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Senior Jockey
A buddy of mine asked Joseph o Brien last night if punters would not be better off betting their Cheltenham money on Air Force Blue in 2000 Gns ?
He replied "Absolutely !"
He replied "Absolutely !"
Robbie Power was either deliberately taking the **** or is a bit dense
said Ruby would ride Djackadam and Vautour would run in Ryanair
David Casey who was sat beside him asked him to name the last 3 Ryanair winners and he couldn't
Robbie Power was either deliberately taking the **** or is a bit dense
I called over to the Ballygar Preview Night the other evening...
Kevin Blake (KB), Geoff Lester (GL), Mickey Fogarty (MF), Jane Mangan (JM), Gavin Lynch (GL), Johnny Ward (JW)
Supreme:
JW – Min is the real deal. Works better on Good ground, and in a different class to Yorkhill. Could be a 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Douvan. Alitor can hit a flat spot in his races. If Min settles he wins easily. Ruby will probably make the running on him. David Casey won’t let anyone else up on him at home.
KB – Min could be a bigger price on the day. Can’t really think of anything to take Min on with, even though he can be too free for his own good. Yorkhill is an EW shout, not wild on Nicky’s 2.
GL – Nicky loves Alitor, and he worked very well last week – “Kicked Buveur D’Air out of his way”. Reckoned that Nicky was offered Min but he failed the vet.
MF – Min will be better on good ground, and is “the real deal”. Willie’s lads like Yorkehill EW.
JM – Put up Bleu Et Rouge as an EW shout
Arkle:
MF – Douvan is the best horse in training
JW – Douvan is the best since Arkle. Sizing John is the bet W/O, Henry says to ignore the last day. The Game Changer should 1600/1 and not 16/1. Couldn’t get up the hill in Galway
JM – L’Ami Serge hangs like a gate, could go out over the railings
GL – Vaniteux will be 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], worked well the other day
Champion Hurdle:
MF – Annie Power’s jumping won’t be an issue in a CH. Identity Thief and Nichols Canyon were bottomed by the race in Leopardstown last time. Sempre Medici is a bit of EW value, going well at home. Has never seen Annie Power off the bridle at Willies.
GL – Annie will win this. The New One was trained in the pool last year and has had a much better prep this year. Hargam worked better that My Tent Or Yours last week. Peace And Co has had more problems that David Cameron and Hargam is there to keep the pace high.
JM – My Tent Or Yours is a Stupid Horse, just won’t drop the bit
JW – Sempre Medici is not good enough to lead out Annie Power at home. Annie Power is better than Artic Fire and would win this off level weights.
Neptune:
JM – Yanworth is all class, blown away with him. He could win over 1m4 on the flat. Like all Norse Dancer’s has a kink in him.
JW – Has had a good bet EW on A Toi Phil. Long Dog is not good enough.
MF – Would like to ride Long Dog, he is tough
KB – Thought Long Dog won a bit snugly last time, pulled out plenty when asked.
RSA Chace:
JM – A match between No More Heroes and More Of That
GL – Jonjo wanted to enter More Of That in the Gold Cup.
KB – More Of That has had a series of physical issues and is very hard to keep right. No More Heros is better on good ground. Is everything you want in a staying chaser. Scoped badly before Cheltenham (4/5 he reckons) and still rn a blinder.
JW – More Of That will go off favourite. JP reckons he won’t be beaten. Roi De Francs is a very decent EW price.
JM – Monksland is a prick of a horse, jumps into every fence like a bulldozer.
MF – Does not think that No More Heros is as good as Brian Cooper thinks he is. Cooper said “nothing has ever given him the feel this one has”. Thinks More Of That is a better horse. Black Hercules has no chance in this. However, rode in the bit of work behind Don Cossack and No More Heroes in a group of 135+ horses and they were all flat out off the bridle behind the 2.
Queen Mother:
JM – Un De Sceaux wins if he stays up. Sprinter Sacre has a bad heart and can’t breath. Special Tiara needs quick ground.
