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Cheltenham Preview Nights 2018

Gold Cup

HC - Talks about Might Bite, how will he handle the 3 1/4 miles?

RP - Prob a worthy favourite, won a micky mouse first time out, and then won KG. Huge reservations over form, not a strong race. But looked to win with plenty in hand. Will he get up the hill? Bound to be better on better ground, unless ground bad. Nearly threw away RSA. Impressed with Native River, good prep. Ground on soft side for him.

Our Duke would have gone close when he hit 4th last. Impressive last time out. Noel sat on him this morning, happy with how nimble he was, and how he jumped. Would love SJ to win again, is the quickest, and if ground nice he hopefully do it again.

I couldn't get off SJ, his work has been so good, and thinks Our Duke will be fine, but he hasn't ever left Ireland. JH didn't ask me, just said I'm getting Noel to ride OD, because she knew I wouldn't get off SJ.

TW - Good race, Might Bite last year was impressive doing what he did after stopping. He's a bit of a monkey. If he jumps last in front, he might drift again. Quality horse, with loads of gears. Ferocious gallop, and jumps like a stag. Pity Sizing John had that setback before. Classy horse with loads of speed, and won't be out of 1st 3 unless he underperforms. SJ & NR good e/w bets at 6/1.

Wouldn't fancy any of Willies. Ruby likes KV, but can't really see it, when he fell last time. DOC said that he wasn't great at a few fences in that last race. Might Bite, Native River, Sizing John and Our Duke. First 3 good horses.

JW - Might Bite has awful lot of questions to answer. NH said he'd like to put one cheekpiece on him. All over Our Duke here, thinks he has huge ability. Best performance on good ground. Noel hasn't ridden him, but schooled him today. Thinks Robbie always on SJ, but thinks OD has huge chance.

LB - Great betting race, best form for GC is last gold cup. NR goes there off diff campaign, very fresh. SJ has diff gears to the rest of them if it comes up good ground. Big OD fan, won Irish National, don't think it was good ground that day. Think it had give in the ground. Agrees with TW, wait for the day. If it comes up heavy on last day, Definitely Red might run a race at a big price. SJ on Good.


RP - SJ if had choice of any
TW - Sizing John
JW - Our Duke


€500 bets

LB - Cause of Causes
JW - Saldier
TW - Samcro, then changes to Laurina in Mares @ evens
RP - Burning Ambition trained by his cousin
HC - Supasundae
 
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I was supposed to be at Newcastle preview tonight, but couldn’t make it. There is a thread on Newcastle Racecourse twitter page I believe
 
Supreme

HC - Getabird impressive, but too short?

TW - He's not Vautour/Douvan, yet. Was very quick and jumped well, albeit v slightly right. Kalashnikov is vg. Softer the better. Getabird best Irish have going over.

HC - What about horses that do nothing at home, and turn up on track?

TW - Sooner have horse that does that, than one that runs great at home, and nothing at track.

JW - Getabird shocking price, this one will drift heavy. If you watch it, looked to jump badly right at the last. Fragile, wants it bad, and prob farther. Dead against at the prices. Doesn't think Mengli Khan did much wrong last day, and would forgive him the run out. 12/1 good price. Gordon Elliott said good e/w value. Claimintakinforgan, if you can forgive him. Can't have Kalashnikov, won't be quick enough on good to soft.

LB - Thinks it will start soft.

JW - If lots of rain Friday

RP - Vision des Flos goes Ballymore, and Ainchea goes supreme. Has a small chance. Impressed at Sandown, until he fell at last. Good value at 33/1, plenty of speed, and jumps well. Getabird worst priced fave of the week, no way he should be 5/4. Kalashnikov huge experience, and bolted up. Summerville Boy G1 Winner, and beat Kalashnikov. Bookmakers just think Willie's horse the best, must win. Beat a nakker in MK last time.

JW - Thinks ND would have a good chance here. Would be interesting if they put Laurina in here.
 
Ballymore

JW - Elliott and Giggs not on same songsheet about this race. Thinks he would win either race, and not 100% he goes here yet. Doesn't see the issue, whatever the ground is. Could win here whatever the ground. Wouldn't bother him running it in Soft or Heavy.

