Tag: Cheltenham

Outlander Must End Cheltenham Troubles to Triumph at Gold Cup

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Outlander will have to overcome a lot of obstacles and not just those on the racecourse at Cheltenham to win the famous Gold Cup. The Bay Gelding is one of the outsiders for the crown, with Cue Card and Native River considered the top two favourites to triumph at the festival.

Image credit: “Cheltenham Racecourse” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Carine06

However, the nine-year-old put in an impressive performance in his last outing at the end of 2016, finishing ahead of Don Poli and Djakadam to claim victory at the Lexus Chase.

The race proved that Outlander has the quality to match the best in the field and the ability to rise to the occasion under trainer Gordon Elliott and with Jack Kennedy at the reins.

As a result of the Bay Gelding’s form, it is backed among the horse racing picks at around 10/1 among leading bookmakers, which is well worth a punt, especially for placing in the top three.

Outlander had an excellent start to his career, winning his opening three races, culminating in a signature win at the Christmas Party Day Race at Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle. However, inconsistencies plagued the Irish horse in 2015, although he did end on a high note with back-to-back victories at Puncheston and Limerick.

Outlander began 2016 on the front foot with another stellar outing at the Flogas Novice Chase in Leopardstown, which would be his final win under trainer Willie Mullins. During the summer, the Bay Gelding was removed from Mullins’ yard by owner Michael O’Leary and placed under the tutelage of Elliott.

The decision did not have an adverse effect on the Irish horse as he maintained his form, winning the Lexus Chase along with two second-place finishes at Puncheston and Down Royal.

Despite Outlander’s impressive form during 2016, one area of concern will be his performances at Cheltenham Racecourse. The nine-year-old has raced twice at the venue and failed to finish in the top five on both occasions. Last season he was unable to finish the race after a fall in the JLT Novices’ Chase, while a mistake in 2015 on the fourth fence led to a sixth-place finish in the Novices’ Hurdle. As a result, O’Leary and Elliott will be worried ahead of his third appearance on the course.

They have time to amend the situation – whether it’s the hurdles or the type of ground at the Cheltenham course causing the issues. Should Kennedy be chosen to take the reins in the Gold Cup he will have a challenge to keep Outlander on the straight and narrow.

Colin Tizzard’s horses will throw a further obstacle in the way of the Irish horse. Both Cue Card and Native River are on top form, with the former triumphing in his last outing at the Ascot Chase, while the Chestnut Gelding eased to victory at the Denman Chase.

 

 

Cheltenham Day One

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Roll up roll up Cheltenham is finally back. After the devastation of last year opening day where Annie Power fell and a crazy amount of multiples went down the drain, punters will be hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself on Day one of the 2016 Cheltenham Festival.

Roll up Min, Douvan, Vroom Vroom Mag and Annie Power. This years “nailed on” multiple. We however are not entirely convinced. Min was smashed antepost from 100/1 down to 7/4 after demolishing a few low grade fields in Ireland. Annie Power has only been out once where she did the same, ran against two yaks and won at 1/20 with her head in her chest.

 

Douvan and Vroom Vroom Mag have strong credentials. Douvan is possibly the best jumps horse around currently, realistically so long he jumps, he wins. This is why the Coral 50/1 offer (even tho only for a £1) is a decent offer. Not got a Coral account? Now you have no excuse what so ever.

 

Vroom Vroom Mag runs in the egg and spoon grade one against the mares and from what we’ve seen she’ll just have to jump around to win also.

We firmly believe Min should be taken on, we just haven’t seen enough to suggest she’s a stone cold cert as the odds suggest. What to take her on with though? Thats the tough one. York hill has recently been well backed due to rumours Ruby Walsh might ride him, we find that hard to believe, but if he does that a massive indicator as to Min’s realistic chances in the race. The 11/2 currently available might not be around come the start of the day tomorrow. We will be looking to lay Min, just cant have it winning the Supreme, no sir.

The Arkle is a fascinating race, we firmly believe Douvan wins, but if there is any mistake or he doesn’t participate, Vaniteux is the obvious each way bet to nothing. Currently had 11/2 with Betway. We’ve had a good go each way at slightly bigger prices so, should Douvan win we make a tiny profit, but if he messes up somehow, Vaniteux should be there to pick up the pieces.

