Happy Easter everyone! If you are heading to Fairyhouse today, I am a very jealous man! I’m stuck studying, with the occasional racing break of course!!

I only have time to have a run through a couple of my fancies for today, so here goes!

This is’nt a tip! It’s more an advisory note!! 13:50 – Benemeade  is the odds on favourite. Obviously the connections have done a serious job of hyping the work he’s been doing at home because that price is ridiculous. I know nothing about him, but looking at the market (8/1 bar the fav) I’m expecting a superstar. *APPROACH WITH CAUTION* he’s only a maiden. My advice is to stay away from it and see if this fella comes to fruition or not.

14:25 – Annie Power has bomb proof form, unbeaten in her six starts. She steps up to Grade 1 company here, but it’s very difficult to see her being beaten. Keep the money in the pocket and watch the procession. If you like your doubles, look to her. No value otherwise.

14:55 – A hot renewal. This should be an absolute cracker. Several good horses in it but the one I’ve gone with is Pride of the Parish. Stepped back to his favoured 2M 4F trip, and proven on the heavy ground I think he’s value at 7’s. This is the most competitive race he’s probably been in so it is a challenge for him, but he still stcks out for me!

16:30 – Powers Gold Cup – Again, a corker. It’s possible to make a solid argument for every horse in the race. Looking at the market, the bookmakers give them all a chance “statistically”. I could go on forever talking about each runner in detail but the one I’m going for is one of my favourite horses, Buckers Bridge. I’ve backed on all of his starts, bar one. He should have been beaten in Punchestown by Sword of Destiny this season and in my own head I count that as him being beaten, but I think he has every chance here. Obviously my selection will cause a few heads to be scratched, but as I said, a solid case can be made for every runner, as is expected in top notch Grade 1 company. I like his e/w chance!

17:00 – I’ve gone for two head scratcher’s here again, well one more so than the other. the first is Aidan O’Brien’s Carriganog. This son of Shantou is in with a right chance, if the info I’ve gotten is anything to go by. I’ve also gotten word for the rank outsider MacNicholson (16/1). The case that was made to me last night was persuasive! This gelding, by Definite Article, is unraced but surely a top trainer, like Jessie Harrington, isn’t going to pitch up a horse in a festival, of all places, just to get a run into him. The betting forecast for this horse is 15/2 but the money hasn’t come yet obviously. I’ve a small each way nibble purely out of curiosity.

Best of luck! I think we’ll be lucky to find a winner today!

Slán tamaillín,

T

Equine expert, and flat racing genius, James Ryan gives his opinion on Saturday’s card in the Middle East.

Godolphin – Empire Strikes Back

The most valuable days racing in the world is always one of the most competitive affairs in world racing. Everybody is looking for that huge pot of the Dubai World Cup of almost £6.75 Million. This years renewal is as strong as there has ever been. Whether you are betting or not it will be great viewing.

This years card is as good as ever.

1:10 Godolphin Mile:

A mile group 2 for horses just short of being at the very top of the game. This years renewal is an incredibly competitive heat. Six of the horses are rated within 2 pounds of each other so this should turn out to be a close finish. The favourite for the race Soft Falling Rain will be very hard to beat. The colt is unbeaten and if he continues to improve, as he has done in each race at Meydan, he will be very hard to beat. He could be a group 1 colt in the making but is quite short in the betting. If we want a proven Group 1 horse we have to look at Alpha who I believe will be there or there about’. He was just out for a run last time and since his last run, reports suggest that he has been training well. We do have to throw his last couple of runs out as he lost his form but he is the class horse in the race and drawn 1 he should pop out handy and could be hard to peg back. At 20/1 he is definitely too big a price and the value of the race.

1.45 Dubai Gold Cup:

In what was by far the most dramatic race of last years carnival for all the wrong reasons, this years renewal is quite a strong affair. Theres a saying among horsemen when it comes to the stamina based races that often class will more often than not beat Stamina. And with that, the class horse in the race is definitely Imperial Monarch from the Aidan O’Brien stable. He won the classic “French Derby” last year and should have the class to keep these at bay. Cavalryman is also a very classy horse in his own right. I thought he ran a cracker in the Melbourne cup and should be right there again putting it up to Imperial Monarch. Off a strong pace and different race tactics than he has raced with for the past year, Saddlers Rock will be right there at the finish. He needs to be ridden closer to the pace as he no longer has a problem settling as he used to as a precocious 3 year old. However class should tell out and Imperial Monarch should give the Ballydoyle team their first winner of the Meydan Carnival this year.

