Before the fat lady sings 2026

[Danny]

I was never a scout but "Be prepared" sound's like a great motto. The Martin pipe conditional Jockeys' handicap hurdle 2026 (Curse you Davies) or as I like to call it the "Get out of the shit stakes" brings the curtain down on this years Cheltenham festival. There's a long way to go for us punters between now and then and the usual Cheltenham roller coaster will leave most of us bruised, battered and exhausted by the time the flag falls on the lucky last. Some people will be looking to get out in the last whilst some who've had a succesful festival will be looking for an account rounder bet to get rid of that awful odd number out of their account. My sibling Slim ( only related in mine and Ian's Talking horses fantasy family ) has already nominated Kel Histoire as his handicap bet of the festival for this very race. So as I'm sure most of his faithful followed him in at 12's and 10's and the beast is already 6/1 best price, most of you are ahead of the market already and it would certainly not surprise anyone to see it continue to shorten into a ridiculously short priced favourite. When I looked at it I wasn't too keen myself but knowing it'd probably shorten a lot I decided to have a slice myself at 11's . However it occurred to me that Slim has had an awful habit down the years of beating the price only for the betting gods to foil him when it comes to the crunch thus leaving Slim and his entourage of followers frustrated and empty handed. At first I thought never fear Uncle f$%^ing smart arse is bound to save us, but as Luke Sky Walker retired to an Island and hid all the ancient Jedi text in a cave so Ian (not without reason) keep his bets for his eye's only (maybe leafy gets a peek) and has locked all of his secrets back in the basement under the armed guard of Walsey who has at last found his rifle. So as we don't want to risk the TH's massive turning up to the Honorary 5th day of the festival ( Uttoxter Midland National meeting) empty handed and on the off chance that Slims bullet doesn't hit the target, it falls to Ian's other Padawan to save the day or at least come up with a back up plan (desperate times I know).

I've found one I like a lot but as I've already reached essay level and in the main talking a complete load of bollocks to arrive at this point so I'll cut straight to the chase.

Wendrock 16/1 generally. If you watch his run in the Fred Winter last year or you watch his run at Leopardstown on the 29th of December and you don't get a warm glow or a little boost along the blue pill blood line when you see the 16/1 and his current mark then have you even got a pulse ?

Joking aside he'll be my bet of the festival and Sibling Slims selection will get me out of jail if I'm wide of the mark no doubt. I'm rusty and haven't been spending too much time looking at the form of late but I'd still like to think that I can see the blindingly obvious and the savagely overpriced when it appears and for me this fella is. So if you're in a desperate state by Friday afternoon lacking for better ideas let Wendrock be your beacon of light in the dark and god willing by hook or by crook we'll finish the festival with a bang.

If anyone else want's to put their Friday Final hopes of glory up, feel free as It takes the pressure off a bit

Best of luck.