Cheltenham 2017 Antepost Bets

[mayo]

Battleford @ 10/1 MP
Mall Dini @ 12/1 UL
Blazer @ 12/1 PL
Old Guard @ 20/1 COR
Ballyandy @ 5/1 SUP
Let's Dance @ 5/1 SPUD
Monalee @ 14/1 NEP
Super Heinz, 120 bets * £0.10 E/W

Pays £2m

[donka]

Battleford @ 10/1 MP
Mall Dini @ 12/1 UL
Blazer @ 12/1 PL
Old Guard @ 20/1 COR
Ballyandy @ 5/1 SUP
Let's Dance @ 5/1 SPUD
Monalee @ 14/1 NEP
Super Heinz, 120 bets * £0.10 E/W

Pays £2m

That's the spirit
Halves? if it wins

[Istabraq]

mayo - have you got any multiples in your portfolio that pay less than £2m ?

[mayo]

mayo - have you got any multiples in your portfolio that pay less than £2m ?

had a yanworth thistlecrack and barters hill patent would have paid about £70k

I believe in letting yourself win big. I am a bit scattergun but don't bet more than I can afford to lose and want a win to make a difference. There was a quote on gault from some bloke saying he had been doing lifechangers since xxxx and life hadnt changed. I can relate to that.

[BigChaang]

Seriously ., Good luck to you . I hope they all come in . !!. (and this is my bank acc no ""$$^^&*) l.o.l

[Istabraq]

You crack on mayo, we all gotta dream !
You don't need them all to cop for you to get some nice returns, keep going, let's hope one drops for you this year...

[mayo]

Thanks all

The Yankees looks good this year too...would be nice if we all won

[ryanh97]

Hopefully we could land all 4 on one of the day yankees

[loveracing]

had a yanworth thistlecrack and barters hill patent would have paid about £70k

I believe in letting yourself win big. I am a bit scattergun but don't bet more than I can afford to lose and want a win to make a difference. There was a quote on gault from some bloke saying he had been doing lifechangers since xxxx and life hadnt changed. I can relate to that.

Mayo = Gangsta

[BigChaang]

Awesome ... i love that !!!!.

[Mr mulligan]

I'm looking for and EW banker to go wiv Jezki for stayers 10/1 race will break up at final secs and will be half those odds
and gods own for queen mother 20/1 always presented cherry ripe for festivals and is a 30% better horse on better ground and this time of year
So any suggestions ?? I'd Settle for around 6-1 making it a 50/1 for the place part of the bet

[Old Vic]

Ballyandy ?

[loveracing]

I'm looking for and EW banker to go wiv Jezki for stayers 10/1 race will break up at final secs and will be half those odds
and gods own for queen mother 20/1 always presented cherry ripe for festivals and is a 30% better horse on better ground and this time of year
So any suggestions ?? I'd Settle for around 6-1 making it a 50/1 for the place part of the bet

Western Ryder 10/1?

At least you know he won't fall!

[Grade1]

Cheltenham Weights launch Wednesday 1 March 2017 Want to know all the whispers and nuggets from Cheltenham on Wednesday? RUK’s Andy Stephens shares the secrets that he learnt. A string of trainers were at Cheltenham on Wednesday as the weights for the 10 handicaps at the Festival were announced. Andy Stephens was on hand to pick up nuggets of information and top tips.

CHARLIE LONGSDON Horse: Our Kaempfer Race: RSA Best odds: 25-1

Our Kaempfer is disputing favouritism for the Ultima Handicap Chase on the opening day of the meeting but seems much more likely to run in the RSA Chase 24 hours later. “I think he’s in the form of his life,” Longsdon said. “Whether he’s good enough, I don’t know, but the RSA is a very open race. The favourite is rated 152 and we are rated 4lb inferior to that, which is not far off the pace. I don’t think the RSA looks the strongest this year and is more open than other races. I’ve always said in the Ultima, in fact all the handicaps, you need a stone up your sleeve. He couldn’t win the Pertemps last year off an 8lb lower mark and you only get one chance to run in the RSA, so that’s where I am leaning.”

