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The Brigadier

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The Brigadier last won the day on January 18

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  1. Update The power of social media! broke on twitter this morning and all paid out this evening
  2. Some of you with good memories may well remember that I was involved in a twitter tipster competition called Dandinaps in which I reached the final of the Cup only to finish runner up in a straight shoot out with @TrainerGeezer last October The competition was the brainchild of Graham Dand, a brave man who chronicled his last year in detail via twitter (as it was then) as he sadly succumbed to his battle with cancer leaving behind a wife and three children. Graham was an avid form student who went into some amazing detail in his analysis which certainly gave him some bright moments in those torturous final months. The competition, run in his memory has been a great success over its two running's during the last two flat seasons in which competitors have to select two picks from the big heritage handicaps win or each way. Many of racing twitter got behind the competition with the likes of Tony Calvin, Paul Kealy, Simon Nott and two of Punters Lounge’s finest in our hunter chase expert @Darran and @Tumbleweed King both entering. The competition came to a conclusion on Ascot’s Champions Day last October with @TrainerGeezer winning both the league and Cup securing a combined pot of £17,000. A fantastic feat with several big priced picks along the way. Sadly none of the prize winners have been paid. It’s transpired that one of the three organisers who was in charge of holding the funds (which was a dreadful mistake to be the only person that could handle the money) is now saying that the bank with the funds, Barclays have frozen the account. He has given us no clear evidence that he has been in any type of conversation with Barclays and when challenged has gone to ground. The only reason for this surely is foul play. The dozen owed money have been very patient until now but expect to see a backlash, as from Monday when all will be revealed on X and hopefully at some stage by the racing media whom we are looking to get behind us. A dreadful situation with the competition,run in memory of Graham a fun and innovative contest in which 760 odd punters paid £46 each to enter. We’ll see how it all pans out over the next few weeks/months and although I am owed £2,000 for my part it’s the double winner @TrainerGeezer who I’m really sad for. I know he was at Ascot for that last day when it was finalised that he couldn’t be caught with the £17,000 winnings going towards a deposit on a house for him and his girlfriend. I find it shocking that in this world we live in there can be people who can be so greedy and evil that they think they can get away with this type of fraud. I would ask you all if you have a ‘X’ account to look out for the @Handicapcomp tweet and add your disgust at the situation. It may just help in us all getting our hard fought winnings.
  3. Kempton 1.35 Just the five face the starter for this class 3 2M 2F novices’ handicap chase. Gary Moore saddles the favourite Issar d’Airy who will be very hard to beat. The six year old is two from two over fences having won twice at Newbury over the minimum trip rising 16lb in the process. The horse he beat last time I’d Like To Know franked the form when winning since at the same track. He is a confident selection to beat his biggest danger in the Paul Nicholls trained Beau Balko who won last time out at Mussleburgh. ISSAR d’AIRY 2 points win @ 6/4 William Hill Uttoxeter 1.50 Nine line up for this 2M 4F class 3 handicap hurdle which can fall to the in form Stuart Edmunds trained One Eye On Vegas, who’s well named as he is blind in one eye! His form has taken off since sporting cheek pieces winning handicap hurdles at Leicester and Hereford rising some 18lb in the handicap. He gets in here off of bottom weight and as a habitual front runner expect to see his usual pilot Ciaran Gethings making plenty of use of him on ground that suits well. Jagwar has already been beaten off of this mark so the danger may well be Emma Lavelle’s Canty Bay. ONE EYE ON VEGAS 1 point win @ 4/1 bet365 Kempton 2.10 A dozen line up for the class 2 handicap hurdle run over 2M 5F. Several have chances including the progressive Robbie Llewellyn trained Titan Discovery who’s up 6lb for his latest victory at Sandown and the Paul Nicholls trained Irish Hill who continues to tumble down the handicap. Anthony Honeyball has a good chance with his eight year old Good Luck Charm who’s run well in similar type of handicaps this season and off of the same handicap mark should be competitive and looks the each way bet under 3lb conditional jockey Ben Godfrey. Don’t disregard the bottom weight Thunderclap either who impressed over course and distance on his penultimate run from subsequent winner Madame. He’s worth a small each way saver at a big price. GOOD LUCK CHARM 1 point each way @ 10/1 bet365 1/5th 1234 THUNDERCLAP 1/2 bet each way @ 28/1 William Hill Uttoxeter 2.25 A very competitive eighteen runner class 2 handicap hurdle over 2M 7F 70 yards in which several hold very decent chances. The 2M 7 1/2F handicap hurdle at Chepstow in February may be the key piece of form to this race. David Braces’s Classic Concorde made all to beat Supremely West who came with a wet sail over the last by 2 1/2L and now on 3lb better terms and in first time blinkers it will be no surprise were Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole’s six year old to turn the tables on his older rival today and he’s the main bet here. Back in fourth that day was Thursday’s Pertemps Hurdle winner Monmiral to give the form a good look. I also can’t resist a small each way saver on Fergal O’Brien’s Alaphilippe who also ran in that race finishing ninth, beaten 32L although watching the race back he ran a lot better than his finishing position suggests as his jockey Paddy Brennan looked after him after the last. A drop of 3lb and first time cheek pieces may help him find some improvement. He was just touched off in the 2022 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final at Cheltenham