Cheltenham Handicap Shortlists

[bobbyvalentino]

Ivanovich Gorbatov - County Hurdle 33/1 or 25/1 NRNB

I'm sure a lot of you will be thinking I have gone mad, and indeed for some of you IG may well have been a cliff horse for some time, given his early promise as a juvenile. His decline is worrying, but ultimately he is not void of ability still, as shown in the Galway Hurdle, which has produced numerous winners since, and his neck 2nd the following race. He would be your typical JP 'plot' having sat quiet, losing plenty, waiting for that moment to strike, and his rating of 134 now means he is in dangerous territory of being incredibly well in at some point.

Since the 2 runs mentioned above he has been taking it easy in his races, having gone up a few lb's for the Galway & Killarney runs, he is back down again.

2 seasons ago he finished 6th in this race off 150, finishing ahead of last seasons winner Mohaayed on that occasion, last season he was a fair bit behind off 148, he is now 14lb's lower in Ireland, but coming over here he will likely be given a couple of extra lb's, such is the way the handicapper works for the Irish horses.

I wouldn't like to say he is going to be a 'cert' but having slipped so far down the weights, possibly by design, and his Cheltenham record, prior to last season, he must now be in 'cracking each way' territory, and after having 33/1 winner Mohaayed last season I am ready to have some of the same this time around

I just looked over his profile... My god this horse has done some racing

Anyway, I'd tip in with he's always preferred it rattling quick and didn't get the ground at all last year. If he has been plotted up since the autumn, I couldn't rule it out

[Hurricane fly]

I just looked over his profile... My god this horse has done some racing

Anyway, I'd tip in with he's always preferred it rattling quick and didn't get the ground at all last year. If he has been plotted up since the autumn, I couldn't rule it out

He’s been one long plot ever since he won the Triumph

[delsie777]

I think betting on the handicaps antepost is a really risky game - particularly without NRNB. So many of these wont run, many will be allotted crazy weights and yet more wont even get in to the fields such is the desire to run in these races. I'd be interested in seeing how many in last years early markets actually got a run at the festival.

[ryanh97]

I just looked over his profile... My god this horse has done some racing

Anyway, I'd tip in with he's always preferred it rattling quick and didn't get the ground at all last year. If he has been plotted up since the autumn, I couldn't rule it out

Just looked at his Triumph win and there's some good ones behind him

[Kevloaf]

I think betting on the handicaps antepost is a really risky game - particularly without NRNB. So many of these wont run, many will be allotted crazy weights and yet more wont even get in to the fields such is the desire to run in these races. I'd be interested in seeing how many in last years early markets actually got a run at the festival.

You are absolutely right, but it does only take one 25/1 winner to land and you're putting yourself in a good position for the week.

As we're about to get to the stage that most handicaps get their own threads, what bets have we already had?

Ultima
Coo Star Sivola 45/1
Talkischeap 25/1
The Worlds End (any race) 28/1

Close Brothers - No bet

Coral Cup
The Storyteller (any race) 18/1

Fred Winter
Fenta Des Obeaux (any race) 36/1

Pertemps - No bet

Brown Plate - No bet

Kim Muir
Glenloe - 22/1

County Hurdle - No bet

Martin Pipe - No Bet

Grand Annual - No Bet


You've got to be concerned if you've had more bets than me

[Kevloaf]

Just looked at his Triumph win and there's some good ones behind him

Welcome back Ryan

[delsie777]

You are absolutely right, but it does only take one 25/1 winner to land and you're putting yourself in a good position for the week.

As we're about to get to the stage that most handicaps get their own threads, what bets have we already had?

Ultima
Coo Star Sivola 45/1
Talkischeap 25/1
The Worlds End (any race) 28/1

Close Brothers - No bet

Coral Cup
The Storyteller (any race) 18/1

Fred Winter
Fenta Des Obeaux (any race) 36/1

Pertemps - No bet

Brown Plate - No bet

Kim Muir
Glenloe - 22/1

County Hurdle - No bet

Martin Pipe - No Bet

Grand Annual - No Bet


You've got to be concerned if you've had more bets than me

I have to own up to a couple!
I've backed Sire De Berlais eachway at 33's after he qualified for the Pertemps
Also backed Jenkins eachway at 25's for the Novice H'Cap Chase because I think they are aiming him there for his big day - protected mark etc...
As for the rest I shall try to wait until much nearer the day unless I think I've spotted a price rick at the NRNB stage.

