Tag: rebecca curtis

Aintree Day 2 Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Cheltenham form stood up remarkably well on the opening day of the Grand National meeting. Dynaste looked to be set to swoop turning for home but found little under pressure and Silviniaco Conti ground out a deserved success. It is interesting that the bookies are going 14-1 the field for the 2015 Gold Cup. That certainly suggests the absence of a superstar in the chasing ranks.

The second day also revolves largely around Cheltenham form and I’m keeping faith with O’Faolains Boy after his game win in the RSA Chase. The going will be quicker and this tighter track might be a slight concern but I haven’t seen anything to suggest that he won’t handle it. Holywell picked up a valuable Cheltenham handicap and is a difficult opponent while Many Clouds was unlucky to be brought down last time.

This could be a massive week for Rebecca Curtis who is putting the finishing touches to Teaforthree’s Grand National preparations. Presumably he will be travelling to Aintree on the day as he did last year because he hates staying away overnight. Being trained in Wales and a former festival winner for JT McNamara, there is plenty in his history to keep the racing journalists happy if he comes in front on Saturday.

The Melling Chase looks a tricky one this year with easy Cheltenham winner Ballynagour taking on the more consistent Module and Rajdhani Express. Ballynagour won so easily at the festival that he is a tempting proposition at around 6-1 but he is just as likely to pull up as bolt up! We should know our fate after half a dozen fences.

Ma Filleule ran well for a long way at the festival and looks the sort to bowl along in the Topham Chase. She looks high enough in the handicap for a six-year-old but should give us a good run at each-way odds. I’m a big fan of Double Ross who has been on the go all the winter and his Cheltenham run was given a boost by Uxizandre on Thursday. He would probably like it softer but he’s as tough as old boots and may also feature.

The races don’t come much tougher than the two and a half mile handicap hurdle on the card. Cheltenian was disappointing at the festival, especially when you consider how well Hobbs did with his other hurdlers. He was in contention until the second last but pulled up quickly but I’ve no idea what the problem was. Alavain has threatened to pick up one of these competitive handicaps and Linehan’s 5lb claim gives him a squeak.

O’Faolains Boy (2.30 Aintree) at 5-2 Coral

Ballynagour (3.05 Aintree) at 7-1 William Hill

Double Ross (3.40 Aintree) at 11-1 Totesport

Ma Filleule (3.40 Aintree) at 16-1 Coral

Alavain (4.50 Aintree) at 16-1 Coral

O’Faolains Boy has Gold Cup potential

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It may seem strange to be looking forward to the 2015 Cheltenham festival already but the rest of the jump season pales into insignificance after the four days we enjoyed last week. Or wonderful Wednesday haul of four winners left us with a profit on our Cheltenham portfolio of more than 50 points.

I’m going to re-invest the first of those on one of our winners, O’Faolains Boy. He is currently available at 20-1 for the 2015 Gold Cup and I feel this is under-estimating him, just as the bookmakers did in the wake of his Reynoldstown Chase victory.

For whatever reason, he hasn’t quite received the acclaim of previous winners of the RSA Chase. Yet, to my eyes at least, it was a top class renewal with good quality runners from Britain and Ireland. I will be amazed if we don’t see half of dozen of them winning top class races next season.

I am also influenced by the result of this year’s Gold Cup. Not only was it won by the previous year’s RSA winner for the second year running, it left the distinct impression that any one of five horses could have won the race on a different day. There is clearly room for a new talent to emerge and I see no reason why O’Faolains Boy cannot be the one.

As I mentioned when tipping him for Cheltenham, you could safely ignore his poor run at Haydock behind Taquin Du Seuil as it came at a time when the Rebecca Curtis stable was under a cloud. His Ascot victory over Many Clouds in the Reynoldstown was as good as I had seen from a staying novice all season.

Andy King’s Smad Place ran a great race in defeat and there is no reason why he cannot go on to be as successful over fences as he was over hurdles. Alan King must have been thrilled with him but I always felt that Barry Geraghty had more up his sleeve if he needed it. He acts on all types of ground and could be even better next year if he gets an un-interrupted preparation.

