Cheltenham Preview Nights

Limerick Wed 28th Feb in the Dunraven Arms Hotel, Adare @ 8pm
Panel: Edward O'Grady, Nicky Henderson, David Casey, Willie Power, Alan King,
David Minton, Jonjo O'Neill, Brough Scott
Adm: €30
All proceedes to the Shane McManus fund. Ring Helen Murphy on 061-605900

Meath Wed 28th Feb in the Old Darnley Lodge Hotel, Athboy @ 8:30pm
Panel: Norman Williamson, Tony Martin, Des McDonagh, Martin Brassil, David
Casey, Roger Loughran
Adm: €25 includes free €20 betting voucher
All proceedes to Athboy Golfing Society. Ring Pat Clerkin on 087-2334017

Wexford Fri Mar 2nd Amber Springs Hotel Gorey @ 7:30pm
Panel: Colm Murphy, Philp Rothwell, Tony Mullins, Conor O'Dwyer, John Cullen
All proceedes to Cancer Day Care Unit Wexford Hospitas, live musiv afterwards
Ring Maurice Cousins on 087-2526749

Dublin Sunday Mar 4th Stillorgan Park Hotel @ 8pm
Panel: No info yet
Adm: €20

Belfast Monday Mar 5th Europa Hotel @ 8pm
Panel: Tony O'Heir, John Francome, Mike Cattermole, Alan King, Richard Johnson,
Tony Dobbin, Brian & Ronan Graham
Adm: £12
Tickets available on the door

Galway Monday Mar 5th Salthill Hotel
Panel: Barney Curley, Alan Byrne, Andrew McNamara, Damien McElroy, others to be confirmed
All proceedes to Direct aid for Africa. Ring Robert Glavin 087-6939188

Roscommon Mon Mar 5th Royal Hotel @ 8:30pm
Panel: Dessie Hughes, Tony Martin, Davy Russell, Noel O'Brien
Adm: €20
All proceedes to Roscommon Youth Centre

Kildare Wed Mar 7th Glenroyal Hotal @ 8pm
Panel: Tony O'Hehir, Damien McElroy, Tom Taffe, Dessie Hughes, Noel O'Brien, Jim McGrath,
Nina Carberry, David McGurrin (Terry Rogers bookmakers)
Adm: €20 with €20 free bet
All proceedes to the Romanian Break Basket Appeal. Ring 086-2852135

They can be good, but they can be crap.
Expect to hear comments like 'Aran Concerto has a really good chance of winning in the ...' Really? I couldn't have worked that out for myself at all!
The one in Limerick with Alan King looks the best. Id imagine however we actually will know in which race My Way De Solzen is running by then though.
The one in Galway is organised by Mulhollands bookmakers, and Barney is an interesting character.

Sorry to be hogging this topic lads but just to update you the confirmed panel is as follows:

Brian Geraghty (Chairperson), Trainers Colm Murphy, Tony Mullins and Paul Nolan, Journalists Damien McElroy (Indo) and Brian Flanagan (The Star) and former Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle winning jockey Graham Bradley.

Hope some of you can make it on the night

No tickets needed, just show up on the night. Everyone present on the night can avail of a free €50 bet (or €50 worth of bets) from Celtic Bookmakers if they open a phone betting account with them on the night.

BrianTheMessiah wrote:

I'll be in the Goat tonight.

Carlsberg, if anyone's buying!

Let us know if it was any use? Horses mentioned etc

a very enjoyable night i thought f2b.

Francome was hilarious and it was pretty interesting apart from Noel O'Brien who was very disappointing. i was surprised at the amount of support for AR in the Supreme Novices, they nearly have me convinced to back her, lol.

Preview Night – The Big Tree, Drumcondra Thursday 1 March in aid of the Irish Cancer Society

Panel: Tony O’hehir(TOH), Nina Carberry(NC), Slippers Madden(SM), Paddy Flood(PF), Tony Mullins(TM), Ciaran Moynihan(CM) compere, Graham Ross (GR) from Betfair

A late start meant that the night was all a bit little rushed and that only the championship races were discussed.

Supreme Novice:
TM – The Irish have no chance in this, a very ordinary bunch. De Soto was an EW bet
TOH - Nicky Henderson really likes Amaretto Rose, and she gets a handy allowance – Hide the Evidence was the best of the Irish
PF – Clopf is definitely better than his last run, where he felt a bit flat at the start
SM – Clopf is the best of the irish, DeValira is a bridle horse and he didn’t fancy him. Aran Concerto goes for the 2m5.

Ballymore Properties novice Hurdle;
PF – Catch Me is very good, and we haven’t seen the best of him yet. He can turn the form around with Aran Concerto. He has serious gears.
NC – I’ll have Aran Concerto, I don’t think he’ll get beat
TOH – We all know what Noel Meade has said about Aran Concerto, but he met Eddie O’Grady in Manchester Airport a while ago where he said Catch Me was the best horse he has had for a very long time. Silverburn is the best of the English. Still thinks Aran Concerto will win it though.
TM – Aran Concerto is the real deal
GR – If I had a free bet for Cheltenham it would be on Aran Concerto

Brit Insurance Novice Hurdle:
TM – Wichita Lineman is a good thing, and never mind all this talk of McCoy being hard on a horse – he is only hard on those that need it!urdle:

Triumph Hurdle:
TM – Lounaos had a hard race in the Irish Champion, and Johnjo’s might be good enough if he runs. Jy Vole is very good if she returned to form
SM – This race is in the bag for Lounaos, Katchit is the only one that could take him on
TOH – Lounaos one of the better Irish chances this year, Punjabi a possible danger
NC – Lounaos an obvious chance.

