Truth be told, there is not much to report. A supper party of Prawns in a tomato, garlic and chilli sauce, Cottage Pie and peas, Lemon Posset with macerated strawberries, English cheeses, French clarets, a very jolly team of guests and somehow time has flown and as I suspected might happen, I find myself short of time.
Be patient – the work is done, but I have no time to show you my workings. These are my late-night tips for Thursday’s Cheltenham Day 3…
Oh yes – I discovered that The Daily Mail photographed the Hon as part of the “rowdy” crowd at Cheltenham. My embarrassment is profound!
13:30 TURNERS NOV’ CHS (G1) 2m abt 4f
MIGHTY POTTER 6 pts win – Beats BANBRIDGE 2 pts SFC
14:10 PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL (A HCAP HDL RACE) (LISTED) Abt 3m
HECTOR JAVELIX Won the Paddy Power New Year’s Hurdle by 7l. and he had to race at Huntingdon in order to qualify – and appeared to do the absolute minimum required to do so. That course may count against him on statistics but his New Year’s Day greeting makes me think he’s got bundles of spare and to date, unseen talent. I won’t bore you with the race details; instead, watch it here. (Red and White stripes, blue, white ½ sleeves). Just speed and talent and three taps a furlong out and a couple coming home. MAXXUM’s LTO zero can probably be forgiven (the jockey less so), as he was poorly positioned and got trapped on the rail and was shuffled further back by dropping-away horses. However, his wide-margin wins before that suggested he has room in the tank. GLIMPSE OF GALA is an absolute battler, and a visual glance at her form this season is a catalogue of hardy effort. A huge weight to overcome having gone up 5lbs and not having her claimer on board – but she looks good for a top 8 possie with Skybet. AN TAILLIUR has been aimed here since last October.
HECTOR JAVILEX 4 pts e/w – GLIMPSE OF GALA 2 pts e/w – with AN TAILLEUR and MAXXUM in a 12 x ½ pt CFC
14:50 RYANAIR CHS (G1 2m abt 5f)
I guide your eyes gently away from the main story (SHISHKIN is back) at the top of the board and ask you to look at Mouse Morris’ FRENCH DYNAMITE. A G3 novice chase winner, a runner-up to Ga Law in the Paddy Power at the Not-The-Open Meeting here last November giving the winner 6lb and only being beaten by a length. The fourth went onto win the big handicap chase on Trials Day. FD then ran in the 3m G1 Savills Chase but didn’t see the trip out. A G2 and 20f next saw him looking all over the winner, when he lost concentration blundering the last and being hampered by a faller meaning he could only manage 2nd to Fakir D’Oudairies second. This horse is far better than his price suggests. HITMAN doesn’t have that much to find on those outside of the top two in the betting and is a decent e/w proposition to get into the placings.
FRENCH DYNAMITE 2 pts e/w – HITMAN 2 pts e/w
15:30 PADDY POWER STAYERS’ HDL (G1) abt 3m
None of this lot has had ideal preparations, they’re out of form, or the stats say they’re too old. So dutch these two against the field ASHDALE BOB and GOLD TWEET for 4 pts which will pay approx 8/1 at tonight’s prices.
ASHDALE BOB and GOLD TWEET Dutch Win 4 pts total
16:10 PLATE (A HCAP CHS) (G3) 2m abt 5f
I noted the move from Harry Whittington to John C McConnell of SEDDON, who does appear to have improved. MARVEL DE CERISY is strong on the trends. This was a good quote from Paul Nicholls
IL RIDOTO By one of my favourite sires, he won in good style at Cheltenham on Trials day. Earlier in the season, he finished fourth twice at the same track and, having looking like winning both times, he didn’t finish off his races. We therefore decided to put a pair of cheekpieces on last time and he jumped beautifully and won nicely. The handicapper has put him up eight pounds, which isn’t ideal, but he is only six and I am expecting him to be very competitive because he is improving all the time. The Topham Chase at Aintree in April is a possibility and I think he could be a Ryanair Chase horse next season. Indeed, he reminds me of Greaneteen and I expect him to keep on improving
SEDDON – MARVEL DE CERISY – IL RIDOTO 2 pts e/w each
16:50 MARES NOV’ HDL (G2) 2m 1f
NIKINI – AHORSEWITHNONAME 2 pts e/w each
17:30 FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHALLENGE CUP (0-145) 3m abt 2f
ROYAL THIEF 3 pts e/w – DUNBOYNE 4 pts e/w – LORD ACCORD 2 pts e/w