2.25: UAE Derby:

The last of the non Group 1’s on this day of racing which is a fascinating contest. Many of the runners are still quite unexposed. The talk of the race over the past 3 weeks has been that of Secret Number who will only be making his third start on the World Cup night. Kieran Fallon was very impressed with him when he won his listed race very easily three weeks ago. There has been tons of money for him as well and I am sure it has been smart money. It is a race where your money should stay in your pocket as I feel it is a very open race. But if there was to be an upset I think it could be the Godolphin 3^rd string Shuruq who would be a very good each way bet at 8/1. She won the UAE Oaks 4 weeks ago very easily and I still think there is a lot of improvement in her. She could take a lot of beating given a good ride.

3.05 Al Quoz Sprint:

In what looks a very open race with a lot of runners, I believe boils down to only a handful of horses in which the market leaders should have too much class for the rest of the field. Shea Shea is without doubt the class horse in the field and I can see him dismantling this field as he did 3 weeks ago in his prep run which was against a lot of the same opposition. Sole Power should run on well from the back off which will no doubt be a very strong pace. Starspangledbanner also deserves a mention as if he returned to his best he would be there or there about’s but I really can’t see anything beat Shea Shea over this distance. He is the real class sprinter in this field.

3.45 Dubai Golden Shaheen:

We are all hopeful here for Tom Hogans, Gordon Lord Byron to win but this may be a step too far for the improver. He has been an incredible servant and trained to perfection by a man who deserves more credit than he has gotten to get this horse to where he is today. I see this race bubbling down to a high class sprinter from Australia called Mental and horse being trained in Hong Kong called Frederick Engels. Originally trained by David Brown, Frederick Engals was a high class two year old and very luckless in running on numerous occasions. His three year old career was plagued by injury but I think he’ll be there or there about’s on his form from Sha Tin when a close second to the ex Andy Oliver trained Lucky Nine. Mental will be very hard to beat and is definitely the class horse in the race but the value, at 8/1, would be Frederick Engels who should run a big race for connections.

4.40 Dubai Duty Free

The Dubai Duty Free is the most competitive race on the card. Ocean Park and Little Mike are the two highest rated in the race and someway clear of the rest. However on form and recent races in Dubai, Sajjhaa and Trade Storm definitely deserve a mention as well. Neither has done anything wrong in their run ups to this race. Giofra is another high class filly in the race that has seemingly been working lights out since over in Dubai. If she has been working as well as has been said she will take a lot of beating along with Sajjha who beat the boys in her last start.

5.20 Dubai Sheema Classic

In what looks to be another great race on paper I think will go the way of the highest rated horse in the field. St Nicholas Abbey was a close second in this race last year and there is no Cirrus des Aigles this year. He always seems to run well at the beginning of the season and I think he will be very hard to beat. It is hard to way up the form from Japan but there is a potential champion in Gentildonna running. The money has been pouring in for him over the past week and the Japenese are bound to get behind their horse like only they can. He did beat Orvefre last time out which does stack up very well form wise. Hopefully St. Nick will have the better of him. Shareta is good each way value at 6/1.

6.05 Dubai World Cup

The richest race in the world. I believe this is the strongest renewal of the race since the likes of Street Cry and Dubai Millennium ran in the great race in 2002 and 2000. Hunter’s Light seems to be Godolphin’s pick and every right to be so, having easily won his Group 1 trial three weeks ago. There has been an awful lot of money for him and he will be very hard to beat. He also got a very good draw in 4 which connections are very happy about. Since the draw was announced he has shortened in the betting no end. Royal Delta is the champion mare from America. No filly has every won the race and she bids to make history by doing so. She has been without doubt the best filly we have seen in America since Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra and Rags To Riches. If she wins she will start recouperating her $8.5 million price tag paid by current owners in 2011. She is a class act and will be right there abouts come the finish.

