Winning days on Tuesday (+3) and Friday (+3) but overall I finish 5 points down (level stakes) for the 27 races during the meeting.
All in all a bloody good four days - as ever- and I can't wait for next year.
Friday:
Big Bucks did us proud yesterday winning a third consecutive World Hurdle; what a wonderful animal. Hit the bar with Wishfull Thinking going so well for so long.
It is the fourth and final day today and I am looking for a couple of winners at the very least to sign off with. I backed Sam Winner ante post many weeks ago and although he had his difficulties at Chepstow I am still convinced he is the best horse in the race and his win here in November is by far the best form. For the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle I like the look of of the Willie Mullins trained Blackstairmountain. The six-year-old will be much happier on todays going, the drop back from two and a half miles will help, the first time tongue tie is on and he looks on a fair weight.
Bobs Worth looks a solid choice in the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle, his win here in January looking very good form. In the Gold Cup I was of course looking to take on the old guard with Diamond Harry who unfortunately misses the race due to injury so the Girdy coppers will now be placed on Long Run. You had to be impressed with his King George win and we should be crowning a new champion later today. I enjoy the Foxhunter Chase every year and I think Baby Run is the one to be on again. He won this by five lengths last year and things couldn't have gone better in his preparation this year. The Michael Pipe Conditional Jockeys Hurdle is a competitive affair with several in with chances. I was disappointed by Mister Hyde at Sandown last time but he hadn't done much wrong until that point this season and as mentioned previously this week Jonjo O'Neill can get them right for the Festival and I will be sticking with him today. The lucky last is the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase and it is a real puzzler again this year. Nicky Henderson will of course be trying to win the race named after his father and he has a live contender in the shape of Tanks For That but I just prefer his other runner Anquetta. The seven-year-old has been in good form lately winning at Leicester and Sandown and could still be on an upward curve.
Be lucky
Thursday:
More wrong'uns than a Jeremy Kyle show yesterday so we start the third day four points down for the week.
Big Bucks is the sole ante-post bet running today. Jewson Novice Chase is the first and in an attempt to claw back a few quid and hopefully get back in front early I will backing Wishful Thinking. Phillip Hobbs rates the chestnut very highly and you had to be impressed with the way he won here in January. The Pertemps Final at 2.05 is as open as ever but David Pipe could have snuck one in at the bottom of the weights in the shape of Chartreux who could be anything and looks open to improvement. Poquelin was flagged up to me several weeks ago, loves it round here, and looks a solid bet in the Ryanair Chase. The Byrne Group Plate is another open affair but Venetia Williams has one in the shape of Quartz De Thaix who seems to have got the hang of jumping now and is due to go up seven pound in the ratings after today. The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase is never a race to go over a cliff on one but Ferdy Murphy knows how to win a handicap at the Festival (Divers won here Tuesday) so you would expect his Galant Nuit will be spot on for this, third last year when getting hampered, and he has Nina Carberry on board again.
Be lucky
Wednesday:
Woke this morning with a terrible hangover and when I went down the jacket pockets I found, an empty cigarette box, a spare five pound note (bonus) several flyer's for strip clubs in the Cheltenham area and my broken watch.
I did find a couple of winners on the day in the shape of Sizing Australia and Quevega putting me three points up at the end of day one - bloody good fun!
Attached is a picture of me as close to the Gold cup as I will ever get.
Ante post bets running today are Master Minded (maybe the heart ruling the head) Time For Rupert and Tornado Bob each-way. The Mullins team had a good day yesterday and I shall be backing recent Punchestown winner Some Target in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup. The Coral Cup is as competitive as ever but I will be sticking with the Mullins camp and investing a couple of bob on the well backed Irish hope Call The Police. The Fred Winter is another tricky heat in which I just prefer Paintball. Charlie Longsdon has had his horses in good form of late and the trainer is reportedly very happy with his mark of 123, the fast and furious pace likely shouldn't be a problem. The bumper is a real head scratcher but I was taken with what I have seen of Raise The Beat in his Down Royal and Naas victories and shall be backing the Colm Murphy trained six-year-old.
Be lucky
Tuesday:
Early update for Tuesday as I am up at sparrows fart to get to the track on Tuesday, my mate Mr Wilson having booked us on a train at a ridiculous time of the morning - shirt ironed, trousers pressed and hip flask packed, Girdy is ready.