from a 6lb higher mark so there's no doubt he’s a well handicapped horse. SUPREMELY WEST 1 point each way @ 10/1 bet365 1/5th 12345 ALAPHILIPPE 1/2 point each way @ 50/1 BetVictor 1/5th 12345 Kempton 2.45 Just nine face the judge for this 2M 4 1/2F class 2 Handicap Chase. Dan and Harry Skelton have had a fantastic week at Cheltenham and can keep the good form going with their track specialist Flegmatik here. The horse has won three times from 7 starts at the course with figures of 3110214 with the fourth coming last time out when finishing just 2 1/2L behind Forward Plan in the valuable Coral Trophy Handicap Chase over 3M. His previous win here came from this week’s Ultima winner Chianti Classico so the form is solid. He has to cope with a drop in distance but I don’t really see that as a problem and he looks the pick with Paul Nicholls’s Outlaw Peter the danger. FLEGMATIK 1 point win @ 11/4 William Hill Uttoxeter 3.00 This year’s Midlands Grand National has only attracted a field of thirteen which is rather disappointing. There are many here that should stay this marathon trip of 4M 2F including My Silver Lining, who won the Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick in January over 3M 5F prior to a good second in the Haydock Grand National Trial. Autonomous Cloud just got the better of Iron Bridge in the 3M novices handicap chase on this card last year and the pair renew rivalry with both holding claims if lasting out this longer trip. One horse who does interest me at a big price is the Irish challenger Young Dev. The only time he’s attempted a marathon trip as long as this was in this race two years ago when he finished second (10L 2nd to fellow countryman Screaming Colours). He can race off of a mark here 9lb lower and back up in distance he’s the value bet in a very competitive renewal. YOUNG DEV 1 point each way @ 20/1 bet365 1/5th 1234 Uttoxeter 3.35 A valuable eight runner 3M novices’ Handicap Chase concludes the ITV coverage today. Christian Williams has had a quiet season so far but the signs are that he’s about to spring into form having had two winners from his last ten runners at time of writing which includes his bottom weight here Fortunefavorsdbold. Only a six year old he appears to have taken his form up a notch since wearing cheek pieces winning at Huntingdon and Lingfield rising just 10lb. He gets in here off of bottom weight and although this will be a lot tougher than the three runner race he won at Lingfield he can be competitive at an each way price for Jack Tudor. There is a strong possibility that the race may drop to seven runners with top weight Marsh Wren also down to run at Cheltenham on Friday so if that’s the case hunt around for a firm who pay three places on seven runner contests. FOURTUNEFAVORSDBOLD 1 point each way @ 13/2 bet365 1/5 123
  4. Cheltenham 1.30 The JCB Triumph Hurdle may not be the numerical race of old but is still a good test of a four year old and this 2m 1F Grade 1 contest has attracted a field of fourteen. Nicky Henderson has had a wretched week, with several of his stars scratched as well as those that have run running shockers. His Sir Gino is the latest scratching from Seven Barrows which means this is a wide open contest. The Willie Mullins stable is running seven with five of them all running close to each other in the Spring juvenile hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival and it must be significant that stable jockey is on Storm Heart. It may be worth chancing Gary Moore’s Salver for whom the ground can not be soft enough. He’s unbeaten in four races and although he’ll need to step up again is worth a small each way interest with conditions to suit in what appears to be a wide open renewal. SALVER 1/2 point each way @ 12/1 Coral 1/5th 1234 Cheltenham 2.10 The traditional cavalry charge that is the BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle is run over 2M 1F and has attracted a near maximum field of twenty three. One piece of form that is pivotal to the outcome of this race is the Grade 1 Leopardstown novice hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. That race was won by Ballyburn who beat Slade Steel by 7L which is obviously top grade form now with the pair winning well this week in the Supreme and Gallagher Novice Hurdles. 7L further back in third was Gordon Elliott’s Gigginstown owned King Of Kingsfield with Willie Mullins’s Absurde just 3 1/4L behind in fourth. The latter is now 4lb better off and has claims of turning the tables but seems a better horse on better ground. Plenty of others can be given chances including the Dan Skelton pair Faivoir, who won this last year and arrives following an unlucky silver medal at Sandown last weekend and Betfair Hurdle runner up L’Eau Du Sud. Last year’s runner up Pied Piper heads the weights today but is only 2lb higher than that run when, but for hitting the last (not Davy Russell’s finest ride) would have won. He’s part of the staking plan but the main bet has to be King Of Kingsfield who’s form has been so well advertised this week. KING OF KINGSFIELD 1 point each way @ 5/1 William Hill 1/5th 123456 PIED PIPER 1/2 point each way @ 12/1 1/5th 123456 Cheltenham 2.50 Fifteen staying novice hurdlers face the judge for the 3M Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. Willie Mullins saddles a third of the field in with his best arrow probably Reading Tommy Wrong who is the pick of stable jockey Paul Townend (even if it is for Messrs Souede & Munir) although he does have stamina to prove here stepping up half a mile. Harry Fry has always rated his Gidleigh Park highly and this unbeaten six year old, ridden today by J J Burke could be the value pick for the home team. Unbeaten in a bumper and three novice hurdles, including a Grade 2 here in January where he was made to work hard to beat Nicky Henderson’s Lucky Place (ran well in Coral Cup earlier this week) by half a length showing a great battling attitude. He too is now stepping up to three miles for the first time and can take an open looking Albert Bartlett. GIDLEIGH PARK 1 point each way @ 7/1 Coral 1/5th 1234 Cheltenham 3.30 The blue riband of of chasing is here with the Gold Cup run over a trip of 3M 2F and 70 yards with a final field of a dozen of the best staying chasers around. We have a a warm favourite in the shape of the Willie Mullins trained Galopin Des Champs who’s back to defend his title having led over the last and putting 7L between himself and the re-opposing Bravemansgame who must have place credentials once more. He’s done little wrong this season, probably needing his seasonal re-appearance before easy victories at Leopardstown over Christmas and at the Dublin Racing Festival. He looks the best horse in the race and can give Willie Mullins and Paul Townend yet another winner at the meeting. Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow chased home the pick last time and having had a wind operation since may be the one again to follow him home with the afore mentioned Bravemansgame a possible for the frame. GALOPINS DES CHAMPS 2 points win @ 11/10 bet365 Cheltenham 4.10 A surprisingly small field for the St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase with last year’s one two Premier Magic and It’s On The Line back to renew rivalry. The former came out 1 3/4L to the good last year but It’s On The Line who was only a six year old then and can turn the tables on his rival today. Brought by J P McManus since winning at Naas in a remarkable race where the old timer Billaway came from the clouds to nearly run down the favourite on the run in, going down by just a head. Emmet Mullins will have the seven year old at his peak and can grab his second winner of the week following Tuesday’s success with Corbetts Cross for the same jockey, the excellent Derek O’Connor. Fellow Irish seven year old Ferns Lock may be his biggest danger having finished just half a length behind him in a Hunter chase at Down Royal on Boxing Day. Best of the outsiders may be Fiona Needham’s grey mare Sine Nomine who can out run her odds. ITS ON THE LINE 1 point win @ 5/2 bet365 Cheltenham 4.50 Willie Mullins is having a predictable phenomenal week and can take the 2M 4 1/2F Mares Chase with his seven year old Dinoblue. She’s won four of her last five starts following a decent runner up spot in last year’s Grand Annual Handicap Chase won by Maskada with her defeat coming when a highly creditable 8 1/2L second to El Fabiolo in the Grade 1 Dublin Chase at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. The one negative is the fact that the only time she tackled today’s trip she finished fourth of 15 back in April 2022. She’s been kept to the minimum trip since but the way the Mullins battalion have gone this week its quite possible she’ll just win. Last years runner up Allegorie De Vassy, also in the care of Mullins, can chase her home and finish in silver position once again. DINOBLUE 1 point win @ 11/10 BetVictor Cheltenham 5.30 The final race, of twenty seven, at this year’s meeting is the 2M 4 1/2F Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle for which we have a near maximum field of twenty three. Seven of the last ten winners have been novices and the front two in the market are in that bracket, Willie Mullins’s Quai De Bourbon and Henry De Bromhead’s Waterford Whispers. They take a big chunk of the betting market here and are worth taking on. Willie Mullins may end the meeting with how he started mind with his Munir & Souede owned Oscar Des Mottes. He made his British/Mullins debut when a well backed 7/2 favourite in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury when finishing eighth. He was there with a chance at the last however until weakening with maybe the 238 day absence counting against him. He was also re-shod before the race which is maybe another excuse. Kieran Callaghan takes the ride with his season tally being eleven winners from 88 rides. A tough handicap to conclude what has been a memorable four days of top class National Hunt racing. OCASTLE DES MOTTES 1 point each way @ 12/1 bet365 1/5th 12345
  5. Cheltenham 1.30 A field of eleven face the starter in the opener on day three for the 2M 4F Turners Novices’ Chase. Ireland have won nine of the 13 runnings of this contest but this years prize may be staying at home with Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Grey Dawning and Paul Nicholls’s Ginny’s Destiny fighting out the finish. The pair met over course and distance back in December with the latter coming out on top by 3/4L but Grey Dawning is now 3lb better off and made a race ending mistake two out that day. There probably won’t be much between them again with slight preference for Ginny’s Destiny who won the same novices’ handicap over course and distance as last year’s winner Stage Star from the same yard of Paul Nicholls. His record here now reads 7111 and he can take this with Harry Cobden doing the steering although Grey Dawning looks a massive danger.. GINNY’S DESTINY 1 point win @ 4/1 William Hill Cheltenham 2.10 A maximum field of twenty four staying hurdlers line up for the wide open Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Final. Gordon Elliot has won three of the last six renewals and appears to hold a big chance of enhancing that record with his novice Cleatus Poolaw. He made a promising handicap debut when qualifying for this race when runner up at Naas in February over 2M 6 1/2F, keeping on well. Todays extra distance should suit him and he can run well along with another Irish runner in the shape of the Ted Walsh runner Garth Chuil. A winner of a qualifier at leopardstown over Christmas he went down by 3/4L in another qualifier to Maxxum again at Leopardstown five weeks later and will find conditions to suit here. Mel Rowley’s mudlark Kyntara is an outsider who could out run his odds but in a wide open heat it’s Cleatus Poolaw that has my vote with a saver on Cleatus Poolaw. GARTH CHUIL 1 point each way @ 9/1 Coral 1/5th 123456 CLEATUS POOLAW 1/2 point each way @ 15/1 William Hill 1/5th 123456 Cheltenham 2.50 The Ryanair Chase is run over the intermediate trip of 2M 4 1/2F and has an open enough look about it this year. The ground appears to have scuppered the chances of Banbridge who was pulled out on the morning of the Turners last year when the ground turned soft. Last year’s winner Envoi Allen has to be in the shake up and although he’s now ten years old remains in top form, and he must go close. Last year’s Turners winner Stage Star has a good record at the track