Cheltenham Day 3 - Thursday *READ MOD WARNING POST 203 AND 220

andyman

Preview, discuss and analyse all of Thursdays racing here

jimjamcos

Briar Hill out of World Hurdle.

The Red Lad

Vatour is my banker tomorrow can't see him being bet!

JP Liz V1

Apache Stronghold
Regal Encore
Monksland
Make A Track

shamdrog63

jimjamcos wrote: »

Briar Hill out of World Hurdle.

Thats a pity, have him in a little patent with Douvan and Don Poli

Oscars Well.

Jetson, Jetson, Jetson.

CathalDublin

Oscars Well. wrote: »

Jetson, Jetson, Jetson.

kalinisi

having a good festival so far

1.30 Dutched Apache Stronghold & Valseur Lido. Hoping for Apache as have him in a e/w lucky 63 that's going well with 2 placed horses,1 winner and one loser so far
2.40 Taquin Du Seuil e/w , have backed Ballycasey ante post e/w
3.20 Dutched Zarkandar & Monksland. Hoping for Zakandar as he's the last leg of the lucky 63, think he'll travel like the winner but weather he goes through with it is open to question
4.00 Champion Court small e/w for no other reason than this forum has a serious gra for him
4.40 Champagne James small e/w only because think he's been given easy time , if i was 100% he'd get the trip I'd be stronger on him

the groutch

1:30 Ptit Zig
2:05 Edeymi
3:20 Abbyssial e/w
4:40 Standing Ovation

sdoc13

Ok The big question for me tomorrow is the JLT.

Surely Apache Strongholds form took a serious boost today with Don Poli winning well and by that token Valseur Lidos form too.

Vatours form not as strong for me, but the vibes are excellent and his performance at last years festival was superb.

At the prices I theink Apache is the play. Think the TTT could run well as well.

Have Um Temps Pout Tout AP at 20s and Edyemi @ 12s.

Champion Court my NAP of the meeting and have backed ew at 25s saver on Radhani Express

Grand Vision in the last.

In the Ryan Air have Don Cossack in a double with Don Poli at 12s. If I get 12s or more tomorrow might be tempted to back TDS.

Oscars Well.

sdoc13 wrote: »

Ok The big question for me tomorrow is the JLT.

Surely Apache Strongholds form took a serious boost today with Don Poli winning well and by that token Valseur Lidos form too.

Vatours form not as strong for me, but the vibes are excellent and his performance at last years festival was superb.

At the prices I theink Apache is the play. Think the TTT could run well as well.

Have Um Temps Pout Tout AP at 20s and Edyemi @ 12s.

Champion Court my NAP of the meeting and have backed ew at 25s saver on Radhani Express

Grand Vision in the last.

In the Ryan Air have Don Cossack in a double with Don Poli at 12s. If I get 12s or more tomorrow might be tempted to back TDS.

Have backed it myself, 33s in Coral at the minute.

sdoc13

Oscars Well. wrote: »

Have backed it myself, 33s in Coral at the minute.

In again so

andyman

Apache Stronghold and Don Cossack double looks good right about now

Jon Stark

For the love of jesus Don Cossack please win, two doubles waiting on a combined €800+

I mentioned both of these bets in the portfolio thread so not semi (:P) aftertiming.

Tbh the way today went I'm not feeling confident.

madmoose

My antepost bets tomorrow

Vautour - various prices waiting on a thousand also includes a double with uds

10ew apache stronghold at 20/1 placed in october.

Don cossack ew 14/1 in nov
Taquin du seiul 16/1 ew
Ma filluere 6/1 tenner free bet win

Monetaire - 14/1, 12/1 ew
Caid du berlais 16/1 ew
Champ court 33/1 ew
Ataglance 20/1 ew

Whisper 16/1 ew
Un temp pout tout small ew 20/1
Saphir du ru 6/1 win

Just a par 33/1 25/1 ew
Masters hill 16/1 ew
Gold bullett 20/1 ew

Some nice prices but i really want vautour.

corny

JLT promises to be the race of the meeting for me. Might do Valseur Lido if i get a decent price

Powers are giving you your money back should your horse finish second or third.

oldfella

decided to have a small e/w lucky 31...all big prices
run ructions run 2.05
double ross 2.40
jetson 3.20
dare me 4.00 venita has good record in this
heaney 4.40
good luck

sdoc13

If any of you are not backing Vatour Sky bet offering free bet to 25 pound stake if fav wins

shy-tall-knight

Has The Package been pricewised?
Saw him at 25's earlier which was huge, as low as 9/1 now.

