Bobs Worth Remains Favourite In Competitive Looking Gold Cup

January 16, 2013 Leave a comment

Nicky Henderson’s artillery for the Cheltenham Festival is staggering, as the Seven Barrows Maestro has arguably his finest battalion of stars for the four-day jamboree in his training career, and come the final day of the fixture, he could well be celebrating his second Cheltenham Gold Cup crown with Bobs Worth, who currently heads the ante-post markets for the Blue Riband event on March 15.

Winner of the Albert Bartlett in 2011 and last year’s RSA Chase, Bobs Worth was sublime in landing the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury earlier in the season, the dual Festival winner was instantly slashed into the 3/1 market leader with Paddy Power and if he can reproduce the heroics shown at the Berkshire track then he will set a very high standard, but this year’s renewal has a plethora of up-and-coming talent within the three mile chase division looking to cement their place alongside some of racing’s jumping elite.

Sir Des Champs is another who has a brace of Festival wins on his CV (Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap in 2011 and the Jewson Novices Chase in 2012), but Willie Mullins’ star lost his unblemished record when losing to Flemenstar in the John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown in December, before suffering back-to-back defeats when going down in a memorable Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.  However, many still believe he will excel over the Gold Cup distance and given his love for the Prestbury Park course, it’s not surprising that he is 5/1 second favourite for the Grade One crown.

Flemenstar (11/1) had been all the rage heading into the aforementioned Lexus, but the way he wilted in the closing stages of the 3m contest left question marks surrounding his concerning potential stamina doubts and his enigmatic trainer Peter Casey will make a decision whether to hand him the Gold Cup task following his run in the Irish Hennessy.

Henderson won’t be firing a solitary shot at the Gold Cup crown as 2011 victor Long Run will also be attempting to emulate Kauto Star by regaining the coveted silverware and he was cut to a 7/1 shot in the latest betting with after his battling success in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

After clattering the final fence, defeat was almost a certainty, but Sam Waley-Cohen managed to cajole his pride and joy back into contention and nail Captain Chris (20/1) in the dying strides, to highlight his superb stamina and with a fierce gallop likely to be set from the outset in the Gold Cup, he could well come into calculations coming up the energy-sapping Cheltenham hill, which he has shown to relish in the past.

Paul Nicholls will be aiming to etch his name back into the trophy for the first time since Kauto Star won in 2009 and he will saddle Silviniaco Conti (7/1), who has progressed immeasurably this season and his demolition of Long Run in the Betfair Chase means he has to come into the reckoning, whilst the Mouse Morris trained First Lieutenant (10/1) is another of the new brigade and adds more depth to a wide open ante-post betting list.

The Giant Bolster (20/1) ran a cracker in defeat to Synchronished in last year’s renewal and David Bridgwater has always been ebullient about his Gold Cup chances, whilst the evergreen Tidal Bay (12/1) could be a potential challenger if Nicholls opts for this assignment rather than the World Hurdle.

Filed under Cheltenham Festival Races, Gold Cup, Paul Nicholls, Willie Mullins Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Festival Talking Point: Henderson Stable lad wins £1 million

March 19, 2012 Leave a comment

Whilst Nicky Henderson and connections stole the show as far as success was concerned at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival it was one of his stable hands who stole the show off the course.

Conor Murphy, an unassuming Irishman who lives in Lambourn and looks after the interests of new Queen Mother Champion Chaser, Finian’s Rainbow, at the Seven Barrows stable won himself over £1m after placing a £50 accumulator on five ofHenderson’s runners at the Cheltenham Festival. All five won!

It is true that he had to use a little bit of guesswork but if he had any inside information as to which race Simonsig would run in, he should be forgiven, as he backed him to win the Neptune Novice Hurdle, when most thought that he would run in the ‘Supreme Novice’.

