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General Chat

Liammet you are an absolute star - it works in Greece too!
Thank you so much.
This forum never ceases to amaze me. The generosity of spirit shown by so many FJs is very humbling.
Someone else sent me a PM to say I was welcome to use their racing to account so I could watch Irish racing replays while abroad. I’m only not naming them out of respect for their PM privacy. But that too was an extremely kind gesture from someone I’ve never met. Thank you all.
Just throw in a few thoughts on my catch up.
Lobbed 3pts win on Galvin at 33-1 in the XC as I can see it as a distinct possibility- and if it happens Galvin goes off favourite in my book.
Delta Work was the same age (9) when Gordon gave him his XC debut at the Festival.
And if Galvin does we that route I think we may be on tenterhooks until the 11th hour.
Running Galvin in the XC would also tee him up nicely for a crack at the Grand National- likely too high in the weights for me sadly. It’s a well trodden route for Gordon.
Against that, Gordon may go into the Festival with Galvin being his best GC hope again - and he might be reluctant to pass up another crack at the blue riband race if Delta Work is fit and firing for a repeat in the XC.
Suppose it all hinges on how Galvin fares in his next couple of runs in top company.
But 33-1 is hard to ignore when you’d probably struggle to beat 3-1 on the day if he goes for the XC.
Cashed out Ash Tree Meadow in the NHC for no loss.
I thought he ran a decent enough race over an inadequate trip the other day - and we may look back and think he had an impossible task against a big improver.
But I’m happy to keep a watching brief for now.
I like Banbridge a lot but my big worry is: he has so many options why would they send him over the NHC marathon trip when he looks great at two-and-half miles.
If the Turners cuts up I could see him taking his chance there. Does he need 4 runs to qualify for the Plate now? If so it’s probably a non starter.
And the only time he ran over 3miles was at Aintree where it certainly didn’t work out.
Maybe I’ve missed some trainer quotes saying the NHC is the target. Forgive me if that’s the case. Trying to do everything on a phone is beyond me.
But wherever Banbridge runs at the Fez he’ll have a serious chance in my book.
Marine Nationale looked smart the other day but early season form can make a fool of you once Willie has brought out the big guns.
I got burned in the MNH this year after being very impressed with Impervious in the autumn. She ran a respectable 6th but That experience has made me slightly more cautious this time round.
But when you miss the early price on a horse it’s all too easy to be dismissive of their chances.
Good luck to all who sail in them - and thanks again FJs for getting my little show back on the road.
Galvin was my first bet for 5 weeks!!!
 
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Appreciate Hunter Chase quotes in October won't be for everyone but David Christie with an update on Winged Leader and Vaucelet:


“Winged Leader has just started cantering and we are aiming for Down Royal at Christmas.

“We’ll then see how the springtime pans out. He’ll aim for either Cheltenham or Aintree.

***

“Vaucelet is a better stayer and a proper Foxhunter horse for Cheltenham. He’s come back in a lot stronger and will run in a point-to-point at Portrush on Saturday.

“He’s ground dependent and I wouldn’t want to run him on deep winter ground. Cheltenham will definitely be his main priority this year.

“Both horses have been brought up through the ranks and haven’t been plucked from Grade 1’s. They have earned their corn.

“It would be nice to win at Cheltenham after going so close last year but it’s not going to make me a man one way or the other.

“You just have to let it go and accept it — you might never win at Cheltenham but you keep trying.”

Vaucelet won by half a length on seasonal debut today. Bookies respond by cutting to 7/2...
 
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Vaucelet won by half a length on seasonal debut today. Bookies respond by cutting to 7/2...

Was going to put this on. Doesn't look to be the best season opening performance.

Acheson had a well bred 4yo maiden winner.
​​​​​
 
Have had 14 goals from 4 matches in the 365 win bet credits. Needs MCFC to rip Liverpool a new asshole latter today for 20 goals this week.
 
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Have had 14 goals from 4 matches in the 365 win bet credits. Needs MCFC to rip Liverpool a new asshole latter today for 20 goals this week.

Could easily happen today. Can see Klopp walking gracefully away if it does.
 
Have had 14 goals from 4 matches in the 365 win bet credits. Needs MCFC to rip Liverpool a new asshole latter today for 20 goals this week.

Only 7 goals from 3 games for me. Though I am 2/2 on their 6 scores challenge, so bound to get the other 4 in today & win a million :rolleyes:
 
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B365 with green glory greyed out for AB before todays race even starts
 
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just watching The Finishing Line , and they are talking about Cheltenham making an announcement tomorrow ,.
It seem's that the five day festival may be coming .
 
Question ?
Does anyone believe there is any value in Antepost betting anymore ?

probably deserves its own thread

Bookmakers cutting horses for absolute no reason
Flagged up by Joe Bloggs on Twitter and wins by 1/2 length and gets cut in Antepost favourite

Really don’t know how even the shrewdest on here can make an Antepost book work
 
Question ?
Does anyone believe there is any value in Antepost betting anymore ?

probably deserves its own thread

Bookmakers cutting horses for absolute no reason
Flagged up by Joe Bloggs on Twitter and wins by 1/2 length and gets cut in Antepost favourite

Really don’t know how even the shrewdest on here can make an Antepost book work

I do think the prices have gotten ridiculously short compared to previous years but there is definitely value to be had. The likes of Kilcruit, Appreciate It, Shishkin and Energumene were all antepost favourites for their respective races this festival gone and at some stage of the season you could get double figures for all of the horses that won those races (Sir Gerhard, Edwardstone, Energumene and A Plus Tard). Its a lot harder now and you have to be more decisive when making/trying to exit a bet but the value can still be there. Those were just off the top of my head but I'd bet a few more went similarly.

Edit: Kilcruit obviously was near the top of the betting but of course I cannot go without mentioning Constitution Hill who was also mega odds at some stage.
 
Question ?
Does anyone believe there is any value in Antepost betting anymore ?

probably deserves its own thread

Bookmakers cutting horses for absolute no reason
Flagged up by Joe Bloggs on Twitter and wins by 1/2 length and gets cut in Antepost favourite

Really don’t know how even the shrewdest on here can make an Antepost book work

There always is.

A lot of the short ones have persuasive back-stories, but of course, don’t always deliver.

If your not a book builder, the fun and the art of it, is being successful enough at spotting which shorties are not only poor value, but then taking a view on which one (or two) are likely to deliver the winner instead.

I love perfection, one bet, one big price, one winner.

But I acknowledge that with many races , it’s obvious that you need more than one go, during the season, particularly the novice hurdles.

I never feel happier at the Cheltenham Festival, than when my “1st dart” at a race, actually wins the race
(regardless of whether that’s my biggest financial winner on the race, or it’s not).

Sir Gerhard, Stattler, Flooring Porter, State Man were in the category last March.

Bob Olinger was too, but I didn’t feel so great about the manner of that victory.
 
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The Festival remaining as a 4-day event.

I was very pleasantly surprised to get that email - let's hope that it's put the 5 day Festival option to bed (at least for the next 10 years or so).
 
Great news. 4 days is just right. I know some people shout for 3 but that is one thing they def won’t do. I’ve enjoyed it as a 4 day festival every year.