Great festival record in the higher grade handicaps, this is the lowest quality handicap of the week. Looks well treated, blinkers go on and Jamie Codd is on. The obvious negative is his age but can't get away from his third behind Holywell last year, looks laid out for this.

ogruairi

sdoc13 wrote: »

Ok The big question for me tomorrow is the JLT.

Surely Apache Strongholds form took a serious boost today with Don Poli winning well and by that token Valseur Lidos form too.

Vatours form not as strong for me, but the vibes are excellent and his performance at last years festival was superb.

At the prices I theink Apache is the play. Think the TTT could run well as well.

Have Um Temps Pout Tout AP at 20s and Edyemi @ 12s.

Champion Court my NAP of the meeting and have backed ew at 25s saver on Radhani Express

Grand Vision in the last.

In the Ryan Air have Don Cossack in a double with Don Poli at 12s. If I get 12s or more tomorrow might be tempted to back TDS.

Can I ask why Champion Court is your NAP? Judging from the form he looks nothing special but this forum seems to have a soft spot for him.

LesVerts

Need vautour to finish a double and a lucky 15, hell decide my day.

rocky911

So heres my plan of action for tomorrow :

13. 40 Irish Saint

14.05 Call the Cops

14.40 Foxrock

15.20 Lieutenant Colonel

16.00 Un Ace

16.40 Bless the Wings ( a bit of a hail mary tbh )

I think Foxrock is a cracking horse and really does have the potential to go well...

sdoc13

ogruairi wrote: »

Can I ask why Champion Court is your NAP? Judging from the form he looks nothing special but this forum seems to have a soft spot for him.

Horse has come well down the weights. A horse of fair ability at one point. Has run well at the course and to me looks like he has been plotted up to get a mark that is below his ability to try and deliver at the festival.

Either that or he is done at the game, which is a possibility but at odds of 25 and 33s i am willing to bet its the former.

HarshOstrich

Apache stronghold tomoro, I think he will love the quicker ground and it should help it's jumping.
That said there is rain forecast during racing tomoro and I'm almost tempted to have a small e/w bet on dedigout in the hope that they get a lot of rain.
Also think Don Cossack will do the business for the big Don Double.

King_of_Kingz

Agree with the above poster that the JLT has the potential to be one of the races of the festival!

I'll be doing a lucky 15 that looks like

Pitt Zig
Jetson
Champagne James
Dawalan

Hopes are high.

If anyone wants to have a look at at a preview at day 3 have a look here, feedback is much appreciated!
http://wp.me/p3yGUO-Lh

ogruairi

sdoc13 wrote: »

Horse has come well down the weights. A horse of fair ability at one point. Has run well at the course and to me looks like he has been plotted up to get a mark that is below his ability to try and deliver at the festival.

Either that or he is done at the game, which is a possibility but at odds of 25 and 33s i am willing to bet its the former.

Cheers for that. Will have a small EW bet at 25s so!

The jock

Ptit Zig is a better horse than Vautour in my mind. If you back it on Paddy Power and it comes 2nd or 3rd you get money back. Risk Free Bet in my mind.

Edeymi is the best handicapped horse of the week. Hasn't been put in his races this season till late on over shorter trips. Last run was very eye catching. Having my biggest E.W bet of the week on this. 5 places happy days.

Ma Fiilleule and Johns Spirit in the Ryanair. No Irish horse has won this and course form is crucial. Both of my selections have good course form. The last seven winners of this race ran in the King George Chase. Good sign for Johns Spirit who looked like winning that race at one point. Just didnt get the trip. Ma Filleule 2nd at festival last season.

Saphir Du Rheu is the best horse in what is a bad world hurdle. He should win and I think its a great great price. Jetson is alive outsider. He has course form and should prove best of the Irish.

Montaire and Tap Night in the Handicap and Kim Muir. Montaire just looks a plot horse. Only had 2 runs in England. Pipe's a master at winning these types of races. Tap Night hasn't tried at all this season. Last time out it absolutely came from the next Parrish to grab a place. Up in trip, big chance.

Stupid bet but I heard Hurricane Ridge is really fancied in the Charity Race. Its laurel and hardy race in relation to jockeys but at 16/1 It could run well.

jimjamcos

Some of below are AP prices.

