So with each way returns on Guitar Pete and Rajdhani Express (if you went to Paddy’s like I told you) then we are just about keeping the head above or close to above the water.

I realise that I’m a bit tight for time so this will be brief!!

15:00 Mallard Pawnbrokers And Family Jewellers Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle – 4/1 the field in this fairly open handicap contest. I’ve gone for an each way tipple on the 7/1 shot Big Casino who had a nice win last time at Carlisle which saw his mark skyrocket from 109 to 125…he’s top weight here but I think could still be ahead of the handicapper.

13:35 Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle – Sea Lord was rated 115 on the flat and has a won a group 3 on the flat….the class horse in the race by a stretch. He is my selection at 5/4. Hopefully he acts on the track.

14:10 Racing Post Arkle Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase – A competitive enough Arkle trial. Cases can be made for most. A bit of money for Ted Veale this morning and he acts on the track. Dodging bullets could be the more exciting chasing prospect but Ive sided with the Martin charge here.

14:40 Shloer Chase – Sire de Grugy is the fav. Special Tiara has decent chasing form and probably disappointed connections when unseating at the first. Has a chance and hopefully he can handle the stiff track. He beat the fav at Aintree…he also gets weight…8/1 is very fair.

15:15 StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle – The top of the market holds a lot of talent in this handicap but I’ve decided to come out the prices a bit to the 10/1 shot Thomas Eddison who’s form doesn’t read great but did in fact beat Champagne Fever in a bumper many moons ago!! 3rd last time at Down Royal with troubled passage….each way.

15:50 Fairlawne – Festival Jockey Club Fine Dining Bumper – Won’t be launching into anything here. Neck or Nothing interests me for an each way bet. Tom Hogan is a shrewd customer and the fact that he sends this unexposed sort is interesting. Just a curious bet.

That’s it for Day 3! Best of luck with your selections!!

Slán tamaillín,

T

With a strong run from Balthazar King and a few each way returns on Deep Trouble and Sew on Target we can go into day two of the meeting with a few beans in the poca and drive on tomorrow.

It’s late so without further ado I’m going to plough on ahead!

 

12:40 JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial – This race is pretty hot looking through the form. Royal Irish Huzzar, a former Ballydoyle recruit, is the current short priced fav at 11/10 and is rated 142….pretty high for a novice with two runs over fences under his belt….although he did win by 14 lengths the last day. Look….lets be frank….the fav looks to be a sharp enough juvenile but at the price in a race like this he surely can be taken on. Cases can be made for several. I’m happy to take an each way chance on the 8/1 Hughes trained Cooper ridden Guitar Pete. I won’t be getting stuck in in a major way but just think he could at least run into second even though his flat form is disappointing.

13:15 Roy Blandford 65 Years At Cheltenham Novices’ Chase – Pretty strong on the favourite here and he is one of my ten to follow for the season. I think African Gold could develop into a sharp enough chaser. Hopefully he’s nice and sharp and full of beans!

13:50 Murphy Group Handicap Chase – The Twiston-Davies charge is pretty highly thought of and with a decent prep behind Balthazar King last time out at the same track he should go well. 7/1 is tantalising. The selection is Tour des Champs.

14:30 Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase – Important to note Paddy Power are paying 5 places in this…if you have an each way bet anywhere else you need your noggin examined. I could go on all day here. I potentially think that the handicapper has him held but my gut feeling is to side with Rajdhani Express. He very much fits the profile and 10/1 seems fair.

15:00 Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Hurdle – I fancy two here in what is a fairly open contest. Silver Eagles form got a nice boost with Thomas Crapper coming home in front on Day 1. Acts on the track and only up 4…6/1 is ok. If Victrix Gale runs again I am most definitely having an each way saver. Tony Martin is fairly good at this quick run lark…see Busted Tycoon three wins from three runs in three days at the Galway festival. Take note.

15:35 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle –  No great opinion here. Emma Lavelles (trains fav) are hot at the minute….I might leave this one alone.

16:05 Ukash Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race – It’s 14/1 bar the top three at 3/1, 7/2 and 5/1 respectively….a story in its self….Mullins and Townend present the fav, Supreme Ballerina, for the Supreme Racing Club…I won’t be diving in….an each way saver on Flementime will be enough to see me home. No great interest otherwise.

That’s it for day 2!! Beir bua!!

Slán tamaillín,

T

I think it would be very fair to say that tomorrow is not really a punting day. A 6 race card made up of 4 handicaps a 4 runner novice chase and a cross country race may get some punters licking their lips but not me I’m afraid. However sometimes life gives you lemons, and instead of saying “F*ck the lemons” and bailing, we can try and make lemonade…it may be sour but at least we tried…I have no idea what I’m talking about but I’m just going to let it slide.

Here we go!

13:05 Opus Energy Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase – Current 6/4 favouritism lies with the ultra progressive Standing Ovation who in the last month has had four wins from four runs and connections have seen this lads mark skyrocket from 92 to 127 (7lb penalty) for this. Having won a mere 6 days ago connections are obviously confident that this horse can find more. Pipes are pretty hot at the minute but I am willing to take this fella on at 6/4 and do not view him as value in the slightest bit. I’d be fairly happy to take 6/1 about Victrix Gale trained by Tony Martin and ridden by top Points jock Jamie Codd. This mare got the up the hill to win at Galway…if she can get up there she’ll be well able to have a stab at the Cheltenham hill. 10-12 shouldn’t be an issue for her.

