Cheltenham Post-Mortem

Francie Barrett

I think post mortem is the right word alright, because I'd say a lot of folks have just been killed. I did ok in the first day, but the next three were an absolute wipe out. Not a single winner. Even the gang of shrewdies who I used to knock around with, there was not one roar from any of them in the local today. The place just emptied after the Foxhunter when On The Fringe got beat, at that point, you just knew a bad week had just got worst.

I think Barney Curley's prediction held true at least - he said there'd be one winner at Cheltenham this year, the bookie. How did everyone else do?

Colonel Sanders

Finished ahead but off quite a low turn over. Barely had a bet the last 2 days

My biggest bet was Quevega at Ladbrokes 6/5 on Monday. I'd not have backed her at odds on. Kept backing Sire De Grugy as his price drifted. Simply couldn't understand the price.

Feel like a fool for backing Big Bucks but was desperate to take Annie Power on (should've just pressed the pink button). Backed Briar Hill with Ladbrokes Monday too, purely to lay off today at what I thought would be a ludicrously short price. Wasn't to be but in fairness I'd probably have backed him in any case at 3.4 near the off as the Irish novice hurdlers looked well ahead of the English

kiers47

Finished ahead mainly due to the same reasons as colonel. Sire De Grugy I thought the price was ludicrous. Day 1 I broke even with mainly thanks to the quevega. Also backed big bucks but had a saver on more of that with Ladbrokes and there free bet back special. Had Dynaste as well.

Today wasn't great but had a few ew's that returned some of the losses from bobs worth but was probably the only negative day of the 3.
One thing is for ew's saved the day.

Johner

Won about €2million.

Colonel Sanders

Looking ahead to next year I'm guessing Champagne Fever will step up in trip (20/1 for an open looking Gold Cup)

The Paddy Power could be a very competitive renewal come November, I'm guessing half the JLT field will be aimed at it.

Vautour surely going chasing, Mullins initially said he'd look at hurdles for Faugheen but all the talk has been chasing. If Very Wood was a year older is be very tempted with 16s for the RSA chase. Briar Hill could be the one, Mullins isn't afraid to target the race with a high class novice so it could be a case that Faugheen goes there too making it difficult to plan any kind of ante post bet

droidman123

My best winner was silver Concorde,backed it at 12,s and 16,s. Couldn't understand the money behind stablemate vigil. After timing? Yes. But fu*ck you all:)

kiers47

I done something in the lead up to Cheltenham this year that I haven't done since the days I began punting. I let myself get pulled in to the fact that Bobs Worth was the winner of the Cheltenham gold cup before the race was even ran.
Lesson learned and I will take that going forward.

kksaints

Thought it was a fairly ordinary Cheltenham. Vantour and Faugheen were very impressive as was More of That but a lot of the rest was much of muchness quality wise. Also a disappointing amount of nasty injuries to jockeys and horses although nothing on the same scale as poor JT's last year.

Betting wise had Faugheen and The Giant Bolster and that was about it. Had a very frustrating run with Champagne Fever, The New One,Shotgun Paddy and Smad Place all beaten by a head or unlucky in The New Ones case and all win bets.Had no bets yesterday. Very poor today apart from The Giant Bolster. Cheltenian and Berties Dream gave me no run at all. I thought Saint Roque was going to sneak a place approaching two out and then he stopped.

flashjohn

This is the first year I restrained myself and went with my head rather than heart, I just barely got out alive. I always got caught up in the hype. I must say that the Racing Post iPad edition is a must for every angle, would have been lost without it. Have been using it since last Royal Ascot and def worth €30 p/m

mdwexford

Vautour, Faugheen and Tammy's Hill were my only winners.

Bobs Worth was very disappointing today.
Just shows how tough it is to win back to back Gold Cups, Best Mate doesn't get nearly enough credit for winning 3 in a row.

God knows what Mullins is going to do with his novice hurdlers so it's hard to know who's going to end up where.

flashjohn

mdwexford wrote: »

Vautour, Faugheen and Tammy's Hill were my only winners.

Bobs Worth was very disappointing today.
Just shows how tough it is to win back to back Gold Cups, Best Mate doesn't get nearly enough credit for winning 3 in a row.

