Cheltenham 2017 Antepost Bets

[billymag]

Ista, if you owned Gods Own and he was in decent form with a prep run behind you and there was a chance of getting decent ground at Sandown for the Tingle Creek and you were on official figures third best in the race and only 4lb and 3lb behind the two that are effectively better in than you (one is 10 and year old thats just had a hard race carrying top weight in a handicap and the other the other has had a long lay off and is turning up on ground which wouldnt be ideal) youd put him away for a spring campaign?

Prize money for the race is £85,425.00, £32,055.00, £16,050.00, £7,995.00, £4,020.00, £2,010.00, finish third and your likely to cover most of your training fees for they year, why wouldnt you run him (especially on decent ground) and then put him away. He will get £2k for just jumping round. If he was mine i know what id do.

[Istabraq]

billymag, if he was mine I wouldn't have him out in Oct/Nov so he wouldn't have the benefit of a prep run.
I was at Sandown today and there is some juice in the ground, not sure what the times are but I wouldn't think this is 'good' ground.
It may be the horse isn't ground dependent it may be that he simply performs better in warmer weather, some horses just like a bit of sun on their back, they can't tell us what they want but to me there's no question Gods Own is a better horse in April than he is in December.
He could very well win tomorrow, in some respects I hope he does, but I still think he will be a better horse in 3-4 months...

[cwright23]

How about evening hush today in the listed juvenile hurdle. Was very impressive and watching her debut she was just as good there. 25/1 available for the triumph..apples jade went close last year so the girls do have a chance

[billymag]

Ista i absolutely agree that he is better on better ground but he was one length away from taking a grade 1, who knows what would of happened if he hadnt blundered early on, I think from the jockeys comments the ground probably had gone against to some degree, which is the risk at this time of year. Hes had 3 runs now trousered £37k and can come back in the spring to try and land a few more quid, for me you need to run the horses when they are in form and i wish more trainers would follow suit, but i accept he might be in even better form in 3-4 months and ive bet accordingly and taken 25/1 about the Ryanair.

[Faugheen_Machine]

From memory these are my bets so far (might have missed a few as I have it all recorded on a spreadsheet at work):

Supreme: 2pts Jenkins 20/1, 1pt 10/1. 1pt Fulham Road 33/1

Arkle: 10pts Altior 5/1, 2pts Min 6/1

Champ Hurdle: 1pt ew Chitbello 50/1, 1pt ew Winter Escape 40/1 (might have something else at a big price but can't remember what).

Neptune: 3pts Robin Roe 20/1, 2.5pts Invitation Only 10/1 (any race)

RSA: 1.5pts ADO 12/1

X Country: 2pts Quantitativeasing 25/1

JLT: 1pt Diamond King 12/1

World Hurdle: 1pt Rawnaq Ave 60, traded Zarkander

Potato Race: 3.5pts Death Duty 12/1

Gold Cup: 2pts Thistlecrack 10/1

6pts in confirmed non runners so far.

Also have staked over 20pts in a series of multiples. Annie Power CH, Faugheen WH, VVM Mares, Josie's Orders XC are well covered in those.

What has everyone else got?

[billymag]

Nice FM looking in a strong position

[Faugheen_Machine]

A lot of water to go under the bridge before March though. The three I like most at this point are Altior, Robin Roe and Death Duty, just hope they're as good as I think they are.

[Faugheen_Machine]

1pt ew Moon Racer 50/1 in Champion Hurdle is my other outsider in that race...... What was I thinking!!

[cwright23]

I class myself as lucky at the moment as the only confirmed NR I have is barters hill, looking down my book I'm not confident Iv got the targets right for a few though.. Best bets so far are moon racer supreme 18/1 along with Jenkins 20/1 MIN arkle 8/1 UKWIMH world hurdle 18/1 average clan des obeux JLT 25/1 getabird bumper 16/1 also have invitation only and robins roe Neptune have a load more that are yet to appear or yet to make a statement in their races

[billymag]

Not sure i dare put mine down, its all got a bit crazy but got some good, some bad and some very ugly, of the ugly ive got 13.5pts of bets that are non runners, but nothing that a 33/1 Invitation Only Neptune wont sort out (backed him for the AB as well at the same price so one of them will be a non runner as well so really that should be 17.5pts down!!!)

[Kevloaf]

OOoh I haven't clicked on this thread for a couple of days, what a great read!

You're in a really good position FM ... I have a few similar bets and when I post mine later (definitely can't do it from memory) I hope mine reads as well ... almost certainly going to expose my complete lack of discipline though as I have already got more staked ante post than I've bet (in total) at 5 of the last 6 festivals.

I am going to back Robin Roe at 14s for the neptune now... Ruby has just given him a good word on RUK whilst talking to Oli Bell and seeing you highlight it is enough for me to have a bit on... (Maybe not so hard to see why I have a lack of discipline) haha

Also, what a spectacular position to be in for the Arkle at this stage.

[Faugheen_Machine]

Checked my spreadsheet today and missed a couple off.

NH Chase:1pt Champers on Ice 33/1
Arkle: 2 pts Old Guard 33/1

What did Ruby say about Robin Roe?

[Kevloaf]

Paraphrasing and so on here a bit here so someone might be able to get this a lot more accurately but:

Oli - what novices have you been impressed by
Ruby - hard for me to have a handle on the English form, I've not been in any of the races
Oli - What is the best in Willies yard this season
Ruby - Airlie Beach, obviously --- weren't expecting that we're you
Oli - Going to have to re-phrase, what might be the best that we haven't seen yet.
Ruby - That's a different question, Robin Roe is one I'd keep an eye on

I cannot stress enough how hard that was for me to remember and it isn't as scripted as that (don't want to put anyone away!) .... He just brought him up pretty much out of the blue and said he'd be one he is interested in.

[Faugheen_Machine]

Thanks Kev - I didn't realise he was on the Verdict. I've got it recorded so will watch it tonight.

[jono]

So far my antepost book consists of the below:

Thistlecrack - Gold Cup 1pt @ 10/1

Altior - Arkle 5pts @ 5/1

Death Duty - Any Race 1pt @ 14/1

Jenkins - Supreme 1pt @ 20/1

Invitation Only - Any Race 1pt @ 10/1

Champers on Ice - 4 Miler 1pt @ 33/1

Yorkhill - Champion Hurdle 0.5pts @ 16/1

Lough Derg Spirit - Supreme 1pt @ 20/1 & Neptune 1pt @ 25/1

Alpha Des Obeaux - RSA 1pt @ 12/1



Josies Orders & On The Fringe 1pt @ 30.5/1

Altior & Yorkhill (JLT) 1pt @ 41/1

Arctic Fire (CH) & Ar Mad (CC) 1pt @ 25/1 to place

Annie Power (CH) & Faugheen (WH) 1pt @ 24/1

Douvan King George / Gold Cup 1pt @ 33/1

Douvan (KG) & Un de Sceaux (CC) 0.5pt @ 120/1


There's been plenty more I would have liked to have backed but had to be pretty restrained so far. I've had 2 doubles which included Vautour. My Arctic Fire & Ar Mad looks like it's down the drain and my Douvan King George bets will likely follow suit too