Cheltenham Festival Day 1 - Tuesday 15th March

Clique

Sorry mods delete this if you will. Duplicating thread by accident!

Clique

I hope I ain't breaking protocol but I'm up all night and I hope nobody minds if I do the honours! The antepost thread is a bit messy now so thought it would be ok as it's only one more sleep for non insomniacs to the greatest show on earth.

Just want to wish every boardsie the very best for the week, be it the poor ones working, the lucky ones pubbing or the luckiest travellin! Enjoy the 4 days, keep safe, have fun and pick plenty of winners!

I ain't gonna be backing anything so will just enjoy the week and will be hoping to see what its like mediating and giving some non pocket talk opinions :-)

Bet within your means and don't go chasing something you can't catch.

Ground good to soft in places(At the time of posting)

13:30 · Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 2m ½f

14:10 · Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Novices' Grade 1) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 2m

14:50 · Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 3m 1f

15:30 · Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 2m ½f+timeform avaliable for this race

16:10 · OLBG Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 2m 4f+timeform avaliable for this race

16:50 · 146th Year Of The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup (Listed Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 4m

17:30 · Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 2m 4½f

Clique

Min is an obvious choice regarding connections etc but I really liked the way he picked up last day.

Douvan in a similar fashion to UDS last year should win once he gets around.

Wouldnt be too confident on AP. Just seems a rush job to me after Faugheen came out. Wouldn't be suprised to see an unexpected win from one of Hendersons. Which one I don't know!

VVM looks a good thing in the mares, Bitofapuzzle may put it up to her though.

Southfield Royale with Nina on board in the NH Chase. Think Mulholland will have a decent week.

Handicap picks will have to wait for tomorrow morning I think!

I said

The champion hurdle is wide open with all the withdrawals.I will be leaving it alone although I had Identity thief e/w long before Faugheen s injury.
Alitor and tombstone in supreme for me.

Squall Leonhart

Wondering if anyone knows where I'd find a list of Jim Culloty trained horses and if any of them are worth a punt?

Copper_pipe

Squall Leonhart wrote: »

Wondering if anyone knows where I'd find a list of Jim Culloty trained horses and if any of them are worth a punt?

Click entries

http://www.irishracing.com/trainer?prt=7585

shmeee

I said wrote: »

The champion hurdle is wide open with all the withdrawals.I will be leaving it alone although I had Identity thief e/w long before Faugheen s injury.
Alitor and tombstone in supreme for me.

The CH is as wide open as you get. I was giving identity Thief zero chance a few weeks back but after I heard word for it yesterday, my mind is changing.

Wait till the gun is put to its head!

Giggistown are bullish about this ones chance, a friend asked Lync for a winner and said identity Thief will win the champion, I was in shock when heard it as was against him all along.

I'm off over to Cheltenham later now. Best of luck to all here! Let's make a few quid and have the crack along the way.

Safe travelling to all.

Kauto

shmeee wrote: »

The CH is as wide open as you get. I was giving identity Thief zero chance a few weeks back but after I heard word for it yesterday, my mind is changing.

Wait till the gun is put to its head!

Giggistown are bullish about this ones chance, a friend asked Lync for a winner and said identity Thief will win the champion, I was in shock when heard it as was against him all along.

I'm off over to Cheltenham later now. Best of luck to all here! Let's make a few quid and have the crack along the way.

Safe travelling to all.

Wherever he finishes Nicholls canyon will be in front. Did a sparkling bit of work the other day which has made Ruby think he has picked wrongly.

Will be laying Annie Power to lose plenty. Race is a total after thought and has had no kind of preparation.

prettyboy81

Yorkhill goes for the Neptune not declared for the Supreme Novice.

mailburner

Squall Leonhart wrote: »

Fair enough lads, was only asking!

http://www.attheraces.com/form-popup/trainer/J-H-CULLOTY/1156477?formtype=trainer&raceid=915372


apologies..i see it was posted already

skippymac6

prettyboy81 wrote: »

Yorkhill goes for the Neptune not declared for the Supreme Novice.