God knows what Mullins is going to do with his novice hurdlers so it's hard to know who's going to end up where.

The ground was too quick for Bobs, I think he would reverse form in Punchestown if he went?

droidman123

I hope they keep faugheen hurdling,can't see him making a chaser.

Francie Barrett

kiers47 wrote: »

I done something in the lead up to Cheltenham this year that I haven't done since the days I began punting. I let myself get pulled in to the fact that Bobs Worth was the winner of the Cheltenham gold cup before the race was even ran.
Lesson learned and I will take that going forward.

Similar thing happened to me. Hunter chases would be races I do fairly well in, but I allowed myself to be swayed towards the English talking horse despite there being no justification in doing so. The worst thing of all was that an hour before the race, I was asked to put £3 on Tammys Hill by the aunt of James Smyth. Apparently James had been starving himself for weeks to get his weight down, but the horse was well fancied so she felt a max bet of £3 was in order. I am not joking, £3 was the wager.

huey1975

Annie power cost me €200 and Briar Hill cost me €100. I only had the two bets and I didn't like backing Annie power as I think Ruby is an ignorant arrogant tool so I suppose every cloud has a silver lining. I was in lad brokers and saw briar hill at 5/4 and thought **** that so I went into paddy power and took the 7/4. What a day for Davy Russell though!!!

Gregk961

Had Tiger Roll,Fingal Bay and Spring Heeled and a few minor each ways. same stakes on every race (Admittedly I lumped on 2 or 3 of them) All told im about even, although I won a fair bit at wolves/southwell waiting for the last 2 races, always the way!

Colonel Sanders

Must say the Neptune was a really nice bunch of horses. One that really caught my eye in the parade ring was Shanahan's Turn. Was running well until losing ground in a bit of scrimmaging approaching the 2nd last

Probably wouldn't have been good enough to place in any case but could make an ok chaser next year

mdwexford

Delighted for Russell today after losing the Giggenstown job.

Good ground was meant to be fine for BW so I'm interested to hear what the excuses were. He clearly ran wayyyy below last years run.

SC was also poor and shouldn't have finished behind those 3, very strange result.

Have to think Ruby might have won the Gold Cup because Casey is a pudding.

flashjohn

mdwexford wrote: »

Delighted for Russell today after losing the Giggenstown job.

Good ground was meant to be fine for BW so I'm interested to hear what the excuses were. He clearly ran wayyyy below last years run.

SC was also poor and shouldn't have finished behind those 3, very strange result.

Have to think Ruby might have won the Gold Cup because Casey is a pudding.

Have to agree with you, he deserves it. He is going to ride a treble in Limerick tomorrow, first 3 races

Santa Cruz

Don't be too hard on yerselves lads. I had a good look over the newspaper tipsters advice over the last four days and some of them were atrocious. I think the poster who said he got caught up in the hype was right. It's so easy to happen. And the fourth day doesn't help.
My usual bet is a patent and the first day I had Vauntour Present View and Champagne, 10/1 and 10/3 winner and Champagne being beaten made the difference from having a great day 1 and an ok day1. After that Dynaste and that was that.

Reading the form on the Gigginstown horses today and you really could not go for them if you are a form supporter.

Roll on Aintree or Ffos Las on Sunday!

Colonel Sanders

Timeform had On His Own in their first 3. The Giant Bolster has run well in two other gold cups but Bobs Worth is a puzzler. Henderson doesn't have a great record with horses as they get older however (Long Run did something to buck that trend in last seasons King George).

I'll say it again, the winner is a real puzzler. I still can't have him winning a Gold Cup even here almost 7 hours after finding out the result. Last years RSA looked as bad if not worse than this years and he'd shown little on his 3 runs this season (was well backed in the Hennessy). Stable had been out of form but even giving it every benefit of the doubt possible I'm still in the dark

flashjohn

I don't think it was a poor Gold Cup. The Giant Bolster is a good yardstick and they all couldn't have run bad?

kiers47

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

Must say the Neptune was a really nice bunch of horses. One that really caught my eye in the parade ring was Shanahan's Turn. Was running well until losing ground in a bit of scrimmaging approaching the 2nd last

Probably wouldn't have been good enough to place in any case but could make an ok chaser next year

I backed shanahans turn in a poor race in leopardstown at Christmas on Ryanair hurdle day. He won very nicely that day from a Barry Connell horse who I can't remember the name of...

