Cheltenham

sean · March 3, 2008

Report on a pre-Cheltenham meeting last weekend:

Some interesting things were said.

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Supreme Novice Hurdle (Tues 2.00)

Mick Fitz raved about Deep Purple. He really liked this horse and thought it had a great chance at a big price. He also liked Sentry Duty and Khyber King

He'll be riding one or the other, Khyber King likes a bit of cut in the ground.

Don McClean and Noel O'Brien both thought Muirhead was the best of the Irish. Nina also thought Muirhead would go close

Question marks were raised against the jumping of Cork All Star.

Note. Deep Purple was probably the most talked up horse of the night and is 14/1 in the betting, so defo one to have a look at

The Arkle (Tues 2.35)

Most of the talk was about Noland and Tidal Bay, both had their supporters but also had question marks against them.

Noland was described as the classiest horse in the race by NOB and Tony Mullins (and mick Fitz)said he was his banker for the festival. Their were questions about whether the horse was quick enough to go at the pace that is needed to win the Arkle

Tidal Bay if fit and jumps soundly will hack up was the opinion of Mick Fitz and Barney Curley but major questions marks hang over its jumping and also the fact that their has been a virus in the Johnson yard.

It was more or less agreed that Clopf would not get up the hill but he was the best of the Irish challenge.

Andrew McNamarra said ScotsIrish might have a bit of a chance.

A crazy guy from the audience got on stage and ranted about Mahogany Blaze saying he was a class horse, Mick Fitz disagreed.

The Champion Hurdle (Tue 3.15)

Mick Fitz said that if Sublimity is brought to cheltenham as good as he was last year then it will win by whatever it wants. He is said his ride Afsoun will be there or there abouts but he feels the Irish should win this. He's not too impressed by Sizing Europes jumping at all (Ruby fell on him in the season already) he said the second last at Cheltenham will cause him problems (even though timmy has won on him in Cheltenham this season)

Don McClean went for Sizing Europe and aslo tipped Ebaziyan at a big price to run a big price. Ebaziyan is 33/1

Andrew McNamara was full of praise for Sizing Europe saying that he is the best horse he has ever sat on

Osana got a positive mention from someone.

BGC Cross County (Tue 4.40)

There wasn't much time spent on this. Nina said she thinks the race is between Enda Bolgers 2 horses and Tony Martins horse. She thinks Tony Martins horse is a worthy favourite and Martin himself is VERY keen on it, Wionderkid.

Ballymore Novice Hurdle (Wed 2.00)

Tony Mullins said that this isn't a great race. He said Forpaddytheplasterer was probably the best of the Irish but he wouldn't be having a bet on the race as they keep beating each other and nothing of note stands out. He did like Aigle Dor.

Nina said Trafford Lad each way was probably the best bet and it was an each way bet on good ground only

Mick Fitz really likes his ride Aigle DOr, Barney Curley also went with Aigle Dor. Mick Fitz said he'd love to be riding him but AP will be if he's fit.

Don McClean thought Venalmar is over priced at 28/1 and said it will run a big race

NOB liked the look of Breedsbreeze and Trafford Lad

Royal & SunAlliance Novices Chase (Wed 2.35)

Mullins said neither of his brothers will run (Pomme Tiepy being one), and that he liked the look of Albertas Run

Don McClean says if Pomme Tiepy runs then it will have a great chance.

Mick Fitz said Oscar Park will go well if he manges to get his jumping in order. Joe Lively was a negative.

It was agreed by the panel that it would be best to see what Ruby rides in this and go with that

Note. Air Force One was the biggest negative of the night. Mick Fitz absolutly slaughtered this horse

Queen Mother Chase (Wed 3.15)

The whole panel agreed that there would not be an Irish winner in this.

NOB and Andrew McNamara went for Voy Por Ustedes. Andrew said Newmill was getting worse as the years went on. NOB liked Mansony

Mick Fitz said he was talking to Choc Thornton ( jockey of Voy Por) and Choc was extremely confident about the horses chances. He said the horse was a different horse at Cheltenham and would leave the rest in his wake coming up the hill.

Mullins went with Voy Por too and went with the obvious statement of saying Rubys decision on what he rides too will be important

Champion Bumper (Wed 5.20)

Tony Mullins went for Zaarito. He did say however that Willie Mullins likes Apt Approach thinks it his best and will be a good chaser. Zaarito will go on good and soft ground

VC lad said they had layed Lilywhitedance for a fair whack of cash

Fitzer went for Gold Award e/w

Don went for Zaarito

Barney Curley went for Apt Approach

Andrew Mac went for Cousin Vinny and also gave cockleshell road an e.w mention

Nina thinks Zaarito will be very hard to beat but also said she liked the look of Cousin Vinny. She said Zaarito had plenty of runs under it'e belt akin to Cork All Star who won this race last year. She said Apt Approach and Cottage Oak will really love horrible ground.

Ryanair Chase (Thurs 2.35)

Mick Fitz said it would be between Mossbank & Tarmarinbleu (both of them are entered in different races). He pretty much said if Mossbank runs he'll win it, if not Tarmarinbleu

Andrew Mac and NOB aslo went for Mossbank, and also mentioned mossbanks GC entry where he;s woth an ew punt and betting with KS and denman

Nina had the same opinion as Fitzer

Don McClean liked the look at L Antartique he added that there were a lot of NR which made it a pretty weak race

Tony Mullins and Barney Curley both went for Our Vic although the other panelist questioned whether it would get up the hill

World Hurdle (Thurs 3.15)

The whole panel said that Ingles Drever would romp this if fit but with a virus in Johnsons yard they said it would not be worth the risk to back it at such a short price unless Johnson gets a winner or two before thursday. They also said he;ll be a better price than his 4/5 offering now so wait until the day

Don McClean like Kazal each way at a big price

Barney Curley likes Wichita Lineman

Mick Fitz thinks Blazing Bailey has a good value chance based on his price

Everyone also thought My way de Solzen and Lough Derg have had too hard of a season to be in with a chance

Nina went for Blazing Bailey

Andrew liked Kazal ew

JCB Champion Hurdle (Fri 2.00)

It was agreed that this would be a race between Franchoek and Binocular if JP McManus decides to run the both of them.

The majority of people went with Franchoek

Andrew liked Won in the dark

Nina liked Silverhand from Noels stable and said it will have a good ew chance

Gold Cup (Fri 3.15)

Not Surprisingly Between Kauto Star and Denman. With an honouable mention for Mossbank each way or without kauto star and denman the if he goes in the gold cup instead of the ryanair chase.

Barney Curley went for Denman

Nina went for Kauto Star

NOB went for Kauto Star

Mick Fitz went for Kauto Star and said the only way it would be beaten is if they went a slow pace

Don McClean went for Denman

David Nicholson Mares Hurdle (Fri 5.10)

No time spent on this race but Andrew Mac did say that Sweet Klin was the banker of the meeting and couldn't see anything getting close to it.

Bankers of meetings.

Nina - Gerard in the County Hudle

NOB- Kauto Star in the Gold Cup

Andrew Mac - Sweet Klin in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle

Mick Fitz - Aigle DOr in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle

Don McClean - Lantargue in the Ryanair Chase

Barney Curley - Apt Approach in the Bumper

Tony Mullins - Noland in the Arkle

Mike · March 3, 2008