although has to put a poor effort on New Year’s Day in a handicap behind him when pulling up. The best outsider may be Richard Hobson’s Fugitif who prepped for this over too short a trip at Newbury when third to Elixir De Nutz and Jonbon. Bar the rank outsider Fil Dor there is actually only 10lb between the whole field. Trainer Henry De Bromhead is already on the scoresheet for the meeting and can back up last year’s success in this race with the smart Envoi Allen and Rachael Blackmore. ENVOI ALLEN 1 point each way @ 9/2 bet365 1/5th 1234 Cheltenham 3.30 Thirteen staying hurdlers go to post for the 3M Stayers’ Hurdle in which there is only officially 10lb between the whole field on ratings. The rain that fell earlier in the week will be ideal for Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo who is well suited by the mud. He came into this race a year ago mind as 9/4 favourite when finishing third to Sire Du Berlais and although he can obviously win is scant value at around the 2/1 mark. An intriguing runner is Gavin Cromwell’s Flooring Porter who has an excellent record at the track which reads 1141 which includes the 2021 and 2022 runnings of tis race. Fourth last year he embarked on a chasing career this season winning here in October. He reverts to hurdles and with his liking for the track and trip could be the each way value in an open renewal in which the best of the home challenge is Fergal O’Brien’s Crambo. FLOORING PORTER 1 point each way @ 11/1 William Hill 1/5th 1234 Cheltenham 4.10 The 2M 4 1/2F TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase may have twenty one runners but there’s plenty that are hard to fancy here and this may be fought out by the two novices who head the market in the shape of Jonjo O’Neill’s Crebilly and Richard Bandey’s Theatre Man. Slight preference is for the former who’s shown promise in good novice company on his three starts over fences and looks to have been allotted a very fair handicap mark. With luck in running he could rout this field with Theatre Man chasing him home. Novices have done well in this over the years and another novice Saint Felicien, trained by Gordon Elliott also has claims having won at Gowran Park last time out. Crebilly is the one but it’s well worth a small saver on the danger Theatre Man. CREBILLY 2 points win 7/2 888sport THEATRE MAN 1 point win @ 5/1 888sport Cheltenham 4.50 Eleven have declared for the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and with Ireland having taken six of the eight runnings of this race once again have a very strong hand with the front two in the betting. Gordon Elliott has been waxing lyrical about his unbeaten five year old Brighterdaysahead and she will no doubt be hard to beat although like Willie Mullins’s Jade De Grugy, who is also unbeaten, has to carry a 5lb penalty for winning class 1 contests. One horse who’s done nothing wrong and has been well campaigned to avoid any penalties is the locally trained Dysart Enos. She’s won three bumpers and three novice hurdles with her head in her chest and in receipt of 5lb from the two Irish favourites may be the value bet for Fergal O’Brien and jockey Paddy Brennan. O’Brien has yet to have a winner at the festival but with a bit of luck today could be his day. DYSART ENOS 1 point each way @ 9/2 BetVictor Cheltenham 5.30 The finale for day three is the 3M 2F Kim Muir Handicap Chase for amateur riders. The well backed favourite is top weight Inothewayurthinkin trained by Gavin Cromwell in the colours of J P McManus and ridden by the top Irish amateur Derek O’Connor who took this back in 2019 on Any Second Now. He’s been well found in the market however and didn’t jump with fluency last time out, only his fifth ever chase start. He could well win here but with luck in running needed I’m prepared to have a swing at a big priced one each way with extra places. Step forward the Venetia Williams trained seven year old Demnat. Lightly raced, the full brother to high class 2 miler Sceau Royal, is stepping up markedly in trip and at his current odds is worth chancing that the longer trip may actually suit him. He made a winning debut for Williams at Ludlow when routing his field coasting home 15L to the good in February but flopped when dropping back to two miles a fortnight ago when he actually ran better than his finishing position of a 25L third looked as he skidded after jumping the last when 8L down. In the hope the step up in trip helps and with the assistance of female Irish amateur Aine O’Connor in the saddle he’s a value play for a stable that won this race with a 40/1 chance two years ago. DEMNAT 1 point each way @ 33/1 bet365 1/5th 123456
  6. Cheltenham 1.30 Day two of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival kicks off with the 2M 5F Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle which has attracted a rather disappointing turnout of eight of which five are trained by Irish maestro Willie Mullins. His number one here is the six year old Ballyburn who will be hard to beat. He oozed class when winning at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in February clocking a very fast time. Paul Townend was on board that day and has picked him here ahead of his stable mates and although he’s a skinny price will be very tough to beat if in the same mood. Mullins’ Ile Atlantique is maybe the one to chase him home but it may well be the case of Ballyburn coming home clear of his field. The home team only have three chances with The Grey Man a total no hoper and both Ben Pauling’s Handstands and Nicky Henderson’s Jingko Blue having a mountain to climb on form with the favourite. Stablemate El Fabiolo looks a similarly good thing later so maybe a win double is the bet. BALLYBURN & EL FABIOLO (3.30) 2 points win double 1/2 & 8/15 bet365 @ 1.3/1 Cheltenham 2.10 The 3M 110 yard Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase has disappointedly only attracted six runners. We have another Willie Mullins favourite in Fact To File who it seems the trainer is very sweet on. There is however a horse in here who, in my opinion, has done as much if not more than him over fences. That horse is the Paul Nicholls trained Stay Away Fay who won the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle last season, which