Can't say I paid much much attention to him in the race but I'll throw on a replay there tomorrow.

flashjohn

Geraghty said it was all happening to quick and his jumping was let down, Silvi got spooked, I just think Lord Wind is an improving horse at the right time of year on the right ground and course

Colonel Sanders

kiers47 wrote: »

I backed shanahans turn in a poor race in leopardstown at Christmas on Ryanair hurdle day. He won very nicely that day from a Barry Connell horse who I can't remember the name of...

Can't say I paid much much attention to him in the race but I'll throw on a replay there tomorrow.

I'd a tiny each way on him at 66s

He travelled well but then lost his place at the bottom of the hill. As I said I think a top 3 placing would have been beyond him but he looked a really nice type (won a point to point "by a furlong" apparently)

The contrast between the Neptune field and what I thought was a very ordinary bunch in the RSA field was quite striking

Colonel Sanders

Another thing, I thought Vautour looked to have a bit to work on before the supreme. When he won I commented to a friend I bumped into "shows what I know"

He said he thought the same when he saw him (independently of me)

The two Henderson horses looked tuned to the minute, I'd be wary of either at very short prices if turned out again

mdwexford

Ballycasey had them all stone dead in the RSA about 3 out and clearly didn't stay.

Could be a good one for the Ryanair next season.

If they can settle MTOY better I think he would destroy everything.
McCoy said he pulled all the way and was amazed he had anything left up the hill.

UrbanSea

mdwexford wrote: »

Ballycasey had them all stone dead in the RSA about 3 out and clearly didn't stay.

Could be a good one for the Ryanair next season.

If they can settle MTOY better I think he would destroy everything.
McCoy said he pulled all the way and was amazed he had anything left up the hill.

Lyreen Legend surely one for the Ryanair

flashjohn

mdwexford wrote: »

Ballycasey had them all stone dead in the RSA about 3 out and clearly didn't stay.

Could be a good one for the Ryanair next season.

If they can settle MTOY better I think he would destroy everything.
McCoy said he pulled all the way and was amazed he had anything left up the hill.

Henderson said that Tent needed 1m 4f in an interview after while laughing

Francie Barrett

The one thing that annoys me about this festival was the bogus going reports. Today and yesterday the going was described as good, good to soft in places. Looking at the winners today, the Gigginstown horses, Lord Windermere, Tammys Hill, these are all horses that prefer the going to be on the softer side.

Colonel Sanders

Will MTOY stay hurdling or go chasing?

I'm guessing:

Vautour: chasing

Champagne Fever: steps up in trip. Could end up in the Ryanair?

Western Warhorse: may never win another graded race

The New One: does he stay over hurdles?

Quevega: retired after Punchestown

Faugheen: not sure

Smad Place: Hennessy at Newbury

Black Hercules: Albert Bartlett

Shaneshill: not sure

Silver Concorde: Supreme Novice

Tarquin De Seuil: have a crack a 3m, could be Gold Cup or Ryanair. Betfair chase first?

Tiger Roll: O'Leary said he was bought as a chaser. Will he first get a crack at a champion hurdle?

Very Wood: staying hurdling or novice chasing?

Briar Hill: staying novice chasing

Imhof Tank

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

I'll say it again, the winner is a real puzzler. I still can't have him winning a Gold Cup even here almost 7 hours after finding out the result. Last years RSA looked as bad if not worse than this years and he'd shown little on his 3 runs this season (was well backed in the Hennessy). Stable had been out of form but even giving it every benefit of the doubt possible I'm still in the dark

Here was Nick Mordin's analysis from last week:

"Since 1989 four of the 11 RSA winners to run in the next year's Gold Cup scored. Three of the six that won took the RSA after less than a dozen lifetime starts, which is what Lord Windermere achieved last year.

Last time out Lord Windermere moved really well for a long way but got caught completely flat footed when Last Instalment stepped up the gallop. This is the norm for him on flat tracks.

