Cheltenham 2017 Antepost Bets

[cwright23]

I was all over American Tom last year for the Neptune and I think he's a nice horse that could go under the radar with Yorkhill in there... Looks like RR JLT horse?

On a separate note I think there is something going on with dynaste, think pipe might be lining him up for th Byrne group plate in March

[Kevloaf]

Final Furlong have confirmed Wylie will be on in the next couple of weeks in their podcast yesterday

[TheRowebot]

Anybody got a link to the Mullins stable tour in the RP?

[Kevloaf]

Odds now available for the pertemps

I have absolutely no interest in looking at this right now BUT have any winners come from the race Golden Doyen won in recent years that anyone knows before I Spend a chunk of time in vain?

MY initial thoughts are usually anything that qualifies and doesn't win has a better record than the winners? WOuld make the 2nd (1st string on the day) For Good Measure moderately interesting... although obviously at 20/1 best priced fav it isn't worth betting on at all right now.

[Istabraq]

Years ago they said the qualifiers at Donny and the Irish ones (Punch ?) were the best guides and winners of the qualifiers had a fairly poor record, but they reviewed the qualification a few years ago and there's now a few more and I think they even run one in France.

[cwright23]

A lot of big names out over the weekend.. Start of a few dreams and the end of a couple as well.. Wotzizname has been entered up 10 times over the last 14 days including the race thistlecrack won.. One I've got on side for March.. Aux ptit soins looks set to start over 2m 4f this weekend

[Gilly]

3 main antepost bets

Douvan - Champion Chase
This to me is the biggest banker of cheltenham 2017, oozes class and has potential to be one of the best ever. Another positive is the opposition he's up against won't be the most testing as the betting is suggesting Sprinter Sacre is the main danger, for me he will be too old as he will nearly be 11, in the last 26 years only one 11 year old has won this (Moscow Flyer 6/4F in 2005). Douvan to come home on the bridal

Min - Arkle
Currently sitting in the betting at 7/1 is a very nice price but won't be around for long as 2nd favourite Yorkhill is presumably be rerouted to the JLT. Min, like Douvan, comes from the sire Walk in the Park and was one of the most talked up horses last season. Lost to the brilliant Altior who is now 5/2 favourite for this race. IMO in that race Min hit the 3rd from home very hard and after this race was declared injured and out for the season. One might argue that if that injury had not occured during that race he could have well finished ahead of altior. He looks more of a chaser than altior who i think should have gone champion hurdle route. Whatever happens he's a banker for at least a place.

Thistlecrack - Gold Cup
Slowly turning into my favourite horse, he is an absolute monster, currently priced at 4/1 (iv been nabbing away since he was 10/1), i've read alot of comments saying people are mad to take 4/1 now but if you look at the opposition you can pick holes in them all.

Vautour - obviously the biggest threat but might not even turn up in this race, all depends how he runs in the king george but then again ran a blinder last year and was still rerouted to the Ryanair. He seems more suited to that trip.

Don Cossack - from what iv gathered we might not see this horse again, he is a monster but injuries ruin horse's careers especially tendon related injuries, therefore im writing him off

Cue Card - my favourite horse last year, should have won the gold cup IMO if he had stood up but 11 year olds don't have a good record in gold cups and has shown last week age is a huge factor as he looked tired and not himself

Coneygree - Amazing win in 2015 but injury has set him back and we are yet to see his return, this is a huge negative for me but his reappearance should tell more

Djakadam - I actually think djakadam is the main danger, people keep saying this horse isn't good enough but they don't realise he has come 2nd in the last 2 gold cups at the ages of 5 and 6, he's open to improve and the gold cup is a race thats generally won by horses between the ages of 7 and 9, he'll definitely be in the frame again come March

Douvan, Min & Thistlecrack treble currently 71/1

[TheRowebot]

Absolutely tragic news about Vautour on RP..

[cwright23]

Has this weekend taught you anything regards your festival book?

I'm now interested in sceau Royal for the CH.. I know the 4yo stat is against him but of the top 10 in the market he's the only one to defo be aimed at it.. I won't be backing Annie power or faugheen as the prices are to short and only 1 of them will go

[Faugheen_Machine]

Horrendous news. Gutted for connections!

[Faugheen_Machine]

We've probably already covered this in detail but after watching last night's One The Line, it confirmed my view that Annie Power is their number one champion hurdle horse this season. Leaving Faugheen to be stepped up in trip for the world hurdle.

Currently William Hills are 19/1 for the Annie (CH) and Faugheen (WH) double. A related bet that the bookies don't mind standing. If those were the confirmed targets I wouldn't fancy laying 5/1 the double!!

[Kevloaf]

I haven't seen it, only a couple of clips. (Pretty annoying as I had a notification that ATR had put it on and by the time I got home it was gone).... however, I have seen no comments ANYWHERE or by ANYONE that Annie won't be defending her crown. I've also definitively heard Annie and Faugheen will not race against each other...AND Faugheen will NOT be chasing (not that I thought that was ever a consideration)....

If those two are true, 19/1 is a 5/1 at best?

I am on with Douvan for the CC at 99/1 ....

[jono]

Currently William Hills are 19/1 for the Annie (CH) and Faugheen (WH) double. A related bet that the bookies don't mind standing. If those were the confirmed targets I wouldn't fancy laying 5/1 the double!!

Really enjoyed watching that back today. Ricci gets a lot of stick but I think he is great for racing and I do generally believe he is honest on what and where he thinks horses will be aimed at, it's just that at the end of the day he doesn't make the key decisions. Cracking watch though and i'd advise everyone to give it a watch/listen.

I'm already on the double from a month or so ago (got 24's - not quite as good as Kev's Douvan treble and have been pretty adamant that those will be the targets. Hearing what was said last night has made me want to go in again at the double as it's still a big price. The risk in the bet (imo) is only whether they will both get their in one piece injury-free. If they end up in those races I think they are certainties

Interesting from last night that if Susannah Ricci had her way Annie would be retired...thank goodness they talked her round!!

[Kevloaf]

You got a link to it jono? I can't find it anywhere

Currently listening to the FF podcast but that isn't the most exciting listen so far...

The only reason I am not going in again, is that Faugheen should b e running in the Champion Hurdle, and I feel like a hypocit is I start banging the World Hurdle drum.... (A bit silly perhaps)

[jono]

It was on their website but seems to have disappeared since. Looks to still be on their app though if you have that?