His wins came with Sprinter Sacre in the Arkle Chase who was around the 7/1 mark when backed by Murphy but went off as the 8/11 odds on favourite. Next came Simonsig, who was a 20/1 shot when backed but had shortened into 2/1 favouritism by the time of the off. RSA Chase winner, Bobs Worth was backed at 6/1 and went in at 4’s. Murphy’s own yard horse Finian’s Rainbow won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 12/1, a win which must have had Murphy gutted as it looked like he was going to get beat by defending champion, Sizing Europe. The bet and the million pound win however was secure once Riverside Theatre managed to hold another defending champion, Albertas Run in the Ryanair Chase at odds of 16/1 antepost but went off as the 7/2 favourite.

Of course having stable knowledge does help, otherwise surely he would have backed Long Run to win the Gold Cup but perhaps the canny lad’s instincts knew best and forced him to resist the temptation of a six horse accumulator.

Quite understandably, Conor is not seeking further publicity and latest reports has suggested that he has gone into hiding but those who know him believe  that he will be back at work this morning looking after Finian’s Rainbow and mucking and riding out with the rest of the team.

Great credit must be extended to the Bet365 Bookmakers who took and laid the bet, they did not seek to capitalise on the PR front preferring to respect the fact that account holder’s details should be respected and that the client should remain officially unexposed.

Overall, the ‘Festival’ was a reasonable betting encounter between punters and Bookmakers although the latter benefited hugely with the defeats of a number of hot favourites, some which were defending their crowns. Long Run went down at 7/4, Boston Bob failed to land the Albert Bartlett with odds of 6/5, Peddlers Cross failed again this time in the Jewson with odds of 5/2, while 6/5 Grands Crus could only manage fourth place in the RSA Chase. Sizing Europe was unlucky but only came second when 4/5 odds on, while Hurricane Fly, perhaps the best backed favourite of them all at 4/6 failed to fire in the Champion Hurdle, beaten by Rock On Ruby and Overturn.

Of those defending their crown sonly Quevega in the Mares Hurdle and Big Bucks in the World Hurdle were successful.

Filed under Arkle, Cheltenham, Latest Racing News, Neptune Novices Hurdle, Nicky Henderson, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase Tagged with , , , , , , ,

2012 Cheltenham Festival Top Trainer Preview

March 7, 2012 Leave a comment

Nicky Henderson the pick to be the top trainer at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival

The betting is extremely close for the 2012 Cheltenham Festival Top Trainer Award, with Willie Mullins, the 5/4 favourite to retain his crown that he won for the first time 12 months ago after saddling four winners, including the magnificent Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle and will be hoping that the eight year old can repeat that success once again next week and get him off to a winning start on day one.

Others from his 30 strong contingent that is coming over from the Mullins County Carlow based stables in Ireland that have big chances include the mighty Quevega, bidding for a fourth straight win the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle. Although she has not raced this season, the eight year old is reported to be in good order and with so little opposition in the race, she would be appear to be one of the Festival’s “bankers”. Boston Bob should also provide the Irish maestro with a great chance of landing the Neptune Novice Hurdle and the stable also seem very keen on the chances of Sir Deschamps in the RSA Chase whilst Champagne Fever in the pick of his Champion Bumper entries, a race that he has won six times in the past 15 years!

Next in the betting to win the top trainer award is Nicky Henderson at odds of 2/1 which looks reasonable value when one considers the depth and quality of his entries. Of course he has the favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in Long Run, who will be looking to repeat his exhilarating win of last year and the yard are reportedly very pleased by the good form shown by 2010 Champion Hurdler, Binocular, who will be bidding to regain his title after missing the race 12 months ago.

Henderson’s stable jockey, Barry Geraghty, has gone on the record to say that his mount in the Arkle Trophy, Sprinter Sacre, is the best horse he has ever sat on which speaks volumes for his chances of winning the race and the horse has been one of the big “talking horses” ahead of this year’s Festival. Darlan looks a very good prospect in the Supreme Novice Hurdle while Simonsig is the 5/2 joint favourite to win the Neptune Novice Hurdle for the Seven Barrows operation. Bobs Worth has a great chance to win the RSA Chase, particularly if Grands Crus defects from this race to contest the Gold Cup, while Riverside Theatre will take all the beating in the Ryanair Chase. Despite the dominance of Big Bucks in the World Hurdle, Henderson has been quietly pleased with his Oscars Whisky who he believes will run a big race and prove himself capable of becoming a worthy successor to the three time champion.