JLT: Vautour 3/1 (in double with UDS 4/1) - best horse in race, pulled a muscle when poor at Leopardstown at Christmas and given he improved for better ground and Cheltenham last year I'd be confident he'd do so again. Not sure he represents value now at 2/1 but more than happy with my original bet.

Pertemps: Edeymi 10/1 & Big Easy 12/1 - Edeymi's obviously a serious plotjob having run well at festival before while Big Easy is a classy animal who's been running well in big handicaps all season and should be ideally suited by better ground and stronger pace.

Ryanair: Hidden Cyclone 16/1 & Tarquin Du Seuil 16/1 - last years two festival winners over 2m4. Can't have DC at all, Ma Fillule and Balder have still a bit to prove in my book, John Spirit is a handicapper with woeful new course form and Ballycasey although classy is impossible to thrust. Uxizandre is interesting given McCoy chooses him over TDS considering last years JLT result and Dodging Bullets has boosted his early season form even though he's been poor since. At the same time, Hidden Cyclone and TDS are by far the most solid options to me.

World Hurdle: Zarkander 9/1 & Abbysial 40/1 - Nicholls horse is the classiest animal in the race now ROR has defected. Will be ridden closer to pace than last year, has Fehily onboard which is a massive positive given he'll need to be produced late. Abbysial is totally unexposed having either fallen or won in all starts bar one in France. The trip may find him out but at 40/1 he was just too big.

Plate: Radjhani Express 16/1 & Champion Court 28/1 - simply following PC and others with these two.

Kim Muir: Gold Bullet 16/1 & Grand Vision 20/1 - GB has plot written all over him. He was a very good novice hurdler, had a year off with injury, came back at Christmas when he was hunted around by, very interestingly, tomorrow's jockey Derek O'Connor. He ran with great promise next time out under Ruby and the money has steadily came for him tomorrow. Just followed PC with regards to Grand Vision so hopefully one of the pair will strike.

jimjamcos

The jock wrote: »

Ptit Zig is a better horse than Vautour in my mind. If you back it on Paddy Power and it comes 2nd or 3rd you get money back. Risk Free Bet in my mind.

Edeymi is the best handicapped horse of the week. Hasn't been put in his races this season till late on over shorter trips. Last run was very eye catching. Having my biggest E.W bet of the week on this. 5 places happy days.

Ma Fiilleule and Johns Spirit in the Ryanair. No Irish horse has won this and course form is crucial. Both of my selections have good course form. The last seven winners of this race ran in the King George Chase. Good sign for Johns Spirit who looked like winning that race at one point. Just didnt get the trip. Ma Filleule 2nd at festival last season.

Saphir Du Rheu is the best horse in what is a bad world hurdle. He should win and I think its a great great price. Jetson is alive outsider. He has course form and should prove best of the Irish.

Montaire and Tap Night in the Handicap and Kim Muir. Montaire just looks a plot horse. Only had 2 runs in England. Pipe's a master at winning these types of races. Tap Night hasn't tried at all this season. Last time out it absolutely came from the next Parrish to grab a place. Up in trip, big chance.

Stupid bet but I heard Hurricane Ridge is really fancied in the Charity Race. Its laurel and hardy race in relation to jockeys but at 16/1 It could run well.

John Spirits (new) course form couldn't be worse - 0/3

rossom

Champion Court is either a plot or he's regressed. The fact he has cheekpieces on tomorrow is slightly disconcerting (wore them 2 and 3 starts ago and no improvement). At 33s I'm willing to take a chance that's he's a plot and is one of two I've backed in the race.

Chesty08

Today Seamus Heaney's poem 'When All the Others Were Away at Mass' was voted Ireland's best loved poem in the last 100 years!

Heaney is racing tomorrow in the Kim Muir (4.40) and is currently 16/1 - a useful chaser who posted his best effort for quite a while LTO when beaten 5L by Foxrock over 2m5f. Up in trip which while suit!

Will be having a bet on him

Nulty

Looking at the Ryanair, The field is very evenly balanced.

Hidden Cyclone, I've backed antepost at 16s. He will likely go very close. He's a fair price now being a year older. Theres no Dynaste but there's plenty of other good horses in here. I'd be looking for a bigger price.

