Festival Preview Evenings

Barry Geraghty has "one" broken rib another scan has revealed, and he still has hopes of making a recovery in time for the festival.
 
A mate of mine was in Moate...


G.O'B - Gary o'Brien
P.C.- Paul Carberry
K.B.- Kevin Blake
T.M.- Tony Mullins


SUPREME
K.B. Likes Bunk off early
P.C. Likes Moon Racer
T. M. Also likes Bunk off early
Panel were generally against Melon


ARKLE
All agree that Altior is near enough a certainty . Kevin Blake feels that Altior should be taking Douvan on but Tony Mullins disagrees saying that he is right to stay in novice class . Kevin Blake feels that Yorkhill would have put it up to Altior and gives Royal Caviar as a bet without the favourite.


CHAMPION HURDLE
P.C. - says it is between Petit Mouchoir and Brain Power
T.M. - Likes Limini but worries about the short break as she twice ran with less than 42 days break and got beaten twice. He also states that the Mc Manus camp really fancy Yanworth.
K.B. - He really fancies Yanworth


CROSS COUNTRY
P.C. - Likes Bless the wings each way , says Keith Donoghue rides
K.B. - Likes Any Currency . Says that Enda Bolger has not won this race since 2009 ( got the race last year after stewards gave it to him )
T.M. - Enda Bolger told him that there was nothing between Cantlow and Auvergnat and at the prices like Auvergnat.


NEPTUNE NOVICES
All three like Bacardys. P aul Carberry says it is between him and Neon Wolf. Kevin Blake says Neon Wolf could be a bit inexperienced.


RSA CHASE
Tony Mullins and Kevin Blake both like Alpha des Obeaux. Tony feels that a Scorpion will not come up the hill ( might Bite ) and Kevin feels Might Bite needs a flat track


CHAMPION CHASE
Tony Mullins and Paul Carberry are both big fans of Douvan and think he will win. Kevin Blake says Douvan beat nothing yet which led to a healthy debate with him and Tony Mullins . Kevin wonders if Douvan really enjoys Cheltenham as it was here that Sizing John got closest to him twice and gives Special Tiara as a solid each way bet.


JLT
P.C. likes Disko but K.B. and T.M. are both all over yorkhill . Tony says he is the bet of the meeting and Kevin reckons he would give Altior lots to think of.


RYANAIR
All three think that Un De Sceaux will win with Empire of Dirt the each way value . They all think it is a two horse race but say that Gordon Elliott would prefer to run Empire of Dirt in Gold Cup but O'Leary is insisting on running here.


STAYERS HURDLE
All agree here that Unowhatimeanharry is a banker and there is no danger. P.C. says Snow Falcon is not up to this standard


TRIUMPH HURDLE
The only one who would speak about this race was K.B. and he likes Mega Fortune. The other two had no interest at all in this type of race


GOLD CUP
All agreed that this was the most open gold cup of all time and they critised Paddy Brennan for his ride on Cue Card last year saying he went far too early on a speed horse against two stayers . P. C. says it was the worst ride he ever seen. P.C. likes Cue card and if ground turns soft gives Sizing John a big chance. T.M. says that Native River is only a handicapper and is not good enough and likes Cue Card also. He says that his nephew David says that Champagne West is not man enough for a Gold Cup. K.B. says that Willie and ruby are very bullish about Djakadam. He has major stamina doubts about Sizing John and thinks the race could provide a big upset and gives More of That and Don Poli as each way bets.


BUMPER
T.M. Says that Carter McKay is the best of willies but does not like the way he swishes his tail . Does not think a four year old can win again.
K.B. Likes Western Ryder


THE OTHER RACES
T.M. Says that Augusta Kate is the Lay of the meeting , also says that Jamie codd told him that Genie in a bottle in the national hunt chase was his best ride of the meeting. He likes Lets Dance in the mares novice hurdle and says that Airlie Beach will finish second to her. He also likes Death Duty in the albert bartlett'


K.B. Says that if he runs sweet as a Nut in the foxhunters would have a big chance. Monalee in the albert bartlett if he runs in it. North Hill harvey could be well handicapped in the county hurdle . Likes Jury Duty in the pertemps and his his original fancy for the race Presenting Percy is handicapped badly . Also likes Noble Endeavour in the Ultima.


P.C. likes Runfordave in the coral cup and says Gordon Elliott thinks he has a great each way chance at a big price. Also mentions The Storyteller in the martin pipe as being well fancied .


G.O'B. Likes Noble Endeavour in the Ultima , Diamond King in the Brown Plate saying that Gordon feels he is well handicapped.