Paul Nicholls of course trains Big Bucks, who for many, he is the “banker” of the meeting. Nicholls also has big chances in the Gold Cup of course with Kauto Star attempting to become the first horse to regain the Cup for a second time. As has been well reported, Kauto Star has had a minor setback at home after tumbling at a fence when schooling. Whether this has any lasting negative effect on the 12 year old remains to be seen and his absence would be a major blow for the Festival and the sport but the horse’s welfare must remain he paramount priority.

Nicholls is sweet on the chances of a number of his entries including Al Ferof in the Arkle Trophy, Zarkandar in the Champion Hurdle (despite Ruby Walsh electing to ride Hurricane Fly), Ted Spread in the County Hurdle as well as Kauto Star who, should he win the race for a third time will make the 2012 Cheltenham Festival the most memorable ever.

Other trainers who are likely to be seen in the winner’s enclosure are David Pipe, who amongst others will have the exciting Grands Crus representing his stable. Philip Hobbs too should be there or thereabouts with at least a couple of winners, while Alan King comes to the Festival with a stable bang in form and confidence sky high. Donald McCain has also been hitting the net regularly of late and although he had been reluctant to reveal the target for Peddlers Cross, the fact that he has now named the Jewson Novice Chase, should give him a great chance of coming away from the Festival with at least one winner, if not two. Jonjo O’Neill usually has his stable firing at Festival time and this year will be no exception, while Gordon Elliott, who saddled two winners at the 2011 Festival, will be looking for a similar score this time.

For this writer’s money however, it will be Nicky Henderson and his Seven Barrows team that will be lifting the top trainer prize in 2012. It would also be no surprise at all to see him saddle six winners!

Filed under Cheltenham, Trainer, Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson, Jockey, Ruby Walsh, Neptune Novices Hurdle, Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup, World Hurdle, Champion Bumper, National Hunt Races, Royal & Sun Alliance Chase, Donald McCain, Willie Mullins, Latest Racing News, Barry Geraghty Tagged with , , , , , ,

Cheltenham Tips: Five Antepost Picks To Consider

February 27, 2012 Leave a comment

With Cheltenham fast approaching, it’s time to take another look at some of the horses being “talked up” to win at the Festival. Depending on what you read or who you speak to, there are a number of alternatives being touted for many of the races at the four day meeting but listed below are my five current best bets with just two weeks to go, some are more obvious than others but I’m confident that the current prices will all represent value come the days of the respective races.

Supreme Novice Hurdle – Midnight Game @ 10/1 (general)

Trained by Willie Mullins, the five year old Midnight Game has done nothing but improve all season at the yard, evidenced backed up by his two wins in decent company in his last two starts. Owned by Gigginstown Stud Midnight Game has been placed in Listed races on the flat in France and has taken to hurdling with a great deal of enthusiasm and provides Mullins with a great chance of kicking off the 2012 Festival with a winning start for Mullins in the “curtain raiser”.

Arkle Challenge Trophy – Sprinter Sacre @ Even Money

It does not take a genius to realise that this Nicky Henderson trained six year old has everything a young chaser needs. He has proven that over fences at least he has few peers over 2 miles and the excitement expressed at the Seven Barrows Yard is absolutely genuine. Based on what he has shown over the bigger obstacles this season, it is hard to see anything other than Sprinter Sacre landing the Arkle on day one.

Menorah from the Phillip Hobbs stable delighted connections with his 13 length win at Taunton at the end of the year which he followed up by winning again next time. His fall last time should be forgotten as he is can be expected to repay anyone who backs him each way in the Arkle as a bigger priced alternative to Sprinter Sacre.

