Cheltenham 2005

[bowles10]

Re: Cheltenham 2005 thats fine Aykay & the best way forward. I was using this thread myself as a bit of a personal diary to record my thoughts over the last few months etc:ok

[bowles10]

Re: Cheltenham 2005 there is always something that comes back to haunt me every year - read this post & weep!!:cry only 1 horse ran today - Idole First 33/1 winner.:wall

Saturdays big race was the Totesport Trophy at Newbury:

1st		:'>Essex (IRE)	5	B J Geraghty	4-1
			11 6	M O'Brien
		Always prominent, challenged from 3 out, shaken up to lead last, ridden clear flat, comfortably Opened 11/2, touched 6/1 £3000-£500, £22000-£4000, £11000-£2000(x2), £5500-£1000(x2), £5000-£1000(x5), £2500-£500 each way, £2500-£500, £9000-£2000, including office money
2nd	3l	:'>Bongo Fury (FR)	6	T Scudamore	33-1
			10 3	M Pipe
		Chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed last, just held on for 2nd
3rd	hd	:'>Al Eile (IRE)	5	J Culloty	10-1
			11 0	John Queally
		Held up, pushed along and well behind 4 out, still plenty to do 2 out, ran on from last, just failed for 2nd Opened 12/1 £12000-£1000, £6000-£500(x2), £10000-£1000(x2) each way, £10000-£1000
4th	1¼ l	:'>Hawadeth	10	Miss N Carberry(7)	40-1
			11 2	V Dartnall
		Prominent, lost place briefly after 4th, jumped left 3 out, stayed on flat Opened 50/1
5th	2l	:'>Power Elite (IRE)	5	P Carberry	12-1
			11 1	N Meade
		Held up in rear, hit 1st, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, no extra flat Opened 11/1, touched 12/1
6th	1l	:'>Idole First (IRE)	6	A O'Keeffe	20-1
			10 3	Miss Venetia Williams
		Chased leader, ridden and every chance 4 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, no extra Opened 25/1
7th	sh	:'>Fenix (GER)	6	L Aspell	40-1
			10 0	Mrs L Wadham
		Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from last, not trouble leaders
8th	sh	:'>Tamarinbleu (FR)	5	A P McCoy	11-2
			11 4	M Pipe
		Held up in rear, headway 4 out, weakened flat Opened 13/2 £13000-£2000(x2), £10000-£1500 each way, £3250-£500
9th	1½ l	:'>Roman Ark	7	F King(3)	7-1
			10 4	J Jefferson
		Held up in touch, pushed along from 3 out, one pace when mistake last Opened 7/1, touched 8/1 £8000-£10000, £5000-£700
10th	hd	:'>Monte Cinto (FR)	5	R Walsh	11-1
			10 3	P Nicholls
		Held up, headway after 2 out, never on terms Opened 12/1

although essex put up a great performance to win off a big weight & is an improving type, whether it can now go on to the champion hurdle is a difficult task. It has now taken two valuable handicap prizes & i dont expect they'll settle for a handicap at Cheltenham? i tend to use this race for the handicap hurdles at Cheltenham & will be interested to see how the 10 horses above take their chances at the festival. They are all on my list now to consider for backing at the meeting dependent on price etc.