is always a good guide to this novice chase the following year with six of the past 14 winners having contested the race the previous year. He’s made a good start to chasing winning twice at Exeter and Sandown (Giovinco back in second)and finishing a good third in open company to Capodanno in the Cotswolds Chase here on trials day on the new course. He can run a bit in snatches so Nicholls reaches for first time cheek pieces today which may help him if it comes to a battle. At the respective prices the value bet has to be Stay Away Fay. STAY AWAY FAY 1 point win @ 10/3 bet365 Cheltenham 2.50 A near maximum field of twenty five assemble for the highly competitive Coral Cup run over 2M 5F. Last year’s winner Langer Dan is worth a close look now that he’s dropped to the exact same mark he won off last season with stomach ulcers the ‘excuse’ for his poor efforts this season. Expect him to run a lot better today. Willie Mullins saddles three with his handicap debutant Sa Majeste the most interesting. He could be chucked in but is priced accordingly. Nicky Henderson has three in this and all three have chances with Doddiethegreat just favoured over Lucky Place and First Street. He ran well in the Betfair Hurdle last time out, a race that was franked last weekend and with the step up in trip sure to suit, this lightly raced eight year old is the pick although I have to have a saver on his stable mate Lucky Place who is making his handicap debut and looks well treated on his runs behind smart novices Golden Ace and Gidleigh Park. The form of the Henderson’s stable has to be questioned though with his Tuesday runners (bar Champion Hurdle 3rd Lucia) running shockingly. Had they been been running better I would be splitting stakes on Doddiethegreat and Lucky Place but with the way the stable are running the bet is last year’s winner Langer Dan. LANGER DAN 1 point each way @ 9/1 Unibet 1/5th 12345 Cheltenham 3.30 Just eight face the starter for the 2M Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. Yet again we have a very warm Willie Mullins trained favourite in El Fabiolo. He’s six from six over fences including taking the Arkle Novices’ Chase at the meeting last year and the Simon Munir & Isaac Souede owned seven year old is hard to oppose. His chief rival is the Nicky Henderson trained Jonbon who was firmly put in his place by El Fabiolo in the Arkle last season going down by 5 1/2L and hardly boosted his chances for this when blundering his way around when beaten a neck by the re-opposing Elixir De Nutz here on trials day in the re-arranged Clarence House Stakes. Edwardstone employed new forcing tactics when blitzing his rivals at Newbury last time but is up against it in this company and this can and should go to the favourite bar any accidents. Cheltenham 4.10 Six of the last 9 winners of this Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase have been won by Gigginstown Stud and they are once again well represented with two big chances in Punchestown banks winner Coko Beach and Delta Work who is the pick here having shown his liking for this unique course having won the last two renewals. Blinkers are added for the first time to Gordon Elliott’s eleven year old who teed up for his hat trick bid by running in a grade two hurdle at Navan in February. 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo is not the force of old but should be competitive here and with heavy ground likely to be against Galvin and many others hard to fancy this may well be fought out by Coko Beach, Minella Indo and Delta Work with the latter the selection with Jack Kennedy on board. DELTA WORK 1 point win @ 3/1 888sport.com Cheltenham 4.50 A decent sized field of seventeen line up for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase run over 2M. The race has an open look about and in a race that novice’s have a good record in it may be worth chancing Evan Williams’s Libberty Hunter. He’s won two of his three starts over fences (he fell 3 out on chase debut) including over course and distance on New Year’s Day by a length from Matata (who’s run well in defeat since). A 7lb rise for that victory may not be enough to stop him from running a big race in this open handicap. Last year’s winner Maskada (8lb higher today) and Dublin Racing Festival winner Madara are others likely to run well but with extra places it may be worth backing Libberty Hunter. LIBBERTY HUNTER 1 point each way @ 7/1 bet365 1/5th 12345 Cheltenham 5.30 The finale of day two is the 2M 87 yard Champion Bumper which has fallen to Ireland on 24 of the last 31 runnings with that man Willie Mullins winning the race a staggering twelve times in that time span. He saddles nine of the 24 runners here and must have a solid chance of winning it again with the likes of the Souede & Munir owned Jasmin De Vaux, a 15L winner at Naas or possibly the Paul Townend ridden Cantico. There maybe some value with the latter who by all accounts works as well as anything at Closutton and it looks significant that Townend has picked him ahead of other promising types. He couldn’t have done anymore than win a six runner Navan bumper by 6L when last seen so to small stakes he’s the each way pick. Paul Nicholls saddles a brace of runners in Quebecois and Teeshan with the latter a very interesting runner. An easy Irish point winner he made an impressive British rules debut when winning by 7L at Exeter and although Britain have a poor record in this race can run well and be involved in the finish. CANTICO 1 point each way @ 12/1 bet365 1/5th 12345
