Cheltenham Festival Preview Nights 2019

[SeanRock]

Shark Hanlon is a grade A chancer I’d take everything he says with a pinch of salt.

[Ball Mark]

All I kept thinking for the 25 mins I suffered was how good a job you do Mark....

That's very kind & appreciated. But it's not too bad a job when you've talkative & funny people on a panel. Didn't know you attended - please say hello on 11th March at CTFC.

[Istabraq]

it's not too bad a job when you've talkative & funny people on a panel.

I agree, Davy is always value and I’m looking forward to Crossey this year, met him at Warwick on New Years Eve and he was very good, but I think this panel pretty much gave up when they realised how difficult it would be to be heard....

[TimRiggins]

Guess I won't be watching that one back

[Kevloaf]

That's very kind & appreciated. But it's not too bad a job when you've talkative & funny people on a panel. Didn't know you attended - please say hello on 11th March at CTFC.

Another famous forumite?

I had no idea...

We really should force people to do an introduction

[Ball Mark]

Dave Crosse is a top man and pretty much a professional pundit now. He's got a company that primarily hosts boxes at roughly 16 courses from Carlisle down to Newton Abbot. He's got some great stories. Can't put it on here but the Harry Cobden cricket bat tale still makes me laugh now. Anyhow - best not fill this page with irrelevant drivel. Apologies to other posters.

[Istabraq]

Dave Crosse is a top man and pretty much a professional pundit now. He's got a company that primarily hosts boxes at roughly 16 courses from Carlisle down to Newton Abbot. He's got some great stories. Can't put it on here but the Harry Cobden cricket bat tale still makes me laugh now. Anyhow - best not fill this page with irrelevant drivel. Apologies to other posters.

Did Davy not use that gag at last years evening Mark ?
Bryony being the happiest female pilot in history...

[Ball Mark]

deleted message

[theporge]

Cheltenham Preview night, Larry Tomkins Sportspub, Cork

Panel : Tony Mullins (TM), Charlie Swan (CS), JJ SLevin (JJ) , John Dinnen (JD - bookie with plot at Cheltenham)

Supreme Novices :

JD -> Poor renewal. Al Dancer won week Betfair hurdle, 3rd horse home was bought out of a claimer. Couldn’t have it.
Fancies Mister Fisher e/w if it comes up soft Vision dHonneur .

JJ -> Fakir dOoudaires very uncomplicated ride. Took him everywhere in the Triumph trial. Daryl Jacob set off to make the pace on Adjali but couldn’t lay up with Fakir. Travelled all over it.

TM -> Aragon the best that Closutton has to offer. Its prep hasn’t been ideal as a result of vaccinations. But said that this could be a race for an outsider each-way poke.

CS -> Said that Will Twiston-Davies said that Al Dancer is the best horse in the yard!! He’s the one to beat. Champagne Platinum e/w and also said Aramon won’t be out of the 1st 3

Arkle :

TM -> Cilaos Emery not yet a non-runner. Lalor is a serious horse. Doesn’t like Defi Du Seuil as he thinks that Triumph winners aren’t quick enough to win Arkles

CS -> Thinks Lalor wants further. Says that Defi Du Seuil is the one and that ALL of Phillip Hobbs’ horses were sick last year. Gives Us And Them as a big each-way chance

JJ -> Duc De Geneivres very good. Respects Paloma Blue and also likes Us And Them each-way.

JD -> According to the exchanges Cilaos Emery very doubtful. Reckons its a below average Arkle and will lay Lalor. Glen Forsa an each-way chance based on its Sandown race

Champion Hurdle :

TM -> The race of the season. Cant; split the top 3 in the betting.

CS -> Slight doubt re Apples Jade Cheltenham course form. Then gave a big shout out to Espoir Dallen each-way. Said that if the front 3 in the market get into it that it would pick up the pieces and that the only time it has lost is when it was sick.

JJ -> Worried that Apples Jade was beaten here last year. Likes Vardana Blue each-way based on beating Buveur Dair. Also thinks Sharjah could be the value in the race.

JD -> If Buveur Dair is back to his beat it wins. Cant have Apples Jade mentioned being beaten by Irving. Either Buveur Dair or something outside the front 3 wins.

Mares hurdle :

TM -> Benie Des Dieux could be the next Dawn Run. HOWEVER, he is adamant she won’t run unless the ground is soft and not alone here but at Punchestown as well

NOTE 1 : Tony Mullins then went on to say that Willie has no problem whatsoever turning out his horses into the field if they don’t get soft ground and waiting until next year, mentioned Benie Des Dieux, AL Boum photo, Carefully Selected

CS -> Elimay each-way chance

JJ -> Benie Des Dieux

JD -> Wont be laying the fave here.

NH Chase :

CS -> OK Corral has lots of class, conditions of this race have changed so more classier horses are winning

JD - > 2 horse race between OK Corral and Ballyward. Back them both for a profit

Ballymore :

CS -> thinks Champ should be in the Supreme. Very keen. Champagne Platinum stays very well.

TM -> Battleoverdoyen a worthy fave, unbeaten. City Island has had plenty of form boosts. Carefully Selected needs soft.

JJ -> Likes Sam’s Profile who ran very well behind Battleoverdoyen, dropped his legs in one of the hurdles but stayed on well.

JD -> Taking on the front 2 in the market.

Champion Chase:

All for Altior.

JD -> Took on Altior last year, won’t do it this year


RSA :

JB : Likes the front 2 in the market

TM : Barring accidents , fancies Santini

CS -> Thinks this is a 2 horse race and comes down to the jockeys and would rather be backing Davy Russell than Nico

JJ -> Out of the blue brought up Chriss Dream as an outsider. Said that Delta Work wins and that Topofthegame is too quirky.

