Just in case anyone is still listening… I wouldn’t if I was you!!
TRIUMPH: Defi Du Seuil has been the favourite here for quite a while, but I’m going to go with the other JP McManus runner, Charli Parcs here. I’m willing to forgive and forget the fall in Kempton the last day. The dogs are barking for this fella and the price is shortening all the while.
COUNTY: Ivanovich Gorbatov has been relatively disappointing since his Triumph Hurdle win here in this card 12 months ago. Normally horses of this calibre progress into open company. Although the old adage of juveniles not training on in the NH game does often ring true, I think he still retains a fair bit of ability and could be in with a right shout in handicap company.
ALBERT BARTLETT: Death Duty has been described as a banker by his trainer and Gordon Elliott could hardly be in better form! However, this race has a tendency has to throw up the occasional upset. The one I like to oppose the fav is Wholestone who has ran at Cheltenham no less than the last four times he has ran. And ran well each time, too.
GOLD CUP: I’m siding with Djakadam here. I think this is the best preparation he’s had for the race, I was really impressed with the Punchestown run too. I wouldn’t crab the Lexus run too much and think he has a really could chance of giving Willie Mullins a Gold Cup. The one at an each way price I like is Champagne West who absolutely bolted up in the Thyestes, a race that often produces some decent Gold Cup form.
FOX HUNTERS: Unoriginal, but I can’t see On The Fringe being beaten, although I’ve said that already this week and been very wrong! He normally puts in a stinker first time, but ran a lovely race in the Raymond Smith at Leopardstown on Irish Gold Cup day in behind the match fit Foxrock.
MARTIN PIPE: It’s shit or bust time here if we’re struggling! I think Runfordave could run a big race in this. By a sire I really like and ran a great race the last day, when winning, to secure a spot in this. One at an each way price that I’ve completely nicked from Brendan Duke, of RP Podcast fame, is Thomas Campbell E/W. Broke his maiden at Cheltenham back earlier in the season and the step up in trip should not be an issue. (It’s not plagiarism if I credit you Brendan!)
GRAND ANNUAL: Loved the spin over hurdles Velvet Maker had in Leopardstown the last day. Think he’s been laid out for this, yard in form and is a fair each way price at 12/1!
So that’s it for Cheltenham 2017 folks! Not the smoothest of rides, at all!
Slán tamaillín,
T
Turf Talk 