  7. Cheltenham 1.30 The 2024 Cheltenham Festival kicks off with a dozen novice hurdlers facing the tape for the usual curtain raiser the 2M 87 yard Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Willie Mullins sets a poser by saddling six of the field and with stable jockey Paul Townend choosing Tullyhill, he looks sure to be thereabouts. It may be Mullins’s arch Irish rival Gordon Elliott though that takes first blood with his Firefox. He beat the very smart Ballyburn on his hurdling debut at this trip and although blowing out in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle in January, that was over 2M 4F and back to the minimum trip and with Jack Kennedy in the plate can get us off to a flyer. He’s worth backing each way with the firms who are paying an extra place. FIREFOX 1 point each way @ 5/1 Betfred 1/5th 1234 Cheltenham 2.10 A fair sized field of ten line up for the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Novices’ Chase run over just short of two miles. Ireland have won six of the last 9 renewals and that can be extended here with the Gordon Elliott trained Found A Fifty. He went down by a neck to Il Etait Temps at the Dublin Racing Festival in February and there shouldn’t be much between them here today on identical terms. Willie Mullins runs three with Paul Townend on board Gaelic Warrior who’s been runner up at the Festival in the last two years. He does have questions to answer now though after a lack lustre effort at the Dublin Racing Festival with his tendency to jump out to the right a negative here. This looks one for the Irish with Found A Fifty just shading it. FOUND A FIFTY 1 point each way @ 11/2 BetVictor 1/5th 123 Cheltenham 2.50 The first handicap of the week is the 23 runner Ultima Handicap run over 3M 1F. As always it’s an open race where you will need plenty of luck in running. Last year’s fourth The Goffer and Willie Mullin’s Meetingofthewaters both holding decent claims but this is a race that normally goes to the home team and it can go the way of Kim Bailey. Bailey has two in the race and although I have slight preference for Chianti Classico it’s also worth backing his other runner Trelawne. Both are novices with the former having only his fourth start over fences. He appears the pick of stable jockey David Bass who will be throwing the horse into the fences whilst Harry Cobden has the ride on the latter who’s novice form over fences stacks up well and he should relish a step up to today’s distance. CHIANTI CLASSICO 1 point each way @ 15/2 bet365 1/5th 123456 TRELAWNE 1 point each way @ 8/1 bet365 1/5th 123456 Cheltenham 3.30 Despite the defection of reigning champion Constitution Hill we still have a field of eight for the Unibet Champion Hurdle run over 2M 87 yards. Willie Mullins has the very warm favourite in State Man who has won ten of his 12 completed starts under rules and was runner up last year. He is officially 10lb and upwards better than these and it will be a big shock were he not to win. I ca see him being very well backed and going off more a 1/4 shot at post time. He’s hard to oppose with second favourite Irish Point dropping a mile in trip having impressed at Leopardstown over 3M at Christmas. Nicky Henderson supplemented Iberico Lord last week and although on figures he has plenty to find he is an improver who loves soft good, has good form at the track and the form of his Betfair Hurdle victory at Newbury last time out was franked at the weekend in the Imperial Cup. He can make the frame but this is all about State Man who should win. STATE MAN 2 points win @ 4/11 Unibet Cheltenham 4.10 A field of eleven go to post for the 2M 4F Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle. A warm favourite here is the Willie Mullins trained Lossiemouth who was a winner at the Festival last season in the Triumph Hurdle. She looked good when re-appearing in the Unibet Hurdle here on trials day in January and if in the same form will be hard to beat. The one question mark against her mind is the fact that she has yet to race over today’s trip. She wasn’t stopping at the end of her victory last time over 3 furlongs shorter though and connections appear to have no fears of her not staying. However at around the 4/7 mark she is scant value and even though she should win I’m happy to back one against her each way who we know will love the ground, trip and track in the shape of Harry Fry’s Love Envoi. She won the Mares’ Novices Hurdle in 2022 and was runner up in this last year to Honeysuckle. She does have some distance to make up with Lossiemouth on Unibet Hurdle form but at a double figure price she is maybe the value. LOVE ENVOI 1 point each way @ 16/1 William Hill 1/5th 123 Cheltenham 4.50 A maximum field of twenty two line up for the 2M 87 yard Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. It has a wide open look about it with big priced winners amongst the roll of honour over the last decade. A chance can be given to many with French trainers Noel George & A Zetterholm holding every chance with one of two J P McMnaus owned runners in the shape of Milan Tino. He’s already got experience of the track having finished third to useful sorts Burdett Road and Sir Gino. At a much bigger price it maybe worth chancing Paul Nolan’s runner Palamon who has the look of one that’s been brought along with this race in mind. A 79 rated horse on the level for Richard Hannon he showed his best form so far over timber when third (beaten 3 3/4L) to the re-opposing Ndaawi and is now 13lb better off. The fourth from that race has won since to give it a boost and although Ndaawi won cosily that day the turn around in the weights may give the chestnut a chance of getting closer at a big price. Many others can be given chances but it’s Milan Tino and Palamon for me. MILAN TINO 1 point each way @ 13/2 Unibet 1/5th 123456 PALAMON 1 point each way @ 20/1 bet365 1/5th 123456 Cheltenham 5.30 A small but select field of seven go to post for the 3M 6F Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup for amateur riders. The two favourites surprisingly are both racing in a fist time hood and slight preference is for the Emmet Mullins trained Corbetts Cross who may well have won at this fixture last year but for crashing out at the last in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, which is a good guide to the likely winner of this contest. He does have to prove himself over this longer trip as like his biggest danger, the Willie Mullins trained Embassy Gardens but looks all about stamina and can give Derek O’Connor his third victory in the race. Some firms are paying three places on this seven runner contest so it may also be worth a small each way bet on the only horse who has raced beyond 3M in the Sara Bradstock trained Mr Vango who wears first time cheek pieces and was a 60L winner of a handicap over today’s trip at Exeter. He has officially 22lb to find but with some of these having stamina to prove could stay on into a place at a big price. CORBETTS CROSS 1 point win @ 2/1 bet365 MR VANGO 1/2 point each way @ 20/1 bet365 1/5th 123
