What was your best bet? (No monetary figures please)
That was the Ultima where I was in the unusual position of cheering home three of the first five! I was on Kildisart ew at 20-1 and backed Big River 20-1 ew 1-6 on the day. After I made a case for Big River being decent value Kevloaf posted about a 25-1 WH special The Conditional and Big River to both finish in the first 5. I jumped at that and didn't know who to cheer most watching at the track. Meant I couldn't lose on the entire meeting (I'm not a high-roller, just a modest mug punter) so thanks again Kevloaf and Fat Jockey.
Worst bet?
Going in big (for me) on Solo in the Triumph after watching him skate up at Kempton. After 40+ years of assiduously studying form for the Festival that performance made me ignore one of my cardinal rules: never take a blind bit of notice of a horse who performs well at Kempton. As far as pointers to the Festival is concerned races at Kempton mean diddly squat - it's a completely different game. Note to self: Backing horses for the Festival on what they've achieved at Kempton is the fastest way to the poor house. Remember it in future.
Favourite race of the Festival:
Without doubt Samcro beating Melon and Faugheen in the Marsh - what an epic, that's one of the best races I've ever seen at Cheltenham( I didn't even have a bet in the race, couldn't work it out after Allaho defected). Bang up there with the epic dual between Bobsline and Noddy's Ryde in the Arkle in 1984. They went at it hammer and tong from the top of the hill on the final circuit. It was the two favourites - England versus Ireland - dualling all the way down the hill and then all the way up the straight to the line. The crowd were going barmy. I was there and had tears streaming down my face at the finish. Two absolute heroes - it doesn't get any better than that. Noddy's Rye broke his leg in a pipe-opener at Exeter the following season. Tragic. My dad bought me a weather vane showing a horse and jockey jumping a fence. I painted Noddy's Ryde colours on the one side and Norton's Coin on the other.
Worst race of the Festival?
Champion Chase - the no shows were such a shame.
Best Performance?
That has to go to Barry Geraghty. Champ barely jumped a fence, BJ virtually carried him round and then the horse showed his class to win another awesome finish. Must say I'm in no hurry to back Champ for the Gold Cup. His jumping is gonna be a problem.
Best performer on four legs was Monkfish for me - in the van all the way and still had enough stamina to see it out in a high quality race. Very few horses win like that at the Festival. Reckon he has a big future - maybe Gold Cup 2022!
Biggest disappointment?
Carefully Selected in the four miler (as was). I thought he was a shoe-in but the writing was on the way from a long way out.
Dark horse for next years Festival?
I had high hopes - and some fancy prices - for Janidil this time and I think he'll make a smashing chaser next season. He finished 5th in the AB, beaten 11 lengths. The race didn't pan out brilliantly for him. Mark Walsh held him up towards the back of the field. He got checked before joining the leaders as they turned for home and stayed on at one pace in a very hot race. I think maybe Mark (who I love to bits) maybe overdid the hold up tactics but it was still a very decent effort. It was his first try beyond 2 miles since joining Willie who obviously sees stamina as his forte. The big question is where will he turn up next March. Hills go 20-1 any race - not for me. He's 40-1 all round for the RSA but Unibet have him up at 50-1 for the NH Chase. It's a gamble but I reckon it's worth taking because if he ends up being Willie's horse for the four-miler then Patrick will ride and could end up very short. Anyhow, FFS, I've nothing else to spend money on right now.
Biggest irritation of this years Festival?
Coronavirus concerns - but weren't we lucky to beat the deadline.
Underdog performance of the Festival?
Has to be Lisnagar Oscar - that was no fluke. He was fifth in the AB last season and was beaten just over four lengths by PP at the track in January - but in a ropey field apart from PP he was still allowed to go off at 50-1.....and we all missed it. How come? That was surely the each way bet of the meeting.
Biggest regret?
Je ne regrette rien. You either do or you don't.
What would you do differently for next years Festival??
My Cheltenham strategy has always been to look for value at double figure prices. I then back one horse in almost every race so I have an interest in the entire festival. It's fun, not a job. I go in for hardly any accumulators. I make a profit nearly every year - usually need about three winners and two or three each way returns and I'm ahead. But seeing (roughly) how some of you guys operate it's tempting to dabble more with the accas and back horses much earlier. Not sure it's going to suit me to be honest. I wouldn't normally start placing bets till about mid January. But it is fun!