Cheeky each way accumulator:

YorkHill – Supreme  5/1William Hill

Vanitieux – Arkle 5/1 William Hill

The New One –  Champion Hurdle 6/1 William Hill

Pollypeachum – Mares 6/1 William Hill

£10 ew will return £250

LETS DO THIS

 

Cheltenham Thursday Preview

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Wednesday’s Cheltenham card began with a victory for Nicky Henderson and Nick de Boinville with Might Bite but that only tells half of the story. He cruised into the lead at the last but began pulling himself up and drifted out to 40-1 on the exchanges before consenting to run on and regain the lead close home.

The same team could be in the winner’s enclosure again on Thursday with Broxbourne in the Mares’ Hurdle race at 3.15. Racing fans will remember Broxbourne winning the Goodwood Stakes and the Brown Jack Stakes on the flat when trained by Mark Johnston. She prefers good or fast ground so her opportunities have been limited over hurdles but the Lambourn trainer appears to have saved her for this meeting.

She warmed up with an effortless victory on ground softer than she likes at Ludlow and looks well handicapped on a mark of 127. There are some good mares in opposition including her stable companion Mayfair Music. She has run poorly on soft ground in her two previous races this season but it is safe to put a line through those. Top weight L’Unique would have finished fifth or sixth in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham had she not fallen. She could run well despite top weight while The Govaness won well last time and could be improving.

Sean Bowen continues to impress in the saddle and he rode another winner at Cheltenham on Wednesday. Tomorrow he rides two for his father, Peter, including Rolling Maul in the staying handicap hurdle at 4.25.

The seven-year-old son of Oscar has really paid his way this season, winning handicaps at Cheltenham and Warwick. He defied top weight of 11st 12lbs last time out on soft ground but conditions were faster when he fought back to beat Knight Of Noir in first-time blinkers on New Year’s Day.

His first four victories were on good ground so he should not be inconvenienced by conditions on Thursday. It is more a question of whether the handicapper has caught up with him with another 7lbs on his back. Aqalim ran well at the festival but I’m still not convinced that he stays three miles while Milan Bound needed all of McCoy’s persuasion to win last time out. Sybarite would also have a chance if he decides to put his best foot forward.

Broxbourne 3.15 @7-2 Bet365

Rolling Maul 4.25 @7-1 Ladbrokes

Might Bite can strike for Henderson at Cheltenham

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The National Hunt season is in its final stages and the clock is running down on Tony McCoy’s magnificent career. The twenty times Champion jockey produced a power-packed finish to win on Un Ace at Ascot recently and he has a chance to repeat the dose on Wednesday.

Kim Bailey’s gelding looked well beaten until Royal Regatta began to tie up in front of him. This is a very quick return to action for Un Ace but he only has three rivals. The pick of them looks to be Cloud Creeper who was very impressive last time out at Leicester on softer ground.

The feature race is the Teenage Cancer Trust Silver Trophy at 3.50.  There are three course winners in the field and preference is for Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Caid Du Berlais. He can be forgiven his pulled up next time as he slithered to a halt after jumping the water. He is better judged on his big race form and the Nicholls team are ending the season in fine form.

The best bet of the day could be Nicky Henderson’s Might Bite in the opening novices’ hurdle. He won very easily at Newbury last time over a similar trip and looks one to follow. Financial Climate doesn’t know how to run a bad race and represents the Grand National winning trainer Oliver Sherwood in the 2.40.

Sean Bowen enjoyed his first Grand National ride aboard Mon Parrain for Nicholls on Saturday and he has a winning opportunity on San Benedeto in the 5.30. He was long odds-on when getting off the mark last time out and this is a lot more competitive but he seems to have got in on a lenient weight.

Bowen qualified to ride in the National with only days to spare but rode two trebles to show that he is a young rider going places. He can enhance his reputation with a Cheltenham winner here.

Races don’t come much tougher to sort out than the twenty-runner Novices’ Hurdle at 4.25. The bookmakers were going 8-1 the field on Tuesday evening and that says it all. New Horizons stuck on well last time out for Henderson and is a tentative selection while Polamco would not be out of it if you forget his poor run last time.

Might Bite 2.05 @11-8 Ladbrokes

Financial Climate 2.40 @6-1 BetVictor

Greybougg 3.15 @13-2 BetVictor

Caid Du Berlais 3.50 @6-1 Ladbrokes

New Horizons 4.25 @6-1 Ladbrokes

Un Ace 5.00 @5-4 Bet365

San Benedeto @7-4 Coral

Cheltenham blog – Coneygree wins Gold Cup

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Coneygree became the first novice chaser to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup since Captain Christy when making all the running to beat Djakadam and Road To Riches.

