Thursday evening saw a Cheltenham preview meeting, held by
the West Berkshire racing Club at Newbury racecourses Long room found in the
main stand.
Jockeys David Bass, and Brendan Powell jnr, Assistant trainer
to Alan king Dan Horsford and David Williams watching the betting market from
Ladbrokes, were all kept in check by Lee McKenzie, columnist and commentator.
And in check they had to be as in some cases it got quite lively.....
In my blog I’m going to share TWO races each day with you. A
banker and an each way fancy.
With Cheltenham less than a week away, this weekend is the
night before Christmas day for some.
A deluge of rain in the West of the country claiming some
meetings well in advance has classed the going as soft. Though the Prestbury
course drains well if we have no more of the wet stuff, the going I should
reckon would be Good – good/soft on the opening day, going to Good for the climax of
the meeting on the Friday.
And NO, I do not mean Victoria Pendleton’s ride
in the Foxhunters.
The first day, Champions day. Two races I would want to look
at.
The Racing Post Arkle Chase over the two miles.
DOUVAN
Looks the banker of this race. And is the horse all have to
beat.
The winner of last year’s Supreme Novices hurdle is said to be the best
horse out of the Mullins yard,and that is praise indeed from a yard with many
a talented superstar and up and coming.
Who can beat the six year old by Walk in the park, and like
his sires name sake looks like all he’ll have to do is ‘Walk in the
park.....Prestbury Park.’ To claim the converted grade one prize.
Who could run a close second?
Well my thought would be the
horse that was fourteen lengths behind in second to the
banker Douvan at Leopardstown at the back end of 2015.
SIZING JOHN
The harry De Bromhead charge who would not want any more
rain, would possibly of relished more good ground than good to soft. But
as the days go on with dry weather, who knows what will be.
Well worth a gamble if
you were going against the favourite.
The Champion Hurdle.
Old news know that Faugheen is a non starter, but the sudden placement of Annie Power, the
Mullins horse that enough has been said about her mishap at last season’s
festival, would be the horse that a lot will look at to take the most open of
Champion hurdle’s in years.
In my view.
ANNIE POWER
Though many will say she has to prove, I feel the Mullins
team would want to prove that the eight year old chestnut mare by Shirocco is
top quality. With Ruby Walsh on board demons will be looked at to be beaten
into submission.
LIL ROCKERFELLA
Might be a good e/w bet. A winner at Fontwell in the graded
National Spirit Hurdle at in heavy ground. The Neil King charge, will
be fit and in form, and enough time has gone past since his last run to send
him on again.
Day two.
Alan King sends out
YANWORTH
In the Neptune investment novices Hurdle over two mile five
furlongs. A horse well liked by panelist Dan Horsford, assistant to King.
Fourth in last season Champion Bumper at the festival, this six year old by
Norse Dancer already a winner on Cheltenham trials day in Heavy ground over
course and distance looks to be one that has improved and wanting to climb on
to the next shelf of progression.
For once, the Irish will have to settle for second. My each
way selection would be the Willie Mullins horse.
BELLSHILL
The six year old by Kings Theater horse goes well in the softer
ground, and if the Irish invaders do well on the opening day, may be one to put
in an English upset.
The Queen mother Champion chase.
UN DE SCEAUX
The seven year old by Denham Red, and top novice chaser last
season looks like only his jumping would let him down. David Williams from
Ladbrokes mentioned that anti post prices were very short, and if backing this
one, look at the market the morning of the race to get the best price.
 |
| Un De Sceaux |
SOMMERSBY
Is the e/w fancy.
The Mick Channon horse, a horse most of
the time in the frame, could be again. A big outsider could be worth a small
punt.
Day Three
This day could break up in runners. A lot of trainers having
horses in races on this day and in other key races will wait and see
where, what and when the competition goes for before showing their hands.
It's also St Patrick's day - sona lá st Pádraig
The JLT novices Chase
where, what and when the competition goes for before showing their hands.
It's also St Patrick's day - sona lá st Pádraig
The JLT novices Chase
BRISTOL DE MAI
Looks the favourite choice. The five year old grey would
want the soft ground, and though we may get the ground good by the third day,
it would be on the softer side, and would be a good English win for a meeting
that looks that it could be dominated by those from the Emerald Isle.
ZABANA
The Andrew Lynch charge would be well worth a big priced e/w
bet. Second in the Coral cup at the festival last year the seven year old will
be a good price.
Has had an up and down career since his second at the
festival, but could chase up in a placed spot, as some may not get the trip around
the Cheltenham two and a half miles. But check the going before, if it is fast,
best leave your euros in the pocket.
The Ryanair Wold hurdle.
THISTLECRACK
Defiantly goes in the race.
The Colin Tizzard eight year old
looks to back up his win in the Cleeve hurdle on trails day at Cheltenham. The
horse still a big baby in a way has been lightly raced and is a fancied Gold
cup contender next season for the yard.
COLE HARDEN
Would run the Tizzard horse close to the post though. Warren
Greatrex the trainer would like the better ground to get this one into the
winners enclosure. But this winner of the race last season would be a good enough
price to go for an E/W gamble.
Day four, Gold Cup day.
This race, i feel will go to Ireland and it would be
advisable to go with the Mullins/ Walsh team. Whatever Ruby chooses to sit on
would be a good winning gamble.
 |
| Ruby Walsh |
I would side with
DJAKADAM
Falling at the trail race at the tenth, the race won by Smad
Place in January the Saints Des Saints seven year old would be one to take this
very open Gold cup.
 |
| Smad Place |
SMAD PLACE
A confirmed front runner by the Alan King Assistant on the
panel would be a good e/w gamble, at a good price.
The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
BARTERS HILL
Would be the nap for this race. Trainer Ben Pauling has
trained and worked this horse for this specific race.
His jockey and panelist
David Bass mentioned this horse stays very well and the ground will suit this
horse to the tea. A good rule to thumb would be to watch and see how Yanworth
runs in the Neptune investments novice Hurdle, as David Bass is sure that his
horse Barters Hill would beat the fancied Yanworth if they both ran in the
Neptune, obviously Dan Horsford would disagree. But if Yanworth wins that race
this six year old by Kalanisi would be a sure likable fancy.
 |
| Barters Hill |
The Neil Mulholland trained Shantou Village would be a good
e/w chance and is my fancy
Shantou Village
Possibly the best novice horse the trainer has had, the six
year old by Shantou was second on heavy ground to Yanworth.
This horse also has
entries in the Neptune Investments novices hurdle, and would be a serious E/W
contender in any of the races he goes for, but i feel this race would have his
more serious chance.
MAJYPHOTOGRAPHY is at Cheltenham for the opening day only
and is bringing a photograph blog of the day. All the thrills, not too many
spills. The fun and frolics so loom out
for the Tweet.
