The John Torpey Memorial Trophy
March Total
Peej 00 873.66
Steve 00 740.39
Neil 00 688.05
Martin 00 516.79
Bob 00 493.25
Cod 00 362.8
Cliff 26 318.16
Congratulations to Peej who was February trainer of the month
The Punter View Cheltenham 2023
Day 1
Supreme Novice Hurdle
The last 5 running’s have gone to Ireland, and each winner had won on its last outing.
Punter Entries - American Mike, Facile Vega, High Definition
Facile Vega heads the market but his 5th at Leopardstown last time out beaten 20 l, leaves him with a question to answer, High Definition unseated in the race and American Mike has been very disappointing this season. Il Etait Temps comes out best on ratings for Willie Mullins and he certainly sees him as a big player and at 6/1 makes most appeal as the winner. Tahmuras, a 10/1 shot has solid claims. Unbeaten in his last 3 runs, and won a grade 1 at Sandown last time, is a solid each way bet.
Arkle Novice Chase
Punter Entries - Jonbon
Jonbon remains unbeaten over fences, and holds a major chance. Having won his first 2 novice chases,
However El Fabiolo, who has won his 2 chasers by a total of 29l looks a big player and it is hard to choose between him and Jonbon. I just lean towards Jonbon, whose win last time at Warwick was boosted by Calico’s win at the weekend
Ultima Handicap Chase
A rarity these days, the British have won the last 5 runings.
Punter Entries - Happygolucky
Happygolucky has ran well on his reappearance , finishing 4l behind L’Homme Presse (gave 13 lb ) in a 3m handicap. 2m 4f was to short for him last time at Cheltenham, and 11-7 is not unreasonable and gives him an each way chance.Corach Rambler won this last year and looks to have been laid out for this again, but is a fair bit higher in the weights and as 7/1 favourite, others appeal more.
A little each way play on Happygolucky 12/1
Champion Hurdle
Punter Entries - Constitution Hill, State Man, Vauban, Honeysuckle, Iliketomoveit, Epatante, First Street, Pied Piper.
It is hard to oppose Constitution Hill, and in what is likely to end up a small field there is little value elsewhere, but Iliketomoveit was impressive at Wincanton, and could be one for the forecast.
Vauban is held by State Man, having finished behind him twice this season. State Man holds Honeysuckle on latest run, Epatante won a weak event last time out, and is well held by Constitution Hill.
First Street is hard to fancy and needs to improve a few streets, and Pied Piper is well held by State man on last 2 outings.
Mares Hurdle
Punter Entries - Honeysuckle, Maries Rock, Epatante
Whilst Honeysuckle has not quite hit the heights of previous seasons, she has not run that badly in grade 1’s and still sets the bar here. However Maries Rock is a big player, She has won her last 4 starts, last time over course and distance, beating Dashel Drasher 9gave 1 lb) 6l in a grade 2 hurdle. Epatante will also be a player if taking her chance, but has never beaten Honeysuckle and was beaten by Maries Rock over 2m 3f at Punchestown last April. Others to Consider are Love Envoi, who has only been beaten once in 8 starts, that was a 2nd at Fairyhouse when 8l behind Brandy Love in a 2m 4f grade 1. However she has not run since January . Queens Brook at 9/1 is the one that makes each way appeal, but I would just stay with Honeysuckle to win.
National Hunt Challenge Cup Novice Chase
Punter Entries - Galliard Du Mesnil,
Galliard Du Mesnil has won a grade 1 and finished 3rd in another last time out, and that is stronger form than most in here. Also he has won over 3m 5f so the distance is not an issue. He is a worthy favourite, though even money is not exactly tempting.
Day 2
Ballymore Novice Hurdle
The last 5 running’s have been won by the Irish, each winner had won it’s previous outing
Punter Entries - Facile Vega , Champ Kiely, American Mike
American Mike has been very disappointing and can be overlooked., Facile Vega is Supreme bound, so Champ Kiely is the only likely runner, and at 8/1 he looks cracking each way value. Course and distance winner and Hermes Allen gives the Bits a great chance and I will side with him to win it.
Brown Advisory Novice Chase
Punter Entries - Sir Gerhard, Thyme Hill, Galliard du Mensil, Stage Star
Sir Gerhard has yet to run beyond 2m 5f so is unlikely to run here, Galliard du Mesnil, has only 1 win from 7 over fences, that was at Leopardstown in December, a weak grade 1 novice chase , and others make more appeal. Stage Star , all wins over 2m4f over fences. The market is headed by Gerri Colombe, who won well at Sandown last time, and Mighty Potter, who is unbeaten over fences, but both have yet to go beyond 2m 5f. Thyme Hill is the forgotten horse, but is 2/3 over fences and his defeat was a 6 ½ l 2nd to McFabulous at Newbury where he gave 3lb. He is a serious player here and at the prices would be my choice.