Betcirca followers still held out hopes for 16-1 ante-post advice Djakadam jumping the last but Ruby Walsh’s mount could not quite get to the leader. Trainer Mark Bradstock discussed the options with connections before deciding to go for the Gold Cup in preference to the RSA Chase earlier in the week.

The son of Karinga Bay had won all three races over fences since returning from a long-term injury in November. He was due to race at Plumpton in November but was withdrawn on veterinary advice at the start. He was quickly re-routed to Newbury where he was opposed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Saphir Du Rheu. That rival unseated Sam Twiston-Davies at the seventh fence and Coneygree went on to beat Dell’ Arca by a length and a half.

He followed up by winning the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton but the race was marred by four of the seven runners failing to complete the course. Bradstock decided to test him against established chasers the Denman Chase at Newbury last month. He made all the running to beat Houblon Des Obeaux and Unioniste by seven lengths and three and a half lengths.

That persuaded connections to go for the big one and the rain arrived just in time in the Cotswolds. Coneygree was bred by the late Lord Oaksey and is a half-brother to former Hennessy Gold Cup winner Carruthers. Jockey Nico De Boinville was having his first ride in the race and rode his first festival winner only last year on Whisper for Nicky Henderson.

Coneygree is a top price 10-1 for next year’s Gold Cup with runner-up Djakadam as high as 16-1 with Coral. Don Poli and Vautour are both available at 6-1 after their impressive victories at the festival this week. Road To Riches is 25-1, the same price as today’s beaten favourite Silviniaco Conti.

Djakadam is only a six-year-old, although the French-bred horses do tend to peak at a younger age. He is as short as 8-1 elsewhere so, if you fancy him, the 16-1 should be snapped up quickly.

On The Fringe (tipped at 8-1) won the Foxhunter Chase to end a run of three seconds on the day for Betcirca after Top Notch (16-1), Djakadam (16-1) and Sort It Out (14-1).

Djakadam @16-1 Coral – 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Cheltenham Preview – Friday 13th March

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It’s Gold Cup day at Cheltenham and we look set for a thrilling renewal. If there are any doubts about the quality, there is at least quantity and most punters would rather watch a competitive race with 17 runners than an odds-on favourite in a small field.

Silviniaco Conti supporters will be hoping for third time lucky after falling in 2013 and fading up the hill last year. We will never know whether he would have won had he not tipped up three out but it is difficult to make a case about him not liking the track. He did everything right last year but didn’t quite last home.

The bookmakers are taking a chance at 5-1 about him. We already have Djakadam tipped at ante-post odds of 16-1 but his inexperience may count against him while Lord Windermere will probably run his best race of the season. I also fancy Holywell to post a career best as he loves this meeting.

The action starts with the Triumph Hurdle and we were on Top Notch at 16-1 some weeks ago. I’m pleased that the owners are letting him run despite also having the hot favourite in Peace And Co. I also like Pain Au Chocolat and Devilment at big prices in a fascinating race. Very few of these have actually met in the trials so it is really a shot in the dark.

The County Hurdle is notoriously difficult to sort out and a very appropriate winner would be Sort It Out. He is one of three JP McManus runners along with Waxies Dargle and Princely Conn. The latter is the mount of AP McCoy while Waxies Dargle fell in a big handicap last time and has Paul Carberry in the saddle. Quick Jack will probably start favourite and should run well for Tony Martin.

I’ve been a fan of Value At Risk for the Albert Bartlett for some time so shouldn’t really desert him now. My only concern is the quicker ground but the same applies to most of these. The Henderson horses, Out Sam and Carache Apache, are attractively priced and I wouldn’t put you off either of them.

It will be interesting to see how Sheikh Fahad’s new purchase Current Event gets on in the Foxhunter but I’m siding with Nina Carberry here with On The Fringe. Much of this week has been about Willie Mullins and he can strike again with Roi Des Francs in the Martin Pipe Hurdle. Everyone will be cheering for AP on Ned Buntline in the finale but Blood Cotil is tough and consistent and can close out the meeting for Mullins in style.

New customers only – Racebet 10-1 Nicky Henderson to win 1.30 (max. £5 stake)

1.30 Top Notch @16-1* Ante-post

2.05 Sort It Out @14-1 Bet365

2.40 Value At Risk @12-1 Paddy Power

3.20 Djakadam @16-1 *Ante-post

4.00 On The Fringe @8-1 Ladbrokes

4.40 Roi Des Francs @9-2 Bet365

5.15 Blood Cotil @10-1 Bet365