Yeah and Bellshill to the Supreme. Not so surprising considering the form of Yorkhill's Tolworth win and the fact that Ruby probably wanted the leg up on both him and Min. Yanworth vs Yorkhill et al should be a cracker on Wednesday.

I can see Mullins doing an Aidan O'Brien vs Sea The Stars or Frankel and having 4 or 5 in here with Yorkhill, A Toi Phil, Long Dog etc all having decent claims.

Faugheen

Is Long Dog not Supreme bound?

posturingpat

Kauto wrote: »

Wherever he finishes Nicholls canyon will be in front. Did a sparkling bit of work the other day which has made Ruby think he has picked wrongly.

Will be laying Annie Power to lose plenty. Race is a total after thought and has had no kind of preparation.

Heard similar about NC's work,sounded electric.

uxiant

That's interesting. I thought Nichols Canyon was notorious for doing nothing at home.

Kauto

uxiant wrote: »

That's interesting. I thought Nichols Canyon was notorious for doing nothing at home.

He is. Not always a good thing to see a horse work brilliantly. Can often leave their race on the gallops. Just can have Annie Power and it would be an awful champion hurdle if Identity Thief won it IMO.

posturingpat

uxiant wrote: »

That's interesting. I thought Nichols Canyon was notorious for doing nothing at home.

He is,that's why i found it very interesting,could end up working too well and leaving his race there.
I hadn't heard Ruby was that impressed he'd be onboard if he had the choice again mind you.

Wicklow Brave

I'm torn between Supasundae, Charbel and Tombstone for the Supreme.

uxiant

I have Nichols Canyon backed already but was worried he would be feeling two hard races coming into Cheltenham so it's interesting to know that he's working well. Fingers crossed good work means he's back to his usual self as he was before the Ryanair Hurdle rather than working the house down which would be out of character.

Identity Thief hit the track for the first time not far off a year ago. He's come on with each run this season and there's every chance he's still improving while the better surface at Cheltenham looks another positive for him. I think he's a cracking bet at the current prices for tomorrow. He's being underrated because Gigginstown and De Bromhead are hardly known for Champion Hurdlers and people are forgetting how progressive he actually is.

uxiant

Wicklow Brave wrote: »

I'm torn between Supasundae, Charbel and Tombstone for the Supreme.

I'm not a fan of Tombstone. He came with every chance at Leopardstown last time but ultimately wasn't good enough and he's starting to look a little exposed when he's going to have to improve to beat Min and Altior.

I would be more inclined to side with Supasundae and Charbel who look less exposed but I'd go with Min I think. People are criticising the form but he's only 2lbs off top rated on RPRs despite only having two runs for Mullins and is such an exceptional jumper. With bookies competing tomorrow morning you're likely going to get a decent enough price.

Kauto

Wicklow Brave wrote: »

I'm torn between Supasundae, Charbel and Tombstone for the Supreme.

Tombstone is soft, Carbel has no chance. Supasundae wont be out of the first three.

munster87

Another one of my fancies gone. Killer Crow a non runner now

another36

Boring choice

Going to be very unoriginal and go for acc of:

Min
Douvan
Annie power
VVM

Going for this patent too:

Supasundae
Caroles destrier
Southfield role

dickenson famous5

Altior must have a good chance in the supreme ran and won on Boxing Day the same day and distance and track faugheen won the Xmas hurdle on ,won 15 lengths and ran a second slower than faugheen , min will after be a good horse to beat altior

DylanAFC

Supreme : fancy Supasundae e/w. Cannot see him being outside of the top 3. Min a bit short so I'll be staying clear.

Arkle: Douvan is a good thing, from a betting perspective I'll look at Sizing John w/o Douvan.