The horse that I believe will win the race is Animal Kingdom. I feel he has the potential to be world class. In my opinion, come the end of the year he will be battling with Camelot and Black Cavier for world horse of the year. He could be that good. He is a Kentucky Derby winner and has had his problems since then but I think he will win this race as he has true class to be one of the best we have seen in the Dubai World Cup for quite some time. He got quite unlucky getting stall 12 of 13 which is a small disadvantage. He races from the back so this should not hinder his display as much as say a horse who needed to be raced from the front. He likes when they go a strong pace early on which has not been happening quite so much in Dubai this year but in the Dubai World Cup the adrenaline will be running high and hopefully the jockeys will go a stride faster. At 11/2 he is a great each way bet. Animal Kingdom is the horse they all have to beat.

JR

Jess Stafford, of Thurloe Thoroughbreds, gives her opinion on the curtain raiser of the turf season in the UK.

The flat season is finally upon us! Who was to imagine that by the end of March we would still be subject to waterlogging, frost and snow! The start of the flat season has suffered due to the adverse weather conditions but now a week later than originally intended, the Lincoln Meeting at Doncaster will kick off proceedings.

Doncaster is expected to be very soft on Saturday afternoon, and for these fresh horses it will be a test of stamina whether they will get home in the mud. The Lincoln Heritage Handicap over one mile is one of the most competitive races of the year and with a field of 22 going to post this year, its set to be a very interesting renewal.

The last couple of years have thrown up some big priced winners. Johnny Murtagh partnered Sweet Lightning in 2011 to win at 16/1 and last year Brae Hill prevailed at 25/1 under Tony Hamilton. BRAE HILL bids to win back-to-back Lincoln’s this year and now a seven year old and with some dismal performances at the end of last year, he is back down to an official rating of 95 the same he won off last year. He’s currently as big as 16/1 with most bookmakers but with the younger, less exposed horses against him I think he’ll need to be at his very best to get his head in front.

CAPTAIN BERTIE has been all the rage for this race and the hype around him has grown after his draw was announced as 7, close to the intended pacesetter, Chosen Character (goes from 13). He had a consistent enough season last year with a fine performance in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket where he was second to Bonnie Brae on heavy ground. He is a soft ground specialist and won the Spring Cup at Newbury last year with a number of the horses that run on Saturday behind him. He is currently a 5/1 shot but for me he is much too short to side with.

The Pearl Bloodstock operation found an interesting horse at last years Horses in Training Sales with CHAPTER SEVEN. The Stuart Williams trained four-year-old holds some interesting positives and having won on the soft ground at York at the end of the season he has proved he should handle the going. Added to this, 6 of the last 10 winners have been four-year-olds, a statistic that bodes well for this son of Excellent Art. Graham Lee, the jockey that has converted so successfully from the jumps to the flat, partners him and I think with a strong pace the hold up tactics they usually use for him will work in his favor. He is currently 10/1, possibly shortening all the time so would be worth getting on early!

The assumed pace setter, Chosen Character, would be worth an each way nibble at 25/1. He was in fine form all of last year and is another horse that relishes this softer going.

 

Best of Luck!

Jess x

 

Simply put, this has been the most amazing, stressful and fulfilling week of my life. If  you were to have explained to me last Monday, the things that were going to happen to me during the past few days I would have immediately branded you as a lunatic! However, it did happen, and I can’t believe it still!

Before I go any further I’d like to thank a few people. Firstly, thanks to anyone I discussed a horse with this week! I value so many people’s opinions and often collate them to calculate my own conclusions. In particular Bill Hutchinson, the man who got me interested in horse racing, James Ryan, my equine conformation consultant and Jess Stafford, she is my indirect finger on the pulse! Also thanks to my uncle, Jim Nugent from the Strawberry Alarm Clock on Dublin’s Fm104 who gave me a chance on Wednesday! Thanks to him I was picked up by KC from the KC Show on TodayFM, to whom I am also extremely grateful for the opportunity. Also thanks to Trish from http://www.kinsalepointtopoint.ie who recommended me to Sky News. I have never met Trish, but when I do, I’m buying! But, the biggest thanks of all goes to you, the readers and punters, who took a chance on a young fella. Without all of you showing an interest nothing would have happened. Thanks!

A lot of people are asking me what happens now?! I’m in my final year of college, so I wont be tipping or blogging for a month or two. Finals are just around the corner! So if you can bear with me, I’ll be back for a bit of May and June!

