Cheltenham Preview Nights 2018

[TimRiggins]

Ryanair

Both think that Balkos Des Flos has to be backed, will go off much shorter.

DJ - Sub Lt 2nd to UDS last year, BDF far better horse, won a plate impressively, albeit off 146. Came back against Road To Respect, and ran a cracker. Eddie O'Leary likes horse, and best chance to win the race.

PK - Loves BDF, and was 40/1 in JLT, got backed. Tanking when he came down. No idea where he would have finished, but handles track well. Doesn't like soft, and we know UDS is fantastic horse. Sometimes you get on the wrong side of a horse, and just stay there. I'm like that with UDS.

Luck takes piss, and says shame when they win 20/26

UDS won worst Ryanair, and thinks BDF better than anything that ran last year, and CC is, too. Can't have 12yo winning it, but will back Cue Card anyway, lol. BDF can't be out of the frame as long as he gets round.

DJ - Don't get affectionate about horses, never got it about The New One, but loves Cue Card. Bloody good horse, if BDF doesn't win, no greater pleasure than seeing CC win.

Waiting Patiently

PK - Not certain to run, Malcolm Jefferson not all that keen. If it's soft he wins. Potential superstar, but don't think he's going to run.

[TimRiggins]

Stayers Hurdle

PK - Not the greatest stayers, but unless you have a superstar, who runs 3m over hurdle? Doesn't think Supasundae will stay, AJ outstayed him, and doesn't think Yanworth will either. Backed La Bague Au Roi, but not sure if she likes Cheltenham.

Harry Fry UKWIMH been in for a full service & MOT, supposedly pleasing him. No NC this year, and could see him go well at double figures price.

Tony Bloom supposedlly trying to get a box at Cheltenham for the Thursday, and Penhill will be going. When Bloom lays one out, it gets hammered, and could go off fave.

NL - Sam Spinnner beat L'Ami Serge, and TWE. What's wrong with him?

DJ - L'Ami Serge, but scared to say it, cue dog noises. How anyone can tell me L'Ami Serge is 3x the price of Sam Spinner. Needs to go the other way, so needs better ground, and has good Chelts form. No way he's out of the first 3. DJ only guy who can ride the horse. Great ride lto when he lost.

DJ - Penhill - Always been plan to come here FTO. Working well, looks well, and typical plunge horse. Jessica Harrington said that Supasundae was sulking around the place, and since he won CC & @ Leopardstown, diff horse. Thinks he's the man. Not sure he stays, though.

NL - Lets remind ourselves of DJ's guilty pleasures - Brain Power, L'Ami Serge, Modus.

[TimRiggins]

Triumph

DJ - Apples Shakira has perfect profile for the race, and we're in same position we were last year with Defi. Barry gave her too much to do last time, and still won by 8 lengths. Thinks Look My Way is a good horse, and could sneak a place at 33/1.

PK - Doesn't like AS, can win, but wrong price. Cut so short for winning a race where Hobbs had 2nd fave, and won her next races at no odds. Sister of Apples Jade, better on soft ground, and got beat in Triumph by AJ. Gets outspeeded on good ground by one of Irish. Mr Adjudicator and Farclas. Thinks Farclas will turn form around at Cheltenham, and win.

NL - Stormy Ireland heard from back of room, Asks DJ.

DJ - Incredible performance last time out, but terrible race. Very fragile, kept for the race. Don't know how good it is, and thinks it will win or be pulled up. Like more evidence.

[Hurricane fly]

Got home and tuned in

Needs to keep THAT stat and Calett Mad to himself!

[Faugheen_Machine]

The audience are shocking. Full of idiots.

[TimRiggins]

Albert Bartlett

NL - Last night Paul Kealy gave us an education

PK - This race is brutal, really hard work for horses that are young. If you're a novice hurdler, and need 3m in your last season, you're a big backward future chaser. See these horses that turn up a short price, and go nowhere.

Last 10 years
12 non finishers in Supreme
14 in Ballymore
62 in Albert Bartlett

These horses jog round in small fields, and then come here 24 runners hard and fast, good ground. You need an experienced horse, here. Penhill having 27th Start, UKWIMH 17th.

Calett Mad ran over fences last year, this horse was cantering in the NH Chase last year, came back over hurdles this year. Bolted up in Pertemps qualifier. Can't promise he'll win, but at 25/1 he'll still be there at the last, and lots won't be there.

This free bar was a terrible idea!