NEIL MULHOLLAND Horse: Southfield Theatre Race: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase Best odds: 14-1

Neil Mulholland will have about ten runners and could have a few aces up in sleeve. He seems very keen on Southfield Theatre. “I like him,” Mulholland said of the nine-year-old. “I think his form in the four-miler last year behind Native River and Minella Rocco stands up very well. He ran in Punchestown [after Cheltenham last year], didn’t come back 100 per cent, and he has been quite a hard horse to train this year. Obviously his first run [back] at Doncaster was a bit disappointing but we feel he’s come on an awful lot for that and we have been able to press on a lot harder. He has been very delicate but Doncaster was a nice confidence booster and he has been able to take a fair bit of graft since.”

TOM GEORGE Horse: Singlefarmpayment Race: Ultima Handicap Chase Best odds: 14-1

The trainer suggested he had still not fully chosen between the Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase for God’s Own – a niggle for those of us who have backed him to win the Champion Chase in a market excluding Douvan – and has also yet to make a definitive plan for Singlefarmpayment, who has various options. However, I fancy he will end up running in the Ultima Handicap Chase. “A lot of people seem interested in him,” George said. Is he well handicapped? “I would say so, definitely. Off 142 you’ve got to be taking the handicaps very seriously with him. He was impressive when winning his novice handicap chase here and was unfortunate to be brought down at the last meeting.”

JOE TIZZARD Horse: Sizing Codelco Race: Brown Advisory Plate Handicap Chase Best odds: 20-1

Team Tizzard have the first and second favourite for the Gold Cup, plus a couple of crack novices to run. But for the second time inside a week, Sizing Codelco was nominated as perhaps the stable’s best bet of the week. Colin Tizzard volunteered that at a press day at his yard last Thursday and, today, son Joe repeated it. “He’s off of 140,” the former jockey said. “He disappointed here on his first run for us, then we ran him a week later with blinkers on and it sharpened him up and he ran a huge race behind Top Notch. He gets in off 10st 4lb, hopefully he will sneak in at the bottom and we think he’s a well handicapped horse.”

WARREN GREATREX Horse: La Bague Au Roi Race: Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Best odds: 7-1

The trainer reported Cole Harden in fine fettle for the Stayers’ Hurdle, a race he won he won two years ago, but it was his enthusiasm for La Bague Au Roi that was compelling. “I’ve no doubt she’s up to it,” he said. “She’s three from three from over hurdles and the only time she’s been beaten is when she wasn’t right at Aintree last year. She’s had a good winter break and come back looking fantastic. She will have a gallop at Newbury this weekend and that will be her final bit of work, but she looks as good as ever. All races here are very good, but she’s very smart.”

JONJO O’NEILL Horse: Minella Rocco Race: Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Best odds: 25-1

The trainer rarely leaves the Festival empty handed but does not seem upbeat about any of his handicap contenders, including Holywell – who he says is in good form at home but described as running “stinking” this year. O’Neill is never one to burden any horse with a “my best chance” tag but did volunteer a tasty little titbit to Racingukcom regarding Minello Rocco, who may wear some headgear for the first time in the blue riband after successive falls. “I might put a pair of cheekpieces on him, just to help him concentrate,” O’Neill said. He added that More Of That is also likely to take his chance in the big one.

ALAN KING Horse: Dino Velvet Race: Fred Winter Hurdle Best odds: 25-1

King is enjoying a fabulous season and has several leading Festival candidates, including Yanworth in the Stan James Champion Hurdle and Master Blueyes in the JCB Triumph Hurdle. But, for the purposes of this column, we wanted one of his darker ones. “Coming here today I was worried Dino Velvet had not gone up at the weekend but, having seen the weights, I’m very pleased he hasn’t,” he revealed. “Off 125, he would not have got in over the last few years. I thought he ran very well [last time when second at Ludlow] but he [the handicapper] has left him where he was. He could be very interesting and of all my handicappers, he’s the one I’m most excited about.”

Incidentally, King is no nearer knowing who will ride Yanworth but would like a decision soon to ensure his new rider gets a sit on him beforehand. Apparently, too, Barry Geraghty would have chosen Yanworth over Buveur D’Air had he not been injured, although that did not come from King.

