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Cheltenham 2017 Antepost Bets

One theory I've kept in mind when WM lost his Giginstown horses was that he was never the best trainer for staying chasers and which horses would improve and develop into a top staying chaser in new hands. Outlander and DP could have proved my point.
 
On Christmas Eve three of my best bets were looking like being Jenkins, ADO and Robin Roe.

Less said about those the better. :sorrow:

Also, it'll take me a while before I back a Dan Skelton horse again. My fingers have been burnt on several occasions this season on his horses - I just can't get them right.
 
I feel your pain Faugheen. Jenkins and ADO hit me too along with a fair few more.

Ricci interview from todays Racing Post includes a few snippets on his horses, similar lines to what we already know but an interesting view on Djakadam...(obviously only his views and we know that doesn't always translate to what happens)

Annie Power

We've not been able to get her ready before Christmas for the last few years. We thought it would happen this season but she always seems to pick up the odd niggle. There's nothing wrong with her. She could head for the same race at Punchestown as last year then on to Cheltenham followed by Aintree
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Faugheen - interesting he brings up Faugheens versatility

He's back in work and theirs a possibility he'll be back in the Irish Champion Hurdle (Jan 29). He seems to be coming back to himself. I'm sure a lot of people would love to see Annie Power and Faugheen take eachother on in the Champion Hurdle, but I don't see any reason for them yo sun in the same race as they-re both so versatile
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Djakadam - Personally I think Thistlecrack is the one horse in training that the Mullins yard are scared of and don't want to take on. Think they did the same last year over hurdles/staying trips and now may not fancy taking him on with Djakadam this year. The yard don't actually have that many options for the Ryanair with Black Hercules looking a shadow of himself, Killultagh Vic highly unlikely to make the festival. I doubt VVM could win this even with her 7lb claim without a full season over fences (bearing in mind she's only raced in small mares chases) so that only leaves UDS and even the increased trip i'd worry about him (UDS) on good ground, hence re routing Djakadam there instead?

I was disappointed after the Lexus. He was keen and it was a bit too soon after the John Durkan. I don't think that was his true running. I think he goes so well fresh that we'll go straight to Cheltenham, for either the Gold Cup or Ryanair. It it came up soft ot heavy he'd have another crack at the Gold Cup, but if it's quicker ground we'd have to consider the Ryanair
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American Tom

I like him a lot. I'm hoping he'll develop into either an Arkle or JLT contender, possibly the latter. I'd imagine you'll see him again in the early part of this month
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Bapaume

He's tough. He's our best juvenile. Imagine he'll run in the Grade 1 a Leopardstown on Irish Gold Cup day (Feb 12) and then on to the Triumph
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Benie Des Dieux - this horse completely passed me by over the festive period - just seen her race now :encouragement:

Willie sent me a text on Thursday calling her Benie des Douvan! She was spectacular at Limerick. The performance reminded me of VVM Irish debut at Wexford. She could be anything
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Getabird & Fulham Road - FR is alive!!

He (getabird) exceeded expectations at Fairyhouse. He was going so well at home but we didn't expect him to win the way he did. He and Fulham Road are our best bumper horses.
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So do you guys reckon benie des dieux will be going to cheltenham?? If so what chase?
 
Thanks for those Jono, an interesting read. If they do swerve the Gold Cup with Djakadam the rivals start to look a bit thin on the ground.
 
I can't believe the Djakadam comments.
 
Ricci comments re Djackadam make no sense whatsoever to me. He got trapped in a pocket a couple of times in the Lexus, not helped by Smashing getting in his way as he tired. He likes to race up with the pace. He's a defo a Gold Cup horse.
 
