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Cheltenham Preview Nights 2018

I didn't do much at work this afternoon, just put the headphones in a zoned out:devilish:

Ha, I work from home, but had too much on to do that.

I got all my work done after the gym, but Fridays are busy for slots, and I've only just finished now :disgust:
 
There's 2 of these on in Cork the Monday & Tuesday the week before the festival similar enough panels, I'll probably go to both but AP & Davy at both and Joseph O'Brien at the other.
 
Role on Wednesday...
 
Huntingdon Preview Night
Panel included Richard Hoiles (Host), Harry Skelton (Jockey), Matt Tombs (Cheltenham Betting Guide), Matt Brocklebank (Sporting Life), Michael Shinners (SkyBet)

I arrived just as it started and sat right at the back so i couldnt make out who was saying what…….This is a summary though!


Supreme
Take on Getabird - quirky and inexperienced with 2 runs so far.
Paloma blue e/w is an interesting horse
Mengli Khan e/w flat horse and pacey who has drifted out to very backable odds

Arkle
Footpad might not get it his own way up front with St Calvados.
Encouraged by Petit mouchoir if jumping improves and he was better over hurdles against Footpad .....lots of support from the panel on Mouchoir who will come on for the run and was pushed last time
Quick ground helps Sceu royal but not classy enough for an arkle

Champion hurdle
Buveur dair is penalty kick but no value at ⅖ - has turned into a weak race
Faugheen at 6/1 is very good price - spring weather could run a big race and big positivity about his last run (which suprised me)
Panel suggest backing Faugheen at 7/4 without fav .
Chitabella for a place cant be without a chance
MTOYs will be the crowd favourite and think will be backed heavily on the day
Wicklow brave , expecting a big race for high rated hurdler at a price

Mares
Apples jade Banker of the day says everyone and no one can see it even being taken close
Let’s dance has been disappointing this year - take on
Kayf grace if runs in this race is worth E/W.





Ballymore
Samcro it is a machine !!!!Banker - no one objected ... will be much shorter on the day
On the blindside is each way value and likes Cheltenham
Vindication unlikely to run

RSA
Presenting Percy is lay of the week and cant see how it is favourite .
Monalee has strong form following last race and looked gutsy
Shattered love - big price
Al boum photo - under ruby will improve
Elegant escape with a positive mention - tizzards think it will go well

Queen Mother
No one in the room thinks Douvan will even run ( including the audience )
Everyone thinks Altior 1st and Min 2nd.
Big price is God’s Own on good ground and should be backed eachway
No mention from anyone on Politilogue so can only assume everyone thinks it is average

Champion bumper -
Look for a wide winning margin last time out as a useful trend . No one had a mention for anything though

Cross Country
Cause of causes is a banker in the cross country . 3/1 great price said everyone!!
Tiger roll nice sighter and good value and could follow home Cause of Causes

Coral cup - think they mentioned long house haul ? 20/1
William Henry will be favourite and a lot shorter on the day




JLT
Willoughby court will be well backed but no one was really raving about it .
Invitation only, for Mullins worth a look especially under Ruby who will get him pinging
Finians Oscar after wind op is value - doesn’t become a bad horse over night

Ryanair-
UDS doesn’t get the credit he deserves , think punters will take him on though .
They think if Douvan runs it goes here - so worth NRNB.
Fox norton and top notch not good enough
Nap of festival for Harry Skelton is UDS !!! Wow
Rumours are fox norton may be injured

Stayers hurdle -
The new one gets a good mention from everyone
Sam spinner is uncomplicated and will give you a good honest run !
Everyone says it is a wide open race
Harry goes for supersundae
Yanworth has the class but is a dodger

Mares novice
Laurina is gonna take the beating and on a hard day this will be the punters get out



Triumph
Apple shaquira is solid but should be taken on as not tested yet but does get mares allowance .
Mr adjudicator is under rated and shouldn’t be dismissed.
Patrick Mullins and Ruby both think mr adjudicator has a great chance
Farclass is tough and will come on for the trip so could be the value

Albert Bartlett
Chef des obeux with a big mention if ground is soft , if not then Santini on better ground ..... Santini will get backed and worth getting on it now as could be as short as 3/1 on the day .