Around undulating courses like Cheltenham he's won four from six and finished second to useful rivals over inadequate distances in his two losses. I see Lord Windermere as the one to beat in the Gold Cup and just cant understand his astronomical odds"

MonkstownHoop

Listening to the BBC 5 live review podcast, apparently some punter had a £50 e/w Double on Western Warhorse @50 and Lord Windemere @ 33/1

kiers47

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

Will MTOY stay hurdling or go chasing?

Western Warhorse: may never win another graded race

I don't know. He is still quite an unknown chasing being it was only his 2nd start. I wouldn't be so quick to right him off tbh but I wouldn't really be a backer were he to be going off at shortish odds in similar contests.

mdwexford

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

Will MTOY stay hurdling or go chasing?

Tarquin De Seuil: have a crack a 3m, could be Gold Cup or Ryanair. Betfair chase first?

Hope he stays hurdling.
He'd be 8 in the Arkle, that's too old imo.
I think he's the best two mile hurdler around still, trying earplugs next time in the hope of stopping him pulling, if they don't go fast enough for him in the Champion Hurdle I don't know what kind of pace he needs.

TDS was the novice chaser I was most impressed with.
Think Jonjo said they hope he's going to be a Gold Cup horse.
The 3 mile chase division looks like it could be joining the 2 mile division in the doldrums next season.

On a separate note the amount of knobs in green skinny jeans and awful tweed jackets and dickie bow outfits at the course today was ridiculous. Do they not look in the mirror and realise they look like gimps

mountai

Ive always said that Carberry couldn't hold a candle to Russell ---- and this meeting proved it!!

Johner

A horse that becomes very interesting after this week is Victor Hewgo. Already liked the look of him as his jumping has been great and he's only had 4 starts over fences. 2 wins and 2 defeats. A neck defeat to Western Warhouse and a beaten less than a length by Holywell. One to watch out for.

droidman123

mountai wrote: »

Ive always said that Carberry couldn't hold a candle to Russell ---- and this meeting proved it!!

I agree totally.not just because of today either,I thought Russell was very hard done by by gigginstown, I would have Russell on my horse any day over carberry. I said it before on here,that carberry is more interested on looking stylish on a horse than actually riding it. He was made to look foolish many a time,harchibald and psycho are two that come to mind.

Motivator

A strange kind of week punting wise. Had some ludicrous losing bets when I had a few drinks on board - bets I wouldn't normally do - backed three times as many losers as I did winners & have somehow ended the week up a small few quid. On the exchanges I had one go & got Annie Power beat which was the make or break of me to be honest, went in a bit too heavy on her & it only hit home when I woke up this morning & realised what kind of damage would have been done if she had actually had won. I count myself quite lucky with that one & thank god for Geraghty giving the winner a peach of a ride.

The ground coming up good was always going to throw up a few funny results & the handicapper hiking all the Irish horses up meant it was going to be difficult to predict a good few of the races. I always find it easier to find winners at Aintree as any plot horses have already been copped at Cheltenham & its a bit easier to pick the form.

Hard to believe the week is over but it was a great week & most importantly the injuries suffered today weren't as bad as they could have been for Ruby or Daryl.

Tim Riggins

the sport has my heart broken. *****, the lot of them.

Colash

Tim Riggins wrote: »

the sport has my heart broken. *****, the lot of them.

I'm with ya on that .. I just went over all my bets there . Out of 12 bets placed over the 4 days . 1 win , and two second places . Load of balls this year., for me anyways . The big guns really let the punters down this year., Big bucks and The Fly especially . I thought I was back on track big time today with On His Own in the Gold Cup . Had a tasty bit each way in him at 40/1 and with the stewards inquiry afterwards, It capped all off for a bad few days of betting

Imhof Tank

Colash wrote: »

I'm with ya on that .. I just went over all my bets there . Out of 12 bets placed over the 4 days . 1 win , and two second places . Load of balls this year., for me anyways . The big guns really let the punters down this year., Big bucks and The Fly especially . I thought I was back on track big time today with On His Own in the Gold Cup . Had a tasty bit each way in him at 40/1 and with the stewards inquiry afterwards, It capped all off for a bad few days of betting

You back a horse for a tasty sum placed at 40/1 and you're not happy with that?

flashjohn

mdwexford wrote: »

Hope he stays hurdling.
He'd be 8 in the Arkle, that's too old imo.
I think he's the best two mile hurdler around still, trying earplugs next time in the hope of stopping him pulling, if they don't go fast enough for him in the Champion Hurdle I don't know what kind of pace he needs.