RSA Chase – First Lieutenant @ 7/1 (general)

All the hype of course as to the likely winner of this race is centered on David Pipe’s Grands Crus but over in Ireland there is a strong body of support for the Mouse Morris trained, First Lieutenant. Second last time out in the Grade 1 Fort Leney Chase over 3 miles at Leopardstown behind the brilliant Last Instalment, this 7 year old is primed to take full advantage of Last Instalment’s absence for the rest of the season. He has been specifically laid out for the RSA and will come to Cheltenham with the stable expecting to win and it’s worthwhile risking that the Grands Crus camp opt to go for the Gold Cup as if that is the case, then the current 7/1 will look massive about this genuine Irish Raider.

Champion Chase – Wishfull Thinking Each Way @ 16/1

Having been disappointing all season, trainer Phillip Hobbs remains confident that the best is yet to come from last year’s Jewson Novice Chase second. He is reportedly working extremely well at home and should he bring that form to the track then he should enter the reckoning in this race. One for the shortlist and a definite each way bet at 16s.

Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle – Vulcanite

This four time winner on the Flat has trainer Charlie Longsdon and connections highly excited and they believe that the five year old is perfectly suited to win this Grade 3. He has taken to hurdling with great aplomb and although seven lengths back when second last week in a Newbury Novice Hurdle, Longsdon believes that the run will have him spot on for the County Hurdle.

Filed under Arkle, Cheltenham Festival Trials, Latest Racing News, Royal & Sun Alliance Chase Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Bobs Worth In Reynoldstown Bid En Route To Cheltenham

February 16, 2012 Leave a comment

The Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase that takes place at Ascot on Saturday looks the type of race that might reveal a few answers to the outcome of a couple of the championship races at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

The race which has traditionally been a good one for favourites, which should bode well for the Nicky Henderson trained, Bobs Worth, who is sure to be a major market fancy. Henderson in fact has saddled the winner of this race for the last two years, Burton Port in 2010 and Master Of The Hall 12 months ago and believes that it is the perfect warm up race before Bobs Worth goes to Cheltenham for the RSA Chase.

Last seen out when third behind Grands Crus and Silviniaco Conti on Boxing Day in the Grade 2 Feltham Novice Chase at Kempton Park, Bobs Worth will improve for that experience. However he will have Silviniaco Conti against him again on Saturday who is one of two highly rated young chasers from Ditcheat in the race. The other Join Together is a dual winner of two novice staying chases this season and who should take the step up in class with comfort. Stable jockey Ruby Walsh has elected to ride Silviniaco Conti in preference to Join Together, which should inform punters which of the two to be backing.

The Alam King trained, Walkon is an interesting entry whose blunders last time out in a Novice Chase over 2m2f at Newbury in December cost him what would have been a decent victory. That race in fact was won by Cue Card who had been an original entry in this but will now go straight to Cheltenham. Before that Walkon had made a successful debut over fences by winning a decent looking Novice Chase at Exeter where he had the once highly regarded, Zaynar 6 lengths behind. King also intends to run his 6 year old Invictus in the race.

Others worthy of consideration is the Pam Sly owned and trained, Helpston, as well as Emma Lavelle’s Penny Max. Helpston has shown great consistency in a range of Novice Chases, winning twice so far this season before finishing a creditable second behind According To Pete in the Grade 3 Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Meanwhile Penny Max has won twice this season , firstly in a Novices Limited Handicap Chase and secondly in the Plymouth Novice Chase at Exeter last month. Both will be stepping up in class, but both come to Ascot in good form and well prepared for big runs.

Another runner who has won his last two starts is the Ian Williams entry, Baile Anrai, which came in Novice Chases at Towcester at Christmas and at Leicester last month. Before that the 8 year old took on Silviniaco Conti in a Grade 2 Novice Chase at Wincanton and was in with chances before he fell three from home. He clearly did not suffer for the experience coming out to win twice and would have a squeak of a chance in this with a clear round.