LB - Why not throw him in the Champion Hurdle, make it interesting. He's going chasing next year.

TW - Thinks BM is right race, if you think he's a GC horse. Wouldn't worry about ground, agrees with JW. VVG horse, but has to deliver. Go to Cheltenham and win, the real great horses do.

JW - If he tipped up and fell in the CH, imagine trying to live that down.

LB - Horse we haven't mentioned is On The Blind Side. NH speaks very highly about this, and they nominated Ballymore months ago.

HC - Is Next Destination going AB?

RP - Imagine he goes here, got horses for the other races. Can't see him being good enough to beat Samcro. So much talk for a horse that hasn't been anywhere yet, about Samcro. If he doesn't win at Cheltenham, he's just a horse. OTBS good bet, agrees. Not sure what Eddie is on about, he goes here.

JW - ND was all out to beat Cracking Smart, can't see how he beats Samcro.
 
Mares Hurdle

HC - Apples Jade horse to beat, cert of Day 1?

JW - Yeah, last year looked likely to get beat, and still won. Horse that has been chasing all along, and then brings BDD back here. Thinks Willie just wants to beat his former horse. Cannot see AJ being beaten. Jers Girl could run well, but AJ banker.

TW - Outstanding Mare, hard to beat. If you're into betting odds on, good price. BDD good price, let the lads have a few quid at 8/1.
 
RSA

HC - Presenting Percy beat LTO by you, Robbie. Great race, love to see Monalee

RP - Thinks Monalee should be favourite. To do what he did this season, after that fall showed plenty of bottle. HDB does a great job. PP has no G1 form, and never featured in a G1. Top class h/capper and G2 maybe, but Monalee proper G1 horse. Black Corton done nothing wrong, going into the race 7-8/1.

TW - Big Monalee fan, good horse. Jumps and stays, gutsy at Leopardstown. Thinks Al Boum Photo 10-12/1 good price to place. Impressed with Presenting Percy in that hurdle. Thought he had Puppy beat LTO, but Our Duke outbattled him. Maybe he's not just a G1 horse, but he has to step up if he is.

LB - Horrible fall, but was jumping impeccable before, and then jumps the same the last day. Only worry is they finished in a bunch the last day. Like to see something pull clear. ABP coming back at them, agrees with Ted. PP probably fave because most liability.

RP - Can't understand why PP didn't run at Xmas, why run against us. Guessed that Pat didn't think OD would turn up.

HC - Likes Shattered Love @ 16/1

JW - Thinks SL runs JLT. Last mare to win was 20 years ago, can't remember name. Thinks people harsh on PP, who might have been beaten by GC winner in Gowran. Pat Kelly doesn't get much wrong. Horse run in 3 strange races, but he is trained for Cheltenham. Thinks HDB wants Monalee in JLT, but owner has big bet on him for RSA, so not likely. Siding with PP, and a bit wary of Monalee getting home.

RP - Finians Oscar JLT
 
Cross Country

TW - Cause of Causes classy horse, and Tiger Roll same. Thinks between them, and CoC wins. CoC is a certainty here.

LB - Trainer doesn't stop talking about CoC. Trained to win this again.

RP - Definitely CoC, his form around Cheltenham.

LB Gives man in audience €100 @ 4/1 on CoC.

RP - Tiger roll had a spin round but his jumping wasn't great, and Lisa O'Neill gave him a great ride, I wouldn't fancy steering him round. CoC wins.
 
Bumper

HC - Giggs sending one

JW - Felix Desjy, they seem to fancy him. Giggs had 9 runners in Bumpers in Britain, and best is 3rd. Thought they had given up on race. This horse won twice, really strong at line, and obv improved since. If they run him, must be a fair chance he wins. Gifford horse has lots of gears, but worried about ground.

HC - What about Blackbow?

JW - Not sure if they think Hollowgraphic is better. Willie has a very strong hand, between those two, and Carefully Selected.
 
JLT

HC - Tell us about FO, Robbie.