TDS was the novice chaser I was most impressed with.
Think Jonjo said they hope he's going to be a Gold Cup horse.
The 3 mile chase division looks like it could be joining the 2 mile division in the doldrums next season.

On a separate note the amount of knobs in green skinny jeans and awful tweed jackets and dickie bow outfits at the course today was ridiculous. Do they not look in the mirror and realise they look like gimps

Hey, I was wearing clothes like that over there!

Colash

Imhof Tank wrote: »

You back a horse for a tasty sum placed at 40/1 and you're not happy with that?

I was happy I got something out of it of course but had Russell not strayed across Caseys path and put his horse off stride big time , I'd be ALOT happier

Imhof Tank

mdwexford wrote: »

Hope he stays hurdling.
He'd be 8 in the Arkle, that's too old imo.
I think he's the best two mile hurdler around still, trying earplugs next time in the hope of stopping him pulling, if they don't go fast enough for him in the Champion Hurdle I don't know what kind of pace he needs.

TDS was the novice chaser I was most impressed with.
Think Jonjo said they hope he's going to be a Gold Cup horse.
The 3 mile chase division looks like it could be joining the 2 mile division in the doldrums next season.

On a separate note the amount of knobs in green skinny jeans and awful tweed jackets and dickie bow outfits at the course today was ridiculous. Do they not look in the mirror and realise they look like gimps

you are dead right.

Red skinny jeans teamed with tweed is the only way to go.

unitedrover

Betting wise it was my best festival ever.Had Vautour and Faugheen at big prices antepost. ( been hearing about how good faugheen was on this forum since Cheltenham last year I reckon so thanks guys). Normally other years I'm down at the start and I just seem to be chasing losses all through the festival so it did make the festival much more enjoyable to be up from the 1st race. MTOY and Cause of Causes were the ones I really fancied so was a bit peeved with their defeats. The one incredibly stupid bet was Big Bucks in the World Hurdle. Had him backed before the Cleeve and still did him on the day again.


Racing wise I felt it was an era defining festival and there was certainly some lessons to be learned from this years one. It seems when great horses reach a certain age, they just don't have it against the younger fresher horses- Hurricane fly, sizing Europe and big buck's all on the downgrade and probably their last festival. The signs were there with SE and BB but Hurricane Fly was a little more surprising.

Also Willie Mullins poor performance of his chasers was a stat mentioned pre festival and it certainly was disappointing to see them flop (bar CF who was unlucky). It does worry me if Vautour and Faugheen switch to chasing how will they turn out. There was the emergence of some exciting new talent in the novice hurdle and the CH and World Hurdle. Re the Champion Chase Im quite pleased SDG won as he was the only worthy winner in that line up. Re the Gold Cup I never rated last years RSA winner and can't help feeling that the two false starts were the main reason for the strange result. Probably turned a Gold Cup distance almost towards a national distance.

BumperD

Total cack.

RichieLawlor

The New One stays hurdling, NTD said it's annoying having to wait another year to proves he's the best. Similar to last year I'm going to start backing immeadiately

BumperD

True, Casey got the machine Annie power beat and Hurricane Fly. Oh, it was Ruby. That's weird.

RichieLawlor

BumperD wrote: »

True, Casey got the machine Annie power beat and Hurricane Fly. Oh, it was Ruby. That's weird.

No, they were not good enough. The horses today were different, got shocking rides off Casey, looked at Artic Fire for example, switched twice coming down the hill and then steered into Diakali after the last

RichieLawlor

Ruby118 wrote: »

Sam twiston davies will never or Danny Mullins as I predicted would never ever ride the winner of a champion hurdle,the pair of them are brainless.

Sam have TNO an awesome ride to get 3rd

BumperD

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