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Cheltenham Festival 2026, get rich, or die trying.
- Thread starter Marble
- Start date
Basil Pinenuts
Amateur Rider
Saw Wendrock was a sea of blue for the Martin Pipe, so presumably a comment Elliott has made at one of the previews. Had him and Jump Allen shortlisted for the Coral Cup, but can't work out what the cut off mark will be (both not guaranteed to get in).
Steeplechasing
Amateur Rider
Many thanks. I listened last night. Gary's a real pro. I noticed at the end of almost every race analysis by Ruby he would ask Gary, 'What do you think?' I'll be following their Lucky 15 tips.
Steeplechasing
Amateur Rider
That's very helpful. Thanks.
It
As you say, he was blue across the board for the Martin Pipe, so that might tell its own story.
It's been 131 for the Coral Cup the last two years, I'd be surprised if he didn't get in off 134.
As you say, he was blue across the board for the Martin Pipe, so that might tell its own story.
Euronymous
Senior Jockey
Glad you're still knocking about Joe. I remember you from the Betfair Forum, particularly tipping Monkerhostin for the Whitbread at 25s. I followed you in.
Steeplechasing
Amateur Rider
Thanks (I am surprised myself I am still knocking about!) I loved that Betfair forum back in the day. Some real clever heads on there before the crazies moved in. Monkerhostin was probably my luckiest horse. I had the biggest single bet of my life on him when he won the Coral Cup in 2004. I bet in very small amounts these days - much less stressful!
'He's a proper horse and 40-1 is a huge price' - Davy Russell is seriously sweet on one trained by ex-boss Gordon Elliott
The Gold Cup-winning jockey is next up in our essential pre-festival series
The sport's top judges answer the key Cheltenham Festival questions. Next up is Davy Russell.
What was your best ever Cheltenham Festival win?
I know you'll probably be expecting me to go for Lord Windermere in the Gold Cup, but I'm actually going to say Envoi Allen when he won what is now the Turners Novices' Hurdle. That was my easiest festival win by a country mile. You have absolutely no idea how easily he won that day. My biggest job was getting him down to the start. It was just a steering job in the race itself. Everything was effortless. People say there is pressure riding hot favourites like that, but that's not pressure. Good horses like him take the pressure off because they're a dream to ride. He absolutely bolted up.
Who’s your strongest fancy at the meeting this year?
I'm a Ballyfad man. I just love everything about him. I love the way he goes about his business and 8-1 about him winning the Turners looks like value to me. He's a serious specimen and is going to make a smashing chaser next season.
Who wins the Champion Hurdle?
It's a process of elimination at this stage with Constitution Hill out and so many others in the race who cannot possibly win so, for that reason, I'll say The New Lion. Everything seems to be falling into place for him and I loved the way Harry [Skelton] rode him the last day. He didn't care whether he won or lost and it was all about educating him for the big day. That policy might pay off. Clever.
Are you for or against Majborough in the Champion Chase?
He might win, but he's priced on one performance. He is the best horse if he doesn't touch a twig, but how sure can you be that he won't? Will the cheekpieces work as well this time? I actually think on nicer ground that Marine Nationale is the safer play of the top two in the market.
Who do you like in the Stayers’ Hurdle?
I seem to be the only one in Ireland who fancies Ma Shantou. He's got course form, he's improving and he's trained by someone who knows how to win this race. I think he has a lot more upside than most in this field, so he'll do me.
Who’s your pick in a wide-open Gold Cup?
Just about Jango Baie. I like horses who go down the Arkle route as novices' before the Gold Cup – the likes of Kicking King and War Of Attrition. Neither of them won an Arkle, but this guy did. It's a wide-open race, as you say, but he just might be the one with most scope for improvement. I like his profile, but the only thing that worries me is that he hasn't run in the calendar year yet and there is something in the back of my mind telling me that is a very negative stat.
Which novice hurdlers take your eye?
Talk The Talk and Ballyfad. Those two stick out like sore thumbs for me. That Grade 1 from the Dublin Racing Festival is the best piece of form on offer in my opinion and I think it will stand up at Cheltenham in both the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the Turners.
And what about the novice chasers?
