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Handicap Shortlist - Cheltenham 2020

Disappointed not to see Castlebawn West with a handicap entry. Had him earmarked for something like the Ultima.
 
He’s caught in racing purgatory. Falls short in graded company but too good for the saddle levers!
 
The Beast said:
Im on 33/1 and I reckon its Pertempts all day long , they have been very shrewd with placing him , sighter at Cheltenham whereby he definately acted around track well , quietly qaulified without catching the eye. Think he got great chance of winning.
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Rocket Lad was entered an ran in the Grade 2 Trials Day Novice at Cheltenham at the end of January.
At that time his Official Irish Rating was 138
The British handicapper had him 7lb higher when assessing, at 145.
 
The Beast said:
Im on 33/1 and I reckon its Pertempts all day long , they have been very shrewd with placing him , sighter at Cheltenham whereby he definately acted around track well , quietly qaulified without catching the eye. Think he got great chance of winning.
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....if you think the Pertemps is certain for Rocket Lad, it’s 60-1 with Ladbrokes price boost. 365 have it 20-1 nrnb.
 
Please could somebody tell me which day this week the weights are published?
 
Nwfb89 said:
Please could somebody tell me which day this week the weights are published?
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Wednesday for the handicap weights, and
also the entries for the remaining four races
Cross Country
Foxhunters
Bumper
Mares Novice Hurdle

That's it then until the 5-day entries for Day 1, on Wednesday 4th March.
 
archie said:
I've no inside information but, when Willie galloped Al Boum Photo, Kemboy, Cadmium and Aramon at Punchestown last month, I was struck that the 5th member of the group was Blazer. He came third in the Dan Moore last year off 139 and he runs in this year's edition on Saturday off 141. He didn't make Cheltenham last year (reason unknown) and he's been dual purpose over fences and hurdles (2nd in the 2018 Galway Hurdle off 139) so a specific target is hard to identify. However, he is currently 25/1 in the Hills any race market.

I wouldn't be leaping in now but I'll be watching Saturday's race with interest.
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Quevega said:
Think they've been gagging to win a big handicap with this for a while now.
Same with Gordon and Ben Dundee.

Just very difficult to say when and where (before it's too late)
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archie said:
Very true.

Has to be emphasised that he's been off the track for a long time and the others from the Punchestown gallop have looked likely to come on for their first run. That's why it's a watching brief. If he pops in on Saturday, that's life. He doesn't owe me anything and it's just an intellectual exercise at this stage.
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As Archie suggested might be the case Blazer seemed to need the run in the Dan Moore (wasn't a bad return from a layoff by any means) and then he followed up with a good 4th at DRF - travelled into the race like the winner but then seemed to get outpaced before staying on well again to the line. Has entries in the Plate and Kim Muir and if anyone likes him the 25s any race price with Hills is still available. Top price 20s for the Plate, generally 14/16. I have reservations about his win rate and I think his best trip is unclear but 25s plus boost is too big to ignore for a horse who's threatened to win a big one. He was 4th in the Coral Cup once upon a time and doesn't have many miles on the clock for a 9 year old.
 
Haven't got stats in front of me but from memory Mullins has a terrible handicap chase record (Cheltenham) doesn't he ?
 
Istabraq said:
Haven't got stats in front of me but from memory Mullins has a terrible handicap chase record (Cheltenham) doesn't he ?
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Correct me if wrong, but he hasn't won 1 yet has he?
 
JrowN20 said:
Correct me if wrong, but he hasn't won 1 yet has he?
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He hadn't won a Gold Cup though.

Definitely not a trend I'd strike a line through a horse with.

The biggest trend to follow is 'Mullins breaks trends'
 
I find it inconceivable that anyone could use the fact a horse is trained by W P Mullins as a negative for its chances in any festival race.
 
Viking Flagship said:
I find it inconceivable that anyone could use the fact a horse is trained by W P Mullins as a negative for its chances in any festival race.
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Trends are established and are there for good reason.
With Mullins I think he has such quality in his yard, and is such a talented trainer, that he focuses on graded races and if he has one that isn't good enough for that he'll wait for better opportunities and weaker races.
Handicaps are so competitive and generally go to horses who have been plotting for a while, I don't think that's Mullins style.
Conversely, he has a very good record in handicap hurdles...
 
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