Filed under Ascot, Cheltenham, Royal & Sun Alliance Chase Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Indecision Over Grands Crus Festival Target Leaves RSA Chase Picture Wide Open

February 13, 2012 Leave a comment

With still no clear indication from the David Pipe stable as to where Grands Crus will be aimed at the Cheltenham Festival, the betting remains somewhat confusing for anybody looking to untangle the RSA Chase in hope of finding some antepost value.

Grands Crus was due to run in the Reynoldstown Chase at Newbury last weekend but with that race being cancelled and excluded from the rearranged card for this coming Friday, it is unlikely that the seven year old will have another run before the Festival and as it stands, connections are non-committal as to their preference as to which race, the RSA Chase or the Cheltenham Gold Cup they wish him to enter, leaving punters to hold their bets for either race.

Currently Grands Crus is the 2/1 favourite for the RSA Chase, with Bobs Worth from the Nicky Henderson yard next best at 4/1, while Sunday’s PJ Moriarty Novice Chase winner, Last Instalment, is rated an 8/1 chance alongside First Lieutenant. In the Gold Cup market, Grands Crus is the 7/1 third favourite, behind Long Run and Kauto Star.

Whether Grands Crus runs in or not, the RSA Chase remains an eye-caching race, particularly now that Last Instalment, confirmed his likely presence in the field following his very impressive front running victory in the ‘PJ Moriarty’ over 2m5f at Leopardstown at the weekend. Trainer, Phillip Fenton, confirmed that the seven year old, who is now unbeaten in four starts over fences this season, will head for the RSA and represents one or Ireland’s best hopes for Festival success.

In winning at Leopardstown, he held off the challenge of the Willie Mullins pair of Lambro and Call The Police, seeming to have improved from his last run when winning the Grade 1 Fort Leney Novice Chase over 3 miles also at Leopardstown in December. In that race he had First Lieutenant, also a major RSA player well beaten six lengths behind and he looked every bit a Cheltenham Festival good thing.

Tony Martin’s Bog Warrior also attracted attention of punters as a potential Cheltenham Festival winner at the weekend, with his bloodless 11 length victory in the Opera Hat Novice Chase at Naas over two miles. This win put the eight year old back on course for Cheltenham after falling in his previous start in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase over 2m at Leopardstown at Christmas. Before that of course he spectacularly won the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase over 2m4f by 31 lengths a race where First Lieutenant was pulled up. The win has earned Bog Warrior a 12/1 quote from Ladbrokes for the RSA Chase and a 16/1 quote from the same Bookmaker for the Arkle Challenge Trophy but much like Grands Crus, a decision to which he will run in has yet to be made.

Filed under Arkle, Cheltenham, David Pipe, Gold Cup, Latest Racing News, Leopardstown, Nicky Henderson, Royal & Sun Alliance Chase, Willie Mullins Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Join Together Could Be The Darkhorse In RSA Chase

January 17, 2012 Leave a comment

The RSA Chase is widely recognised as one of the major races at the annual Cheltenham Festival and is a leading Novice chase at the meeting aimed at producing the best staying novice chaser in the country.

It is run over a slightly extended three miles and for reasons that are not always obvious the race has produced a fair amount of shocks, with favourites, at least until recently not really justifying themselves.

Possibly and even more significantly perhaps is that only very few winners have gone on to bigger and better things which in some ways downgrades the overall value of the race although this could be a tad unfair. However, it is interesting to note that not one of the last three winners, Bostons Angel in 2011, Weapons Amnesty in 2010 and Cooldine in 2009 have won a race since. Indeed, Bostons Angel has failed miserably in two starts this season, Weapons Amnesty has not run since his win and Cooldine simply never progressed.

That said, it is not all doom and gloom, the 2008 winner, Albertas Run for instance has come back to the Cheltenham Festival to win the Ryanair Chase over 2m5f in both 2010 and 2011, while Denman who won the RSA in 2007 became the first horse to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following season since Looks Like Trouble 2000. In fact only seven past RSA Chase winners have ever gone on to win National Hunts most prestigious prize which considering the aim of the race is a very surprising fact.