Grand annual - fane bowers mentioned and ordinary world

County hurdle
Charli Parcs will be a good price and was a top juvenile . Mohayed mentioned by Harry Skelton who has been targeted for this and seems very sweet on him at a decent price

Foxhunter - Harry says Valna Du Thaix

Gold cup - Total recall could be the one that gets backed
Trends suggest definitely red and native river can’t win .
The positive trend suggests class rises above stamina in the gold cup - so might bite and road to respect are positives
Lots of positivity about Might Bite and is the class horse
Harry says Might Bite is too quirky to be confident ..... harry would want to ride Sizing John especially on spring ground and can forgive a poor run last time out .
everyone else says Might Bite and Road to Respect .
Each way bet is Minella Rocco on good ground



Best bet of the week per panel member -
Mohayed each way in county hurdle
Gods own each way in champion chase
Al Boum Photo in RSA each way
Prime venture each way in pertemps
 
First of many Kev, was from a mate who went down to that one.
 
Thanks John, I enjoyed reading that. Just wanted to highlight I kind of know one of the owners of Vindication and they are certain it is running in the Ballymore and see there has been a bit of money for it the last couple of days.
 
Thanks John, I enjoyed reading that. Just wanted to highlight I kind of know one of the owners of Vindication and they are certain it is running in the Ballymore and see there has been a bit of money for it the last couple of days.

Interesting RC, I may need a cover bet on him then
 
Thanks Jon , good stuff , Very encouraging read for me there. !:)
 
I read that his trainer rates him very highly and 'as good a horse that Ive had.' I nearly lost my cornflkes when I saw the post saying that hes not running! C'mon Vinndication!
 
Thanks John, I enjoyed reading that. Just wanted to highlight I kind of know one of the owners of Vindication and they are certain it is running in the Ballymore and see there has been a bit of money for it the last couple of days.

RC,
I was under the impression that the AB was the choice and not the Ballymore??? Im very taken with this horse and thought the ideal race would be the AB.
 
RC,
I was under the impression that the AB was the choice and not the Ballymore??? Im very taken with this horse and thought the ideal race would be the AB.

After Vinndication won that last race, Kim Bailey was talking about minding the horse etc.

Said it would maybe go to the Ballymore, as they had Red River for the 3m race.
 
After Vinndication won that last race, Kim Bailey was talking about minding the horse etc.

Said it would maybe go to the Ballymore, as they had Red River for the 3m race.

He's shorter in the market for the AB??
 
He's shorter in the market for the AB??

Samcro isn't in the AB. Maybe that's why.

How short a horse is, is relative to their chance, not which race they'll run in.

I'd personally really REALLY like him in the AB based on how he grinds it out and seems to find for pressure ... but then again Barters Hill looked the same and he's better at the middle trip.
 
Samcro isn't in the AB. Maybe that's why.

How short a horse is, is relative to their chance, not which race they'll run in.

I'd personally really REALLY like him in the AB based on how he grinds it out and seems to find for pressure ... but then again Barters Hill looked the same and he's better at the middle trip.[/QUOTE

I did listen to the KB interview and he was a bit sketchy. My take (samcro/or no samcro) is that he'd be better suited in the AB, although it would have a bearing. I've 33s AB so might be a tad biased.
 
After Vinndication won that last race, Kim Bailey was talking about minding the horse etc.

Said it would maybe go to the Ballymore, as they had Red River for the 3m race.

Yeah the mentioned saving him for Aintree as far as i can remember.
 
RC,
I was under the impression that the AB was the choice and not the Ballymore??? Im very taken with this horse and thought the ideal race would be the AB.

Sorry Doctor only just seen this. You've probably seen Jono's quotes from the trainer by now on the Ballymore thread but just wanted to clarify my comment. I know of one of the owners (haven't seen him in donkey's years) but he is in touch with my best mate who I will be going to the Festival with. From what I have been told I don't think there is any doubt they are heading for the Ballymore and are very confident of a big run (although sure all trainers/owners say stuff like that). As mentioned on the Ballymore thread I backed him at the weekend (just 1 point) in the without Samcro market at 12s with BFSB (can get 10s NRNB with PP) and am looking for a decent top up the moment I am really confident Next Destination is not going for the same race, assuming double figures are still available.
 
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Sorry Doctor only just seen this. You've probably seen Jono's quotes from the trainer by now on the Ballymore thread but just wanted to clarify my comment. I know of one of the owners (haven't seen him in donkey's years) but he is in touch with my best mate who I will be going to the Festival with. From what I have been told I don't think there is any doubt they are heading for the Ballymore and are very confident of a big run (although sure all trainers/owners say stuff like that). As mentioned on the Ballymore thread I backed him at the weekend (just 1 point) in the without Samcro market at 12s with BFSB (can get 10s NRNB with PP) and am looking for a decent top up the moment I am really confident Next Destination is not going for the same race, assuming double figures are still available.

Thanks for that RC. Ive cashed out of the AB and backed him in the Ballymore.