RP - If he's back to his best he has a chance. Spoke to Joe Tizzard last week, and they schooled him with Blinkers on, to help him focus on jumping. It worked, and hopefully works in the race. Could get worse, but could be better if blinkers give him the bottle in the race.

You can back or lay him after a couple fences. Joe said he was tanking with blinkers on long/short. Hopeful he goes down to the first and jumps it from outside the wings. Hard to get a handle on race, because you don't know what's gonna run. 10/1 FO good e/w bet.

LB - Thinks Snow Falcon always runs a good race. Good bet wherever he goes. This could be the race for him @ 16/1 with first 5/6 prob not going.

RP - Without blinkers FO was a course winner, which is big for novices.

TW - Wait and see what's running. If it got heavy, Henry might win the battle. Modus has a chance. Wouldn't have a bet until the day.

RP - Owner has won the battle with Monalee, because they got Noel to ride the last day.

JW - Interested in what Robbie said about FO. If he comes back for the blinkers, could be a bet.

RP - Talking down FO.

TW - Wouldn't back FO if I found a tenner with his name on it
 
Triumph

HC - Nicky says AS wants better ground, loves the horse. I can't have her.

LB - She's a full sister to Apples Jade, thinks Barry was minding her the last day. Thinks that Mr Adjudicator should be fave. Great battle with Farclas.

HC - Ruby loves this horse.

TW - Redicean won very well, but by Medicean. Skated in at Kempton, jumped like a buck, flat track. Like to see what the ground is like. Saldier won in heavy ground, only one run. Only worry about Mr Adj was Espoir D'Allen ran no race that day.

HC - Asks for Leon's best price on Saldier.

LB - We'll go 14/1 Saldier

JW - If he was running against Mr Adj on the flat he'd be giving him 25lbs.
 
Albert Bartlett

RP - Very impressed with Chris' Dream the last day, absolutely galloped them into submission. Looked a fine, big horse. HDB ran Monalee here, thinks he's a good e/w chance 12/1.

TW - No real fancy.

JW - Agrees with Robbie Power - Chris' Dream
 
TimRiggins said:
Cross Country

TW - Cause of Causes classy horse, and Tiger Roll same. Thinks between them, and CoC wins. CoC is a certainty here.

LB - Trainer doesn't stop talking about CoC. Trained to win this again.

RP - Definitely CoC, his form around Cheltenham.

LB Gives man in audience €100 @ 4/1 on CoC.

RP - Tiger roll had a spin round but his jumping wasn't great, and Lisa O'Neill gave him a great ride, I wouldn't fancy steering him round. CoC wins.
Click to expand...

Going to copy this in to the CoC thread just to build positivity
 
TimRiggins said:
JLT

HC - Tell us about FO, Robbie.

RP - If he's back to his best he has a chance. Spoke to Joe Tizzard last week, and they schooled him with Blinkers on, to help him focus on jumping. It worked, and hopefully works in the race. Could get worse, but could be better if blinkers give him the bottle in the race.

You can back or lay him after a couple fences. Joe said he was tanking with blinkers on long/short. Hopeful he goes down to the first and jumps it from outside the wings. Hard to get a handle on race, because you don't know what's gonna run. 10/1 FO good e/w bet.

LB - Thinks Snow Falcon always runs a good race. Good bet wherever he goes. This could be the race for him @ 16/1 with first 5/6 prob not going.

RP - Without blinkers FO was a course winner, which is big for novices.

TW - Wait and see what's running. If it got heavy, Henry might win the battle. Modus has a chance. Wouldn't have a bet until the day.

RP - Owner has won the battle with Monalee, because they got Noel to ride the last day.

JW - Interested in what Robbie said about FO. If he comes back for the blinkers, could be a bet.

RP - Talking down FO.

TW - Wouldn't back FO if I found a tenner with his name on it
Click to expand...

Good work Tim.
One of the more interesting so far, good panel this.
Monalee stuff backs up what i thought. and RP comments on Percy says a lot also (although he's bound to say it I suppose)
 
Handicap

RP - Flawless Escape huge chance in Martin Pipe, and Any Second Now handicap banker of the week.

