Cheltenham Open Meeting thread

Bar the Bull

Bar the Bull

At the Start
Joined
May 2, 2003
Messages
9,534
Location
Llandubno, West Wales (very west)
Too much stuff mixed in other threads.

Dynaste surprised me. Fingal Bay isn't taking the giant leaps many expected of him. Carlito found his way. The Nicholls horse looks useful. Should be a 3m+ horse the way he ran today.

Two nice rides from Ruby to win the 2m chase and the 2m hurdle. I thought Dodging Bullets would win more easily, but I guess he may be better off a stronger pace.

Uncle Junior won the soap box derby quite well, but will get hammered when it is a handicap in March.

Tomorow should be fun.
 
Nice write up,Bar the Bull....though Dynaste most certainly did not surprise me.

Omens look good for Grands Crus tomorrow...though still wary of Hunt Ball in the race and a couple of the bottom weights could be troublesome !
 
Fingal Bay needs further and a faster pace. Didn't settle that well but jumped ok. The RSA isn't a speed test and I think Dynaste best hope at the Festival is the Jewson. I'd still prefer Oscars Well in that race.

River Maigue is the horse to take out of the novice hurdle. He was dodgy at a couple of the flights but still gave the favourite most to do.

Tomorrow's big race is between Al Ferof and Grands Crus. Both look well treated on the pick of their form. Walkon, Hunt Ball and the Henderson horse who everyone seems to fancy despite the fact that he jumped poorly on his only outing at Cheltenham are all too short and Divers is the one I'd back each way at a double figure price.
 
I am tempted to have a mega bet on Grands Crus tomorrow.The Pipe stable is in dangerous form and I think bad luck is his biggest danger.
 
How much do you define as a mega bet,Luke ?

Whatever you do...have a saver on Hunt Ball...his owner is "very keen" on him to say the least, and I included both in my 10 to follow !
 
ArkleSupreme said:
How much do you define as a mega bet,Luke ?

Whatever you do...have a saver on Hunt Ball...his owner is "very keen" on him to say the least, and I included both in my 10 to follow !
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In the context of this race 5 times what I would usually expect to bet on the race.Powers were going 3/1 GC earlier on today -which is fantastic considering they are refunding bets if you finish second to Ruby.
I would be completely against Hunt Ball as I think he gave so much last season -this season could be difficult.
 
If I was going to lay off I would look at laying him at about 1/4 in running.I still have nightmares about Our Vic taking a last fence fall when set to win at the December meeting.
 
His galloping companion won yesterday and I would certainly not dismiss Hunt Ball out of hand !

It should be a cracker and while I hope Grands Crus wins I am not confident enough to go with a brown envelope on him !

A Dutching win or each way bets may be the way to go in my opinion.

Good Luck if you "go for it" however.
 
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I'm not into short-priced favs but couldn't resist the double Dynaste-Dodging Bullets (paid about 11/2). I thought Dynaste just had to reproduce his hurdles form to win and felt there was a chance he could improve. Won well and I think the form is hot. Dodging Bullets won well despite all the other jockeys conspiring to try to get him beat so I thought Walsh did really well on him, getting him to settle in front and judging the increase in pace well enough to keep his rivals in check.

I also backed Arctic Ben and Watek (win only @ 20/1) in the other race. I reckon the latter might have won if it had landed running two out. Not sure I'd blame Scu for that. I didn't back anything in the kid-on race but would have been raging if I'd backed the McManus yoke. Dreadful ride.
 
I dunno if Francome is being careless because he's going soon but he was abysmal today:

His two horses to follow were ropey flat horses who have never jumped.

Tominator was apparently top class as a flat horse.

Tom Scudamore is as good as anybody riding.

I did like his topcoat though.
 
Thanks for the heads up, Baldeagle....how does he feel about Sprinter Sacre's chance on Sunday ?

Assumedly,he's worried how long it will take him to pull him up after the exercise ?
 
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Desert Orchid said:
I'm not into short-priced favs but couldn't resist the double Dynaste-Dodging Bullets (paid about 11/2). I thought Dynaste just had to reproduce his hurdles form to win and felt there was a chance he could improve. Won well and I think the form is hot. Dodging Bullets won well despite all the other jockeys conspiring to try to get him beat so I thought Walsh did really well on him, getting him to settle in front and judging the increase in pace well enough to keep his rivals in check.

I also backed Arctic Ben and Watek (win only @ 20/1) in the other race. I reckon the latter might have won if it had landed running two out. Not sure I'd blame Scu for that. I didn't back anything in the kid-on race but would have been raging if I'd backed the McManus yoke. Dreadful ride.
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You're relentless
 
LUKE said:
I am tempted to have a mega bet on Grands Crus tomorrow.The Pipe stable is in dangerous form and I think bad luck is his biggest danger.
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Anthony Knott said: "When Nick Scholfield lets him loose three out, I can't see anything staying with him. I have had £20,000 on him at 10s and 9s."

I love this guys balls....

Not sure if you're going in this big Luke but Mr Knott is either ahead of the game or lucky... Either way both him and his trainer have earned my respect and I'd be wary of taking him on.

Really looking forward to tomorrow's card. I never miss the jumps during the flat season but once the season really gets going it all comes flooding back!
 
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Euronymous said:
I dunno if Francome is being careless because he's going soon but he was abysmal today:

His two horses to follow were ropey flat horses who have never jumped.

Tominator was apparently top class as a flat horse.

Tom Scudamore is as good as anybody riding.

I did like his topcoat though.
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:lol: yes AP and Ruby/Barry would agree ?:whistle:
 
Think Grands Crus will win the PP, but he's priced as if he'd also won the RSA.
Sire Collonges (1.20) looks a good thing, and Themilanhorse (3.05) ought to benefit from the stiffest stamina test he's faced thus far.
 
reet hard said:
Sire Collonges (1.20) looks a good thing
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Think the price differential between him and Sea of Thunder is excessive. The latter was too far back for most of the race when they met in October and he has claims if being ridden more positively of reversing, especially with a weight pull. That said I think you can justify dutching them as the Pipe horse is a ridiculous price. Dynaste's win yesterday and Grands Crus presence in the big race has almost brought us back to the old days when every mug punter in the country was on every Pipe horse no matter what the price/form.
 
Euronymous said:
Dynaste's win yesterday and Grands Crus presence in the big race has almost brought us back to the old days when every mug punter in the country was on every Pipe horse no matter what the price/form.
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Aye, the same mugs who pay the better off fellas in the industry bills every week though more than one means.

And actually, those Pipe days were quite productive in terms of punted on winners. My distaste for bookmakers and layers is at an all time height, so I hope Grand Crus bolts up, and he is being backed with most firms to do so. The odd firm is sticking up 5/2 which is being taken.

Usually I'd be the first to go left field in a race like this, but not today...
 
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