That was the Ultima where I was in the unusual position of cheering home three of the first five! I was on Kildisart ew at 20-1 and backed Big River 20-1 ew 1-6 on the day. After I made a case for Big River being decent value Kevloaf posted about a 25-1 WH special The Conditional and Big River to both finish in the first 5. I jumped at that and didn't know who to cheer most watching at the track. Meant I couldn't lose on the entire meeting (I'm not a high-roller, just a modest mug punter) so thanks again Kevloaf and Fat Jockey.
Worst bet?
Going in big (for me) on Solo in the Triumph after watching him skate up at Kempton. After 40+ years of assiduously studying form for the Festival that performance made me ignore one of my cardinal rules: never take a blind bit of notice of a horse who performs well at Kempton. As far as pointers to the Festival is concerned races at Kempton mean diddly squat - it's a completely different game. Note to self: Backing horses for the Festival on what they've achieved at Kempton is the fastest way to the poor house. Remember it in future.
Favourite race of the Festival:
Without doubt Samcro beating Melon and Faugheen in the Marsh - what an epic, that's one of the best races I've ever seen at Cheltenham( I didn't even have a bet in the race, couldn't work it out after Allaho defected). Bang up there with the epic dual between Bobsline and Noddy's Ryde in the Arkle in 1984. They went at it hammer and tong from the top of the hill on the final circuit. It was the two favourites - England versus Ireland - dualling all the way down the hill and then all the way up the straight to the line. The crowd were going barmy. I was there and had tears streaming down my face at the finish. Two absolute heroes - it doesn't get any better than that. Noddy's Rye broke his leg in a pipe-opener at Exeter the following season. Tragic. My dad bought me a weather vane showing a horse and jockey jumping a fence. I painted Noddy's Ryde colours on the one side and Norton's Coin on the other.
Worst race of the Festival?
Champion Chase - the no shows were such a shame.
Best Performance?
That has to go to Barry Geraghty. Champ barely jumped a fence, BJ virtually carried him round and then the horse showed his class to win another awesome finish. Must say I'm in no hurry to back Champ for the Gold Cup. His jumping is gonna be a problem.
Best performer on four legs was Monkfish for me - in the van all the way and still had enough stamina to see it out in a high quality race. Very few horses win like that at the Festival. Reckon he has a big future - maybe Gold Cup 2022!
Biggest disappointment?
Carefully Selected in the four miler (as was). I thought he was a shoe-in but the writing was on the way from a long way out.
Dark horse for next years Festival?
I had high hopes - and some fancy prices - for Janidil this time and I think he'll make a smashing chaser next season. He finished 5th in the AB, beaten 11 lengths. The race didn't pan out brilliantly for him. Mark Walsh held him up towards the back of the field. He got checked before joining the leaders as they turned for home and stayed on at one pace in a very hot race. I think maybe Mark (who I love to bits) maybe overdid the hold up tactics but it was still a very decent effort. It was his first try beyond 2 miles since joining Willie who obviously sees stamina as his forte. The big question is where will he turn up next March. Hills go 20-1 any race - not for me. He's 40-1 all round for the RSA but Unibet have him up at 50-1 for the NH Chase. It's a gamble but I reckon it's worth taking because if he ends up being Willie's horse for the four-miler then Patrick will ride and could end up very short. Anyhow, FFS, I've nothing else to spend money on right now.
Biggest irritation of this years Festival?
Coronavirus concerns - but weren't we lucky to beat the deadline.
Underdog performance of the Festival?
Has to be Lisnagar Oscar - that was no fluke. He was fifth in the AB last season and was beaten just over four lengths by PP at the track in January - but in a ropey field apart from PP he was still allowed to go off at 50-1.....and we all missed it. How come? That was surely the each way bet of the meeting.
Biggest regret?
Je ne regrette rien. You either do or you don't.
What would you do differently for next years Festival??
My Cheltenham strategy has always been to look for value at double figure prices. I then back one horse in almost every race so I have an interest in the entire festival. It's fun, not a job. I go in for hardly any accumulators. I make a profit nearly every year - usually need about three winners and two or three each way returns and I'm ahead. But seeing (roughly) how some of you guys operate it's tempting to dabble more with the accas and back horses much earlier. Not sure it's going to suit me to be honest. I wouldn't normally start placing bets till about mid January. But it is fun!
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