses on your side as we've had some great each way bets in this week and a few winners too so it's been very profitable so far (As a rule of thumb back anything under 5s to win and anything over as an each way).
It just remains to say thanks to Cheltenham for a great week, they may have the best quality race of the year but we have the toughest ... move over ... it's Aintree's turn next.
| A 'proper' fence |
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