Cheltenham 2017 Antepost Bets

[MrMcGoldrick]

Terrible news about Vautour, saddest racing day for me for a long time, great horse, in spite of connections doing their best to ruin him, all water under the bridge now

[Istabraq]

That's true kevloaf, I forgot they gave Simpre Medici a champion hurdle shot, good shout

[jono]

Just seen that Nina Carberry will not race again this season as she is pregnant. Hoping she'll come back to the sport but wouldn't surprise me if she didn't with such risks involved. Would be a real shame as she is a master on board and one of my favourites

Josies Orders has been my long term 'best bet' for Cheltenham 2017 but I Think that is a huge negative on its chances without Nina onboard - she's the best there is around the cross country course. Luckily I was building a pot up and hadn't put the bet down as it was a bet that would never reduce in odds until the cross country races got going (gutted it got called off this weekend) but this news has definitely swayed my confidence in the bet now

[Istabraq]

For me Nina is the best amateur pilot around and has been for years, better than the majority of pro male jocks.
She has an unbelievable ability of nurturing horses along in races, building their confidence and teaching them the game, especially with bumpers which is why she is invaluable for so many Irish trainers, though Elliott will suffer more than most.
There are other decent amateurs about but the sphere will be massively weakened by her absence but she's chosen to start a family and you have to wish her all the best, but I do hope she returns to racing....

[Istabraq]

I desperately hope that Enda Bolger has already picked up the phone to Jamie Codd and promised him anything he wants to secure his services for On The Fringe....

[jono]

Me too Ista - I didn't out my JO bet down but have got the On The Fringe Josies Orders double. Codd got a good tune out of of OTF at Aintree this year in place of the suspended Nina - hopefully he can do the same again. I Just really am gutted Nina won't be riding this season, I echo all your thoughts about her

[paz247]

Codd will probably ride JO in the Xcountry races and for sure he will be on OTF, keep the faith in both

[Istabraq]

It''s amazing, in almost 30 years of punting I never thought a consideration for my bet was whether the pilot would get pregnant and a different partnership would be formed, we live and learn....

[jono]

Codd will probably ride JO in the Xcountry races and for sure he will be on OTF, keep the faith in both

Oh definitely. I don't want to seem like I don't rate Codd - he's another superb amateur and rate him massively - probably my go to jockey when it comes to the Kim Muir & National Hunt Chase. (Causes of causes the last 2 years and he got a fantastic ride out of bless the wings over the cross country fences last year when I was on ew too - partly for his jockey booking). I did a big it's back on how Codd, O'Connor, Nina and to a lesser extent Mullins and Walsh are the only ameteurs to basically go to as they are so good.

Have not lost the faith they can win at all - just JO was going to likely be my biggest ever antepost bet so the nerves are high!!

[paz247]

I here you Jono ^^^, JO would be my banker and understand the nerves with a new pilot on board

[cwright23]

I was actually quite interested in O O seven even with barters hill in the race.. I don't think it's unfair to say he may still have won.. I think hendo likes him and the JLT seems the right race.. I'm tempted? Is anyone else?

[jono]

Henderson said in his interview after he's always been a chaser in the making so anything he did over hurdles was a bonus. Quotes at the start of the season:

He is a gorgeous scopey gelding that had a very lucrative first season over hurdles. He won his first two starts very nicely and stepped up in grade and performance when second to Yorkhill in the Tolworth in very heavy ground at Sandown. All roads lead to chasing now, he has shown he stays nearly three miles and one can hope he could take high rank in the novice chase brigade

Showed plenty of speed for me though and NH said this after the race:

He's a gorgeous horse and this is what we've been waiting for. This is where his life begins...I imagine we'll stay at that trip for the time being. He will get three miles at some stage

Personally i'd want to see how the form of the race pans out though before getting involved with the festival in mind. I'm not too convinced by any of the horses in behind - Its'afreebee seemed to go out like a light and I think the Rock the Kasbah form is suspect too and I do think Barters Hill pulling up raises more questions in the race.

It's generally a race that pans out well though so I could very well be wrong

[cwright23]

Sprinter sacre retired.. Must have sustained and injury?

[MrMcGoldrick]

Now Simonsig dead, terrible start to the jumps season, not to mention loads of Cheltenham portfolios already decimated

[Istabraq]

Terrible news that Mr M, any loss is horrific but when it happens to the better horses it's worse