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Cheltenham Preview Nights 2018

RSA

PK - If I owned Monalee, he'd be going in the JLT after WC coming out. Be under 2/1, here he's against some very good horses, and JLT fall apart. Loves Presenting Percy, but don't like him running over 2 1/2 in heavy lto.

More he looks at it, more he likes Black Corton. If he started his chase career in November, he be short. Bryony Frost is better than 80% of jockeys riding. Luck pulls him, and he says if there is ever a woman champ, it's her.

DJ - Likes BF, but not BC. Loves PP, and also doesn't like running horse against OD over 2.5, when could have run him over 3m at Navan where he would be short odds shortly after. Hopes not, because he thinks he is most likely winner.

Ballyoptic only horse that he thinks is genuine value. Beat Elegant Escape & Barney Dwan, and thinks that's best piece of English form. Lost way in Kauto Star, but better value for the margin last time. Battle hardened, and thinks he's in Blaklion mould.

NL - If forgotten horses in race, thinks Al Boum Photo forgotten horse, and Mias Storm, who might not run. She was favourite to beat BC/EE/FW. If she runs, he'll be backing her.
 
QMCC

PK - Won't know if Douvan is 100% if he runs, but if both do is an Altior man. Thinks he'll go as close to Sprinter as you can get. Stat about chasers reappearing from long absence. 106 horses > 275days won first time out, and only 1 won second time out. Most be leg probs rather than wind, so not such a worry for Altior, but interesting.

NL - RR said we are intending to run both in CC. Nick said that Ruby will ride Min I presume as shorter price. If Ruby is riding Min, I'll ask him why we're running Douvan.

DJ - Shocked at how quick Douvan recovered. Best horse Willie has trained. Thinks 75/25 he makes race, and this would be his best training performance. Will have to be very good to beat Altior. Altior very special.

PK - Doesn't bet at odds on. 2 bets at Chelts odds on, and both lost. Ran into ****ing Big Bucks!

NL - Charbel running well last year, believes they have corrected a small prob with his back, and if he comes back to Arkle form. Running in Jumpers bumpers tomorrow.
 
Benie Des Dieux still being talked up by Ricci and Walsh by sounds of it.
5-1 w/o apples jade W Hill still avai;able, for those that don't know already.
As N Luck said, if walsh rides then it will be 7-2 sp to beat apples nevermind come second.
 
Benie Des Dieux still being talked up by Ricci and Walsh by sounds of it.
5-1 w/o apples jade W Hill still avai;able, for those that don't know already.
As N Luck said, if walsh rides then it will be 7-2 sp to beat apples nevermind come second.

I'm going into the shop to back this tomorrow. Hope it's still available by then.
 
JLT

PK - Bonkers not to run Monalee here, by far easiest novice chase to win. Fair price NRNB, and will be much shorter if it runs. If he doesn't run, the race will fall apart.

Finians Oscar most talented horse in the race. Lots of horses took time to get their act together over fences. 2nd half of last race, he jumped quite well, and just got beat by Benatar, who is a very good horse. Thinks he'll go here, and if race falls apart, double figure price is good.

DJ - As PK says, FO prob does have most ability. Most likely to fall apart. Might get some boos, but thinks most likely winner is Modus. Rated 156, 5th in Coral Cup 2nd in Greatwood, and 2nd in Champion Bumper. Race has almost fallen into his lap, and Nicholls talks him down. Thinks it's a proper horse, who could go off favourite.
 
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 :D

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Got home and tuned in

Needs to keep THAT stat and Calett Mad to himself!
 
The audience are shocking. Full of idiots.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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