The antepost market for the 2012 renewal has the David Pipe trained Grands Crus as a relatively short priced favourite with odds around the 7/2 mark. However, it is known that the owners, Roger Stanley and Yvonne Reynolds are in favour of taking their chances with him in the Gold Cup instead and Pipe does not disagree with them. Should that be the case then the race will become a very open affair, with the Nicky Henderson good thing, Bobs Worth the likely favourite.

Bobs Worth of course was no match for Grands Crus when the two met in the Grade 1 Feltham Novice Chase on Boxing Day, but proved a very tenacious sort when holding off the challenge of Cue Card in Grade 2 London Pride Novices Chase at Newbury over 2m4f at the end of November. He has already proven his staying credentials by winning the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle over three miles at the 2011 Festival and providing Grands Crus does defect to the Gold Cup then Bobs Worth with odds currently of 5/1 certainly looks the one to beat.

Irish challengers have usually performed well in the RSA Chase, with fifteen past winners, including the last three mentioned above and they have a very lively raider this year in the form of Last Instalment. Trained by Phillip Fenton, this 7 year old has progressed beautifully this season winning all of his three starts over fences. These included a terrific performance when defeating First Lieutenant by six lengths in the Grade 1 Fort Leney Novice Chase over three miles at Leopardstown at the end of last year, a win which marked him down as a big player this year. He is currently around the 8/1 mark.

Paul Nicholls who has saddled two winners of the RSA Chase and has an interesting entry this time in the form of Join Together, who is a very clear staying type who has won his last two starts over fences. Certainly his 12 length success in the Rymans Stationer Novice Chase in December had Nicholls purring and which forced bookmakers to shorten to around the 10/1 mark to win the race. He could be the one to monitor as the race draws ever closer.

Filed under Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Races, Latest Racing News, Paul Nicholls, Royal & Sun Alliance Chase Tagged with , , , , , ,

Kauto Star Still Has A Long Run to the Gold Cup

January 3, 2012 Leave a comment

Only Silver Flame in 1951 and What A Myth in 1969 have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup as 12 year olds, but the outstanding Kauto Star looks well on course to join them in 2012. The Paul Nicholls trained two times Gold Cup winner put in an unforgettable run to land a record breaking fifth King George Vl Chase on Boxing Day and now heads to Cheltenham in March looking to sign off what will more than likely be his final run in style.

Kauto Star confirmed that his victory over reigning Gold Cup champion, Long Run in the Grade One Betfair Chase in November was not a one off as he beat him for a second time this season. It is true that this latest run was a lot closer and it could be argued that Long Run was getting to him on the run in but the manner in which Kauto Star won the race suggested very strongly that he was back to his most imperious form. He was also ridden superbly by Ruby Walsh who clearly gets a different tune out of him when compared to others who have been in his saddle.

The Bookmakers still have Long Run as the 5/2 favourite in the Gold Cup betting, with Kauto Star rated a general 4/1 chance with Boylesports a stand out 9/2. However, it has to be thought that such will be the popularity of Kauto Star come March 16th that he could well start favourite on the day.

With the great Denman now out of the picture, Long Run is now the nearest thing Kauto Star has to a rival and racing fans can expect a media frenzy as the ‘race of the champions’ draws near.

Kauto of course first won the ‘Gold Cup’ back in 2007 and became the first horse to regain the trophy when winning again two years later. He was second in the intervening year to stablemate, Denman, he fell after running badly in 2010 and could no better than third last season when Long Run became the first horse since Mill House in 1963 to win the race as a 6 year old.

The scene is set therefore to one of those races that have fans frothing at the mouth’s and quivering at the knees all knowing that racing a racing feat that could never be equalled, should ‘Kauto’ get home first and the much younger pretender put in his place.