JW – Sizing Granite EW, Colm is very happy with him
KB – Reckons that Sprinter Sacre has more issues that Jonny Ward! Sizing Granite a decent EW bet in the race
MF – Wouldn’r back Felix Younger w/o, not good enough.
GL – UK horses can’t beat Un De Sceaux. Dodging Bullets has more holes in him that Donald Trump
Bumper:
MF - Augusta Kate does not work well at home
KB – New To This Town was very impressive in Gowran, his choice
JLT:
MF – Outlander will let you down. Not a fan of Black Hercules but working well – Ruby will ride him as he is a better jumper.
JW – Davy Russell says Zabana is not good enough
GL – Bristol De Mai will win this
Ryanair:
JW – Road To Riches is a massive price (5/1) NRNB
KB – Willie thinks that Valseur Lido will stay all day, has a good chance. Vatour would win this by half the track
JM – Josses Hill jumps like a camel, can’t give him a chance
MF – A terrible race. Road To Riches was bottomed at Leopardstown so won’t win
GL – A terrible race, a lot of soft horses in here.
World Hurdle:
KB – Thistlecrack is the best Odds against horse of the week.
JW – Mouse Morris and Eddie O’Leary think Alpha Des Obeaux will win this. Serious EW bet
GL – Nicky loves Saphir Du Rheu, backing him EW. Cole Harden will loke the ground and won’t be far away
Triumph:
MF – Connections love Ivanovic Gorbatov, will be much fitter on the day.
GL – Sceu Royal is a proper horse, confident he will run a massive race. Ivanovic Gorbatov the worst fav at the meeting
JB – O’Brien has trained Ivanovic Gorbatov for one day, ignore the last day
MF – Race will go to the UK. Does not like ex Ballydoyle horses, they have had a hard time when very young and are soured
JB – Who Dares Wins is too slow to win a Triumph
KB – Lets Dance EW, the Mullins lads love her. Fav should be 10/1 after the last day
Albert Bartlett:
MF – Loves Gangster but he is not easy to train. Brian Cooper is very sweet on him – will be placed at least
Gold Cup:
KB – Never liked a horse as much as Don Poli. Can’t see him falling, most efficient jumper he has ever seen. The Cheltenham form is not there for Don Cossack – he would need a really good day to win it. Vatour won’t get home
JM – Likes Djackadam, he will be happier going faster, does not hit a flat spot
MF – Vatour won’t win a Gold Cup. If Don Poli is within 4 lenghts at the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] last he wins. Brian Cooper will ride him. Ruby will ride Djackadam he thinks!!!
GL – The Irish will win it. Cue Card and Smad Place not good enough. Best Gold Cup since 2008. Disagrees with Mikey Fogarty and said Ruby will ride “the horse with class” Vatour
Other bits…
MF thinks Limini is a certainty, her work has been savage and it’s a **** race
KB – Blue Hall in the County, has lots in hand. Cause Of Causes in the Kim Muir
GL – Back Desoto County, got no run the last day. Dr Harper will win wherever he turns up. VVM is a penalty kick in the Mares race. Leave at Dawn will win the Pertemps if the ground is good.
JM – Nina is booked for Our Father so that will do her
Have to say I'm a bit disappointed with the line up for Cheltenham Racecourse preview night next Sunday
A P McCoy,Will Kennedy,Tanya Stevenson,Shark Hanlon chaired by Richard Hoiles. will give it a miss I reckon, first time for a few years.
On a more general point, I'm beginning to think they're done to death these days, ok for those on the gravy train but I'm not too sure we learn too much.I've become a bit bored with them tbh.
The preview evening in Leeds on Friday night will be streamed live:
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/...al-preview-evening-to-be-streamed-live-online
Thistlecrack (World Hurdle ) Gordon Elliot
Tom Scudamore has never ridden the winner of a hurdle race at The Festival
Just saying
Alex Hammond - "The value's gone on him, but he's still a good bet." All this while looking like a dominatrix.