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Festival Trials Day Cheltenham Sat Jan 29th

Cotswold Chase could well end up with only three runners as Aye Right and Kauto Riko are also entered in the Sky Bet at Doncaster, and Coole Cody and Simply the Betts in the earlier Paddy Power chase at Cheltenham while Ex Patriot will probably run in the Thyestes at Gowran Park on Thursday which leaves Chantry House, Santini and Ahoy Senor.
 
Diamond Geezer said:
Cotswold Chase could well end up with only three runners as Aye Right and Kauto Riko are also entered in the Sky Bet at Doncaster, and Coole Cody and Simply the Betts in the earlier Paddy Power chase at Cheltenham while Ex Patriot will probably run in the Thyestes at Gowran Park on Thursday which leaves Chantry House, Santini and Ahoy Senor.
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And Ahoy Senor likely to go to Wetherby could leave 2. Unless thats changed in the last week or two, sure that was their plan.
 
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Some interesting betting heats. I have some thoughts:
1.55 - Farinet is a very dodgy looking fav. Pulled up at Cheltenham a couple of starts ago he's gone up 6lbs for winning a bad race on soft at Sandown. Basically this week's Killer Clown. The rest of the market leaders come from that same Cheltenham race which I thought was poor (Magic Saint hit the frame and he's a stone two miler.) I'd back Coconut Splash but he's also in the novice on the same card.

2.30 - I wouldn't make Chantry House evens for a school ******* egg and spoon race. Please please please run Ahoy Senor Lucinda.
 
Surely some incentive for Lucinda to run Ahoy Senor here - if only to get some course experience ahead of the Festival.

Are they keeping their powder dry until they’ve fattened-up on the 5/2?
 
In theory if the ultimate goal is the ex RSA I don't think they'd run, just take the Wetherby race. I don't think they give a **** though, it's about the 2023 Gold Cup and they want as much experience of the track as possible. So this might take the edge off him and he may not be able to cope anyway with Galopin but recent placed horses in the RSA - Santini, Minella Indo - have a better record than the recent winners.
 
I had a bit on at 7/2 (Hills) for the Cotswold earlier, Nick. They threw him into an Internediate at Carlisle first time over fences, and I think the might struggle to resist the temptation this weekend.
 
If he wins I think they may actually go Gold Cup. Saw an interview today where she said the new course will suit him better than the old course, something along them lines and she wouldn’t rule out Gold Cup.

Something to keep in mind if he hacks up here.
 
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tiggers1972 said:
Surely the ground might deter them this weekend for Ahoy Senor.
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Possibly Darren, but it's not going to get any wetter for him elsewhere.

He also won on Spring ground at Aintree last year, and I think there's more to him than just a slogger mudlark. I think he's be fine on betterg ground, to be honest, as long as it's over sufficient a trip (i.e. 3 miles).
 
Grasshopper said:
Possibly Darren, but it's not going to get any wetter for him elsewhere.

He also won on Spring ground at Aintree last year, and I think there's more to him than just a slogger mudlark. I think he's be fine on betterg ground, to be honest, as long as it's over sufficient a trip (i.e. 3 miles).
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The reason I mentioned the ground Nick was the fact he missed a couple of engagements earlier on this season on similar conditions.
 
tiggers1972 said:
The reason I mentioned the ground Nick was the fact he missed a couple of engagements earlier on this season on similar conditions.
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Yeah, and you might be right.....but they seem keen as mustard to get a run into him very soon, hence hoping they commit to Saturday. No drama if they don't.
 
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an capall said:
Some talented entries in the Mare's bumper. I wonder if anybody knows anything?
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WPM has seven entries in the mares bumper at the DRF (€100k pot) and five of them are also entered for Saturday's listed mares bumper at Cheltenham (£20k pot). The two not entered at Cheltenham, Pink In The Park and Eabha Grace, are probably his two best and presumably are being kept for Leopardstown. I'm guessing if any of the remaining quintet go to Cheltenham in search of black type, it will be the next highest in the rankings and that the remainder will be spared the journey and let take their chance at Leopardstown. We'll all know more tomorrow.
 
The handicap chase is gonna cut up like buggery with a few horses doubly entered and the ground surely against Farinet at the head of the market. I backed Galahad Quest over course and distance on new year's day and he was very disappointing. Starting to think the soft ground was against him that day as he ran much much better on decent ground in the Paddy Power. He's worth a go at 6/1
 
Having backed him in the Paddy Power and again at Aintree, I have come to the conclusion that Galahad Quest is an absolute thief/ba*stard of a horse.

FWIW, Fox is jocked-up on Ahoy Senor.
 
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You have to forgive him for Aintree, the conditions that day were horrendous. If he reproduces the PP run he goes close imo. Top trainer also.
 
Ahoy Senor will have every chance to prove me wrong if he lines up on Saturday but I still say he's limited

I really never like the way he stopped dead at Carlisle when challenged and he did the same thing when challenged by Bravemansgame last time.

If the three main challengers to him turn up on Saturday I can only see more of the same.

One horse that does interest me is Fergal O'brian's Peking Rose who I would fancy to upset Nicky's Balco Coastal if Hillcrest heads of to Doncaster.

Don't know if the meeting is much of a trial for the Festival but seeing if Champ behaves himself should be interesting
 
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Trip was too short at Carlisle, and track possibly against him at Kempton - though likely he just ran into a very, very good novice chaser in Bravemansgame.

Cotswold Chase course and distance should be much more up his street.
 

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