[westcountry1]

You are absolutely right, but it does only take one 25/1 winner to land and you're putting yourself in a good position for the week.

As we're about to get to the stage that most handicaps get their own threads, what bets have we already had?

Ultima
Coo Star Sivola 45/1
Talkischeap 25/1
The Worlds End (any race) 28/1

Close Brothers - No bet

Coral Cup
The Storyteller (any race) 18/1

Fred Winter
Fenta Des Obeaux (any race) 36/1

Pertemps - No bet

Brown Plate - No bet

Kim Muir
Glenloe - 22/1

County Hurdle - No bet

Martin Pipe - No Bet

Grand Annual - No Bet


You've got to be concerned if you've had more bets than me

Really like your Ultima bet on Coo Star Sivola great price too...I literally live on the Williams yard doorstep and I am loving the stables confidence in this one at this stage.

[jonthehammer]

Ive backed a few

Coo Star Sivola (Ultima 16s NRNB)

The Storyteller (Coral Cup 10s NRNB)

Aspen Colorado (Pertemps 25s)

John Constable (County Hurdle 50s)

Grand Sancy (M Pipe 16s NRNB)

[Hurricane fly]

Now he’s not been entered in the Champion Hurdle would Labaik to go to the county, start slow and just mow them down, would surely have to be down to 152 area

[Toffees]

I see Belami Des Pictons is running over 2m 5f at the weekend. He seems to have attracted a bit of money. Not a bet for me FTO after a long break over that trip. But he runs off 146, so he has been dropped 2 pounds since he was last seen behind Waiting Patiently over 2m 5f. He got outpaced that day but he had been progressing over the longer trip. He would be interesting over a longer trip in a handicap, Ultima or Kim Muir. Or even just for next season.

[Kevloaf]

I see Belami Des Pictons is running over 2m 5f at the weekend. He seems to have attracted a bit of money. Not a bet for me FTO after a long break over that trip. But he runs off 146, so he has been dropped 2 pounds since he was last seen behind Waiting Patiently over 2m 5f. He got outpaced that day but he had been progressing over the longer trip. He would be interesting over a longer trip in a handicap, Ultima or Kim Muir. Or even just for next season.

Yeah very interesting runner. Not sure how much he has in hams as Waiting Patiently seems to have am inflated rating, however it's clearly higher than it was

[Outlaw]

She can ready them after layoffs in fairness, with him so fragile i don't think she would entertain Chelt with him, thou could well have a good race in him somewhere.

[boopa]

Mister Malarky

Tizzard said: "We've seen things (from him) today that we haven't seen before. He powered away like a real stayer.

"He is a relation to Dubacilla, and that's why I bought him - she was a Gold Cup and Grand National horse.

"He has just developed into a proper stayer, so we will try to set him up for a race at Cheltenham.

"He will get in the handicaps at Cheltenham. He is bound to go up at least six or seven pounds for winning 13 lengths, so we can't talk about anything less.

"We were only talking beforehand the dream was to have a Cheltenham runner - and he is a beautiful, young, staying horse."

[jono]

I see Belami Des Pictons is running over 2m 5f at the weekend. He seems to have attracted a bit of money. Not a bet for me FTO after a long break over that trip. But he runs off 146, so he has been dropped 2 pounds since he was last seen behind Waiting Patiently over 2m 5f. He got outpaced that day but he had been progressing over the longer trip. He would be interesting over a longer trip in a handicap, Ultima or Kim Muir. Or even just for next season.

He's on my radar for the Festival Plate over 2m5. Yet to be priced up for the race, i'm waiting to see if he gets declared at the weekend before I request. Would personally prefer it if he went to the festival fresh. Venetia Williams has a knack for getting horses to run well off long breaks and did so with Tango de Juilley in 2016 who had a 348 day absence and came 2nd. He'd be on a great mark for the race if left on 146 (used to be race that went to lower weights but the last 2 winners were on 147 (The Storyteller) and 145 (Road to Respect) , albeit the former was a handicap snip and the latter now a multiple grade 1 winner. Williams also has a very good record in the race with 3 wins and 2 second places.

Hoping he either misses the race or is able to keep his current mark