Cross Country :

JB -> Tiger Roll

It was then that the mic was handed to former jockey and banks specialist turned Agent Ken Whelan and he said that the other horses won’t see Tiger Roll!! Gave FactofheMatter each-way as it had had a wind-op

CS -> Likes Auvergnat

TM -> Tiger Roll won’t be beaten

Bumper :

TM : Envoi Allen best horse in the race but worries that it may struggle to stay sound seen as its been running on rattling fast ground so far.

CS -> JP bought Blue Sari after Gowran win when Derek O’Connor said it was an aeroplane.

JJ -> Meticulous in good form and the one he’d pick to ride. Is going the right way and should place.

JB - > Negative for Envoi Allen

JLT :

Not a long time spent on this as the panel agreed that its hard to work out whats running here.

JB / CS / TM -> Defi Du Seuil wins

JJ -> Thinks Kalashnikov is crying out for the step up in trip here.

Ryanair :

TM : Un De Sceaux a standing dish at the festival. If it comes up soft, whatever beats him wins.

JJ -> Likes Monalee for this.

JB -> An open race, lots of doubt about runners. No bet

MC Joe Seward then mentioned Min and a few of the panel were of the opinion that it had a chance.

Stayers :

TM -> Negative with Faugheen just doesn’t see it as being at the top level to win here. Says Paisley Park is the one to beat

CS -> Paisley Park one of the BANKERS of the meeting

JJ -> Liked Paisley Parks performance in the Cleeve. Likes Barardys each-way

JB -> Whilst Paisley Park the most likely winner, is too short. Also mentioned Bacardys each-way

NOTE 2 :
It was here that out of the blue Tony Mullins said that he’d heard a big word for Walk To Freedom from the Jessie Harrington yard in the Pertemps!!!!

NOTE 3 :
Speaking of Jessies yard it was then discussed amongst the panel that word was Supasundae goes Champion hurdle and that they were struggling to get the weight off him

Mares Novices:

Most open renewal of this race. No odds on shot here

CS : Epitante will act on any ground but if the ground is still good , fancies Sancta Simona

TM -> Honeysuckle is the one to beat. You can’t beat a filly o the up curve, they can be anything. Market will tell.

JB -> Open race, watch the market

JJ -> If the rain comes and the ground gets soft, fancies Posh Trish, also gives a shoutout to LustforGlory that cost €240,000 out of a point to point

Triumph :

JJ : Said Joseph O’Brien has a very strong team of juvenile hurdlers and Sir Eric is by far the best of them. Also reckons the English form is inferior.

CS -> Sir Eric, banker of the meeting

NOTE 4
It was here that Tony Mullins said forget about backing Sire Erec for the Triumph, we should back it for the Champion hurdle!!! Reminded him of Sea Pigeon. The horse is the real deal.

JB -> Willing to take the fave on at the price.

Panel them mentioned a Paul Nicholls unnamed type that is fancied but didn’t give its name

Abert Bartlett :

JB-> Stronger race than usual.

CS -> Dickie Diver has lots of ability and is an each-way chance. Also said that Birchdale definitely runs here

TM -> Heard nothing from Closutton re Alloho. Relgate needs soft ground and then said that the form for these races is up in the air on account of the good-ground racing over the Winter

CS -> Likes Rhinestone each-way

NOTE 5
Again Tony Mullins was adamant that Wille won’t run any of his soft ground horses if the ground isn’t soft. No problem turning them out. Has done it before.

Gold Cup :

TM -> Can't have Percy at the price. Said its between Clan Des Obeaux and Native River but wouldn’t rule out Bristol De Mai each-way


CS -> Said that Presenting Percy and Clan Des Obeaux have the class in the race. If it comes up soft, Al Boum Photo each-way.

JB -> Doubts that Presenting Percy deserves to be as short as he is

JJ -> Comments how Native River was swishing its tail every time Dickie Johnson gave it a smack going up the hill last year and that horses remember tough races like that.


Enda Bolger then joined the panel and said that Tiger Roll was unbeatable!!. Also re his fave in the Foxhunters Standupandfight that it would be a better horse next year and that there were better horses in the race. He fancied Caid Du Berlais

Foxhunters :

JJ : Fancied Kruzhlinin

Handicap Bets:

Charles Byrnes horse Off You Go runs in wither the County hurdle or the Coral Cup

CS : Sire Du Berlais - Pertemps

TM : Walk To Freedom - Pertemps

JJ : Early Doors - Martin Pipe


Charity Bets :
TM : NAP - Benie Des Dieux BISMARCK : Presenting Percy
Chairyt Bet Double : Benie Des Dieux/Sir Eric

CS : NAP - Presenting Percy BISMARCK : Clan Des Obeaux

JJ : NAP - Sir Erec BISMARCK : Santini (RSA)

JB : NAP - Ballyward. BISMARCK : Apples Jade

Great night had by all and plenty of money raised for Crumlin children’s hospital. Big shout-out to MC Joe Seward.

[TimRiggins]

Great write up, theporge.

Thanks very much, mate.

Does Charlie Swan want to put Champagne Platinum & DDS up for anything else

[Wainright]

Thanks very much for the time and effort you have put in.

[dibble27]

The horse of Paul Nicholls for the triumph is pic d'dory, wanted to run at Kelso this weekend but didn't realise the conditions of the race, could go for the triumph or wait for aintree. Small worry of going to Cheltenham first time up.

[dibble27]

https://youtu.be/NtzQf6yQX1Q

Paul Nicholls stable tour 26/2/19

[FaugheenTheMachine]

Great write up thanks. I like the way TM says Benie won’t run unless it’s soft then NAP’s her

[Faugheen_Machine]

Great write up TP