Horse Racing punditry is something I would love to do when I leave college be it TV, Radio, or writing (after this week I’m proven in all three fields!). Note punditry, not tipping!! The life of a tipster is far too stressful and insecure for me!

For now my thoughts are with JT. Hopefully he will be back to full health as soon as possible!

Thank you all.

Slán Tamaillín,

T

Well, well. Day 3 of the festival taught me a thing or two! The horse racing God’s gave me the metaphorical middle finger and I could only find the 3rd and 4th on e/w bets in the cross country. It comes in swings and roundabouts! Before I get into it I would like to say that my thoughts and prayers are with JT McNamara who, after a bad fall today, is in an induced coma. We all love to back winners, but this puts the whole thing in perspective. Get well JT and I hope to see you back in the saddle very soon.

The bookies absolutely cleaned up today, but thats part and parcel of the game, so well done if you managed to find a winner for yourself. They were few and far between for most punters! Let’s look to tomorrow with a bit of confidence and try to come out of the festival with a few extra quid!!

Triumph Hurdle 13:30 – Our Conor, the 3/1 favourite, has done very little wrong of late. His owner’s, The Man About Town Syndicate, have been bigging him up to be a banker. Interesting to see how he finds the ground tomorrow, as it will be the best he has met all year. Rolling Star has a chance of throwing it up to him, but I’ll still back Our Conor I think. Each way chance lies with Stockton’s Wing, trained by Charles O’Brien. His form suggest’s he is great value at 16’s generally, with a close run second behind Our Conor in Fairyhouse in December.

Vincent O’Brien Handicap Hurdle 14:05 – Another wide open handicap, where anything could happen. A horse I like is Tennis Cap at 10’s generally. He is a progressive  hurdler with smart wins at Naas and Leopardstown this term. I’d like his each way chance. Important to note that Abbey Lane is set to run again, after a disappointing run in the Coral cup. Didn’t over exert himself surely deserves consideration at 25/1.

Albert Bartlett 14:40 – A very hot renewal, with plenty of different contenders worth mention. At Fisher’s Cross is the 5/2 favourite and deservedly so coming off 4 wins on the trot. I’m split between African Gold and Utopies des Bordes to roll him though. Both have a right chance. I’d probably side the Twiston-Davies charge! Inish Island has a nice each way shout at 11’s currently.

Gold Cup 15:20 – This is the pinnacle of the week. The one everyone wants to win. It’s an open race and the form book makes for an interesting read. Bobs Worth is the 11/4 and will take a lot of beating. A course winner and a win at this trip, he looks like the one they have to get past. Sir des Champs is his best challenger, in my opinion. This is the best ground he will get all year and he will appreciate it. My choice. Interesting to note Long Run has never been out of the frame in his Gold Cup appearances, and obviously as a past winner, has to be shown some each way respect. Silviniaco Conti has done nothing wrong this year and is also in with a shout. Also The Giant Bolster who ran in second behind Synchronised last year is deserving of a look e/w @ 14’s. Poor form this year but can’t be completely disregarded. Long Run is the value for me, even though he mightn’t be given the best ride ever. I’ve backed SDC.

Foxhunter’s 16:00 – My nap of the week is Salsify. Irish foxhunter’s are in a class of their own and this lad is the valedictorian. 11/4 all day long. Huge fan of the jock Colman Sweeney who is a great man and stone mad about this horse. Owned by the Mother, trained by the Father, ridden by the Son, there will be scenes of jubilation if this fella can repeat last years efforts and do the business.

Martin Pipe 16:40 – Gevrey Chambertin, half brother to Grand Crus, is the fav in this one but I think is beatable. Edeymi ran into each way money at the festival last year and has a chance of doing the same this time. Tony Martin’s are in form and is in with a nice chance at 8’s generally! Salubrious also has a slight chance of making the frame @ 12’s.

Johnny Henderson 17:15 – A lot of horses with chances here. However, I fancy the favourite Alderwood to run his race. He should show up for punters at 6/1. Go e/w. An outsider with a squeak is Kumbeshwar. Alan King’s are red hot this week and I consider him a value e/w bet @ 20’s.

Thats it for day 4 folks. I hope we can resurrect ourselves from today! If I’m on the radio tomorrow morning I’ll confirm on Twitter so follow @turftalktom.

Best of luck with your selections tomorrow. Skin them!