  8. The calm before the storm! The ITV cameras are showing six races on Saturday before the onslaught to Prestbury Park next week and here are my thoughts on the six. Sandown 1.50 The days ITV schedule starts with a seventeen runner 2M 4F EBF Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final. Paul Nicholls has taken two of the last four renewals with McFabulous and Complete Unknown and appears to hold anther decent chance with top weight Fire Flyer. He’s won two of his three starts over hurdles including when defeating the smart Secret Squirrel at Taunton last time out. This is his first start in a handicap with his mark of 127 looking fair enough. Harry Cobden is in the saddle and he looks to have a good chance. Jonjo O’Neill’s Hasthing is another with a good chance now stepping back up in trip off of what appears a fair mark. FIRE FLYER 1 point each way @ 9/2 BetVictor 1/5th 12345 Sandown 2.25 The day’s feature race at the Esher track is the Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle run over two miles. It features sixteen runners and as always has an open enough look about it. One horse who will love the soft conditions and has been running well all season is Olly Murphy’s Go Dante. He beat Doddiethegreat at Cheltenham in December and ran with plenty of credit when third in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury 57 days later to Iberico Lord who’s been supplemented this week for the Champion Hurdle. He had a few of these behind him that day and off of the same handicap mark and with Sean Bowen riding looks sure to give us a big run for our money each way with additional places. GO DANTE 1 point each way @ 6/1 William Hill 1/5th 123456 Wolverhampton 2.40 Just six go to post for this listed 7F 36 yard Lady Wulfruna Stakes in which favourite Shouldhavebeenaring has a very solid look about him. Richard Hannon’s grey ended last season running creditably in group 1 events so this represents a big drop in class. He has 9lb and upwards in hand of his five rivals and if straight enough will be very hard to beat with Sean Levey in the saddle. The progressive Doctor Khan Junior who is five from seven on the all weather may end up the biggest threat to the pick but this is all about Shouldhavebeenaring. SHOULDHAVEBEENARING 2 points win @ 11/8 bet365 Sandown 3.00 The British Stallion Studs EBF Mares National Hunt race is next up, a listed contest run over two miles with a dozen promising mares facing the judge here. Mark Walford’s Just Call Me Lucy ran right away with a bumper up at Carlisle when last seen, 89 days ago and is a player although I’m not too sure what she beat that day. I’m happy to take a chance on the only rules newcomer in the race and Dan Skelton’s Honky Tonk Highway. It looks significant that trainer Dan Skelton has thrown her straight into listed company for her debut under rules having looked useful when winning a 3M maiden point to point on heavy ground at Tattersalls Farm last October. The horse she beat that day Diva Luna is now in the hands of Ben Pauling and won a listed bumper at Market Rasen last month to massively frank the form. Skelton’s Milan mare was bought for £165,000 after her victory and t would be no shock if she was to strike at the first time of asking. HONKY TONK HIGHWAY 1 point win @bet365 Wolverhampton 3.15 The 1M 142 yard BetMGM Lincoln Trial Handicap features eleven runners of whom only three are actually entered in the Lincoln which is a fortnight away today. The horse that catches my eye is the Clive Cox trained Kingdom Come. The Kingman five year old has won three of his five starts on the all weather and has not been disgraced in two efforts this season when runner up to the progressive Doctor Khan Junior and his latest third at Lingfield can be marked up as he had a poor trip round. Off of the same mark and with Rossa Ryan in the saddle he looks excellent each way value, especially wit the firms paying four places. KINGDOM COME 1 point each way @ 5/1 William Hill 1/5th 1234 Sandown 3.35 A £50,000 2M 4F novices’ handicap chase that has attracted just eight runners. Paul Nicholls’ top weight Golden Son may well be the one they all have to beat. He bounced back to form following two pulled up efforts in first time cheek pieces at Kempton a fortnight ago when beating Heltenham by half a length. Heltenham has boosted the form since by winning the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury so a 3lb rise may not be enough to stop this ex french six year old who runs in the colours of one of Nicholls’s biggest patrons Johnny de la Hey. Kotmask trained by Gary Moore is chasing a hat trick and looks the danger. GOLDEN SON 1 point win @ 3/1 BetVictor
  9. The final day and lets hope we're all way in front by then! My knowledge colleague @Tumbleweed King has previewed day four and it's well worth a read. https://www.punterslounge.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/tips/day-4/
  10. I'v e previewed the Thursday (Day 3) of the Cheltenham and although I will be making my final selections at the 48 hour stage here's some early thoughts. https://www.punterslounge.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/tips/day-3/
  11. My esteemed colleague @Tumbleweed King has been burning the midnight oil and has come up with a preview for Day two of the Cheltenham Festival. It's well worth a read. https://www.punterslounge.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/tips/day-2/
  12. Under a week to go to Cheltenham and here's a preview I've put together for Day One (other days to follow ). Here's hoping all horses and jockeys come back in one piece and we can all find a winner or three! https://www.punterslounge.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/tips/day-1
