Cheltenham Preview 2018
Supreme
Novice Hurdle
Punter Entries Apples Shakira, Next Destination, Samcro , Sharjah, Act Of Valour Debuchet, Slate House,
As always a guessing game as to
what runs where, Samcro would be very hard to beat if he runs here, but
indications are he goes to the Ballymore instead. Apples Shakira has done nothing
wrong but not beaten much, Next Destination won at Naas last time , Act Of Valour has been disappointing. Sharjah, was well
behind Samcro last time but had looked useful before that, Slate House has been
disappointing of late but vibes from the Tizzard yard encouraging and at 28/1
is a good e/w bet and Debuchet has
to find plenty to be involved. Favourite with out Samcro is Getabird, but the
one the editor likes is Kalashnikov,
Arkle Chase,
Punter Entries, Footpad, Pettit Mouchoir, Sceau
Royal, River Wylde, Capitaine,
Theo.
Footpad and Pettit Mouchoir
stand out. It’s hard to give any chance to River Wylde, Capitaine or Theo,
Sceau Royal has place claims at best.
Whilst Footpad is all the rage, I think Pettit Mouchoir can beat him on
the day, and at 4/1 currently is a good bet.
Champion Hurdle
Punter Entries Buveur D’ Air,
Faugheen, Apples Jade, Elgin, Min, Bapume.
Min is unlikely to run, Bapume
probably won’t either, Elgin has place claims in what looks a weak race. A lot depends if Faugheen can back to
his very best, as Buveur D’Air looks the part but hasn’t beaten much yet. At
14/ 1 with the mares allowance I like Apples Jade if she takes her chance but
she seems booked for the mares race instead.
Mares Hurdle
Punter Entries Apples
Jade, Lets Dance, La Bagur Au Roi, Vroum Vroum Mag
Apples Jade is the stand out if
she runs, La Bague Au Roi would go
close but I hope she runs in the stayers hurdle , Lets Dance would have a good
shout if the front 2 don’t run, Vroum Vroum Mag has obvious claims if fully fit
and as we know Mullins mares can win this with out a previous run. Benie Des Diux has strong claims
RSA Chase
Punter Entries Willoughby Court, Finians Oscar,
Benatar, Mount Mews
Benatar is due to run in the JLT, along with Finians Oscar,
and I suspect Willoughby Court, and Mount Mews needs to find plenty to win
this. Current favourite is Presenting Percy, but the one I like at 7/1 is Black
Corton. He would have been in the editors string, but Paul Nicholls felt he was
a summer horse and had basically done his job by mid October ! How ever as kept winning they kept him
going and he has been a revelation.
Queen Mother Champion
Chase
Punter Entries Altior, Min, Douvan, Un De Sceau, Great Field,
Ball D’Arc Charbel
The much anticipated match
between Altior and Douvan is less mouth watering with the doubts surrounding
Douvan, if he is back any where near his best it will be a great contest, but it is a big if.
Special Tiara at 14/ 1 is the standout e/w bet of the race, Min and Charbel
along with Ball D’arc could run in to a place, but I only see Altior as the
winner, though I don’t think he is any value at odds on.
Ballymore Novice
Hurdle.
Punter Entries, Samcro, Next
Destination, Sharjah, Debuchet,
Samcro is every ones banker of
the week and it is hard to see beyond on the basic form. Again though he is no
value and has not been to Cheltenham before, so a few doubts hang over him.
However trying to find any thing to beat him is not really viable and certainly
none of the punter entries are good enough on current form with Next
Destination easily best of the rest, and he at 4/1 is a decent bet against the
favourite if he runs.
Stayers Hurdle
Punter Entries Apples Jade,
Yanworth La Bague Au Roi, Penhill, Uknowhatimeanharry, Wholestone, The Worlds
End,
This is one of the most
competitive renewals for a long time, and with the likes of Sam Spinner Lil
Rockefeller and The New one added to the above, it is a mouth watering
prospect. Apples Jade is due to run in the mares hurdle, and I have doubts over
The New One staying. I really like La Bague Au Roi who just keeps improving and
at around 16/1 looks a great e/w bet to me, especially if the ground is on the
soft side as her 7lb allowance is very valuable
JLT Novice Chase,
Punter Entries, Benatar,
Finians Oscar, Mount Mews,
This has rather fallen apart
with a few injuries ruling out the initial favourites. Benatar is currently
available at 8/1 which suprises me as he looks to have a big shout, along with
Terrefort, and Modus who are similar prices currently. My preference is for
Benatar.
Ryanair Chase.
Punter Entries Un De Sceau,
Waiting Patiently, Top Notch, Cue Card, Yorkhill, Cloudy Dream, Ball D’Arc
It looks as though Waiting
Patiently will miss this and Cue Card is more likely to go for the Gold Cup,
,although if he was mine I would run here after his recent Ascot run over the
same distance. Cloudy Dream rarely wins, Ball D’Arc would have place claims,
but it is hard to see beyond Un De Sceau.
Albert Bartlett
Novice Hurdle
Punter Entries, Debuchet, White
Moon, Brahama Bull
Brahama Bull would have a big
shout but has not been seen since early November, so that is a question mark,
Debucet has been disappointing, and White Moon disappointed at Sandown back in
December. However, noises from the Tizzard camp are positive, and if back to
his best has good e/w claims. Santini and Chef Des Obeaux have good claims and
Chef Des Obeaux (6/1) is my pick here
Ultima Handicap Chase
(Tuesday)
Punter Entry Vicente, Rock The
Kasbah
Vicente is a course and
distance winner and has strong claims
Whilst I would love Rock The Kasbah win, it is hard to see, as he needs
every thing to his way, and I don,t see that happening here . Others to have
claims are Coo Star Sivola, Cogry, Vintage Clouds. American. I am going to side with Vicente, and in
his absence, Coo Star Sivola.
National Hunt
Challenge Cup ( Tuesday )
Gordon Elliotts Jury Duty looks
the one here.
Coral Handicap Hurdle
Punter Entries William Henry,
Topofthegame, Lets Dance, Fix Le Cap, Le Breuil
Le Breuil is a long way down the weights so
may not get in this, but if he does he has a standout chance. Ben Pauling told
the punter yesterday I’m leaning towards running
him in the Coral Cup. He’s a horse I’ve always thought a lot of and he’s had
troubles with his feet this season so hasn’t really had a clear run at the
game. I was
disappointed when he got beat at Aintree but he was beaten by a decent,
well-handicapped horse and in hindsight it wasn’t a bad run
The John Torpey Memorial Trophy
March Total
Cliff 00 677.1
Martin 00 675.5
Peej
00 560.7
Steve 00 540.64
Tony 00 442.8
Cod
00 434.5
Neil
00
364.6
Bob
00 289.3
Sceau Royal misses the
festival through injury, joining Willoughby Court
, Top Notch and Vroom Vroum Mag on
the side lines
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