Slán tamaillín,

T

The last 48 hours has been an absolute whirlwind experience for me. After setting up a twitter account at lunchtime yesterday, it now has 1,534 followers. The blog for day 2 was viewed 12,000 times since 12 midnight last night! Two radio interview’s later, I am flabbergasted at the amount of support and attention this is getting. Thanks a million to everyone! Let’s skin them again tomorrow!

Before I start: MEDINASSSSSSS!!!! Well done to everyone who had the balls to back him with me, even when he drifted out to 33’s!

Jewson Novice’s 13:30 – Dynaste is the 6/4 fav, and rightly so. A quality horse that is definitely worth sticking into a Yankee/Lucky15. Although, if like me, you are searching for some each way value, sure Captain Conan appeals at 6/1. After three wins on the bounce and with B. Geraghty in the plate, this lad has a nice each way claim. Aupcharlie also deserves a lot of respect with him being a lot of punter’s long range fancy! Nice chance.

Pretemps Final 14:05 – Sam Winner in this one, the 4/1 favourite currently. His form doesn’t look great, but seemingly the work he is doing at home in the Nicholl’s yard is absolutely stellar and he also carries a handy enough weight. An each way squeak lies with American Trilogy ridden by the 5lb claimer and Paul Nicholl’s nephew Harry Derham. 16’s currently.

Ryanair Chase 14:40 – This is an absolutely cracking renewal and is a race I am very excited about. First Lieutenant is the punter’s favourite at the moment, @ 5/2 with most firms. The ground being a bit on the soft side might not suit him tomorrow and I think the each way alternative, Menorah, sticks out as a value bet at 7/1.

World Hurdle 15:20 –  This is set be another corker, with a number of serious contenders in the mix. I’m sweet enough on Peddlers Cross here at 10/1, each way, no harm! This fella came second to Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle 2 years ago, but I’m not sure whether he will stay the 3 miles here. I’ll still have a few quid on him. Another with a big chance is Bog Warrior. Top class performer and should be there, thereabouts coming to the line.

Byrne Group Plate 16:00 – I’ve heard, through the grape vine, that Colm Murray, formerly a great of RTÉ sport, has a nice horse with Willie Mullins, his old friend. The horse is called Sweet My Lord. Mullins and Murray often enjoyed a pint or two in the Lord Bagnal over the years and it would be an absolute dream for Colm if this lad could do the business. Apparently he is in tip top form and is in with every chance, and is a handy bet at 10’s e/w for me. Another with an each way squeak is Calgary Bay at 33/1. An outside chance of running into the frame.

Kim Muir 16:40 – Wide open. Stick a pin in it or keep the cash in the back pocket. If I had to choose one….well two, I’d give each way chances to No Secrets(12’s) and Chartreux(16’s), but would’t be lorrying into them by any means.

Cross Country 17:15 – Outlaw Pete is in with every chance in this one and is probably my each way selection. A man, who’s opinion I would respect greatly, is very sweet on Boston’s Angel and he provides an alternative to my fella and should run a big race!

That’s it for Day 3 folks. It’s been great craic so far and I hope we can find a few winners again tomorrow! Thanks again for all the support. If you are in the Dublin area, I will be on FM104’s Strawberry Alarm Clock around 7:30a.m, so tune in, for the early risers amongst you! For any other news keep an eye on @turftalktom on Twitter!

Best of luck with your selections tomorrow, it’s going to be a difficult day to make money I feel!

Slán tamaillín,

T

I think it’s safe to say that the day just gone is the most ridiculous day I have ever had in my entire life. It’s days like that make you fall in love with the game. My phone has been ringing non stop all day with words of congratulations and thanks. The kind words are very much appreciated! I highly doubt that a day like that will happen to me again anytime soon, but here is my attempt to recreate the magic tomorrow!!

John Oaksey National Hunt Chase 13:30 – This four mile race will be a gruelling challenge tomorrow, with the ground being on the soft side. Backinfocus is the deserving 3/1 favourite, coming out of a yard that is in red hot form and after three wins on the spin. He deserves a lot of respect, as does Godsmejudge, who has every chance in this marathon. Alan King will have him right for the day and is in with every chance. I’m not too sweet on him, but he is my each way selection.

