Tag: Dodging Bullets

Cheltenham 2014 Day One Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Cheltenham festival meeting has finally arrived! It seems like trainers have been talking about nothing else since the flat season finished in November and the action gets under way at 1.30 with one of our best bets of the meeting in Irving.

We tipped him back in December at 16-1 and he is now a top-priced 11-4 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He has done nothing wrong all season, other than perhaps one or two sticky jumps. That is a concern in a big field as he cannot afford to guess at one like he did at Kempton last time out. Nick Scholfield can hopefully keep him out of trouble but he’ll have to keep an eye on Ruby Walsh on Vautour.

The one I want to be on each-way is Gilgamboa at 12-1 who was only committed to this race yesterday. He won the competitive Boylesports Hurdle last time out and that was a great run for a novice. I’ve always felt that the gap between a top handicapper and a Grade 1 winner is a lot closer than it seems and he looks cracking each-way value. Better still, Paddy Power will refund your win bet if he is 2nd, 3rd or 4th as a special offer!

We’re on Dodging Bullets at 6-1 in the Arkle. I must admit that I am very surprised to see only 9 runners. I don’t fancy Champagne Fever at all at his odds and I’m leaning towards Rock On Ruby. I tipped him at big odds when he won the Champion Hurdle in 2012 so I have a soft spot for him. The small field is a great boost to his prospects as he has very limited jumping experience.

Hadrian’s Approach is a tentative selection in the Festival Chase at 2.40. Nicky Henderson has been quite vocal in his opinions on this horse but the big worry is his jumping. He has blundered away his chances here before and I’ll be hoping that Barry Geraghty can steer a careful path through a packed field. He does seem to be better in a smaller field but he’s worth a small bet at 10-1.

Glens Melody was value for more than her narrow victory at Warwick last time and could sneak into the frame at a nice price in Quevega’s race. If the great mare is in tip-top shape nothing will beat her but it is worth looking for value as she is now ten years of age and has not had a prep race. Finally, have a small each-way on Ohio Gold at 25-1 in the last. He was third last year and has been prepared by Colin Tizzard for this race all season.

1.30 Ante-post Irving at 16-1

Gilgamboa at 12-1 Paddy Power (money back if 2nd, 3rd or 4th special offer)

2.05 Ante-post Dodging Bullets at 6-1

Rock On Ruby at 9-2 Paddy Power

2.40 Hadrian’s Approach at 10-1 Unibet

4.00 Glens Melody at 16-1 BetBright

4.40 Ante-Post Foxrock at 9-1

5.15 Ohio Gold at 25-1 Skybet, William Hill

Arkle Chase Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The latest declaration stage has at least whittled down the numbers for the opening day of the Cheltenham festival on Tuesday. The highlight of the day is the Champion Hurdle and JP McManus has dug into his deep pockets to supplement 13-year-old Captain Cee Bee.

It says a lot for the horse’s constitution that he is still fast enough to set the pace for Champion hurdlers. He was only beaten around three lengths when setting the pace in the Irish Champion Hurdle by Hurricane Fly and Our Conor. The injury scare over My Tent Or Yours seems to have been overcome so the race is set up for a sprint finish. I shall be fascinated to see who kicks for home first with The New One also best held up for a late run.

The Champion Hurdle does not strike me as a betting race and I’m more interested in the Arkle Chase. 18 have been declared for the two-mile novice event and I’m sure that Champagne Fever is vulnerable over this trip. He has won at the past two festivals and full credit to Willie Mullins if he has got the grey in tip-top shape again.

I wouldn’t be backing him at the current prices and much prefer the claims of Dodging Bullets. He suffered his first defeat over fences when just caught by Module in desperate ground at Newbury. Bookmakers were un-moved by that performance but I felt it marked him out as a serious chaser. Module ran a stinker on his previous start at Huntingdon but was only beaten a head by Somersby on his seasonal debut.

Raya Star was two and a half lengths back in third, closer than he had been at Cheltenham in November. The going was good that day and the ground seems to be drying out and may even be good to soft by Tuesday. Dodging Bullets looked very smart when seeing off Grandouet by ten lengths in December, especially when you consider he was conceding 6lbs.

I cannot have Grandouet here on level weights and yet he is only a couple of points longer than Dodging Bullets in the betting. Nicholls also runs Hinterland who beat Grandouet by a neck at Sandown. I don’t think there is much doubt that Nicholls regards “Dodger” as the better of the two and he looks worth a bet at 6-1.

Dodging Bullets at 6-1 Bet365