Morning folks. Last day of the festival. Got £80 back yesterday so banked £40 and topped up existing bets with the other £40. Todays selections: 1:20 Quixillos and Adaggio. 1:55 Champagne Gold, Ganapathi and Drop the Anchor. 2:30 Stattler, Fakiera and Barbodos Bucks. 3:05 Champ, Kemboy and Royal Pagaille. 3:40 Billaway, Staker Wallace and Stand up and Fight. 4:15 Ellimay, Shattered Love and Zambella. 4:50 Gentleman De Mee, Fire Attack and First Lord De Cuet.
Here it is, the final curtain. 1.20 - Quixillos wants softer ground, don't think Adagio is good enough. Fav probably too, and the ex-Elliot horses aren't having too good a time of it this week anyway. Tritonic smashed up a decent field last time and with good ground in his favour rates a decent bet. 1.55 - Wouldn't put you off the fav, has the right profile. Gowel Road an improving novice. Pick something that likes good ground and is a young horse with scope for improvement. 2.30 - Tends to be a real slog. The sexy horses with a load of wins often come unstuck as this is a real stamina test. You often find that horses that have been running in the wrong kind of races all winter find that the penny drops in this. Often won by a big priced horse. 3.05 - The big one. The defending champ seems rock solid. Champ itself is hugely talented if a complete lunatic. Minella Indo has to put a bad run behind him last time, A Plus Tard has Rachel Blackmore in the saddle who is riding out of her skin. It's difficult. 3.40 - Not really bothered. 4.15 - Colreevy is my bet of the day. Beat Mount Ida last time who hosed home in the 4.50 yesterday. 4.50 - Another pin job to finish. Look for a novice that has been running well in graded races. The Irish tend to win it. --- 1.20 - Tritonic (against Quixillos) 1.55 - Gowel Road (Ganapathi huge danger). 2.30 - Vanillier (against Statler) 3.05 - Al Boum Photo (Lostintranslation interesting each way) 3.40 - Bob And Co if I've had a few winners 4.15 - Colreevy best bet 4.50 - Frontal Assault and Commanding Presence
No strong fancies on the day today, but I've got ante post wagers running on Tritonic (1.20) at 10/1 and Champ (3.05) at 12/1. In the 4.50 it looks as though Langer Dan is 5 lbs well in following his Imperial Cup win so I've had a little tickle on that one and also Gabynako, who Tom Segal appears particularly keen on due to his form behind Bob Ollinger in January. I'm pleased Nico is on Champ, but if he can't pull it off what a fantastic chance this is for there to be a first female Gold Cup-winning jockey. (Bryony is certainly not out of it on the admirable Frodon). Paul Townend may be on the way to retaining his Irish Jockey's title but there can be little doubt that Rachael Blackmore has this week shown herself to be the better rider. She will surely run Townend close in Ireland next season following her exploits this week. It's fabulous to see a sport where men and women can compete on equal terms. Well, if my bets don't run a little better today there's always the start of the Turf Flat season a week tomorrow! COYR!
I fancied loads today and that's the trouble. I thought there'd be a good form line through a race in Ireland won by Gerhard Du Mesnil but that form looks crap now with Willie Mullins trio bombing in the 4:15 yesterday. I've had another look and fancy his second string in the last today because of it's run behind Appreciate It. Galopin Des Champs finished 9 lengths behind Appreciate It and Appreciate It won by half a track on Tuesday.
Can't remember if we've alluded to it on here SD (not sure if Fonzie mentioned it), but there's been very little collateral form as between the British and Irish runners, so I think that's made things more tricky. Of course Rachael has won more on her own than the British runners. But we couldn't know that in advance!
Horses to stay clear of; 1.20 Tritonic 1.55 Eclair De Beaufeu E/W 2.30 The Cob E/W 3.05 Al Boom Photo 3.40 Stand up and Flight E/W 4.15 Shattered Love E/W 4.50 Leoncavallo E/W Happy punting to all.
Barring Chantry House and Shishkin the British form has been pretty dire. Nicholls has had a shocker.
Small profit yesterday thanks to extra places and Rachel Blackmore. Today's tips without analysis.. 1.20 Quilixios 1.55 Fifty Ball 2.30 Stattler 3.05 Royale Pagaille 3.40 Billaway 4.15 Colreevy 4.50 Leoncavallo Some of these will be each-wayed... Best of luck folks
https://m.skybet.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/event/27310266 5/1 boost for leading jockey Rachael Blackmore to get another brace today. She's a very good chance of turning over the favourite in the first.
Good start first race winner (very unlike me) champagne gold up next with al Boum photo in the big race
Been a pretty good week for me, 16s and 4s winner today and a few decent pots over the week. Hopefully I'll be there in person next year.
Well down. Did crap today. My bigger stakes went down. Billaway and Elimay shafted me. Royal Pagaille not getting in the three set me back too.
Thanks guys, I know nothing about horses but selected 4 from your tips, put a fiver on and came out with £60.
