2014 Cheltenham Bumper

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archie

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I've not been particularly taken with anything for the bumper this season so I was interested to hear Martin confirm that it would again be the target for Golantilla.
Using the same logic as for Last Instalment before Leopardstown, I backed it NRNB for Cheltenham before yesterday's race on the basis that it would either stroll in and be cut in price or get stuffed and not run at Cheltenham. Watching the race, it seemed to travel well enough but found zero under pressure. Fair enough, back to the drawing board and it duly slipped a few points on Oddschecker. However, there's talk that Golantilla would improve a lot for the run and he's actually in to 8/1 on Betfair.
Thoughts?
 
Although the conditions were diabolical by then, being the last race of the day, I was well impressed with Modus here on course and distance on New Year's Day when he was pushed clear up the hill and p*ssed up basically.
Certainly entitled to his place in the race and won well enough on good to soft, the expected ground at The Festival, in his only other race at Exeter last October.
 
archie said:
However, there's talk that Golantilla would improve a lot for the run and he's actually in to 8/1 on Betfair.
Thoughts?
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My thoughts are, that this is just incredible! Right now on Betfair, Golantilla trading at 11.0 and Killutagh Vic trading at 12.5 !

Did anyone watch yesterdays race!?! The way KV quickened away from Golantilla was quite impressive. I don't care how much Golantilla improves for the run, just no way you make a case for him reversing that form in 2 weeks time! It was nearly 20 lengths... Even the course yesterday was Naas - left handed and undulating. Can't even make an angle there!

Did anyone hear anything regarding Mullins plans. Is KV definately Cheltenham bound? This is the only thing I can think of why he is a bigger price. The layers must know something...............
 
I'd agree that Golantilla would have to improve a lot and I can't see it happening. Maybe the 8/1 was a blip on oddschecker because I see it at 19/2 at the moment (KV at 54/5).

Mullins seems set to send both KV and Black Hercules to Cheltenham. Patrick is confirmed for BH so, presumably, Ruby will be on KV.
 
I'd meant to add that Mullins said that Ruby had texted him in complimentary terms about KV. Shaneshill is pretty strong in the betting. Any idea why they haven't run him since November?
 
I can't believe that KV is a bigger price than Golantilla, besides if he wasn't good enough last year, what makes them think he is good enough this year?.
Also agree with DG that Modus was impressive at HQ on New Year's Day.
 
KV won same race yesterday by 16l that 2 previous champion bumper winners run in and won.They have publicly stated that shaneshill is the best that they have but I'm not so sure.That was seriously impressive yesterday.For what it's worth the Tizzards think they have a good one ontheir hands in third act,if they are measuring him up against what they have had previously then he'll do for me at 40/1
 
A friend of mine sold Definitly Red to Steve Gollings main owner a few months back after winning a maiden at Loughanmore (should have won there in April). It may lack the pace of some of the others and pretty sure ex-pointers don't have the best record in the race (though one did win it in 2013) but his form is working out well and he has plenty of ability.

That said although the race doesn't appear to have closed yet he isn't in the RP's "possible entry" list.

Martin
 
Modus and Killultagh Vic are the best bumper performances I've seen this season. Between them two for me.
 
Irish Stamp said:
A friend of mine sold Definitly Red to Steve Gollings main owner a few months back after winning a maiden at Loughanmore (should have won there in April). It may lack the pace of some of the others and pretty sure ex-pointers don't have the best record in the race (though one did win it in 2013) but his form is working out well and he has plenty of ability.

That said although the race doesn't appear to have closed yet he isn't in the RP's "possible entry" list.

Martin
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He beat one I like for the future of Nick Williams there. Don't think it was Cheltenham bumper winning form myself though.

Of what I have seen, Modus stands out by some way.
 
Is Modus a stayer? Ground won't be an issue, and he was impressive at Cheltenham, but bear in mind he'd been in full training with Roger Charlton on the Flat, and wouldn't have the scope of a couple of the NH breds.
 
rorydelargy said:
Is Modus a stayer? Ground won't be an issue, and he was impressive at Cheltenham, but bear in mind he'd been in full training with Roger Charlton on the Flat, and wouldn't have the scope of a couple of the NH breds.
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That would be my worry.
 
He got 15f in horrendous conditions on New Year's Day, 6th subsequently beaten a nose and the 7th won next time out so form has some depth. By Motivator out of a generous mare who's produced several flat winners at 12f+ as well as a jumps winner. Grandam produced a couple of black type stayers on the flat as well.

Owner has horses like Al Kazeem with Charlton so not a surprise he started in a flat yard.

His performance at Cheltenham left me in no doubt he would get the trip.
 
Aragorn said:
Unless of course I've read that wrong and you're suggesting being a stayer is a hindrance!
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You were right first time. My reading of the Cheltenham contest is that he coped with conditions better than anything else, but that doesn't mean that he outstayed his rivals. The point about him starting with Charlton isn't that he was a reject as such, but that he already had an excellent grounding before he saw a racecourse, so might be the type to hit his peak sooner than most bumper types. I'm quite possibly barking up the wrong tree on this, but thought I'd put it out there.

On another note, it's dangerous to assume that Colin's Brother ran to anything like the same level there as he did at Kempton the other day. That one was my idea of the pick of the paddock in terms of future development, by the way, and will make a lovely chaser if they don't overface him.
 
rorydelargy said:
You were right first time. My reading of the Cheltenham contest is that he coped with conditions better than anything else, but that doesn't mean that he outstayed his rivals. The point about him starting with Charlton isn't that he was a reject as such, but that he already had an excellent grounding before he saw a racecourse, so might be the type to hit his peak sooner than most bumper types. I'm quite possibly barking up the wrong tree on this, but thought I'd put it out there.

On another note, it's dangerous to assume that Colin's Brother ran to anything like the same level there as he did at Kempton the other day. That one was my idea of the pick of the paddock in terms of future development, by the way, and will make a lovely chaser if they don't overface him.
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All fair arguments and slightly different to the points I was refuting :whistle:

The Cheltenham form tells you he has guts and tenacity, two qualities I'd usually associate with stamina and his breeding further supports that line of argument. The 'in training' theory is an interesting one. I couldn't argue that it would in no way have helped against less experienced juveniles.

Wouldn't have known that Rory. Useful to know.
 
I know of an unquoted outsider working well at home and fancied by connections to make the frame.No point posting its name until the day of the race.
 
Our Kaempfer is the beast I was talking about-according to Charlie Longsdon in an interview today he has been laid out for the bumper.
 
Will you please make your bleedin' minds up, and tell me what I'm backing in the Bumper.

I refuse to look myself, and would rather not use a pin (it may come to that). :cool:
 
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