They are clearly the two major protagonists, but others who have earned the right to be mentioned as potential dangers are newly crowned Lexus Chase champion, Synchronised and possibly the David Pipe potential superstar, Grands Crus, brilliant winner of the Grade 1 Feltham Novice Chase also at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Synchronised certainly confirmed himself as a Gold Cup prospect after justifying the connections decision to forego the opportunity to defend his Welsh National crown by going over to Ireland. His win against a number of the best Irish Gold Cup candidates was emphatic, defeating John Durkan winner, Rubi light and JN Wine Champion, Quito De La Roque by over 8 lengths in the 3 mile Lexus Chase on 28th December.

Grands Crus although still in his novice season, has now become a live ‘Gold Cup’ after his superb ‘Feltham’ victory, where he had the well backed, Silviniaco Conti comfortably held with the highly regarded Bobs Worth back in third. The win maintained Grands Crus unbeaten record over fences leaving trainer, David Pipe only to mull over whether or not he goes for the Gold Cup or the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Filed under Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Races, Gold Cup, Kempton, Latest Racing News, Leopardstown, Ruby Walsh Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

2012 Cheltenham Festival Antepost Yankee

December 21, 2011 Leave a comment

It’s that time of the year where there’re not much to write about until the action over the jumps between Christmas and New Year takes centre stage so I thought I’d take the opportunity to look ahead to the Cheltenham Festival and make my selections for my annual “antepost Yankee” as a Christmas present to myself.

Big Bucks and Quevega both look like “banker material” at this stage, proven Festival champions, each having won their respective races for three years running and are the favourites this season to make it four each. Big Bucks of course is unstoppable in Staying Hurdles having won his last 14 starts at Grade One level. Quevega meanwhile looks equally as unbeatable in the David Nicholson’s Mares Hurdle over 2½ miles. The two are therefore form the cornerstone of the Yankee and better still, they are both priced extremely fairly, with Big Bucks 4/7 odds on to win the World Hurdle and Quevega 6/4 to take her race. Whislt both short in real terms, come Festival week, they’ll seem huge!

The trick is now to find two others selections who should be finding the winners enclosure at the Festival, not an easy thing to do but not impossible either. Some obvious candidates would include the likes of last season’s Gold Cup winner, Long Run, or indeed the 2011 Champion Hurdler, Hurricane Fly. Sizing Europe would be the pick of many to repeat his success of last season by winning a second successive Queen Mother Champion Chase. Certainly on his last outing when he won the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown at the beginning of this month, then he looks like he will be the one they all have to beat at Cheltenham.

However, the first of the two elected is the Donald McCain trained Peddlers Cross, who is in his novice chasing season and is the current 4/1 favourite to win the Arkle Trophy Challenge at the Festival.

Peddlers Cross of course finished second behind Hurricane Fly in last season’s Champion Hurdle and is so far unbeaten this season over the bigger obstacles having been out twice in fairly low key races at Bangor on Dee. The very obvious aspect to look at however is that the seven year old has taken to fences extremely well and although he is yet to be tested, he looks every bit a champion chaser in the making.

The other that will make up the Yankee is the David Pipe good thing, Grands Crus, who, like Peddlers Cross, has taken to the bigger obstacles in great style. Second behind Big Bucks in last season’s World Hurdle, Grands Crus has won both of his chasing starts this season including a cosy success last time in the Grade Two GPG Chase at Newbury over three miles a month ago.

As a result of these fine victories he has been installed as the 5/1 antepost favourite for the RSA Chase over 2m5f. This of course is a race designed to produce a future Gold Cup winner like Denman who won the RSA in 2006 a year before winning the Gold Cup a year later. Grands Crus is clearly on a similar route which is why the grey, even at this stage of his career has been made the 16/1 favourite for the 2013 Gold Cup by Boylesports!

The prices quoted are all best prices for the singles, the best prices at one bookmaker to allow for the bet to be placed are at Boylesport where a £5 Yankee (total stake £55) would return £1,150 if they all won based on the following odds.

Big Bucks @ 1/2 – World Hurdle

Quevega @ 5/4  – Mares Hurdle

Peddlers Cross @ 3/1 – Arkle Trophy Chase

Grands Crus @ 5/1 – RSA Chase.

