Cheltenham Day 3:Thursday

1.30 Really fancy Peddlers Cross in the first, don't think Sir Des Champs is as good as everyone thinks but sure we'll see tomorrow! (Reminder to edit post @ 1.40pm...:D)

2.05 Thinking about Sonofvic in this one but Pettifour definitely has e/w claims at 50/1 and I wouldn't count out Restless Harry at 33/1 either.

2.40 I think Noble Prince has everything going for him in this race, between him and Somersby for me. Call me insane but I really think that course specialist Kalahari King has excellent claims for a place and I'll definitely be having a nibble on him at 33/1.

3.20 Big Bucks (NAP) has this in the bag doesn't he? e/w or w/o value is with Thousand Stars but I'll be going big on Big Bucks to make it 16 in a row, don't think Oscar Whisky will handle the distance well. Will do a double with Boston Bob I think in the Albert

4.00 I think Divers is a pretty decent horse and now that AP will be on board I think I'll go with him for this race. Really tough one to call but have my doubts about the favorite Salut Flo to win it so will definitely be avoiding him.

4.40 Tough one to call like the 4.00 but I'll just side with becauseicouldntsee. More going with my heart in this one since I like this horse a lot even after it's fall in the grand national. But it's also a good horse on it's day and I can see it being thereabouts come crunch time.

5.15 Don't be betting on this!!! If you have to, just close your eyes and point at the screen and back it e/w

Gone For the Peddlers and Big Bucks Double works out about 6-1. Bad start to the week though so not going into tommorw with much confidence.
So here's some more to avoid. Sonovfic, Blazing Tempo, Cockney Mackem,Start me up. And Finally the most important race of the day The paddys day derby Loden

Voler la Vedette each way. Probably won't trouble the fav but she might be good for place.

Having convinced myself to back Riverside Theatre, starting to have second thoughts and might just go for Noble Prince. Previous festival form, should like the ground. Have had a few people raving to me about Rubi Light but I just can't see it. Prefers a cut in the ground and his jumping performance the last two times out was enough to put me off.

In the first, I'm thiking of going for Sir Des Champs even though I'm probably overthinking this way too much. Peddlars, given the form McCain is in and course form, should win. But for some inconcievable reason I don't want to back him. Fair chance I'm going to go nuts either way after the race. A Peddlars/SDC + Big Bucks double could be the way to go via Betfair multiples.

Plugging for one of Sonofvic, Sergeant Gibbs and Pineau de Re in the 2.05; Mourad or So Young to be placed in the 3.20; Fine Pachment in the 4.00; and either Benbane Head or The Hollinwell in the 4.40. Will decide tomorrow.

Have a presentation in the morning so haven't had much time to look at the cards. I'll try get more done tomorrow afternoon.

2.05

RUSSIAN WAR 40/1 , PETTIFOUR 40/1 & SCOTSBROOK CLOUD 100/1

Looks incredibly open but I think at least one of these three outsiders can make the frame. Gordon Elliott's RUSSIAN WAR is an old friend of mine and had a tremendous season last year notching up 6 wins over hurdles, including one at Cheltenham. He created a fantastic impression winning at Aintree and followed up that win a really, really impressive win off a mark of 135 at Ayr where he won on the bridle. After this, Elliot sent this 9 year old chasing but he really didn't take to it and lost a lot of confidence. Since reverting back to hurdling, he put in a much improved performance without looking the horse of old off a mark of 149 over C+D back in October and after being pulled up on his last start he's had a 5 month break which should freshen him up (has a good record fresh). Although he'll have to put in a career best performance to win this off a mark of 147, I certainly think he is capable and if the first time application of cheekpieces work I can see him going close at what looks a very overpriced 40/1

PETTIFOUR is a 10 year old from the Nigel Twiston Davies yard who has good course form and could well have been laid out for this race. He came a very good 2nd at the track back in November of 138 and I think he may have had this race in mind (probably like so many others) for quite a while. Tomorrow he races off a mark of 143 which certainly doesn't seem beyond him and the trainers son Willie takes off a very valuable 7lb to give him an effective handicap rating of 136. If the application of first time blinkers bring about some improvement, I see no reason why Pettifour can't at least outrun his odds and hopefully win.

My last selection is the outsider of the entire party in the shape of David Evans 7 year old SCOTSBROOK CLOUD and I don't understand why he's such a massive price. As a 6 year old, he was highly progressive winning twice and finishing 2nd three times in his 7 starts in this sphere which culminated in a decent 2nd off a mark of 135. The form of that race looks strong with the winner putting in a great effort on his only subsequent start off a 7lb higher mark and the 3rd winning off a 7lb higher mark subsequently. After a 5 month absence, Scotsbrook Cloud was pulled up on his last start but that was on heavy ground which didn't suit at all and I'm willing to ignore that effort. Off a mark of 137 tomorrow, if he's improved from a 6 year old to a 7 year old I see no reason why he won't be able to defy this mark in the future and with jockey Michael Byrne taking off 5lb tomorrow he gets into the race as joint bottom weight off just 10-1. Although he could easily be outclassed, his trainer is in very good form at the moment and I've certainly see way worse 100/1 shots in my lifetime.

4.05

DIVERS 7/1

I think this looks a bit of a Ferdy Murphy plot as Divers has gotten into this race on what seems a very good mark. Divers absolutely loves it around Cheltenham and was a winner at the festival last yearr. With Murphy in great form and Tony McCoy booked, will be very surprised if he doesn't go extremely close with a clean round of jumping.


Don't like too much else for the day, although I think SO YOUNG 22/1 could be best of the rest behind Big Bucks in the World Hurdle and it wouldn't surprise me if FREDO 33/1 put up a good showing in the last race of the day.

Just backed Oscar Whiskey there. The sky sports phone app have a few tips and they called rock in ruby and Finians rainbow to win. Won €30 on Finians rainbow yday and put it all e/w on oscar whiskey.

having a horrid festival so far, gone for a lucky 15 on the following:

Sir Deschamps
Thousand Stars
Noble Prince
Our Father

any thoughts?!

Can anyone provide a link to the charity race card online I cant find one and got a tip last week for this race.
dont know name of horse only Jockey and Trainer.

Lucky 15 -

Pineau De Rae
Noble Prince
Thousand Stars
Hectors Choice

If all get placed it's €243 return off 50c e/w lucky 15, if all win.. I'm going on the piss BIG time tomorrow...

After a good day yesterday here are my picks today... not overly confident so we'll see how we go. Still keeping the stake sensible and only betting in the later races if I'm doing okay!

Reckon at least one winner for the green and gold of JP today but I'm really against Alberta.

Anyway here goes:

1.30 Sir Des Champs

2.00 Catch Me
Restless Harry
Bellflower Boy

2.40 Captain Chris (terrible form this season but I like this horse and backed it last year)
Noble Prince (my main bet in the race)
Medermit (an outside chance but I prob wont back him)

3.20 Big Bucks (might do a double with Noble Prince)

4.00 Gansey, Life of Luso were my own fancies
Reading the racing post this morning and David Pipe reckons Salut Flo is one of his best for the week and the owner of Crack Away Jack says he wins this easy. An each way race if ever there was one.

4.40 Sunnyhillboy - especially if JP has wont before then. If he has then this will be a no bet race for me! Wierd reasoning I know but its how I roll.

Best of luck today...

My nap of the day is Cape Tribulation I have stuck 25 e/w on him at 16/1 i think he is a better hurdler than chaser and i can see him been up there with a race that pays 1,2,3,4,5 at 1/4 of the odds.