TW - Hope he's right. We're hopeful, he's a good e/w chance.

HC - Give us 14/1

LB - No chance, he's been backed all week! You can have 10/1.

TW - Thinks JP has a horse in the race that Barry might ride.

JW - De Plotting Shed has been laid out for Cheltenham.


Naps

LB - Sort It Out in Pertemps

JW - Voix Du Reve in Coral Cup and Saldier

TW - Deal D'Estruval in the County

RP - Don't Touch It on good ground in Grand Annual & Hunters Call in w/e race he runs.

HC - What about Rock The World?

RP - Rock The World will run, but he's higher than last year.

RP - Don't Touch It will win a big race./

JW - He's by Scorpion

RP - So is Might Bite, Burning Ambition...
 
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TimRiggins said:
Handicap

RP - Flawless Escape huge chance in Martin Pipe, and Any Second Now handicap banker of the week.

TW - Hope he's right. We're hopeful, he's a good e/w chance.

HC - Give us 14/1

LB - No chance, he's been backed all week! You can have 10/1.

TW - Thinks JP has a horse in the race that Barry might ride.

JW - De Plotting Shed has been laid out for Cheltenham.


Naps

LB - Sort It Out in Pertemps

JW - Voix Du Reve in Coral Cup and Saldier

TW - Duca De Thaix in the County

RP - Don't Touch It on good ground in Grand Annual & Hunters Call in w/e race he runs.

HC - What about Rock The World?

RP - Rock The World will run, but he's higher than last year.

RP - Don't Touch It will win a big race./

JW - He's by Scorpion

RP - So is Might Bite, Burning Ambition...
Click to expand...

Nice one Tim, I was watching too, and I think Ted Walsh meant Deal Destruval and not Duca De Thaix, though I may also be wrong!
 
ComplyOrDie said:
Nice one Tim, I was watching too, and I think Ted Walsh meant Deal Destruval and not Duca De Thaix, though I may also be wrong!
Click to expand...

Well, someone from the audience shouted that out, but they all conferred for a bit, and then seemed to think they had the right one :confused:
 
TimRiggins said:
Well, someone from the audience shouted that out, but they all conferred for a bit, and then seemed to think they had the right one :confused:
Click to expand...

Yeah, think they got confused, Walsh said 'the one of Willies who got beat by Charles Byrnes horse' but DDT is a Elliott horse for starters, and I believe he was on about the Coral Hurdle at Leopardstown, when Deal Destruval got beat by Off You Go.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
Yeah, think they got confused, Walsh said 'the one of Willies who got beat by Charles Byrnes horse' but DDT is a Elliott horse for starters, and I believe he was on about the Coral Hurdle at Leopardstown, when Deal Destruval got beat by Off You Go.
Click to expand...

Gotcha.

I'll edit that now.
 
Istabraq said:
It's at Cheltenham Town FC now. used to be at The Royal Oak, Prestbury but I think they let Mark down one year and the football club works well.
It's run by a guy called Mark Ball, who used to head up the Lets Live Racing syndicate, he disbanded that last Summer but is continuing the preview evening, always a great night but always a sell out weeks beforehand.
If you're keen next year let me know and I'll order extra tickets.

This year:

DAVY RUSSELL - Ex Irish Champion jockey & Cheltenham Gold Cup winner
EQ QUIGLEY - top pundit "Longshot Ted" from the Racing Post & ATR
JERRY McGRATH - jockey attached to the powerful Nicky Henderson yard
TOM BELLAMY - Jockey attached to Alan King, Nigel Twiston Davies & Kim Bailey yards
MICHAEL SHINNERS - Racecourse PR Manager for Skybet
Click to expand...

Hello - can I let you know that a handful of standing tickets are available for this event. If you're interested in coming along please call me on 07702 895 428 or mail letsliveracing@aol.com

The standing area is very comfortable, full view of the panel and with an excellent sound system.

In addition to a great panel we have £400 of free bets donated by Skybet (4 x £50 / 2 x £100) which will be raffled.

Thanks, Mark
 
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