A lot of the form ties together. Tanquin De Soil, Uxizandre and Double Ross are all closely matched after their run in the JLT last year. Taquin De Soil won that day, Uxi was a neck behind and has better form this year and Uxi is nearly twice the price. Uxi beat the new Champion Chaser at Cheltenham earlier this year albeit the form is questionable. He has a decent record at the track and if it's Taq and Uxi in the finish, AP will be on Uxi this time round.

Ma Filuille is a good horse and put in a great run at last years festival behind Holywell but hasn't won at the track in four attempts. Seem better suited to flat tracks. She's too short for me in this with that record. Same goes for Balder Succes. Poor record at the track and Short enough for it at 7s.

Foxrocks last performance can't be quantified quite yet but he is the dark horse here. He's progressing nicely and has growing potential. He ran well until he emptied out in the four miler last year. He's on the drift now though. Double figures may be worth taking.

Johns Spririt loves it round Cheltenham. Ran brilliantly off top weight in the Paddy Power but that form is not looking great since. He went very well in the King George before his stamina gave out. He's another on the drift but again, double figures here are very tempting.

Winning form is better than losing form at Cheltenham but losing form is more informative than no form. Eduard ran in a novice hurdle there a few years back and aquitted himself well. He's been set some tough tasks this year and hit the cross bar this year but has been progressing. Giving the Hennessy winner 6lbs and going down a length is good form. He's another dark horse along with Foxrock and very hard to quantify.

Balleycasey is a funny one but was running a big race in the RSA last year before stamina stopped him. He is not without a chance but the worry is whether he'll turn up on the day. At around 28/1 that might be a risk worth taking.

I see no reason why Wonderful Charm can win this. He's well held by at least half the field here. Same goes for Double Ross and Third Intention.

Finally Don Cossack. He's a class horse but again form at Cheltenham is what interests me. He is too short to consider a bet in a race as deep as this at 4/1 so I'm steering clear of him.

The most interesting thing about this race is that Hidden Cyclone and Uxizandre both like to lead which will make this a decent test. I'd like to have a horse with plenty of stamina on my side that can sit in and pick up. With that being the case I can't have either of them. Foxrock and Ballycasey have a decent run at the track under their belt and enough stamina to get through this race. At the prices I'd take Ballycasey to pick up the pieces at 28/1. Win only as he's so unreliable.

malascoile

Does the PP moneyback special for the 1:30 apply for accumaltors or luck 15s?

Niallers87

i think i am going to side with Balder Success in the Ryanair looking at his form he came second to Special Tiara who ran a cracker today, was seven lengths to Dodging bullets who came out and won today and was second previously to Gods Own who came close (only for veering off at a few fences) to winning yesterday, the only negative in all this is he is 0-3 around Cheltenham!!

jobeenfitz

malascoile wrote: »

Does the PP moneyback special for the 1:30 apply for accumaltors or luck 15s?

No, see conditions:

CONDITIONS

If your horse finishes second or third in the 13:30 JLT Novices Chase at Cheltenham, we'll refund your losing single stake as a free bet. Applies to singles only. Applies to win singles and the win part of each way singles only. Applies to Win or Each Way market only. Applies to bets placed from 10am on March 11th Free bet stake not returned. Free bet will be available to use on any horse racing market for 7 days from when it is credited. Max refund EUR/GBP 50 per customer per race. Does not apply to Tote bets. Paddy Power racing rules apply. Paddy Power reserves the right in its discretion to exclude and/or limit the availability of the offer to certain customers.

sdoc13

sdoc13 wrote: »

Ok The big question for me tomorrow is the JLT.

Surely Apache Strongholds form took a serious boost today with Don Poli winning well and by that token Valseur Lidos form too.

Vatours form not as strong for me, but the vibes are excellent and his performance at last years festival was superb.

At the prices I theink Apache is the play. Think the TTT could run well as well.

Have Um Temps Pout Tout AP at 20s and Edyemi @ 12s.

Champion Court my NAP of the meeting and have backed ew at 25s saver on Radhani Express

Grand Vision in the last.

In the Ryan Air have Don Cossack in a double with Don Poli at 12s. If I get 12s or more tomorrow might be tempted to back TDS.

have gone with
Apache Stronghold 3 pts
Edyemi 12s AP 1 pt ew
Eduard 20/1 2 pt win
Um Temp Pour Tout AP 20/1 2 pt win
Champion Court 3 pt ew and Radhani Express 2 pt win
Grand Vision 2 pt win.

All in an 10c Lucky 63 for the milion payout:D

Have to say the more I look at Eduard the more I like its chances. Run behind many clouds very decent form. Think he is the most overpriced in the race.