The bookmakers clearly feel that the Gold Cup is wide open and go 10-1 the field. I would agree with that assessment but feel that O’Faolains Boy should be much shorter than 20-1. He will do to kick off our Cheltenham portfolio 2015!

O’Faolains Boy at 20-1 Paddy Power, Skybet

Cheltenham Ante-Post Update

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Virtually all bookmakers are now offering Non-Runner – No Bet terms on all Cheltenham races. I’ve had a few days to absorb the handicap ratings for the big handicaps. I can’t remember seeing so many horses entered for so many different races at the meeting so it is still like looking for a needle in a haystack!

One of the most baffling things about the betting markets is how the bookies trim horses just for being declared a runner! We had picked out Triolo D’Alene at 40-1 for the Gold Cup weeks ago on NR/no bet terms. As soon as Henderson declared him a runner his price was slashed to 20-1. You can’t tell me that punters that didn’t want to back the horse at 40-1 (NR-no bet) are suddenly tripping over themselves to back it at 20-1?

One of my favourite races of the meeting is the County Hurdle. Not that I can remember making any money out of it recently but there’s something about the two-mile handicap hurdlers. Although I am not convinced that Splash Of Ginge is anything out of the ordinary, I did think that the fact that Irish Saint, Dell’ Arca, Cheltenian and Swing Bowler chased him home made it a decent race. I’m happy to stick with Cheltenian (14-1) and Dell’ Arca (16-1) in the ante-post list here as they are lightly-raced and not particularly ground dependent.

Moving away from the handicapc, the Champion Bumper has turned into a Willie Mullins-benefit and probably will be again this year but I was impressed with Modus and he could give us a run at 10-1. He was bred for the flat and has the useful combination of class and speed.

I suppose it is wrong to be put off by a horse falling at home but RSA Chase Ballycasey hardly inspires confidence after his weekend tumble. I think the bookmakers may have underestimated O’Faolains Boy after his Ascot victory. 16-1 seems a big price for a Reynoldstown winner and Rebecca Curtis would not be sending him there unless she rates him.

The going is drying out slowly so it may go against the proven soft ground horses. That includes Kaylif Aramis in the Coral Cup so we may pass him over for the time being.

County Hurdle – Cheltenian at 14-1 Sportingbet

County Hurdle – Dell’ Arca at 16-1 Totesport, Betfred

Champion Bumper – Modus at 10-1 Bet365, Coral

RSA Chase – O’Faolains Boy at 16-1 Ladbrokes

Long Distance Hurdle Preview

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The Hennessy Gold Cup is the feature race at Newbury on Saturday but the supporting card includes the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle featuring the reappearance of At Fisher’s Cross. The gelding started last season with a handicap mark of 122 and was rated 30lbs higher after a run of six consecutive victories.

It was a superb piece of training by Rebecca Curtis, taking in Cheltenham and Liverpool along the way. The six-year-old is regarded as the heir apparent to Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle in March and this race will probably determine whether or not that remains his prime objective. With Tony McCoy riding at Newcastle, Barry Geraghty has been booked for the ride on an important weekend for owner JP McManus.

The famous green and yellow colours will also be in evidence with Champion Hurdle hopes Jezki and My Tent Or Yours. At Fisher’s Cross is ideally suited by a bit of give in the ground and the forecast is for soft going on Saturday. The bookmakers aren’t taking any chances by making him favourite at around even money but he looks the obvious form choice.

Reve de Sivola was second in this last year and went on to win at Cheltenham and Ascot before a creditable effort in the World Hurdle. He showed his usual battling qualities when springing a 36-1 surprise in a Grade 1 event in France at the start of this month. He is actually rated 5lbs higher than the favourite and will be a tough nut to crack with fitness on his side.

Celestial Halo put up a brave display to finish second at the festival and may even have won but for a last flight blunder. He has also picked up some prize money in France but this will be his first run since June.

I must confess to having a soft spot for Medinas having been on at huge odds when he won the Coral Hurdle. He is not very big but has the heart of a lion and showed that he is still improving when second to Tidal Bay at Wetherby. Another horse worthy of respect is Salubrious who was just collared at the Cheltenham Open meeting. That was his first run at an extreme distance and he clearly stays well.

At Fisher’s Cross 10-11 Bet365