Cheltenham 2017 Antepost Bets

[jono]

I notice Garde La Victoire has been entered up into the 3:25 handicap hurdle at Chepstow this weekend. Can't see anything from connections whether he'll definitely run or not but seems strange that they may be looking at reverting back to hurdles. Was 3/3 over fences coming into the Spring festivals and although he fell on both runs he was still in contention at Cheltenham.

May they be looking to get his confidence back over hurdles after those 2 falls before going chasing again?

Has anything been said about going back to hurdles as last I read he may be aimed at the Haldon Gold Cup...

[Istabraq]

I haven't read anything Jono but he developed a habit of making mistakes so it doesn't surprise me.
Also, the horse had two full seasons and 12 hurdle runs before they sent him chasing so maybe a chase campaign was an afterthought ?
If they revert back to hurdles he will be a big player, he won a Greatwood off a big weight.
I have no doubts the horse will stay 3m so could easily become a WH contender in my mind

[jono]

Not declared for the race tomorrow so interesting to see if his next entry comes over hurdles or fences but I definitely agree on the WH front. Never even crossed my mind about him but would be a very interesting contender, got a fantastic record at the course. Good shout!

Update just seen today the following from Phillip Hobbs:

He won his three chases but his jumping wasn’t the best and he will probably start in a hurdle race. It may be the Welsh Champion Hurdle and being on a new date in October it could be ideal for him. He will probably go for the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter after that

So looks like chasing will be back on the agenda after a first run over hurdles.

[jono]

Some updates on Gordon Elliott's horses including some of the new additions: http://jumps.attheraces.com/stable-t...ordon-elliott-

Blow by Blow

He is a gorgeous horse. I’d say he’ll need a trip over hurdles and he looks very exciting

Death Duty

He’s a nice horse and I think a lot of him. He’s entered in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse at the weekend and he’ll start off there as long as it’s soft enough for him. Two-and-a-half miles and further will be what he wants and he could be a very nice staying novice hurdler this season. Chasing will be the real game for him.

I think those quotes on Blow by Blow and Death Duty suggest it could be Neptune for the former and AB for the latter. You imagine they'll try and keep them at different trips

Also slightly off topic but 2 horses I love - Don Poli and Cause of Causes both with the national in mind and Don Poli to get headgear "sooner rather than later"

Don Poli

The obvious race to start him back in would be the JNWine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal, but I’m just getting to know him and will have to see if he’s fit enough in time for it. He’ll do a bit of work next week and we’ll see where he is in that regard, but he’s a big burly horse. Headgear has been talked about for him and I’d say we’ll try it on him sooner rather than later. Longer-term, he could be an Aintree Grand National horse

Cause of Causes (love this horse!)

He’s been a real stable star, but he’s getting high enough in the handicap now. Whether he can get back to Cheltenham and run a big race there for the fourth year in a row is questionable, but I suppose the Aintree Grand National will be a race we’ll have in the back of our minds for him and will aim him towards that

[Istabraq]

Cheers jono, useful updates

[Kevloaf]

Update just seen today the following from Phillip Hobbs:



So looks like chasing will be back on the agenda after a first run over hurdles.

That is good news, I am on for the Ryanair

[cwright23]

Surprised nobody has mentioned anything about the performance of DOLOS at the weekend.. I know we rarely see a triumph winner at th start of October but Paul Nicholls mentioned in his stable tour this was one of his better ones and he did it fairly convincingly

[Morning Glory]

Surprised nobody has mentioned anything about the performance of DOLOS at the weekend.. I know we rarely see a triumph winner at th start of October but Paul Nicholls mentioned in his stable tour this was one of his better ones and he did it fairly convincingly

Have to wait until Christmas at least !


and of more concern ...

Nicholls said: "He is a nice horse and he will probably go to Cheltenham next for what was the Paddy Power meeting.

"He is probably not a Triumph horse. He is a bit like Adrien Du Pont in that he is a real galloper. He could come back here for the Grade One at Christmas. He is jumps bred and will be a chaser in time.

"Sam said it will be interesting when you give him a squeeze, but the great thing is he jumps really well.

"I thought he would go OK but you never know with these babies until you run them."

[cwright23]

Must admit I haven't been tempted into a bet in the triumph yet as obviously there isn't enough to go.. Get the feeling like last year that these 3yo will just beat each other all season and it'll be 6/1 the field..

Blue heron interesting today

[jono]

That is good news, I am on for the Ryanair

After his win in the Welsh Champion Hurdle today:

To be fair he's got stronger since last year.

"After we had the disappointment of two falls at the Festivals it was nice to have a run over hurdles before he goes back chasing.

"He could stay hurdling but there's a chance he could go to the Haldon Gold Cup, if he doesn't take to fences again he could go back hurdling.

"We always thought he wanted better ground but it's very wet today and he got through it well."

Winning trainer Philip Hobbs told At The Races: "He's a star, a gorgeous horse and Richard thinks he's stronger so hopefully he'll take to fences better.

"After that he might go up to around 158 but that's still a long way off a Champion Hurdle so chasing has to be the way forward, we just cross fingers he jumps better than last year.

"He's a bit over-brave at times, but the plan is the Haldon Gold Cup."

So clearly they'll be heading back over fences but doesn't sound too encouraging for him. Hope rather than expectation that he'll come good over fences this year?

[Kevloaf]

Yeah can't be more than hope at this stage until he starts jumping fences better. I still feel fairly happy that they're going back over fences though and the Ryanair will be the most winnable race. He was fav for the JLT and I think 33/1 is a fair price for the Ryanair, although there is the fact he can't jump properly haha.

[Faugheen_Machine]

Added a couple of bets in recent days:

Jenkins for the supreme at 20/1 - watched both of his bumper races again and i was impressed, he should have won the race at the Punchestown festival but he hit the front miles from home and got caught late on. Henderson has said he's an out and out 2 miler, he seems pretty keen on him.

Faugheen to win any race at 7/4. Just seems too big to me.

Not Cheltenham but I've started chipping away at Bristol De Mai for the King George at 33/1. 3 miles around Kempton could be ideal. I love the way he attacks his fences and expect him to improve when stepped up in trip. Also keen to back him in the betfair chase but not sure if he'll be targeted at the Bet Victor Gold Cup instead.

[Kevloaf]

If you fancy Faugheen any race at 7/4 then the 5/2 on Annie must be worth it too ?

Only way you won't be beating SP on either is if they face each other in my opinion!

Just watched Jenkins' bumpers again myself... any idea when he is due over the timber? I also backed at 20s

[jono]

I too am keen on Jenkins. Henderson said he'd be out very soon but no race was specified. I know Altior had his debut at the Chepstow meeting last year but generally Henderson is happy to wait to give his novice hurdlers a run. Here's his recent Supreme runners and when they made their debuts:

Altior 10/10
Buveur D'Air 27/11
L'ami Serge 27/11
Josses Hill 19/12
Vaniteux 07/12

[Kevloaf]

You looking this up as you go or you got a mega spread sheet with it all on

I have seen Moon Racer pushed to 16's with Skybet? I think it was 12 yesterday, that seems a little strange for them to do that alone?

Regarding Jenkins, although Altior ended a long baron spell in the race, he has had placed horses in quite a few renewals that I can remember and I believe he was similar prior to 2010 too...