Filed under Cheltenham Festival Races, Latest Racing News Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Arkle Chase Promising To Be One Of 2012 Cheltenham Festival Highlights

December 15, 2011 Leave a comment

Whilst the Gold Cup will always be the main event of the annual Cheltenham Festival, followed by the Champion Hurdle and the Queen Mother Champion Chase, there are still a number of other races each year that have provide plenty of intrigue and discussion for National Hunt fans throughout the winter in the build-up to March, hot races you could call them that have a number of runners boasting early season form that suggest they have the potential to win one of the Festival’s other feature races.

In 2012, that race could well be the Arkle Challenge Trophy which is effectively is the Two Mile Champion Novice Chase. The reason for this is quite simply that many of those highly talented young hurdlers from the last couple of seasons have moved on to chasing careers and most have the Arkle in their sights for their main target of the season.

Although most of these first season chases are still staking their claims in the host of trial races that lead to the Arkle, the market currently has the runner up to Hurricane Fly in last season’s Champion Hurdle, Peddlers Cross, at the head of the betting.

The Donald McCain trained seven year old has had two spins over the bigger obstacles so far this season, emphatically winning both although neither could be described as being against a serious test of opponent. Nonetheless, he appears to have adapted to fences extremely comfortably, impressing with his jumping, whilst maintaining his usual momentum. He has been installed as the 4/1 favourite, three points clear of the next best in the market, the Paul Nicholls trained Al Ferof.

Winner of the Grade One Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Festival last March, Al Ferof has come through two tests this season already over fences. The first of those, the Grade 2 November Novices Chase at Cheltenham last month he won by an easy seven lengths but he was given a severe examination in his latest outing in the Grade One, Henry VIII Novice Chase at Sandown. He won that race in very game fashion by a neck from the Nick Williams trained For Non Stop, who will also be heading to Cheltenham for the Arkle. That Sandown win, whilst proving his tenacity, did not hugely impress the Bookmakers in an overall sense who have now eased the John Hales owned gelding to 7/1 from 6/1 in the Cheltenham odds for the Arkle.

Vying for the position of joint favourite for the race is the Nicky Henderson trained, Sprinter Sacre. Third behind Al Ferof in the Supreme Novices at the Festival in March, word from Seven Barrows was that this five year old had schooled particularly well over fences and proved as much when landing a Novice Chase at Doncaster last weekend by 24 lengths, an impressive start to say the least.

Menorah, from the Phillip Hobbs stable who won the 2010 Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham unseated jockey Richard Johnson on his chasing debut at Exeter at the beginning of last month. At the time of the mistake he was well in command, looking every bit the winner and will surely be making amends next time out. That said, Hobbs him in the Grade 2 International Hurdle at Cheltenham last weekend where he could only manage fourth behind Grandouet and he is now likely to resume his chasing career which is sure to see him take in another race over bigger obstacles soon but would not be one to be pinning hopes on ahead of the Festival without seeing evidence that his jumping is sound.

Others heading for the ‘Arkle’ include Colin Tizzards Cue Card who so narrowly lost to Bobs Worth in the Grade 2 London Prides Novice Chase at Newbury a fortnight ago. That race was run over 2m4f but he is sure to prefer the two mile trip which is the distance Tizzard will most likely run him next time. Meanwhile Bobs Worth has been installed as the second favourite for the RSA Chase in March’s Festival.

Trainer Charles Byrne has confirmed that the leading Irish fancy for the Arkle, Solwhit, has had a setback at home and will not be making his chasing debut until the New Year. The seven year old who has won six times at Grade One level over hurdles certainly has a lot of class about him, but obviously until he runs over fences the ‘jury must remain out’ as to his Arkle chances. He is currently a 16/1 shot for the race which, incidentally, Irish horses have a very good record.

Filed under Arkle, Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Races, Cheltenham Festival Trials, Donald McCain, Doncaster, Nicky Henderson, Phillip Hobbs Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

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