SunAlliance Chase:

PF – Cant see Denman beaten – the Irish won’t get near him
NC – Denman is Ruby’s NAP for the week, and that is good enough for her
TM – Fancies Cailin Alainn to run a big race
TOH – Cailin Alainn is a bit light, but a mare with a lot of ability

Arkle:
GR – All the betting suggests Fair Along is the one to be on
SM – AP was not happy with the ride he gave Don’t Push It last time, thinks he will win this. Gemini Lucy is the best of the Irish and a sound EW bet.
TOH – Gemini Lucy has some sort of chance, but would need better ground than it is right now
TM – Was speaking to Ivan Yates (Celtic Bookmakers) at a previous preview night, and they will be taking on Fair Along big time

Ryanair Chase:
SM – Monets Garden is the class act – he jumps, he gallops, the banker of the meeting
TM – Monets Garden the second bet of the meeting after Well Chief, only My Way De Solzen is a danger. Kill Devil hill a great EW bet in this
TOH – Its all grey to me!
Stayers Hurdle:
SM – Black Jack Ketchum is the class act if he is in any form at all. Thinks Celestial Wave is a fair animal.
PF – BJK has only ever beaten Powerstation, and is very beatable
NC – The more rain the better for Celestial Wave, but she does not jump well when taken on.
TOH – If Asian Maze ran she would have a great chance
TM – Surprised if BJK runs. Inglis Drever winning would be the old man reclaiming his crown. Blazing Bailey has a bit of a chance. If it dried up a bit Asian Maze could win!

Queen Mother:
TM – Well Chief the certainty of the meeting, all he has to do is turn up! When TOH asked him if he was afraid of the bounce factor, TM said that he had never heard of the bounce factor with a Pipe horse!
SM – Nickname will take some beating if it was soft, Voy Por Ustedes is not good enough. Newmill really needs the ground a bit faster.

Champion Hurdle:
SM – Interested in Newmill, who he reckons almost ran in the Champion Hurdle last year and, in his opinion, jumps hurdles better than fences. Still a race for an Irish 1-2-3, and whatever beats Hardy Eustace up the hill will win the champion.
PF – Cant see Brave Inca and Macs Joy make up the difference with Hardy Eustace
NC – In the Hardy camp as well
TM – Charlie Swan on Brave Inca is the greatest load of bull I have ever heard. Jimmy Keaveney won’t play for Dublin again either! Detroit City will win anyway.
GR – I have backed Hardy Eustace at 10s and I’m not laying off
TOH – the stats are against Hardy Eustace. Backed Macs Joy after the AIG but not sure what to make of the Gowran Park run. Detroit City a serious horse but would slightly favour Hardy Eustace this year.

Bumper:
SM – Great vibes from Harringtons about Cork All Star. Aranleigh is only moderate – thinks Jessie has the horse
NC – Cork All Star has the best form but thinks it would want better ground. Also thinks Mad Fish would need better ground. Was very impressed with the way Fiveforthree travelled and quickened last time.
TM – Aranleigh is a good horse, and will beat Mad Fish again when they meet. Cork All Star will calve up the hill, and is more afraid of Fiveforthree. Crocodiles Rock was agricultural enough last time. If I can beat Fiveforthree I am happy enough I can win it. Mad Fish gurgled when we passed him last time – might be a problem there. The workout on Sunday will be very important in deciding who runs at Cheltenham
PF – Very impressed with Fiveforthree last time
TOH – Don’t forget Stradbrook, could have a say in this

Gold Cup:
Sm – War Of Attrition is a proper horse, but mouse Morris is very worried about the ground for him.
PF – Kauto Star wins. War Of Attrition does not jump well in bad ground. You wouldn’t think McCoy would suit Exotic Dancer, but he does. Has an EW chance.
NC – L’Ami a great price compared to Kauto Star
TOH – Kauto Star has too many questions about him at the price. Hard to fancy War Of Attrition on the ground. Beef Or Salmon has a terrible record at Cheltenham. L’Ami the value bet.
TM – All about the ground for War Of Attrition. Exotic Dancer is only a handicapper and can’t improve enough. Kauto Star can’t jump. Cane Break might be the surprise element here.
GR – Kauto Star at Evens on the place market a great bet.

Other Bits:
PF – New Field has a big chance if he runs
TOH – Kings Advocate well fancied, as is All Star
TM – Pedrobob in the County will win if the weights are held as they are now.

Bankers:
SM – Sweet Wake and hardy Eustace. Lay DC in the Champion Hurdle.
PF – Catch Me, reckons SM was afraid to tip Aran Concerto!
GR – Lay Detroit City
TOH – Monets Garden is a good thing, L’Ami EW in the Gold Cup
TM – Well Chief and Monets Garden are both certainties
NC – Don’t Push It in the Arkle.