There was a telephone interview with Dan Skeltonand he says that Chitobello is a lively outsider in the champion Hurdle and could run into a place. He likes North Hill Harvey in the County hurdle. He could have three in the Close brothers novice chase and all have good each way chances ( Value At Risk, Itsafreebee and Two Taffs) ,Born Survivor has an each way chance in the Martin Pipe and Yorkist has an each way chance in the Grand annual but his best chance of the meeting and a horse he really fancies is Cause Toujours in the bumper. He says this is his best bet of the meeting.


Just before we finished Paul Carberry dropped a bombshell saying that he was talking to Barry Gerathy and Barry reckons that he has an outside chance of being fit for the festival as he has only one broken rib and not six as an english doctor told him
 
I heard the same from a friend today. He said the drums are beating. Same question from me Martin, have you heard anything on the grapevine, or do you have an opinion?
 
TFF preview night being streamed on ATR website from 8pm tonight.

Doubt there will be much we haven't already heard but should be a good laugh.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Online tonight

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Meant to put a few pointers from the Exeter one earlier. Panel - David Pipe, Luke Harvey, Philip Hobbs, Harry Derham, Nick Scholfield & Luke Tarr from Star Sports (boy did he know his stuff!)
Anyway if anyone is interested here are a few (FWIW I wrote 10 pages of notes!!): Apologies if any are going for different races now - its quite hard to keep your pen up to the speed of your ears!!

Tues
Ballyandy popular although some felt he should be better off in Neptune; MWTT - inexperience cost him BF Hdle but HD felt he's unexposed and is decent price; Melon too inexperienced; River Wylde (steady money for)

Altior won't get touched

DP v sweet on Champers on Ice (got the feeling it was his best hope all week and past 2 years both his yard naps have won) but he also has Dr Harper which he said cross out last run and time b4 at Cheltenham he pulled 2 shoes off. I seem to remember him really liking this horse before - its also entered elsewhere but Pipe won race last year and I felt it was one of his (DPs) target races of the meeting.

Yanworth - jumping should be slicker to win CH; BP needs soft; LT said it was impossible to lay PM so he felt something in that?

At time it was felt Limini was going for CH so split between AJ & VVM

HD v sweet on Arpege D'Alene - says quirky but seems to enjoy Cheltenham & trip will suit; DP has ConI entered but more likely to go for earlier race. Panel said to back on jockey booked as big difference in amateur abilities! i.e. Jamie Codd/Will Biddick

Wed
Neon Wolf was most exciting horse in training and a couple liked Messire des Obeaux

Mite Bite had had a confidence knocking fall at Kempton on Boxing Day and although he'd won next time, it was an egg and spoon race. And Acapella Bourgois was well regarded.

Douvan - game over

Coral Cup - HD said both Modus & Old Guard likely to run and both in great form

Xcountry - PH said S Sunrise had taken well to schooling over obstacles and should enjoy it

Divin Bere - whole panel were all over this horse esp now after wind op announced.

Thurs
They were quite negative about Yorkhill's jumping; Disko, Politologue and Top Notch fancied

Pertemps - HD v keen on El Bandit - rapidly improving

Ryanair - ground dependent - felt UdeS would be happier of softer ground.

NS waxing lyrical about Art Mauresme which he rides - best chance all week and has been laid out for race.

Stayers - apart from UKWIMH, they said ignore Jezki's last run and he has defo chance; PH keen on Lil Rockerfella; LT v keen on Ballyoptic

Mares Novice - Le Bague au Roi and PH likes his Colins Sister. DP felt Evening Hush tough filly & gets allowances being a 4yo.

Fri
PH as bullish as I have ever seen him about Defi - rates him far superior to his previous TH winners LT said don't rule out Land of Hope & Glory back on better ground.

Death Duty is apparently Gordon Elliots best novice ever! LT said fave appalling value and likes Penhill & Monalee - The Worlds End also been well backed.

DP thinks CC has missed his year and likes Djakadam who has had a better prep than last 2 years. Native River they felt could be hard to peg back if kicking on.

Foxhunters - On the Fringe should be going in multiples; Ask the Weatherman best of GB horses but not up to OTF. Pacha du Polder e/w

County Hdle - Diego du Charmil has big chance

M Pipe - Tombstone

G Annual - Starchitect (DP kept mentioning him and has always rated him highly) Le Prezien in good form

Weeks Bets:
NS - Art Mauresme
HD - as above and El Bandit
PH - Defi du Seuil & For Good Measure
LH - Divin Bere & Neon Wolf
DP - Moon Racer & Divin Bere
LT - wants Mite Bite to get beat, Dandridge, Sudbury Tennant, whatever Venetia runs in the Grand Annual!!

That's all Folks!

Except REMEMBER - past Cheltenham form (Festival or other) counts for a HUGE amount. So many horses just don't handle the track! Have a great week!
 
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