Evening all. It’s been an incredibly long day for yours truly. On the go since 4:30AM for an action packed round trip to Cheltenham. Tiring and all as it was, it was an absolute blast.
I’m going to rattle through this fairly quickly given how late it is (00:33am as I type)…but, before I do, a word must go to my girl Annie Power. What an electrifying performance, albeit in a middling Champion Hurdle, but it was great to see a mare winning the Champion Hurdle for the first time in over 20 years. There was definitely a sense of ‘Girl Power’ about the place afterwards!
A forecast on Douvan & Sizing John coupled with Annie and a certain Va Va Vroum made it a nice days punting, although I was a quite disappointed with the handicap & 4 mile selections, all told. Less so with Min. I think Altior could be very good.
Onward, Day 2 awaits.
13:30 Neptune Novices Hurdle: Since his last Cheltenham run I’ve been telling anyone who’ll listen that Yanworth is my bet of the festival at odds against. I stand by that even with Yorkhill in the race. I think he could be really really top drawer and he looked an absolute monster winning last time out over the same course and distance making Shantou Village look like a cart horse.
14:10 RSA Chase: I’ll keep this brief as I think JP is on for a quick fire double here with More of That. Connections have been very bullish about his prospects when deliberating between here and the JLT route, going as far as to say “Wherever he runs he wins”. I’ll row in with that given his ability to handle the track so well.
14:50 Coral Cup: Two against the field here for each way bets. The first is Politologue who was shaped well on his three starts in Britain whilst being unlucky twice. Hoping the drying ground isn’t going to leave him tapped for toe. The other is Long House Hall who did nothing but improve for the Skeltons last season. After unseating on his seasonal reappearance over fences he comes straight here. Still well handicapped over timber…I think.
15:30 Queen Mother Champion Chase: This is not really a betting race for me, or at least that’s my gut instinct. Un de Sceaux wins bar a fall. I might put a fiver on the UDS-Felix Yonger forecast or just Felix Yonger to place…I haven’t decided yet which generally isn’t a good sign.
16:10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase: 5/2 about Josies Orders is very skinny is it not? I’d much rather an E/W bet on Sire Collonges to reverse a two length beating when the pair last met over this course and distance. If you are thinking about backing something in the race, just worth pointing out this is no longer a handicap.
16:50 Fred Winter: If the grapevine is transmitting the truth, then Diego du Charmil could be very well handicapped indeed and has been touted as Paul Nicholls’ best chance of a winner all week. I have him backed and will also be having a small each way bet on Duke Street who has had a pipe opener around Chelmsford on the flat. I’ve also made no secret of my fanboy attitude to Dr. Newland horses when they crop up at the bottom of the handicap…
17:30 Champion Bumper: This is tough to unravel, but I’m reliably informed that Fethard Lady was class and her daughter, Augusta Kate looks every bit as good. I’ll listen to that bit of advice and take 13/2 although females have a sorry record in the race.
So that’s a wrap on Day 2. Hopefully we can keep the show on the road.
Good luck with your own selections.
Slán tamaillín,
T
Turf Talk 