Neptune Hurdle 14:05 – The bookies are due an upset at some point having been absolutely cleaned on the first day of the festival but I really don’t see it coming here. Pont Alexandre is the fully qualified favourite at 6/4, and the Mullins’ team reckon he is one of the best they have. High praise indeed. An each way squeak lies with Taquin de Seuil but I can’t see Willie’s charge being beaten tomorrow.

RSA Chase 14:40 – Unioniste is the favourite here but I’m not 100% on him. Boston Bob could easily throw it up to him in this one, and for those looking to take on the fav, would be the one for me. Another horse with an each way squeak is   Lyreen Legend who is my e/w selection at 9’s currently.

Queen Mother Champion Chase 15:20 – Sprinter Sacre, that is all. If you want to have an each way bet, don’t. Sit back and enjoy the machine that this fella is!! Betting without markets – Sizing Europe is the obvious choice.

Coral Cup 16:00 – This is a wide open handicap with a big field. The field is laid at 12/1 bar two, which is a good indicator that this is a complete lottery, seeing a lot of horses with claims to make. Keeping your bet small and each way are key tactics for the knowledgable punter here. Abbey Lane is in with a right chance here, and sees Walsh and Mullins team up again in an attempt to continue their form. He carries a handy weight and had a nice win in Leopardstown the last day. A chance also lies with Medinas, again from the King yard with Wayne Hutchinson in the plate. After a nice win at Ffos Las and a nice, but not overwhelming, bit of form, I’d give this lad an each way shout @ 20/1 currently.

Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 16:40 – Another handicap with a big field with the field laid at 9/1 bar. Again several horses have claims to make but a horse I deem to be superb value is Fatcatinthehat at 14’s currently. Very impressive when winning his maiden the last day in Leopardstown. A case can also be made for Zamdy man from the Venetia Williams’ yard. He lack’s a little place on the flat but has a chance of getting into the frame @ 25/1.

Champion Bumper 5:15 – The talk of the town is Blackmail who has a bit a form and is supposed to be in tip top shape. Connections are hoping for a BIG run – take from that what you will. Another I want t mention is Shield. People might say I’m only mentioning him because it’s O’Brien’s return to National Hunt, but to be honest it has nothing to do with that. I was really impressed with his win the last day and was given a great ride by Katie Harrington. This lad screams each way value, to me anyway, at 16’s generally.

That’s it for Day 2 folks. Thanks again for all the messages and kind words of support. The traffic on the blog and facebook/twitter activity has been incredible, with it becoming quite popular in Ireland and in the U.K. I’m told there’s a lot of people following me tomorrow after today’s performance so the pressure is on.

The very best of luck with your own selections! Skin the Bookies!!

Slán tamaillín,

T

follow: @turftalktom on Twitter

With the blink of an eye we are back once again to the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the Cheltenham festival. The one event of the year that honestly get’s me so excited I loose a large amount of sleep! This year’s festival, as per usual, is set to be an absolute cracker with a number of clashes between the heavy weights of the National Hunt world taking centre stage.

It’s make or break time for trainers, jockeys and those horses that have made it through the season to Cheltenham in an attempt to etch their names into the history books. Here’s hoping we can find a winner or two!!

Supreme Novice’s Hurdle 13:30 – One of the best renewals of this race I have ever seen. This is going to be a very hotly contested affair with a number of horses having considerable chances. My tent or Yours is the deserving favourite currently 2/1. A classy individual with a real claim to make. However, he is too short for me and is unproven on the ground and the stiff track at Cheltenham. A.P. McCoy is very sweet on this fella but I don’t like him. The new McManus recruit Jezki, who cost JP the princely sum of €500,000 , is also a horse that deserves a mention. He is a good performer and should go well tomorrow but is not to my liking at 4/1. Un Atout is a relatively unknown entity but most definitely deserves respect – too unkown for me though. I’m going for CHAMPAGNE FEVER here each way, surprise, surprise. This horse is straight out of the top drawer. He beat Jezki in the Bumper here last year impressively at 16/1 and is still great value at 7/1 for this. (He is now 4/1 with PP….gamble???!!!). Many people will disagree with me here but I am a huge fan of this fella.

