Cheltenham Handicaps

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Double J

At the Start
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Nov 16, 2016
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Not sure if this is an appropriate thread this far out. But given the obvious plot jobs last year, thought one could be relevant.

Obvious ones last year were Sire Du Berlais, The Storyteller and Aramon. Most of which many of us picked up on posting on here.

Ones that could be this year from such an early stage are Mick Pastor, and Tower Bridge (tipped by Gavin Lynch yesterday)

One that’s caught my eye, not sure if Cheltenham will be the ultimate target, but Ravenhill. No effort shown in the Grade 1 won by The Storyteller, when ‘ridden’ at the back. Then was happy to run at the back at the back on Sunday. Something obviously up the sleeve for this horse.
 
Double J said:
One that’s caught my eye, not sure if Cheltenham will be the ultimate target, but Ravenhill. No effort shown in the Grade 1 won by The Storyteller, when ‘ridden’ at the back. Then was happy to run at the back at the back on Sunday. Something obviously up the sleeve for this horse.
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Grand National, maybe?
 
Desert Orchid said:
Grand National, maybe?
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The Ultima or the Nash crossed my mind, but I’ve not delved into the horses previous form too much. Went into the tracker after his run in the Ladbrokes Champion, then my first suspicions were confirmed after his run on Sunday. Just working out which race is the target. I’ll look into previous runs and form see what I can come up with.

Ultima usually requires a real high class horse to win it for me, a horse that wouldn’t be out of place in a Gold Cup. Without looking, not sure Ravenhill has show any of that.

On the National note, Alpha Des Obeaux is clearly being ran to get a nice weight for this race. Pretty sure I put him up for it last year when cancelled, can’t quite remember.
 
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Double J said:
On the National note, Alpha Des Obeaux is clearly being ran to get a nice weight for this race. Pretty sure I put him up for it last year when cancelled, can’t quite remember.
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My brother is quite keen on ADO for Aintree too. Phoned me again after its last run to remind me about Aintree. He's good at spotting such types.
 
Desert Orchid said:
My brother is quite keen on ADO for Aintree too. Phoned me again after its last run to remind me about Aintree. He's good at spotting such types.
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This one has had a tendency to bleed in the past I think, DO. Not sure I’d want him for the Nash.
 
No chance Ravenhill will qualify for the Kim Muir

Rated in the 150s in Ireland and it’s extremely hard to see the BHA adding less than another 4lb from his OR when he won the “4 miler” last year. The horse he beat that day off levels has a BHA OR of 152 and Ravenhill will be 150s too, no doubt.
 
Supasundae I think is being lined up for something, not sure what.
Coko Beach is one I’ll have a keen eye on today for something as well later down the line.
 
I agree with both.

Supasundae won the Coral Cup off 148 and is down to 151 before today. Three quick poor runs (and even time to squeeze a fourth if necessary), in order to given him a break and back to Festival fresh.

Im also watching Coko Beach. I think Gordon has another one that would probably have the same target that could end up better handicapped though. I also think JP could be double handed in that race.
 
Jessie on Supasundae



He's in great form and we're looking at the Lismullen Hurdle for him. He's also entered in the Morgiana Hurdle and will probably run in all those good Graded hurdles this season. If he's no good I'll threaten him with going chasing to do a Faugheen!
 
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Chasing? Jeez. Horse must be gone then. I honestly thought they’d be looking at something like the Coral Cup where it’d carry my money.
 
I'm not suggesting he's an antepost proposition, but if he's on 'the right mark' and has an entry in the Coral Cup you'd want to take notice. Jessie is not afraid to handicap one and he's not going to win a Grade 1.
 
No matter how hard you try to get an 11yo handicapped to win a Festival race, you’re almost certainly going to run into something equally well-handicapped, younger and more progressive.

I remain unconvinced that Supasundae’s ability is still there, and they’re just being clever. He just looks gone to me. It happens.
 
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I'm not totally convinced that LE BAGUE AU ROI has regressed.i take on board what is said about her always travelling well but fails to see it through but although W.Greatrex says she needs 3m nowadays I think she is being prepared for another crack at the mildmay of fleet
(Browns advisory) last year she unseated Johnson when going well and is 4lb lower before last week where I thought she was being slowed down at her fences.she ran well previously and so I do tend to let my brain think PLoT.with a bit of luck it should get dropped another 3lb.
 
Maruco said:
I agree with both.

Supasundae won the Coral Cup off 148 and is down to 151 before today. Three quick poor runs (and even time to squeeze a fourth if necessary), in order to given him a break and back to Festival fresh.

Im also watching Coko Beach. I think Gordon has another one that would probably have the same target that could end up better handicapped though. I also think JP could be double handed in that race.
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Not sure about Front Views jumping for the Brown Plate.
 
Grasshopper said:
No matter how hard you try to get an 11yo handicapped to win a Festival race, you’re almost certainly going to run into something equally well-handicapped, younger and more progressive.

I remain unconvinced that Supasundae’s ability is still there, and they’re just being clever. He just looks gone to me. It happens.
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True but the oldies do still grab the occasional moment of glory.

Croco Bay is a recent one that springs to mind.
 
tiggers1972 said:
he was old enough to smoke!
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Changed days, eh? I remember my old man's pal telling me he started smoking when he was eight or nine. My granda used to say the same thing. It was pretty much the done thing back in the day. I suppose cigarettes probably didn't cost any more than matches back then. Even when I started secondary school (1967) you could get a 'sing-l' and a match for 2d (less than a penny in new money) in the wee shop across the road.
 
There is no doubt they are getting it a mark. I wouldn't want to even consider backing it until the day.
 
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