Andalucia

a tough day for punting

I like the look of Run Ructions Run in the Pertemps, good ground and Carberry are just what the doctor ordered

Ryanair is very open

fancy Un Temps pour Tout in the world hurdle

Plasandrunt

Vaseur Lido, Balder Succes and Jetson for me tomorrow.

That said I couldn't pick my nose this week

mailburner

think buywise has a great chance in the 4.0 (9/1)
ran an amazing race over fences to finish fifth here over the same distance despite an awful round of jumping
glad to see this one over hurdles


already on call the cops ante post at 20/1 in that lottery of a race (pertemps)


vautour is class, sticking with that

backed ma filleule+johns spirit both ew

can figure out the world hurdle at all

mailburner

mate was telling me jane mangan was on radio one (longwave) and was very bullish about dodging bullets and said moon racer would win
said vigil had no chance, more or less said it like it was unlike most jocks

I'll be listening out for that tomorrow

DyldeBrill

might stick and e/w bet on Dawalan. think he could upset in the pertemps.

Suarez20

Fancy at fishers cross with the headgear on tomorrow, hoping the good ground will bring out some improvement!

Quick question I backed champagne fever for qm in a double with taquin de seuil, the result is still saying pending with void for champagne fever, does any one know if this is a losing bet or what happens? Im nearly sure I did it before nrnb so I expect it to be a loser

Zarkandar

Suarez20 wrote: »

Fancy at fishers cross with the headgear on tomorrow, hoping the good ground will bring out some improvement!

Quick question I backed champagne fever for qm in a double with taquin de seuil, the result is still saying pending with void for champagne fever, does any one know if this is a losing bet or what happens? Im nearly sure I did it before nrnb so I expect it to be a loser

NRNB was available for the championship races with many bookies for months before the other races went NRNB, so bet might still be on.

I know who I'm on for the World Hurdle

Suarez20

Zarkandar wrote: »

NRNB was available for the championship races with many bookies for months before the other races went NRNB, so bet might still be on.

I know who I'm on for the World Hurdle

Is this just a single now then?
Ha best of luck he will be there at the bottom of the hill that's for sure.
Surely this pipe runner in the 4 o'clock must go well too

rossom

1.30 Cheltenham

Vautour 2/1

Paddy Power are offering money back as a free bet if 2nd or 3rd in this contest which is an absolutely terrific offer but, nevertheless, I very strongly fancy Vautour to land this contest. Willie Mullins' French recruit was unbeaten in his novice hurdling campaign last year when he landed 3 Grade 1s with the highlight undoubtedly being a scintillating performance in the Supreme Novice Hurdle where he smashed the track record and he started this campaign as a high class Novice Chasing prospect. Having won very easily and impressively on his chasing debut at Navan over 17f back in November, Vautour was turned over in a shock defeat when stepped up to Grade 1 company at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival when beaten miles by Clarcam (who he easily dispatched with on his chasing debut) and you have to put a line through that run as he just wasn't right in the slightest. He put that run behind him when easily winning a pretty weak 3 runner Grade 2 contest at Leopardstown back in January when stepped up to 19f and I think he'll have no issue with an extra furlong here at Cheltenham. Looking at the opposition, I cannot believe Ptit Zig is as short as 3/1 in a place. The best price of 9/2 on offer is also a joke in my eyes. He fell last time out, wasn't very impressive in my eyes against Champagne West and I just couldn't have him. The legitimate danger in my eyes comes in the shape of Apache Stronghold who beat Valseur Lido LTO and who ran a good 2nd to Don Poli before that and I think he's the horse to follow Vautour home. Taking aside Vautour's 2nd when clearly not right at Leopardstown, Vautour has won all his other 7 races since trained by Willie Mullins and with a track record breaking performance in the Supreme to his name I think he'll be extremely hard to beat.

