Last year, when watching Stattler win the NH Chase, I immediately thought 'Gold Cup'. At times I felt an instinctive purr as I watched him jump and was left with the sort of impression I have learnt never to forget.
Since then I have, unusually for me, been backing in the ante-post market.
You know what it's like: Each day I've been expecting an announcement that he's 'out for the season' for whatever reason and so I should consider myself a winner that he's made it to the race. Having written that, I still expect him to be called an overnight NR. Imagine my alarm when I see he's drifted, suddenly, from 9/1 out to 14's today. That looks ominous to me and I wouldn't be surprised to see my ante-post bet fail at the last minute, with him being declared a late non-starter. I do hope, after a year, that he makes it to post.
It may be that the soft ground has done for his chances, since he's mostly won (as he did last year) on G/Sft ground. No matter, the bets are on and I live in hope.
To be honest, I'm still mourning the tragic loss of Malinello on Tuesday and merely hope that, should this fellow make it to post, he returns home safe and sound. Should that be the case, I will, again, count myself a winner.
So, given all that:
Stattler - 3.30 Cheltenham 14/1 Ew
Since then I have, unusually for me, been backing in the ante-post market.
You know what it's like: Each day I've been expecting an announcement that he's 'out for the season' for whatever reason and so I should consider myself a winner that he's made it to the race. Having written that, I still expect him to be called an overnight NR. Imagine my alarm when I see he's drifted, suddenly, from 9/1 out to 14's today. That looks ominous to me and I wouldn't be surprised to see my ante-post bet fail at the last minute, with him being declared a late non-starter. I do hope, after a year, that he makes it to post.
It may be that the soft ground has done for his chances, since he's mostly won (as he did last year) on G/Sft ground. No matter, the bets are on and I live in hope.
To be honest, I'm still mourning the tragic loss of Malinello on Tuesday and merely hope that, should this fellow make it to post, he returns home safe and sound. Should that be the case, I will, again, count myself a winner.
So, given all that:
Stattler - 3.30 Cheltenham 14/1 Ew
