Cheltenham 2017 Antepost Bets

[Vanilla]

NH Chase 'The 4 Miler'

2016 saw Minella Rocco win the race. He was highly regarded prior to starting his novice chasing career, and began to show promise when stepped up to 3 miles. He had run at cheltenham twice before his festival victory.

In 2015 the race was won by Cause Of Causes, again racing at 3 mile resulted in some very good performances. He also had visited cheltenham on 3 occasions prior to winning the 4 miler.

At this early stage the horse which I like for an ante post interest is Champers On Ice. He has had 4 excellent performances already on the course, racing over 2m 5f and 3m. He also has won a 3m PTP race.
Best price 33/1, generally 25/1.

[Istabraq]

Vanilla

I read a very interesting article on the increase in quality in the 4 miler, and of course this years renewal sees it upgraded to a G2.
I'm keen to see where last years challengers head as I made that a high quality renewal

[Faugheen_Machine]

Minella Rocco and Native River for the Hennessey perhaps?

[Kevloaf]

I quite liked Native River last season, was disappointed at Christmas when Tea For Two beat him. Was it O'Connor* that was booked to ride Native River in the 4 miler and then jumped ship a few weeks before to take Minella Rocco? I am pretty sure it was and that speaks absolute volumes about how highly regarded Minella Rocco was to me... Could end up with Big Bad Barry Gerraghty on board which would be a bonus! Surely aimed at the Gold Cup now?

[Kevloaf]

Senewalk won next time out after finishing 2nd to Yams Spirit who has now won 4 from 4, one of the other horses in the race has finished 2nd a few times aswell, if Ricci thinks he's the next Min, surely worth a few quid now before its debut run?

the 12's for any race is still available and it is 10s in some places for the supreme in case you do want to get on?

[Kevloaf]

I agree with Jono about Vautour too! HArd to get him to peak by all accounts but the definite target would be useful. Killultagh Vic too could be a good yardstick and the same with BH. This might be a stupid question, but is the million bonus included in the trainer championships ...?

[Faugheen_Machine]

I think Tizzard said that NR won't go right handed again after his Kempton run. The Hennessey could be right up his street.

[Faugheen_Machine]

This might be a stupid question, but is the million bonus included in the trainer championships ...?

Good question. I'd assume not but wouldn't be 100℅ sure.

[gjt7756]

All I know is how it's split up, 65% to owners, 15% trainer, 10% jockey and stable staff, wouldn't have thought it would count either...

[Kevloaf]

Fair enough, I suppose Mullins isn't in need of it, but be good for him to send a few good ones over early on. As fantastic as it is having everything build towards one week, having some good clashes early on will certainly be welcome in my book.

Cue Card has been confirmed for having a go so far... nothing we didn't already know though

[Old Vic]

gigginstown must have something that could target the bonus ?

[gjt7756]

As I said Mullins could have 3 aimed at it with Valseur Lido being one of them so that would be gigginstown shot at it, couldn't think of anything else with don poli more than likely going for the grand national so you would have thought that would be too tough a season, the only other one I could think of is if road to riches found his form of 2 seasons ago but he was very disappointing last season

[Kevloaf]

Gigginstown probably want a live contender for the Ryanair so they could aim VL at the Chase and KG and if he isn't on for the bonus, drop him in trip. Id be disappointed if VL was good enough though, he's seen the back of vautour for 3 years in a row

[fitzy78]

If I was Willie I'd send Vroum Vroum Mag over fences early for a prep then give her a crack at the bonus. She to me is the horse that sits on the bench waiting to be re routed. They know she can jump so why not have a crack at it? If all else fails she could come back to clean up in the mares race.

[Kevloaf]

I'd like too see VVM aimed at it too. She has been a bit of a pot-hunter in the past and this is the biggest pot of all now. She'd be a contender in a CC, Ryanair, GC, CH, Mares or WH though so they'll probably leave her as late as possible again and see where she fits in, rather than declare early on that she is a hope for the GC.