The Arkle 14:05 – This race is a slightly less competitive affair with Simonsig shaping up to be a banker for a lot of punters, especially the English. I can’t argue with them really, he is a top class horse with form to back it up. Overturn, in my opinion has a massive concern with the ground softening now and will not like it. Arvika Ligeonniere jumps to the right, which on a left handed track at Cheltenham, does not bode well. For me it’s SIMONSIG all the way. However, BAILY GREEN has a chance of running into the money at a big price and a small each way bet here is, perhaps, the more educated decision, and is what I will be doing.

JLT Speciality Handicap Chase 14:40 – Bookies have not got a clue here, and to be honest neither do punters with the field laid at 11/1 bar two. Advice here is to keep it small and each way. Perhaps spread the money and back two! Chances lie with Loch Ba and The Package. Golden Chieftan, from the Tizzard yard,at an enormous price also sticks out, but an intelligent punter keeps the money in the pocket here as there is not much to go by.

Champion Hurdle 15:20 – Like last year, this race will be the making and breaking of Irish punter’s weeks with Hurricane Fly being a banker for us. He should go well and connections persistently indicate that he was out of form last year, and regard it as a blip on the record. I tend to agree. However, the ground is softening and Zarkandar will be there, thereabouts coming to the last in those conditions. Paddy Power are offering a money back special on all bets if the Fly does the job. Up until yesterday a nice bet on Rock on Ruby with PP was appealing to me as I would most likely get my money back. However the soft ground is against him and he is less appealing now. As a student I can’t afford to get stuck in to Hurricane Fly at his price, but I think he will win. If you are in my position an each way bet on one of the alternatives with PP is the intelligent approach. You will probably get your stake back!

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 16:00 – This is a fairly open contest with several contenders worth talking about. Normally I would be all about Sizing Austrailia here, but his recent form doesn’t exactly sweep you off your feet, although I might just have a wee each way punt for interest. Outlaw Pete carries a big weight but is in with an each way squeak at 11/2. Uncle Junior  also catches the eye at 8/1 with Paddy Mullins in the plate. Each way is the name of the game here again.

Mare’s Hurdle 16:40 – The livelihood of several people I know is on Quevega’s back tomorrow. She is everybody’s banker. I’d be fairly confident that she’ll bring it home for the punter’s again this year, bar a faller takes her out. She is a great addition to any Luck15/Yankee selections. Kentford Grey Lady has a chance of running into money, you are at nothing if you’re looking for something to beat Quevega, but I’ve been wrong before!!

R4R Novices Chase 17:15 – Another wide open contest here with the field at 7/1 bar. A lad I like is Carlito Brigante, set to be ridden by Davy Russell. He is better than his form in my opinion and has an each way chance. Another which I might a few beans each way on is Rajdhani Express. He was extremely impressive when he won at Kempton over the Christmas, although the handicapper buried him after that performance with his mark sky rocketing from 120 to 142. He is back to 140 but carries top weight. Sam Waley-Cohen claims 5 pounds off his back, but is also not the best pilot around, putting it very, very, very politely. However, I think he is superb value e/w at 22’s generally.

So that’s it for Day 1. It’s a day for banker’s and huge outsider’s, the middle ground is definitely lacking. There are opportunities tomorrow to make a few bob so box clever and plan carefully. The bookies are scared about tomorrow Quevega, Simonsig and Hurricane Fly come in they are b*lloxed, which means the prices will go out for the rest of the week to try and attract punters, so if they all do the business we are in for a great week for value. If not there could be tears.

Best of luck with your selections.

Slán tamaillín,

T

It’s a dreary Wednesday evening in Dublin city centre and all things seem a bit grim with the prospect of deadlines and college exams on the horizon. Nevertheless, if there was ever an event to lift you from the depths of despair it is most definitely the Cheltenham festival if, like myself, you are partial to the occasional flutter.

Over the course of the next week I will attempt to impart the opinions, tips and little knowledge I have in an effort to have more money in the back pocket, on Friday evening next, than you started out with the Tuesday before.

For those of you who don’t know, the four days of the Cheltenham festival are a roller coaster. The ups are incredible, but when you reach the top and look like you might be about to make a descent there are definitely plenty of those “Oh Sh*t!” moments.

My aim is to help you, the punter at large, to stay on that upward trend and skin the bookies. As a wise Mullingar man once said to me “When you dance with the wolves, you have to to dance with the Japanese Salamander as well”. What that means…I haven’t the slightest clue but it sounds like it means something important.

I’ll have my pre-festival tips up soon.

Sl
án tamaillín,

T