Coral Handicap Hurdle
Punter Entries - American Mike, Langer Dan, Will Carver, Pull Again Green Sporting John
American Mike has been very disappointing this season and is hard to make a case for. Sporting John has also disappointed this season and off 11-13 is hard to fancy. Langer Dan has also been disappointing, but he comes good at this time of year and off 11-3 could well make the frame. Will Carver is some thing of an unknown, but comes from a stable that can capitalise with this sort. He made a decent come back after a lengthy absence when finishing 3rd at Kempton recently, giving 5 and 10 lb to the first 2. He only has 10-4, which probably means he won’t get in, but would be very interesting if he gets a run. Pull Again Green, has had 2 runs over fences this season, but won his last hurdle race by 4 ½ l over 2m 5, and off just 10-10 at 25/1 is a good each way play. The one I like is Irish Hill, having won 3 on the bounce he gets in off 10-10 looks a great each way bet at 14/1..
Queen Mother Champion Chase
Punter Entries - Energumene, Edwardstone, Greaneteen, Gentlemen De Mee
Gentlemen De Mee has a lot to find with Edwardstone on Sandown running, Energumene is not totally reliable, Greaneteen tends to better at Sandown, so I side with Edwardstone here.
Cross Country Chase
Punter Entries - Galvin
I can’t see Galvin running in this, whilst he would be the classiest on current form, he has no experience in these races, and has yet to go beyond 3 miles, but he has been left in at the 5 day stage. Delta Work is my selection to win again here, and then take the Grand National.
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup
Punter Entries - Third Time Lucki
Third Time Lucki is a decent sort and showed the benefit of a wind op when winning at Sandown last time out, he is a major player, a course and distance winner and should make the frame at least, and I think 11/1 is good value. Another old favourite Elixir De Nutz should also go well at 16/1.
Day 3
Turners novice chase
Punter Entries - Appreciate It, Sir Gerhard, Stage Star, Datsalrightgino, McFabulous
Sir Gerhard has a victory over 2m 5f at Cheltenham last season in a hurdle, so will stay, inexperience over fences is a bit of an issue, but he is classy enough to win this with a clear round. Stage Star has winning course and distance form last time out, and with more experience, would be my choice, as he has beaten Datsalrightgino already. McFabulous is very unreliable, but very good on his day. He should make the frame if he has a good day.
RyanAir Chase
Punter Entries - Shiskin, Conflated, Fakir D’Oudairies, Hitman
With Allaho out, Shishkin is even money favourite for this on the back of his 16l win from Pic D’Orhy at Ascot recently, with Fakir D’Oudairies back in 3rd. Conflated is till something of a unknown quantity, but his Leopardstown grade 1 win has been franked by Kemboy, and if he did turn up here, would be a major player. Fakir D’Oudairies had no obviuous excuse at Ascot, but I feel he is a bit better than that and still holds solid place claims. Hitman hits a lot of fences, and has a lot to find.
Stayers Hurdle
Punter Entries - Blazing Khal, Maries Rock, Flooring Porter, Sir Gerhard, Buzz, Hewick, Langer Dan
Blazing Khal, last years Albert Bartlett winner was not seen out until 12 February, when he won a 2m 5f grade 2 hurdle by 3l. He is favourite on the back of that , but sustained an injury, and is a doubt for this and with doubts over Flooring Porter , the race is wide open. Maries Rock has yet to run over 3m but does get the mares allowance, Sir Gerhard was a point winner over 3miles, and is probably the classiest in here, but I doubt him tasking this option. Buzz is not running, Hewick is interesting as he won a 2m 5f grade 1 in Far Hills (USA), last time out, and at 33/1 is a great each way bet. Langer Dan looks out classed here, and I think the most sensible bet is Paisley Park each way at 14/1.
Plate Handicap Chase
Punter Entries - Stage Star, Datsalrightgino, Hitman, Coole Cody, Two For Gold
Hitman has 12-0, and that alone probably rules him out of winning this. However he is remarkably consistent for one who does not jump brilliantly but always seems to get round and generally make the frame. Course and distance winner Stage Star is still improving, 11-7 is enough but he is classy and should go well, solid place claims. Datsalrightgino is a solid performer and off 11-0 is a player for the frame at least. Coole Cody has disappointed this season, but off just 10-12 on decent ground, if returning to his best could run these ragged. At 20/1 he is a great each way shout. Two for Gold is classy and 11-11 shows that. He has only a 5th in a Aintree handicap this season, beaten 21 l and is hard to fancy.
Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap
Punter Entries - Iron Bridge
not certain to take up any of his entries according to Jon Jo, but if he took this one up he would be a player. A sound jumper and stayer he would hold solid place claims at least off 11-6.
Day 4
Triumph Hurdle
Punter Entries - Bo Zenith, Lossiemouth, Scriptwriter
Scriptwriter jumped so poorly at Kempton last time it is hard to see him coping with the hurly burly of this. Lossiemouth , was a bit unlucky at Leopardstown when 2nd last time out. She had previously won her 2 starts impressively and was put up by Rich Ricci at the start of the season as a very exciting novice. She gets the 5lb mares allowance and will be hard to beat. Bo Zenith, also highly regarded by Gary Moore, has done nothing wrong, winning last time out at Haydock by 3 ½ l. He is a solid alternative to the favourite, and certainly has solid place claims
County Handicap Hurdle
Punter Entries - Pied Piper, First Street, Hacker Des Places, Jungle Jack, Soaring Glory
Hacker Des Places has the sort of profile for this, still very much on the upgrade, and his win at Cheltenham last time is another tick. 10-12 is a nice mark, and has strong each way claims.
Soaring Glory ran ok when 5th at Newbury in a handicap, giving at least a stone to the field, and would have place claims off 11-0. Pied Piper has run in grade 1’s the last twice, last time was just 6 ½ l behind State Man. That probably ruined his handicap mark, he has 11-11 and I can’t see him calling the tune here.
First Street has 2 solid placed efforts to his credit, but 11-9 looks to much for what he has achieved.
Jungle Jack was disappointing last time , and is hard to fancy in this class and off just 10- 3 is unlikely to get in any way.
Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle
Punter Entries - American Mike, Saint Palais
We have a significant number of disappointing horses across the Punter strings this season and these are two of them, and it is hard to see either making any impression here. Hermes Allen has been impressive in winning 3 on the bounce and is probably Paul Nicholls best chance of a winner this week, and gets the punter nod.
Gold Cup
Punter Entries - Galopin Des Champs, A Plus Tard, Bravemansgame, Noble Yeats, Conflated, Hewick, Capodano, Eldorado Allen, Coole Cody
Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame head the market, and I find it hard to chose between them.
Stamina may be the tipping point and Galopin Des champs has yet to race beyond 3 miles whilst Bravemansgame has won over 3m 1 f so I edge that way. A Plus Tard is an unknown quantity this time round, but if any where near his best, will go close. Noble Yeats has had a solid season and could sneak in to the frame. Hewick has not been seen since winning the Grand National Hurdle stakes in Far Hills, USA in October and is hard to fancy.Conflated also holds solid claims , his win over Kemboy in the Savill’s chase having been franked by the runner up recently, and at the prices, he will be where the Editors money goes. Protektorat looks out classed by a few of these, as does Capodano
Martin Pipe handicap hurdle
Punter Entries - American Mike, Langer Dan , Hacker Des Places, Pull Again Green, Will Carver
Jockey bookings will be crucial in this, but at initial time of writing are unknown.
Langer Dan and Hacker Des Places both have 11-8. I would favour Hacker as he probably is still on the upgrade but Langer Dan runs well at this time of year and should not be discounted. Will Carver as previously mentioned is fascinating in this type of race 10-9 is very attractive and if he gets in would be a big fancy. Pull again Green is interesting off 11-1, and reverts to hurdles after 2 solid placed efforts over fences. He does have a course and distance win over hurdles, and is one who could out run his odds.
News
Blazing Khal needs to come through a key piece of work on Friday to line up at Cheltenham.
The seven-year-old, a top-priced 11-4 on Monday for the Stayers’ Hurdle on March 16, has headed the market since winning the Boyne Hurdle at Navan last month, his first start in 14 months.However, he sustained a cut to the back of a fetlock during the success and was only recently able to return to full work having been on a course of antibiotics.
Speaking on Monday, Byrnes said: "Unfortunately he got a bad cut in his Boyne Hurdle win and he was on antibiotics after. We couldn’t do much with him since and we're after stepping his work up now in the last week. We gave him a small bit of work at the Curragh this morning. It’s gone late in the day now so we'll see how he works on Friday and make a final decision.
Weekend Entries
Friday
Ayr
2.00 Maimie’s Magic
Saturday
Sandown
1.50 Crambo
2.25 Nickle Back, Soaring Glory
3.35 Skytastic
Ayr
1.35 Maimie’s Magic
2.10 Maimie’s Magic
3.20 Maimie’s Magic
Navan
3.25 Capodano