13:35 Paddy Power Handicap Chase – This race is a bit of a head scratcher. I simply cannot understand how Renard is favourite…. Each way play here for me. I’m going for Sew on Target who was a 5 length 3rd to PP Gold Cup Fav Johns spirit at Cheltenham most recently (a race that Renard was 7th in). He gets weight off of most of these and acts on the track which entices me at 11/1. Steps back in trip for this.

14:05 Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase – No bet here. However if I was betting I’d fancy my 9/4 chance that Taquin Du Seuil would get the better of a “first-time-out” Oscar Whiskey through race fitness. However, Oscar Whiskey is the class horse and by merit should win….just thought 9/4 was ok-ish.

14:40 David Johnson Memorial Intermediate Handicap Hurdle  – The market would suggest that the connections and the punting public think that the relatively unexposed 100/30 fav Top Gamble is a fair bit better than these. I have no great opinion on this race but I’ll be taking on the Pipe charge if I do have a bet. Atlantic Roller has been off the track for just over a year but was very highly thought of at the Nicholls’ yard and carried the favourite tag in all of his 3 career starts. Having watched two very sharp looking Nicholls’ winners at Taunton today the string are on song and you could find worse places to put your each way money at 11/1 than on this fella. Keep an eye on this race form going forward as there are a couple of potential improvers me thinks!!

15:15 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase – Looks like it could be a penalty kick for Balthazar King who should be able to put this to bed with superior speed on the quickish ground tomorrow. Each way bet on Quiscover Fontaine not the worst plan value wise.

15:50 Countryside Raceday Novices’ Handicap Hurdle – Edmaaj is the one to take on the favourite with here and has potential for improvement. An each way angle at a price is the consistent Deep Trouble who in his last 6 runs has not been out of the top 2. 20/1 for a small bet.

So thats it for day 1! If I’m honest I’m more hopeful than confident to find a nice winner tomorrow but it’s worth a shot!! Beir bua!!

Slán tamaillín,

T

As a few of you may or may not be aware, the famous Totepool ten to follow competition closes tomorrow. I very rarely join in on these competitions and most likely won’t this year but I’ve had a few requests for my opinion so without any further delay here are my ten to follow for the coming season.

Sprinter Sacre* – For the any Fantasy premier league aficionados out there Sprinter Sacre as the star horse in your stable is very much akin to having Robin Van Persie as your captain. Very boring and conformist but you are guaranteed a nice return. He should be pretty unstoppable this season again as no rising novice looks to be able to get close to him.

Flemenstar – Having moved from Peter Casey’s to Tony Martin’s does not seem to have phased this fella one iota. He will wipe the floor with any horse at 2 miles in Ireland this season. I just hope the connections have got the picture and stop forcing him to 3 miles. If they have this fella will win a nice few races this season.

Bobs Worth – Arguably the best 3 mile chaser either side of the Irish sea. He’ll win a few nice valuable races on his way to giving the Gold cup another mighty crack.

Champagne Fever – An unmerciful cruising speed and always looked like he’d prefer a fence to a hurdle….he just happened to win one of the hottest Supreme Novices in years as a stepping stone towards the main event. He is entered this Saturday at Punchestown in a beginners chase. I tipped him for the champion bumper, tipped him for the supreme…I’m very excited to see him jump a fence in public.

Annie Power – Possibly one of the better hurdling mares we have seen. Quevega will always hold a special place in racing fans hearts but this one is good enough to absolutely hammer some male grade one company. She’s rising 6 and from her 6 lifetime runs has already accrued over 100k in prize money. Interesting to see how connections campaign her. She could be even more special than she already is.

The New One – A lot of hype about how this fella has wintered. I don’t  know if he’ll win the champion hurdle but he is the only horse worth talking about at that level in Britain. He’ll pick up some nice prize money on the way to the champion hurdle but could be beaten by an Irish horse. A valuable addition.

African Gold – Shaping up to be one of the better Novice Chasers in the UK this year. Prices will be short but should pick up a couple of wins en route to Cheltenham.

Rajdhani Express – I’m usually not a very big fan of Sam Waley-Cohen. However, when I watched him ride this horse to win at the Christmas meeting at Kempton I instantly thought he gave it a better ride than even when he won the Gold Cup on Long Run. I’m a big believer in partnerships when it comes to amateur jockey’s and these two seem to get on fairly well. The handicapper possibly has the measure of this fella at the minute but there are surely a few performances in him this season.

Bog Warrior – I’m a big fan of this horse and was counting my money when he turned for home on the bridle in the World Hurdle. However, he found nothing off the bridle and I’m convinced something happened to him on the run in. This season he will pick up a nice few wins, mark my words.

Tidal Bay – This fella is getting a bit long in the tooth but has an entry in the Betfair Chase and is reportedly coming back to defend the Lexus. You wouldn’t know where he could show up. Still well able to mix it with the younger horses.

There is no novice hurdler there but if you want Willie Mullins has a ridiculous amount, but one I like is Vicky de l’Oasis.

So thats it for the ten to follow! Interesting to see how they go!!

Slán tamaillín,

T