Lulamba is the one I like in the Arkle. He's a hell of a horse. I wouldn't be surprised to see Western Fold run a big race in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. People might crab him because he won a Galway Plate and it's only a handicap, but it didn't do Carlingford Lough any harm, did it? He should come on plenty for his run behind Kaid D'Authie at the DRF and it's hard to see him finishing out of the first three.
Have you picked out anything for the handicaps?
I have a sneaky suspicion Final Orders will run a big race in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. I was really impressed with the way he won at the track in December and he could outrun his odds, getting plenty of weight from stablemate Stumptown.
And finally, do you have a decent bet at a big price?
I definitely do. Jalon D'Oudairies in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. He's a proper horse and 40-1 is a huge price. He's got loads of ability and I think he'll be bang there. If you go back through his form he was very good in bumpers and he got his act together to win by a long way at Naas the other day.
The Gold Cup-winning jockey is next up in our essential pre-festival series
The sport's top judges answer the key Cheltenham Festival questions. Next up is Davy Russell.
What was your best ever Cheltenham Festival win?
I know you'll probably be expecting me to go for Lord Windermere in the Gold Cup, but I'm actually going to say Envoi Allen when he won what is now the Turners Novices' Hurdle. That was my easiest festival win by a country mile. You have absolutely no idea how easily he won that day. My biggest job was getting him down to the start. It was just a steering job in the race itself. Everything was effortless. People say there is pressure riding hot favourites like that, but that's not pressure. Good horses like him take the pressure off because they're a dream to ride. He absolutely bolted up.
Who’s your strongest fancy at the meeting this year?
I'm a Ballyfad man. I just love everything about him. I love the way he goes about his business and 8-1 about him winning the Turners looks like value to me. He's a serious specimen and is going to make a smashing chaser next season.
Who wins the Champion Hurdle?
It's a process of elimination at this stage with Constitution Hill out and so many others in the race who cannot possibly win so, for that reason, I'll say The New Lion. Everything seems to be falling into place for him and I loved the way Harry [Skelton] rode him the last day. He didn't care whether he won or lost and it was all about educating him for the big day. That policy might pay off. Clever.
Are you for or against Majborough in the Champion Chase?
He might win, but he's priced on one performance. He is the best horse if he doesn't touch a twig, but how sure can you be that he won't? Will the cheekpieces work as well this time? I actually think on nicer ground that Marine Nationale is the safer play of the top two in the market.
Who do you like in the Stayers’ Hurdle?
I seem to be the only one in Ireland who fancies Ma Shantou. He's got course form, he's improving and he's trained by someone who knows how to win this race. I think he has a lot more upside than most in this field, so he'll do me.
Who’s your pick in a wide-open Gold Cup?
Just about Jango Baie. I like horses who go down the Arkle route as novices' before the Gold Cup – the likes of Kicking King and War Of Attrition. Neither of them won an Arkle, but this guy did. It's a wide-open race, as you say, but he just might be the one with most scope for improvement. I like his profile, but the only thing that worries me is that he hasn't run in the calendar year yet and there is something in the back of my mind telling me that is a very negative stat.
Which novice hurdlers take your eye?
Talk The Talk and Ballyfad. Those two stick out like sore thumbs for me. That Grade 1 from the Dublin Racing Festival is the best piece of form on offer in my opinion and I think it will stand up at Cheltenham in both the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the Turners.
And what about the novice chasers?
Lulamba is the one I like in the Arkle. He's a hell of a horse. I wouldn't be surprised to see Western Fold run a big race in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. People might crab him because he won a Galway Plate and it's only a handicap, but it didn't do Carlingford Lough any harm, did it? He should come on plenty for his run behind Kaid D'Authie at the DRF and it's hard to see him finishing out of the first three.
Have you picked out anything for the handicaps?
I have a sneaky suspicion Final Orders will run a big race in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. I was really impressed with the way he won at the track in December and he could outrun his odds, getting plenty of weight from stablemate Stumptown.
And finally, do you have a decent bet at a big price?
I definitely do. Jalon D'Oudairies in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. He's a proper horse and 40-1 is a huge price. He's got loads of ability and I think he'll be bang there. If you go back through his form he was very good in bumpers and he got his act together to win by a long way at Naas the other day.
Steeplechasing
Amateur Rider
Thanks for taking the time to do this. Davy's a good judge and a great entertainer.
This isn't Davy Russell's blog, any chance we could post stuff like this in the main forum in future, cheers.
simmo
Senior Jockey
Steady on mart, there's a good chap.
