A very smiley girl appeared at my breakfast table this morning, clutching at some of my clothing that she’d found on her travels. “You bounder and cad”, I hear you say, but wait, the Hon was close at hand; nothing untoward was afoot, and even coffee and a warmed croissant were offered, or a glass of fizz. Then the smiley girl, perhaps by way of conversational gambit, suggested that my tips this week were not of the highest quality….. WHAT!!!
However I suspect, and fear, she might not be alone among you, so here is a small PDF of the scorecard up to this morning, clearly showing us in positive territory. Not massively so, but if you click on this small link Cheltenham to date, you will see that on a 109½ pt investment over the three days, we have achieved an ROI of 14%. I am expecting big things today – but then I suppose I always do!
DAY 4: FRIDAY 15 MARCH
13:30 THE JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE (G1) 2m 1f Hurdle
Willie Mullins was always going to field the main danger to the now absent SIR GINO, according to the bookmakers, and at one time, this was considered KARGESE. In fact – and I am frankly too tired to check – I think he’s running every one of his top six finishers in The Juvenile Spring Hurdle. STORM HEART was second, and he is now priced as though he will overturn the result with KARGESE. MAJBOROUGH was third and is probably open to the most improvement of the first three, but he didn’t look especially pacy in the race and I think he a great future – but this isn’t it I suspect. BUNTING, who was 4th, needs to jump more fluently than he did at Leopardstown. He still looked a work in progress last time and open to plenty more improvement. However, the market is now running scared of Joseph O’Brien’s NURBURGRING, who has shown some very classy form. He pushed KARGESE very close in December when finishing third without a clear run, just a nose behind the Mullins runner who claimed second. That form looks just as good as any, especially as KARGESE went on to win the time after. He may be fresher than most with a bigger break than the other market principles. A solid contender and a potential each-way option if you expect one of the favourites to falter. SALVER took his unbeaten record to four when winning the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock last month. He probably wouldn’t beat SIR GINO on a going day 0- but if these are the best juveniles Ireland has – he might have a podium chance.
NURBURGRING 5 pts Win – KARGESE 3 pts e/w
14:10 THE COUNTY HCAP HDL 2m 1f Hurdle
PIED PIPER finished second in the race last year and could go close again off just a 2lb higher mark, especially with the prospect of talented conditional Danny Gilligan claiming 5lb. He has been lightly raced this season, perhaps with a view to this race. He was a good third in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and ran respectably when finishing behind State Man in a tactically run Grade 1 affair LTO. Although he hasn’t been since November, this has been the target since, and back in a handicap, he is sure to make his presence felt for his new owner. For Ruby Walsh, there is only one possible winner: KING OF KINGSFIELD. “He looks made for a County Hurdle – he likes to come from off the pace and attack horses in front of him. That is the general set-up you get in a County.” If you take the race trends at face value, you really shouldn’t be looking further than L’EAU DU SUD, who was 2nd in the Betfair Hurdle LTO. But he is 4/1 favourite.
KING OF KINGSFIELD 5 pts win – PIED PIPER 3 pts e/w
14:50 THE ALBERT BARTLETT NOV. HDL (G1) 3m Hurdle
Given that The G2 Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Novice Hurdle is considered such a strong Albert Bartlett trial, we should perhaps pay attention to the runner-up, Gordon Elliott’s 7 yo STELLAR STORY. A two-time NH flat winner from 3 starts, he beat Ile Atlantique and Caldwell Potter on his third start, which is cracking form, with the pair subsequently doing very well in Grade 1 company over hurdles. He has shown consistency and improvement throughout the season and must have a chance here based on his form and so hoped-for improvement. GIDLEIGH PARK has won a G2 here, despite the tactics and race pace not suiting him. I think he could improve again over three miles because he looks a staying chaser in the making. Fry won the Albert Bartlett with former stable star Unowhatimeanharry in 2016, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see his latest young starlet head down the same route. If remaining in one piece, he has Grade 1 aspirations. Paul Townend rides READIN TOMMY WRONG, and the fact he has opted to ride the six-year-old shouldn’t go unnoticed. The logical next step would have been the Gallagher having landed the premier Grade 1 over two-and-a-half miles (Lawlor’s Of Naas), but Daryl Jacob’s comments after the race were fascinating, suggesting he rode like a three miler, an end-to-end gallop in the Albert Bartlett looks as though it will suit. despite a complicated pace and traffic problems, he was tenacious and is now two from two in both bumpers and hurdles; he looks a real classy type who is unexposed at this sort of trip.
GIDLEIGH PARK 4 pts Win – STELLAR STORY 2 pts e/w
15:30 THE BOODLES CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP CHS. (G1) 3m 2½f Chase
Why is last year’s runner-up BRAVEMANSGAME 16/1? He has done little wrong this season, but given he went off at 6/1 last year, he must have gone blind and lost a leg. He lost by 7 lengths then and was down to a nose when they reopposed at Punchestown Festival, and they finished second and third behind shock winner FASTORSLOW. In three starts this term, he wasn’t given the greatest of rides when second to GENTLEMANSGAME at Wetherby and was giving the winner 6lb, and then he had seconds in the Betfair Chase and the King George when suffering terrible interference when SHISHKIN unseated. I thought he rallied well and was a slightly unlucky loser. 16s – he should be 8s.
BRAVEMANSGAME 5 pts e/w
16:10 THE ST. JAMES’S PLACE FOXHUNTERS CHS. 3m 2½f Chase
PREMIER MAGIC 4 pts Win – TIME LEADER 3 pts e/w
16:50 THE MRS PADDY POWER MARES’ CHS. (G2) 2m 4½f Chase
ALLEGORIE DE VASSY 4 pts Win – PINK LEGEND 1 pt e/w
17:30 MARTIN PIPE CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS’ HCAP HURDLE (0-145) 2m 4½f Hurdle
We all know the situation with Nicky – but I keep hearing talk of NO ORDINARY JOE, who I thought would go for The Coral. I’m not tipping him – but see how the day has gone financially and just remember he was pulling double-handfuls last Friday.
THANKSFORTHEHELP 3 pts e/w – TEDDY BLUE 2 pts e/w