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Treat anything Ricci says with caution.
The guy loves the limelight and will happily talk the media all day, when you're that open you are bound to say something contradictory, after his apology re the Vautour Gold Cup/Ryanair debacle last year he said he'd only talk when he was sure what he says would be correct.
I honestly think the best course of action is to ignore anything that comes from the yard/connection and make judgements from what you see on the racecourse
 
doctorwu said:
Ricci comments re Djackadam make no sense whatsoever to me. He got trapped in a pocket a couple of times in the Lexus, not helped by Smashing getting in his way as he tired. He likes to race up with the pace. He's a defo a Gold Cup horse.
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100% agree. He got out paced a couple of times and stayed on pretty well. 14s still available about a horse who already placed twice.

Ricci is talking nonsense.
 
KingSprinterSacre said:
Fulham Road!!! interesting - he was highly rated a couple of years ago
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Mentioned that in his "stable tour" ... said one run in a bumper then novice hurdling.... I took a punt at 33/1 in the Supreme a while back.... now it is NRNB and 33/1 so that might be worth throwing some money away on?
 
Kevloaf said:
Mentioned that in his "stable tour" ... said one run in a bumper then novice hurdling.... I took a punt at 33/1 in the Supreme a while back.... now it is NRNB and 33/1 so that might be worth throwing some money away on?
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I think i'll follow you in for a few quid on that. Theres no stand out Ricci supreme horse so they may well go down this route if they can get him out.
 
“Djakadam may go straight for the Gold Cup,” Mullins said on Thursday. “We need to have a think about it but the Irish Gold Cup comes close enough (February 12) to Cheltenham.

“His jumping was spectacular and maybe we should have made a bit more use of him in the Lexus.”
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Nonsense from Ricci regarding Djakadam.
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
I bought the racing post this morning and most of the big bookies listed their specials for 2017.

Paddy power are 11/10 for WPM to have over 5.5 Cheltenham winners. William Hill are 13/8 for him to have 6 or less. A no lose bet and if he has 6 winners exactly you'll win with both bets. I managed to get a good few quid on. The only problem is it ties up your money for 3 months.
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The prices have been trimmed to 10/11 and 5/4 but still a no lose bet.
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
The prices have been trimmed to 10/11 and 5/4 but still a no lose bet.
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Nearly took the plunge with this last night (about 4am) and decided to wait until the cold light of day... wasn't sure how much to tie up. Free bet on 6 winners exactly
 
Just had a small each way double on Messire Des Obeaux (Neptune) and Wholestone (Albert Barlett)

WE don't KNOW for sure Robin Roe would have picked up MDO in the Challow Hurdle and even if they'd have been close, being close to RR looks not half bad. No obvious stand outs in the race as of yet.

I think Wholestone is under rated as I've just said in the AB thread - beaten West Approach 3 times and WA is shorter in the betting having run well (yet ultimately unsteated) in open company last time out.

Likely to have the targets split as same ownership, and Wholestone has already been over further twice at least. Jockey is a negative for me but that is why it is 254/1 :very_drunk:

I think Death Duty will beat either of them whichever race, but there is always a chance the UK novicers are better than the Irish so I'll have a little tickle on this.
 
Mr PW Muillins got off Haymount after finishing 2nd to Bellshill in the Grade2 @ limerick on Boxing Day stating that he would love to ride him on some decent ground at the Festival in the 4miler. 16s readily available. I may well add him to my Fletchers Flyer bet @25s
 
Kev, if you're into trends there has never been a Challow winner go on to win the Neptune, something like 30 runnings ?
Of course there will be trendsbusters but that one has stood for a long time...
 
Istabraq said:
Kev, if you're into trends there has never been a Challow winner go on to win the Neptune, something like 30 runnings ?
Of course there will be trendsbusters but that one has stood for a long time...
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I don't worry about trends religiously. Novices couldn't/didn't win huge G1 staying chases until recently and now Coneygree and Thistlecrack have moved the goal posts... however, I understand they must have some relevance. In this instance, the reason I wouldn't be overly worried, is that usually the Challow is run on heavy ground, which it wasn't this time....and if Robin Roe would have won it, I would be incredibly confident about his chances. So I don't think it would be fair for me to dismiss a horse just beacuse it isn't the one I wanted to win it.
 
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