BEN PAULING Horse: A Hare Breath Race: Arkle Best odds: 50-1

Pauling has have several live contenders in the novice events but seems insulted by the odds being offered against A Hare Breath landing the Arkle. The nine-year-old won in good style on his chasing before being beaten at short odds at Doncaster last time. “He goes to the Arkle,” Pauling said. “Whether or not that’s the right decision we will soon find out. His jumping has got better and better. Doncaster was a muddle of a race. I expected Marracudja to go a million [miles per hour] but he didn’t want to go very fast at all that day and we got left in front six from home. It turned into a sprint and we got outsprinted. Altior looks head and shoulders above the rest and we can avoid him if we want, but if we get him into the places in an Arkle it would be brilliant. At 50-1 he’s a bonkers price. Other horses he’s either beaten, or been just beaten by, are 16-1 and 20-1. He’s in great form and the thing massively in his favour is he loves the track. His form around here is very good. All he wants is a fast run race – he will get it – and it means we will be able to ride him how we like to ride him, which is to come late.”

NEIL MULHOLLAND Horse: The Druids Nephew Race: Ultima Handicap Chase Best odds: 16-1

The trainer was not hiding any secrets from those gathered at the racecourse and so he gets a second mention. He almost merited a third, too, with Impulsive Star in the Pertemps, another 14-1 shot. He looks like running three in the Ultima Handicap Chase – The Druids Nephew, The Young Master and Pilgrims Bay. The one he is very sweet on is The Druids Nephew, however. “He won the race off 146 two years ago and is back off 146. We think he’s every bit as good, if not better, and he’s in great form,” he said. You cannot say fairer than that.

MARTIN KEIGHLEY Horse: Any Currency Race: Glenfarclas Cross Cross Country Chase Best odds: 12-1

Joy turned to heartache for Martin Keighley and his team last season when Any Currency won the Glenfarclas Cross Cross Country Chase, only to lose the race months later. Few horses have won at the Festival as a 14-year-old, but the trainer seems adamant his old warrior can defy Father Time. “Last season it was disappointing for everybody involved to lose the race and it’s made me determined to get him in the same form,” Keighley said. “He’s in great nick and I genuinely believe he can do it. Richard Johnson rode him on Festival Trials Day and said he jumped great and felt fantastic. He has a bit of catching up to do with the three in front of him that day, but he needed that race and there is improvement to come.” He added: “He’s been amazing – he’s run at Cheltenham 19 times and won or been placed 14 times. That takes some doing and this will be his seventh Festival in a row, He will be hard to replace when he does retire.”

So that is your top ten, but if you’ve got to the bottom of the copy you deserve a bonus – just like those hidden tracks that they used to put on CD albums.

Nicky Henderson took a very keen interest in what weight Divin Bere had been allotted in the Fred Winter. It was 10st 12lb but he calculated all those above the gelding would miss the race and, rather than run him with top weight, he seems more inclined to let him take his chance in the Triumph. Since his last run, Divin Bere has had a satisfactory spin at Kempton and Henderson has “played with his soft palate”. That is a wind op, to you and me.



RP Jack Haynes 6:41PM, MAR 1 2017

Holywell 10st 12lb Ultima Handicap Chase, Tuesday – general 16-1

Holywell has been beaten 247 lengths in three races he has completed this season and pulled up in the other, so why on earth is he vying for favouritism? Simply put, it all comes down to his festival form, which speaks for itself. Victories in the Pertemps Final in 2013 and this race the following year have been backed up in more recent years with a fourth in the Gold Cup behind Coneygree and second, again in this contest, last year. Supported into 8-1 for the Ultima 12 months ago, Holywell appeared to be travelling like the winner when breezing to the lead three out before being collared heading to the last by Un Temps Pour Tout. He arrived at last year’s festival having failed to complete in the Sky Bet Chase and has followed a similar route this time around but will run off a 5lb lower mark this year, with 10st 12lb on his back.

