It was heavy going at Ascot and Haydock last weekend, in more ways than one! Our selections got bogged down in the mud with the exception of Sire De Grugy who advertised his chance in the Queen Mother Champion Chase with a classy victory.
I hope that some of you managed to get the 25-1 ante-post price on him for the festival! He is now a miserly 11-4 and I wouldn’t be backing him at those odds. I still have reservations about his jumping at Cheltenham and Sprinter Sacre could yet return to the peak of his powers. I’d be optimistic of some place money even if the favourite does still make it to the race.
I’m after some more ante-post value this week with Rocky Creek and Triolo D’Alene in the Gold Cup. Both horses are due to run in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday. Paddy Power have already gone non-runner/no bet on the four championship races at the festival and you have to applaud them for it. Naturally, some of their prices are a bit skinny by comparison to the other firms but 33-1 with a run Rocky Creek for the big race will do me.
He has a lot of improvement to find if he is to be competitive with the likes of Bobs Worth and Silviniaco Conti but Paul Nicholls is no mug and was happy to fork out the entry fee. He gave the horse plenty of work ahead of the Hennessy Gold Cup and gave the impression that he was expecting a victory. In the event he had to settle for the runner-up spot behind Triolo D’Alene but time may show that to be a fair effort.
Having tipped Triolo D’Alene at 25-1 for the Hennessy, I’m reluctant to pass him over here but I just wonder about him if the ground gets really soft. Henderson was quick to pull him out of the Ascot race won by Houblon Des Obeaux and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him diverted again here. BetVictor are also offering a refund on non-runners for Cheltenham and go 40-1 about Triolo D’Alene for Cheltenham.
I was hopeful that Theatre Guide would boost the Hennessy form when he ran at Cheltenham last time but he found Monbeg Dude in excellent form. I must admit that I had the Dude down as something of a mud lark but he looked a different horse that day and readily accounted for Theatre Guide.
Rocky Creek at 5-2 Paddy Power
Ante-post Cheltenham Gold Cup* Non-runner no bet
Rocky Creek at 33-1 (each-way) Paddy Power
Triolo D’Alene at 40-1 (each-way) BetVictor