Aye it's only a forum. Live and let live, eh.
Ian_Davies
Conditional
You have my sympathy, actually, TTF.
A man's blog is his own private kingdom!
Joking aside, I remember in the early days of Facebook when two people would reply to a posting on my timeline and start using it as a platform to have a chat with each other.
"It's good to talk, but f**k off and do it somewhere other than on my Facebook," I used to think (and say) - being a helpful fellow, I'd unfriend and block them to underline the point, I'm nice like that.
I'll get off your effing blog now.
Last year I went into Cheltenham super confident, I was doing all kinds of crazy accumulator's convinced that a horse at the top of the market would win all of the none handicap races. What people on here pointed out it never happens, and they were right, what I failed to take into account was you need luck. This was sadly lacking for a lot of the major contenders last year.This year I am not confident at all, watch the faps win now 
There are three horses that earlier on this season were hot favourites, but because of one bad run in two cases and two bad runs in one case have drifted alarmingly.
These first 2 were actually odds on at one stage
NRNB prices
Champion Chase - I'll Etait Temps 7/1
Brown Chase - Final Demand 7/2
Gold Cup - Inothewayurthinkin 11/1
To me it would not be that great a surprise to see one of these win, all perhaps a 430/1 Treble
There are three horses that earlier on this season were hot favourites, but because of one bad run in two cases and two bad runs in one case have drifted alarmingly.
These first 2 were actually odds on at one stage
NRNB prices
Champion Chase - I'll Etait Temps 7/1
Brown Chase - Final Demand 7/2
Gold Cup - Inothewayurthinkin 11/1
To me it would not be that great a surprise to see one of these win, all perhaps a 430/1 Treble
simmo
Senior Jockey
These blogs are all up on a forum - to suggest that no one except the originator should write is, how should I put this? f$%^ing mental.
As the person who started the thread, please listen to me, I've no problem with forum members discussing horses as so forth. Of course not.
However, this clearly isn't a general-post up-previews from Davy Russell thread. This, taste and decency wise, can be done elsewhere.
Ultimately, It really doesn't matter anyway, so feel free to get angry and post as much shite as you see fit. Ta.
However, this clearly isn't a general-post up-previews from Davy Russell thread. This, taste and decency wise, can be done elsewhere.
Ultimately, It really doesn't matter anyway, so feel free to get angry and post as much shite as you see fit. Ta.
Danny
Senior Jockey
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2013
- Messages
- 2,751
Disagree Simmo. Whats the point of sections if nobody posts what is somewhat supposed to be in them ? If Marb has a blog then its his thread same as Giggsy , Daves or Chaumis. I dont expect they mind people joining in and posting as feedback or related stuff but sticking up random stuff that there are already threads for is just plain rude.
That said I want to lodge a complaint. I much, much preferred the name Marble to The Fortune Teller. The Fortune Teller doesnt shorten very easily thus you more or less force people into breaking the Forums recently formed abbreviation rules, I mean I want to pull Ian over a 2nd infringement in as many days but when dealing a name like The Fortune Teller I've decided to give him a pass as I can't see he had many other options on this occasion.
So Marb I hope you get rich rather than die trying. I hope you land a whopper at the festival. This has the making of a very good thread so don't be afraid of doing it in the right manner and telling people (including me) to get the f%*& off your f$%^ing blog ! But please, pretty please, artist formerly known as Marb do the right thing and return to the name we all cherished and loved for so long.
And if all members could please remember that I seem to have developed a touch of the 'tism, so I'm not very fond of change of any sort then it'd be much appreciated.
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I've requested a change back with admin to the artist formerly known as Marble then, Danny.
If it makes life a bit easier for you and others to take, that's not a problem.
simmo
Senior Jockey
Perhaps there shouldn't be sections on public forums where the public are not welcome then? It all seems a bit stupid to me.
Ian_Davies
Conditional
Joking aside, I do agree.
I see a Blog as different to other threads.
It's essentially the author's personal diary/place to muse with a facility for others to reply, while respecting they are posting as a guest on a blog.
I seldom reply to Blogs because, if hijacking a normal thread is rather poor form, hijacking a Blog is sheer rank pig ignorant behaviour in my book.
And, as hijacking is easily done, I tend to swerve the whole subject!