Two of my ante-post bets run on the Tuesday namely Zaidpour and Medermit. Having spent far longer than is healthy studying form and watching videos of past races to these two I shall be adding Sunnyhillboy in the 2.40. Jonjo O'Neill knows how to win handicaps at the festival and the gelding looks to have a good chance off a fair weight. Menorah is now the bet in the Champion Hurdle following the withdrawal of Binocular. I always considered the Hobbs trained gelding as the main danger so the refunded ante-post bet is reinvested on the six-year-old. In the Cross Country I will be sticking with Sizing Australia as I am convinced that this year he can get the better of Garde Champetre and L'ami. The David Nicholson Mares Hurdle looks to be at the mercy of Quevega again especially with Our Girl Salley not lining up. And finally in the lucky last Centenary Novice Chase I will be backing Definity who looks to be on a weight he should leave far behind as his chase career progresses (was rated 149 over hurdles) and this is the time to take advantage.
Be lucky
Be lucky
Master Minded: Queen Mother Champion Chase 6-4
Sam Winner: Triumph Hurdle 4-1
Big Bucks: World Hurdle 4-7
Medermit: The Arkle 5-1
Time For Rupert: RSA Chase 5-2
Zaidpour: Supreme Novice Hurdle 8-1 (N/R no bet)
Tornado Bob: Neptune Novice Hurdle 16-1 (e/w) (N/R no bet)
Zaidpour: Supreme Novice Hurdle 8-1 (N/R no bet)
Tornado Bob: Neptune Novice Hurdle 16-1 (e/w) (N/R no bet)
9th March 2011
In recent years the best 'trial for the Festival open raiser has been the Deloitte Hurdle at Leopardstown, the previous four winners finishing in the first three of the Supreme Novice. Dirty Dozen member Zaidpour was second in the race this year, behind Oscars Well. They has been a steady flow of cash for the Willie Mullins trained five-year-old and despite two reverses this season I shall be sticking with him for this race.
Tornado Bob has been mentioned by Donald McCain in a few interviews recently and the six-year-old looks to have a big each way chance in the Neptune Novice Hurdle. Beaten by Sonofvic last time out the two were miles clear of the rest and I think the extra couple of furlongs at Cheltenham might help.
26th February 2011:
I have been watching the videos and scanning the form and have come to the conclusion that Time For Rupert is a very good bet in the RSA Chase. Following a nice report from a private gallop yesterday all bodes well and I am on at 5-2.
7th February 2011:
Having won nicely at Sandown at the weekend Medermit is confirmed as being aimed at the Arkle by his trainer Alan King. I am on the grey gelding at 5-1.
25th January 2011:
I have been thinking and assessing, I have sat and pondered, I scratched the old noggin and I burnt the midnight oil and ultimately I cannot see passed Binocular in the Champion Hurdle and Big Bucks in the World Hurdle.
I have seen nothing thus far to suggest that either won’t be retaining their titles come March so have added the pair to my Ante-Post bets for 2011. Big Bucks will of course be most peoples idea of a 'Banker' and at 4-7 I won't be getting rich quick but I just cannot see the beast getting beat. Binocular obviously has more dangers to deal with but I see no reason for Hurricane Fly, Menorah, Peddlers Cross etc to beat the reigning champ as long as he runs his race come the 15th.
29th December 2010:
I know it’s not a good idea, and I have had my fingers burned before, but I couldn’t resist a little Cheltenham ante-post flutter pre New Year again. I have plumped for three of Girdys Gee Gees Dirty Dozen at this stage and have backed Master Minded, Sam Winner and Diamond Harry.
Master Minded has looked as good, if not better, than ever this season following the wind operation and simply had to be my bet in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Twice crowned two-mile champion it is easy to forget that the gelding is still only a seven-year-old (at the time of writing) and looks likely to beat the one to beat come 16th March.
Sam Winner is quoted in a couple of lists but the Triumph Hurdle must be the first choice and after a couple of impressive displays thus far this season, both at Cheltenham, the Paul Nicholls trained French import is firmly on track for the race come March.
I thought Diamond Harry had a big future and his Newbury Hennessy Gold Cup win proved that he is a chaser to stay on the right side of. It is a big ask to win the Gold Cup this year with the established big guns, and winners of the last four renewals, Kauto Star, Denman and reigning champ Imperial Commander all still going strong but at 14-1 the new kid on the block is a fair each way punt to upset at least one of the old boys, possibly them all.