Champion Hurdle : Tough betting race imo. A lot of horses in here who most people would say 'there's no way that horse is good enough to win a champion hurdle.' I'd like to see Annie Power win because of the heartache she caused last year but will not be backing at her current price.

Mares : Vroom Vroom Mag wins doing handstands.

dickenson famous5

Reminds me very much of hardy eustace does Nichols canyon he could be hard to pass up the hill but the race is wide open now faugheen ain't there

paddy no 11

Whats the going to be tomorrow, officially good to soft but realisticaly soft?

closcriobh

Looking forward to the Supreme tomorrow. Firmly believe that Min will warrant his short price. Impressive in two starts (and can only beat what's put in front of him) and Mullins thinks the pace at Cheltenham could suit. Hopefully for the fourth year running the Willie and Ruby combination can get us favourite backers off to a perfect start.

radharc

dickenson famous5 wrote: »

Reminds me very much of hardy eustace does Nichols canyon he could be hard to pass up the hill but the race is wide open now faugheen ain't there

Hardy Eustace won a quality Neptune and beat the 10l Supreme Winner (Back in Front) over 2m as a novice, Nichol's Canyon didn't have anywhere near that level of form last year and was well beaten in the Neptune.

Coachonions

1:30 - Min. Expect to follow in the footsteps of Champagne Fever,Vautour + Douvan. Form not exactly outstanding but you cant deny how impressive he went about putting his races to bed. Silver Concarde a solid each way chance.

2:10 - Douvan. If he stays up he wins simple as. Expect Sizing John to follow him home

2:50 - Holywell. Track Form and peaks at the spring. John Jo has them tuned up rightly for Cheltenham see my selection for 4:40.

3.30 - Annie Power will use that weight allowance and get up that hill in front in a close affair. Peace and Co will outrun his odds and get a place.

4.10 - Vroum Vroum Mag is a massive price at 11/10. That sounds silly but the horse will win hands and heels. Bitofapuzzle eachway in this one.

4.40 - Minella Rocco stayed on so powerfully in Ascot to suggest he was crying out for further and with Derek O Connor he's in the best hands possible and will be a very popular winner with the punters.

5.30 - Aloomomo If you heard the praise from Gavin Sheehan that would be enough to suggest this horse is well ahead of the handicapper. The horse is unbeaten over fences in Britain and won all 3 chases in good style. He warrants my NAP vote for tomorrow. Ballyalton a decent eachway bet here.
Coachonions is online now Report Post

Faugheen

Can't see Silver Concorde being more of a solid e/w chance than Supasundae. Both are around the same price but the latter beat the former by 13L lto

Coachonions

Faugheen wrote: »

Can't see Silver Concorde being more of a solid e/w chance than Supasundae. Both are around the same price but the latter beat the former by 13L lto

i totally agree supasundae is a decent horse but decent ground and Dermot Weld has his string well set up for Cheltenham

Gringo180

Weld entering Silver Concorde in the Supreme is a tip in itself, he could of went close with him in the County off a mark of 135.

hawkeyethenoo

Gringo180 wrote: »

Weld entering Silver Concorde in the Supreme is a tip in itself, he could of went close with him in the County off a mark of 135.

would imagine he would have been closer to 145 after the british handicapper got his hands on him

he hasnt shown near enough over hurdles to win a supreme, good animal on the flat, no world beater over jumps.

hawkeyethenoo

backing the greatrex pair tomorrow, two well handicapped animals.

Gringo180

hawkeyethenoo wrote: »

backing the greatrex pair tomorrow, two well handicapped animals.

Jaysus how is Out Sam only rated 139? He beat a 142 rated animal with ease last time out and gave him 4lbs Should be nearer the 150 mark.

diomed

13:30 Penglai Pavilion at 44s
No idea what will win but Min at 5/2 is short - has only run on soft or heavy.

dickenson famous5

radharc wrote: »

Hardy Eustace won a quality Neptune and beat the 10l Supreme Winner (Back in Front) over 2m as a novice, Nichol's Canyon didn't have anywhere near that level of form last year and was well beaten in the Neptune.