DJ - Agrees with PK, go back through and recent winners all plodders. Young horses taken out of comfort zone, and so many get beaten. If you fancy a horse like Santini, Next Destination, Cracking Smart. If you think there is a superstar, don't back it, keep your money. For that reason, he thinks Calett Mad is the value, and Chef Des Obeaux is the winner.

[TimRiggins]

Gold Cup

NL - Might Bite or not?

PK - If you'd said that a 1l win over Double Shuffle made you favourite for GC, you'd get the men in whitecoats out. Have to take him on. Road to Respect for him, who won at Cheltenham last year, and didn't turn right up the hill.

DJ - Might Bite is right favourite, find chinks, and you can say he's a son of Scorpion, look for the chute, throw it away. Might do that, bt prob best horse in the race. From a punting perspective have to find something to beat him.

his is a gold cup, you can make valid cases for anything you fance. 8 could win, and one I'm backing is Our Duke, like a mini Denman. Relentless galloper, if he gets into a rhythm, very dangerous. Beat PP over bad trip, and working well since. Noel good jockey, see him taking it up with a circuit to go, take lots out of comfort zone.

NL - Sizing John again

Audience - Coney Island

NL - Won't be running

DJ - I thought he'd win, interviewed Gavin Cromwell & Eddie Harty so I'm a jinx.

[Rhinestone_Cowboy]

Got home and tuned in

Needs to keep THAT stat and Calett Mad to himself!

haha...think Calett Mad would be my favourite winner of the Festival!

[Quevega]

haha...think Calett Mad would be my favourite winner of the Festival!

40-1 ladbrokes nrnb with price boost

[TimRiggins]

3 best bets of Championship Races


DJ -

1: Balkos Des Flos - Ryanair
2: Modus - JLT
3: Chef Des Obeaux - Albert Bartlett

PK

1: Farclas - Triumph
2: Balkos Des Flos - Ryanair
3: Calett Mad - Albert Bartlett


Handicappers

PK

Ultima - Coo Star Sivola (Running in graded, pissed up exeter, but handicapper only put him up 7, unexposed over 3m, and off 142)

Close Bros - Barney Dwan (PP Might win a gold cup, great pertemps, and dropped 2lbs for winning lto 10lb better than 143)

NH Chase - No Comment (Would have only lost a few lengths without mistake, good hurdlers, wants a trip, and JP good jockey)

Whispers, and DOC looks to be on, but not supposed to let everyone know that by looks of things.

Coral Cup - Le Breuil (LTO Aintree trying to give 20lbs to Black Ivory who won NTO. Ben struggling, but fantastic mark goes close)

Fred Winter - Act Of Valour destroyed Look My Way, wasn't right nto, then 2nd to WHAD. 136 here got to go well.

Bumper - Rhinestone (Blackbow given 142, and 17lbs higher than Fayonagh for winning. He likes this horse, given too much to do)

Brown Adv - Mister Whittaker (Won at trials, and easily on ground not supposed to like. 2nd to Hells Kitchen. r/u was 3rd in RUK Chase)

Kim Muir - Road to Riches (Mark of 142, and a big price unless gone at the game) DJ says he has

Back wherever they go

Deal D'Estruval
Diese Des Bieffes
Ivanovich Gorbatov
Diego Du Charmil

[TimRiggins]

DJ

Shortest fave at festival will be Laurina - Willie said she's 'top notch', and 'special'

NH Chase - Jury Duty (Gordon said Dounikos is what he wants to run, and looking at form DJ thinks he has great chance now

Fred Winter - Style De Garde (137, and beat a horse that bolted up nto. Nicky's only runner)

Close Bros - Any Second Now (De Plotting Shed can't beat ASN getting 2lbs, and Ruby might ride as no WM entry)

Brown Adv - Le Prezien (PN said lots of schooling and off same mark when he ran good race in PP)

Pertemps - Louis Vac Pouch (145 improving out of all recognition, and cracking chance)

Grand Annual - Don't Touch It (NAP) (Won G1 over hurdles at Punchestown, beat BP, PM, and Yorkhill. Never worn c/pieces, laid out. G1 in a handicap, son of Scorpion... What could go wrong?)

[TimRiggins]

One NAP

DJ - Don't Touch It
PK - Farclas
NL - Sizing John

[Hurricane fly]

Is Middle of March there?

“How far does Burning Ambition win the fox hunters”

[TimRiggins]

I love Kealy

Max bet £2k, and average bet £100 e/w

Lost £10k in Vegas playing poker during a 17hour drinking session, but won that on roulette the day before


But he's not a big punter

[Istabraq]

Horrific preview evening, Lucky, Kealy and Jennings deserved more respect, embarrassment for Betbright in my view...