2.05 Cheltenham

Call The Cops 10/1 & Edeymi 8/1

This looks an incredibly open renewal and I could make a case for about 7 or 8 of these and I'm playing two against the field in the shape of Call The Cops and Edeymi. Starting first with Call The Cops, I don't think there's any doubt that he's well handicapped under a 5lb penalty for his really impressive success at Doncaster when upped to 3 miles for the first time but the worry is with that effort coming just 12 days ago there's an obvious chance that the run took more out of him that it looked and he won't be 100% today. A useful enough novice hurdler, this unexposed 6 year old ran a very eye catching 4th behind Brother Brian (well fancied in this) at Kempton on his seasonal reappearance as he stayed on strongly from an impossible position over 2m5f and his latest run was seriously impressive to my eye when upped to 3m on his latest start as he ran out a very convincing eased down 5L winner off a mark of 133. He travelled powerfully through the race and came clear on the bit before being briefly driven to success and it was a very impressive performance that suggested he had a real future as a staying hurdler. I've actually no problem that Andrew Tinkler has kept the ride as opposed to Barry Geraghty as I thought he got on really well with the horse the last day and I think a well run race will suit this strong travelling 6 year old. With only 8 career starts to date, there ought to be a lot more to come from Call The Cops and if in the same form as he was 12 days ago I think he'll prove a difficult horse to beat. The other horse I've backed in this race Edeymi screams of a Tony Martin plot and he's somehow sneaked in as bottom weight in this contest. I could go into great depth about a lot his previous runs but all you need to do is look at his last run at Musselburgh when he was a tenderly handled 4th off this mark under an inexperienced 7lb claimer to see that he's had this race as a target for a good while and I'd be surprised if he didn't run a big race.

2.40 Cheltenham

Don Cossack 4/1

This actually looks like a race with a good bit of depth to it and there's a good 6 or 7 live contenders in this contest but I think Gordon Elliott's 8 year old is the one to be on. Don Cossack has always been a good horse and won a Grade 1 at Leopardstown in late 2013 but I think he's finally finished maturing into his big frame this season as he has been imperious in winning all 4 starts this season. An effortless win on his reappearance in a Grade 3 was followed by another comfortable success in a 3 runner Grade 2 at Down Royal and he bagged his 2nd career Grade 1 beating two very good horses in Boston Bob & Gold Cup holder Lord Windermere over 2m4f at Punchestown in December and for all both would be better over further and Lord Windermere would have needed the run he couldn't have been much more impressive in winning. Don Cossack's final start again resulted in success this time in a Grade 2 at Thurles in soft/heavy ground and for all his task was made simplistic with Champagne Fever falling at the last I think he was going to master that rival and I was particularly impressed how he got himself back into the race having made a mistake 2 out. At the very least, Don Cossack would have pushed a horse who was a 5/1 shot for the QMCC before his withdrawal very close on ground much softer than ideal but I firmly believe he was going to surge past that rival up the home stretch. It finally seems this big bodied horse has completely filled out and he's now finishing off his races much better and I think he'll be an incredibly hard horse to beat today. Ma Filleule, Balder Succes, Foxrock, Hidden Cyclone and Taquin De Seuil all look to be legitimate threats in this contest which should be a very good viewing spectacle but I'm confident The Don can see them all off and record his 5th win on the spin.

3.20 Cheltenham

I can't get over had bad this race is and I'm leaving it well alone. At a push I'd go for Blue Fashion 18/1 & Abbyssial 16/1 and the fact I'm putting up 2 horses that haven't even raced over 2m4f says it all. Good luck to whatever you back in this.

4.00 Cheltenham

Monetaire 7/1

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Monetaire is a well handicapped horse off a mark of 138 and has had this race as his target since he arrived at David Pipe's from France and, given that the trainer won the contest in 2014 and 2012 with ex French horses with similar profiles for this owner, I think he'll take a lot of beating. Monetaire made his British debut off a mark of 123 at Cheltenham over 2 miles where I thought he did an amazing job to finish 3rd. He made an absolutely horrendous error at the first when unsighted and he nearly fell as he dropped back to last but I was just so impressed with the ease he travelled through the field despite making a few more mistakes along the way and, much like The Druids Nephew in the Hennessey, he struck me as a really classy horse. Having travelled oh so smoothly into the race, Monetaire looked like the likeliest winner turning into the home straight but his early shuddering blunder saw him tire late on as he was beaten less than 5L into 3rd. His ability to recover from that mistake over the minimum trip and get into contention screamed that he was a very well handicapped horse and I immediately thought he'd be aimed at this contest. Upped 3lb to a mark of 126, Monetaire scored 2 weeks later at Newbury over 2m1f in impressive fashion and he struck me as a horse that had a lot more left to give in the handicapping sphere. Given a good sighter at all his fences by Tom Scudamore, his jumping was excellent throughout bar getting in close once and he again travelled through the contest powerfully. He took up the lead at 2 out and despite having to be driven out up the run in to maintain his advantage he ran out a very impressive scorer.