  13. Newbury 1.20 The first of nine races covered by ITV today is the 3M 2F veterans handicap chase with nine horses going to post. The race has an open look about it and it maybe worth chancing last year’s winner Cyclop from the David Dennis stable. He’s two from three here and although he’s hard to fancy on his last three starts when he’s been well beaten he has dropped 9lb in the weights for that run of bad runs. He’s now 7lb lower than his win last year so is without doubt well handicapped and in the hope the track may spark him back to form is worth a speculative each way bet. CYCLOP 1 point each way @ 20/1 bet365 1/5 123 Kelso 1.42 A competitive class 2 handicap hurdle is next run over 2M 4F and 189 yards with nine horses lining up. Many can be given chances with the one that stands out to me being the Nicky Richards trained The Kalooki Kid in his first handicap. A winner of novice hurdles at Musselburgh and Newcastle this season he certainly wasn’t disgraced when fourth of five in the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster in January won by Nicky Henderson’s Jeriko Du Reponet. The second and third, Lump Sum and Fiercely Proud have since finished first and second in the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton to frank that form. The Kalooki Kid has been allotted 124 for this handicap which may be lenient and is worth backing here. THE KALOOKI KID 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 123 Newbury 1.55 Just nine go to post for the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase run over 2M 3F and 187 yards. Paul Nicholls has an excellent record in the race over the years and his representative Kandoo Kid, who may not have stayed 3M last time, has to be respected. I’ll take him on mind with Ryan Potter’s top weight Jetoile who brings some good pieces of form to the table. A good winner of the Old Roan Handicap Chase at Aintree on his re-appearance he wasn’t totally disgraced when fourth of 13 in a Premier Handicap won by GA Law at Cheltenham in January. Dropped a pound for that run he can give weight all round with the booking of one of the best conditional jockeys around Dylan Johnston a positive one with his 5lb claim a bonus. JETOILE 1 point each way @ 10/1 bet365 1/5th 123 Kelso 2.17 The Grade 2 bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle has attracted a dozen promising hurdlers with Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie bringing the best form to the table with his Grade 1 victory at Aintree on Boxing Day. He does have to shoulder a 5lb penalty mind and a horse who was very impressive here last time out over a two furlong shorter trip is Anthony Charlton’s Alnilam. He coasted through the race and won easily by 13L. This is obviously tougher but his connections were taking him up afterwards and he can step forward again and take this with Bradley Harris despite the fact he can’t claim his 3lb here. ALNILAM 1 point each way @ 13/2 William Hill 1/5th 1234 Doncaster 2.35 Seven chasers go to post for this 2M 78 yard class 2 handicap chase which has an open look to it. Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero’s seven year old Homme Public appears to have as good a chance as any having won his first two starts over fences at Wetherby and Cheltenham last autumn. He’s not been seen since running a respectable 3 1/4L second to Persian Time at Ascot just before Christmas and remains with plenty of scope for the chasing game. Regular rider Henry Brooke rides and he looks sure to be thereabouts. HOMME PUBLIC 1 point win @ 3/1 William Hill Kelso 2.50 The day’s big betting handicap is the bet365 Moorebattle Handicap Hurdle run over the minimum trip of two miles. A maximum field of eighteen have declared for tis valuable £120,000 prize with southern raider Under Control the standout horse. Trained at Seven Barrows by Nicky Henderson she comes here having split two useful Willie Mullins mares in a Grade 2 mares hurdle at Doncaster in the shape of Ashroe Diamond and Gala Marceau. The handicapper could easily have reacted by raising her 7lb or more but only put her up one pound. She’s the favourite here and bids to win this before going to Cheltenham where she has three entries, the County Hurdle, Mares Hurdle and Champion Hurdle. She is the one horse in the race who is maybe capable of taking the field apart and is a strong fancy despite the numbers even if the Henderson stable could be in better form. UNDER CONTROL 1 point win @ 7/2 William Hill Doncaster 3.10 The 3M 84 yard listed mares novices’ hurdle is up next and has attracted a field of eleven. The best in at the weights is James Moffatt’s Lunar Discovery and it would be great to see him and his jockey Charlotte Jones take a race of this nature. They should run well but preference is for Tom Symonds’s Gaye Legacy who’s a consistent staying hurdler who’s stepping out of handicap company here. She’s hit the frame on all five of her starts this season with her latest effort coming at Newbury when winning a sixteen runner 3M handicap hurdle. Ben Poste is her regular rider and is on board the bay mare today. GAYE LEGACY 1 point each way @ 5/1 bet365 1/5th 123 Kelso 3.25 Just seven go to post for the 2M 7F 96 yard bet365 Premier Chase with Jonjo O’Neill’s Monbeg Genius teeing up for the Grand National for which he is one of the market leaders. Last seen when third in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury back in December he looks sure to run well even if he does come third on official ratings behind Minella Drama who’s not firing at the moment and Aye Right who looks a big danger to the pick. Jonjo O’Neill Junior takes the ride. MONBEG GENIUS 1 point win @ 7/4 bet365 Doncaster 3.40 A good sized field of thirteen face the judge for the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase run over 3M 2F and 1 yard. Richard Hobson’s Some Scope looks the one to beat but he won’t enjoy slowish ground and is worth taking on for that reason alone. One horse who has a good record here which reads 1U2 is Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Undersupervision who was just touched off in this very race a year ago by Moroder. He’s now 2lb higher and we also have to take a chance that he’s in the same form as last year as he’s pulled up on three of his four starts since although he did show up well when third in a amateur jockeys handicap chase at Cheltenham in November. He’s not the most genuine of horses but has ability and is worth chancing each way. UNDERSUPERVISION 1 point each way @ 6/1 bet365 1/5th 123
  14. Nicky Henderson has given an update on Constitution Hill today - What do we all think ?
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