Dreamcatching 10st 4lb Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, Wednesday – general 8-1

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is seeking a hat-trick in this juvenile contest and the vibes from Ditcheat last week were positive for ante-post favourite Dreamcatching. The four-year-old disappointed on his British debut when a well beaten sixth behind Charli Parcs at Kempton in December but bounced back in no uncertain terms last month, slamming a 17-runner novice hurdle field by upwards of seven lengths at Wincanton. Although that was not the strongest contest, it was a visually impressive performance and he appears well treated off a mark of 131 with further improvement likely. Nicholls said last week: “Dreamcatching won’t be far away in the Fred Winter. He bolted in at Wincanton on Saturday and has a mark of 131. He looks really progressive. It’s a race we’ve done really well in, with the first and second the last two years. Qualando, who won it in 2015, was off 131, and Diego Du Charmil won it last year off 133. So he’s around about the right mark.”

Tobefair 11st 7lb Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle, Thursday – general 6-1

In June 2015 Tobefair was rated 81 and had been beaten on every one of his six starts, but seven successive wins later he is now rated 143 and favourite for the Pertemps. It has been a remarkable rise. This seven-year-old, owned by Down The Quay Club and trained by Debra Hamer, has been one of the stories of the season with his official rating rising by 52lb. Described as “big, laidback and very tough” by the trainer’s husband Paul, Tobefair has shown determination and a will to win throughout the winter, winning by less than a length and three quarters on his last five starts. There is no telling when this fairytale will end and it would take a brave man to back against Tobefair producing more heroics at Cheltenham.

Diamond King 11st Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate, Thursday – 9-1 with Ladbrokes

Gordon Elliott enjoyed three festival winners last year, including two handicap successes along with Don Cossack’s triumph in the Gold Cup, and his Coral Cup victor Diamond King is strongly fancied to score again, this time over fences. Having embarked on a chasing career this campaign, Diamond King won on debut at Galway in October before finding Graded company too hot the last twice. He comfortably won the Coral Cup off a mark of 149 and is rated only 1lb higher over fences after three runs this season, with the Diana Whateley-owned nine-year-old afforded a weight of 11st for his target – the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate. With a nice racing weight and drying ground to suit, his claims are obvious, while Cheltenham Festival-winning form is a big plus. Elliott is hopeful of a bold showing, saying this week: “A bit of good ground and you’ll see a different horse. He just couldn’t get out of the testing ground last time – I’m looking forward to him.”

North Hill Harvey 11st 3lb Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle, Fri – general 8-1

The County Hurdle is always one of the greatest puzzles of the week but the support for favourite North Hill Harvey has been unwavering. North Hill Harvey, trained by Dan Skelton, has been backed into a best price 8-1 (from 12) in the last week alone and has followed a similar campaign to stablemate Superb Story, who won this race last year. The son of Kayf Tara has not raced since winning the Grade 3 Greatwood Hurdle at the track in November but that has been by design, with Skelton having eyes only for the festival. Skelton said last week: “It’s probably no coincidence we’ve plotted the same kind of route with him as Superb Story last year. He’s very tough and genuine and I didn’t want to give him a hard time of it in the winter on bad ground.”



Q – ToteSport – A plethora of handicaps take place throughout the week – have you any dark horses or horses that could take us by surprise?

A – Paul Ferguson (editor of Final Flight Publications) – Singlefarmpayment is an improving stayer who has impressed me this season and was unlucky when being brought down on trials day. He holds entries in the Ultima (Tuesday) and the Kim Muir (Thursday), and from a mark of 142 I would certainly want him onside in whichever race Tom George opts for. He is also in the RSA Chase and he would actually be my selection in that (currently 33-1) should connections opt to head down the Grade 1 route – that seems unlikely given his handicap rating. And, I backed one horse last week when the handicap entries came out, that being Peregrine Run for the Coral Cup (33-1, now shorter). Peter Fahey has suggested that the handicap option is favoured over the Albert Bartlett, provided he is happy with the weights once are unveiled (next week), and he will be very much of interest back on a quicker surface. His course success in November (beat Wholestone and West Approach) now reads really well and his recent Warwick third has also worked out well, with Gayebury winning impressively at the weekend. He was rated 141 by the UK handicapper prior to that run and it is hoped he gets a similar mark next week. If he gets anything in the low 140s I will be going in again, especially if we get a dry week.

[Hoof]

A Hare Breath worth a poke without Altior ? How many will take him on.