Not many horses would beat faugheen whether faugheen was fit or not the horse as battling qualities and in a open race as a chance

radharc

diomed wrote: »

13:30 Penglai Pavilion at 44s
No idea what will win but Min at 5/2 is short - has only run on soft or heavy.

Not too often a horse finishes fifth in an Arc and ends up over jumps, remarkable really. Will back an outsider in the first myself, like Mister Miyagi at the minute

radharc

dickenson famous5 wrote: »

Not many horses would beat faugheen whether faugheen was fit or not the horse as battling qualities and in a open race as a chance

Ah yes he is a good hurdler but not many have failed to win a Neptune and gone on to land the Champion (rock on ruby the only one I can think of in last 15 years and he was beaten a head). Having said that this one mightn't take much winning.

Gringo180

Cant trust the flat bred animals around Chelt.

diomed

Gringo180 wrote: »

Cant trust the flat bred animals around Chelt.

Istabraq.

0ph0rce0

My Bets placed for tomorrow. Can't wait it's like Christmas Eve

Min, Douvan, Annie Power - Treble

1.30 - Altior
2.50 - Un Temps Pour Tout - e/w
3.30 - Nichols Canyon
4.10 - Polly Peachum
4.50 - Southfield Royale
5.30 - Bouvreuil - e/w


Not a winner in the bunch haha

Johner

Liking Local Show in the 4 miler at 16s. Was impressed with the way he jumped and travelled last time out and beat a decent horse in Onenightinvienna.

Gringo180

diomed wrote: »

Istabraq.

Was a bit of an anomaly he was.

What's everyone's opinion on Camping Ground? 25/1 is very tempting he obliterated a high class field on his penultimate start. Didn't stay last time over 3 miles.

diomed

Gringo180 wrote: »

Was a bit of an anomaly he was.

Zarkandar, 2011 Triumph Hurdle winner

By Azamour, damsire Kanyasi.
Azamour won the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth stakes, and the Irish Champion stakes.
Kahyasi won the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby.
Zarkandar was a half-sibling of Zarkava, who won the 2008 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and was unbeaten in seven starts on the flat.

Zarkandar was as flat as a horse could be.

Gringo180

diomed wrote: »

Zarkandar, 2011 Triumph Hurdle winner

By Azamour, damsire Kanyasi.
Azamour won the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth stakes, and the Irish Champion stakes.
Kahyasi won the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby.
Zarkandar was a half-sibling of Zarkava, who won the 2008 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and was unbeaten in seven starts on the flat.

Zarkandar was as flat as a horse could be.

Best form would of been on a flat course imo. Hurricane Fly was flat bred and was never seen to best effect around Cheltenham, his sheer class won him his Champion Hurdles. I am not saying there was no good flat bred horses that went over the jumps its just I wouldnt trust them.

krustydoyle

For anyone thats interested Hugh Taylors tips for tomorrow are

Band of Blood 2.50 Cheltenham 1pt win

Willows Saviour 5.30 Cheltenham 1pt win
Rezorbi 5.30 Cheltenham 1 pt win

closcriobh

Either bookies or feeling brave or Min's on a serious drifter. 11/4 available now from 15/8 this morning.

posturingpat

closcriobh wrote: »

Either bookies or feeling brave or Min's on a serious drifter. 11/4 available now from 15/8 this morning.

I don't fancy him but anyone that does shouldn't let this put them off,ii think most punters knew rightly he'd be drifting.

charlietully

1.30 Supasundae ew
2.10 the game changer (wo douvan)
2.50 ballyken ew
3.30 camping ground ew
4.10 lily Waugh ew
4.50 southfield royale
5.30 aloomomo

good luck everyone.

Nulty

Gringo180 wrote: »

Cant trust the flat bred animals around Chelt.

diomed wrote: »

Istabraq.

Hurricane Fly