Festival preview edition - 8.3.13

Well here we go again !  It looks like being a damp and chilly one weather wise, and once again trying to sift through running plans makes this preview a bit of a lottery. Peej has already done sterling worl on trends and stats so I am not repeating any of those, so here are the punters views.

Tuesday

1.30

Punter Likes , Doding Bullets, Melodic Rendezous, My Tent or Yours, Puffin Billy, Un Atout

 I am not totally convinced that My Tent or Yours is the good thing many think, and a tough handicap hurdle is not the ideal warm up, so  The Punter goes,
1 Dodging Bullets, 2 My Tent Or Yours, 3, Melodic Rendezous.

2.05  Simonsig looks a good thing but again missed his prep race and Overturn will ensure a really tough race. Had Avika Ligeonniare not fallen last time I would fancy him more highly.

Punter goes 1 Overturn, 2 Simonsig, 3 Arvika Ligeonniare

 2.40

Guessing what runs is the big one here, JJ O’Neill and Venitia Williams hold the key for me, and have multiple entries with similar chances.

1 Relax, 2 Alfie Sherin, 3 Pete The Feat

3.20

I still think Rock On Ruby is going to be thereabouts and at 6/1 for a defending champ is solid e/w value, but the more I look the more I like Zarkandar.

1 Zarkandar, Rock On Ruby, 3 Hurricane Fly

4.00

The cross country chase ! Balthazar King won last year and follow ups are frequent, and he has a live chance, Chicago Grey is a high class sort, Double Dizzy , Leach and Scail have chances. I am told Martin Keighley has specially prepared Any Currency for this and expects a big run.

1 Balthazar King, 2 Any Currency, Chicargo Grey

4.40

1, Quevega , Kentford Grey Lady 3, Une Artiste

5.15

Another competitive handicap, Howards Legacy, Nuts N Bolts, The Druids Nephew, Fourjacks, Buckers Bridge catch my eye and are very close in the ratings.

1 Fourjacks 2 Howards Legacy 3 Nuts N Bolts

Wednesday 

1.30
Jockety bookings are as important as any thing in the 4m amateur chase, so a real pin stick at present

1 Back In Focus, 2 Harry Topper, 3 Rose of The Moon

2.05

Irelands hot pot Pont Alexandre goes here and I am told that Jackdaws Castle consider Tarquin Du Seuil their best of the week. Others taht should figure are The New one and Bondage who is a course and distance winner as is the New One. I am going to go with a bit of value e/w

1 Tarquin Du Seuil , 2 Pont Alexandre 3, The New One

2.40

Dynaste looks a good thing but how often have they failed in this !  Paul Nicholls has 3 with live chances, Sire Collonges gave 9lb to Our Father over c/d in his only defeat but Rocky Creek and Unioniste could be the Nicholls rep instead. Unioniste had Our Father behinf at Newbury so

1 Sire Collonges 2 Dynaste, Boston Bob

3.20

This could be the smallest field for a while at the Festival.

1 Sprinter Sacre 2 Sizing Europe  3 Wishful Thinking

4.00

If I even pick a runner from the 200 entries I will be pleased !

Carlo Brigante won this 2 years ago and if he reverts to hurdles here has a big chance again. Native Gallery , Kells Belle Double Ross, Bondage Ericht also holdchances.

1.     Ericht, 2 Native Gallery 3 Double Ross

4.40

One of the weaker and dangerous races , Juvenile handicap hurdle !

1 Ruacana, 2 Cockney Sparrow, Saphir Du Rheu

5.15            
The Bumper, As always Willie Mullins has numerous enties, Union Dues looks the best of them, Le Vent d’Antan also from across the water looks a big player. From the English side Vieux Lion Rouge, Milo Milan Oscar Rock should go well.

1 Vieux Lion Rouge 2 Le Vent D’Antan , Oscar Rock

Thursday 

1.30

1 Aupcharlie 2 Third Intention 3 Molotof

2.05

Ely Brown 2 Jetson 3 Knock A Hand

2.40 

1Rocky Creek 2 Tofino Bay  3Houblon Des Obeaux

3.20

Despite the absence of Big Bucks this does not look wide Open and some potential contenders have also fallen to injury.

Reve De Sivola looks the pick, Oscar Whiskey and Zaidapour in that order

4.00

Vino Griego, Hectors Choice, Mad Moose are all c/d winners with chances, Kapga De Cerisy, Big Fella Thanks Call the Police also come in to the reckoning.

1 Kapga De Cerisy, 2 Mad Moose 3, Vino Griego

 4.40

Rose Of The Moon, 2 Magnaminity 3 Harry The Viking

Points

                       February   Total

Neil                  141.7        629.8

Bob                179.2         518.5

Steve                93.9        488.7

John            146.9          481.6

Tony               107.1        457.3

Martin           82.1           413.4

Cod              93.8              363.7

Cliff            118.5           343.9 

Peej             53.3            326.3

News

Alderwood was a notable absentee from the Rewards4 Racing Novices' Handicap Steeple Chase at next week's Cheltenham Festival

Tom Scudamore has reaffirmed his faith in Grands Crus after the David Pipe-trained gelding went through his paces after racing at Exeter on Tuesday