The form of that race looks very strong with the runner up Solar Impulse (running off 145 that day) subsequently finishing 2nd to Josses Hill who was 3rd in Tuesday's Arkle and being headed at the post in a Grade 2 novice at Doncaster and it was fine performance by Monetaire on just his 2nd start in Britain. The handicapper initially raised him 10lb to a mark of 136 for that effort but luckily he's given him an extra 2lb on the back of Solar Impulse's subsequent exploits as he wouldn't have gotten into this race otherwise but even with a 12lb hike there's no doubt in my mind he's a well handicapped animal. The Pipe's put him away for this contest back in November and have clearly been readying him for it ever since. Although both his starts have been over 2m/2m1f in Britain, I definitely think he'll relish the step up in trip to 2m5f today as he was 2nd in the French Grand National (run over just shy of 3m) and I'm confident it will see him improve significantly. It's quite interesting that the tongue tie which was used on his British debut but was absent on his 2nd start is back on for this contest and it is possible that he may have won despite a suffering with his breathing in the closing stages (complete speculation) which would further enhance his chances if true. Given that Pipe has won this contest in 2 of the last 3 years with ex French horses towards the bottom of the handicap for owner Allan Stennett, he clearly knows exactly how to ready his horses for a race of this nature and I've no doubt Monetaire will be ready for the task and I think he'll take a truck load of beating. I can't not have a bet on Champion Court 33/1 given that he's either a plot of just a regressive 10 year old given that he's a massive 16lb lower than when 7th in this race last year and if he is a plot he's sure to run a huge race off a mark of 141 and at 33/1 I'm willing to take a chance that he is.

4.40 Cheltenham

Champagne James 10/1

I'm keeping this short and sweet but it looks like Ted Walsh has done a fine job getting Champagne James into this handicap off a mark of 134 having campaigned him over 2m4f or shorter throughout his career but he's shaped as if he'd appreciate a step up in trip for a long time and I think getting that here today now upped to 3m2f will bring out a lot of improvement in him. I'd be fairly certain that Ted Walsh has had his eye on this race for quite a while with regards to Champagne James as he'd dearly love to give his daughter Katie another Cheltenham winner and with a good weight of 11-1 on his back I think Champagne James is primed to run a big race.

My Thursday bets

Already have Ma Filleule and Edeyemi in antepost bets.

Following Rossom blindly here with
Vautour
Monetaire
Champagne James

Trixie


I've always been a follower of At Fishers Cross (nothing to do with how lovely his trainer looks!!!) So I'm not letting him go off today at such a big price without backing him. I still have belief that the talent is in there somewhere waiting to re-emerge

Copper_pipe

Have 6 horses picked out, fancy doing multiples today. Budget is 10 quid. Whats the best way to go?

BrookieD

had a each way bet on
Ma Filleule - 5/1 14:40
Saphir Du Rheu - 6/1 15:20
Ptit Zig - 9/2 13:30

fingers crossed for a potential 2.5k return

dodzy

Copper_pipe wrote: »

Have 6 horses picked out, fancy doing multiples today. Budget is 10 quid. Whats the best way to go?

Add 1.40 (€11.40 total stage) and put the 6 horses in a 20cent Heinz. 57 bets. It'd be some craic if they all come up:)

Copper_pipe

dodzy wrote: »

Add 1.40 (€11.40 total stage) and put the 6 horses in a 20cent Heinz. 57 bets. It'd be some craic if they all come up:)

If it does ill stand to you

Gee Male

My own record so far: early success on Tuesday (like most of the planet) led to a later collapse on Tuesday. Had very little luck yesterday, everything I backed seemed too keen for me, until Moon Racer came in at the end. I had got MR at 9/1 on Tuesday evening and had used even staes throughout the day, so got my money back and picked up a refund on a free bet somewhere along the line – don’t even know where truth be told.

My selections for today, again using even 1pt stakes:

1:30 Vautour
2:05 Regal Encore
2:40 Foxrock
3:20 Jetson
4:00 Champion Court e/w
4:40 Standing Ovation e/w

Little 10c Luck 63 on the above too, just for the laugh. I reckon my luck has to change some time.

Also have a little 2pts each way on Abbyssial in the 3:20 too, just out of curiosity that arose after a few pints last night. That’s the danger of smartphones if you ask me!