Racing Chat - Wednesday 17th March

[The Brigadier]

Day 2 and I hope you managed to find a winner or two today.

 

1.20

A disappointing field size but the main runners are all here and we’re racing so let’s not be too downhearted. I think one of the front three in the betting will win this and although you can make a solid case for any of the trio I’m with Bob Olinger. Impressive winner of an Irish point to point and bumper. He was beaten by Ferny Hollow on his hurdling debut at Gowran Park in November and hasn’t looked back since winning at Navan and Naas. He looks the real deal to me and although I have respect for his two main dangers in Bravemansgame and Gaillard Du Mesnil it’s Henry De Bromhead’s 6 year old for me.

 

BOB OLINGER 2 points win @ 6/4 Betway

 

1.55

Only 6 go to post for the Brown Advisory Chase (RSA to most of us) and a very warm favourite in Willie Mullin’s Monkfish. He’s looked exceptional in his three chase wins this season and as a previous Cheltenham Festival winner of last season’s Albert Bartlett will be very hard to beat. I think Colin Tizzard’s The Big Breakaway can chase him home but from a punting angle it’s a no bet race for me.

 

2.30

A typically wide open Coral Hurdle where I’ll take two against the field to be backed each way with one of the firms paying enhanced place terms (Skybet, Paddy Power/Betfair SB are the best in the village with 1/5th 7 places). Blue Sari is my first pick. It’s possible that the horse has totally gone as he’s been pulled up on his last two outings but let’s not forget his 3/4L 2nd to the smart Envoi Allen in the Cheltenham Bumper only two years ago. Or his defeat of The Bosses Oscar on his hurdling debut at Punchestown. He was backed on Monday afternoon so with JP McManus owning him that was good to see. The other one I fancy is Guard Your Dreams, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. If you get a chance have a look back at the footage of his run last time out in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury then please do. He jumped the last in 12th place and ran on to such effect that he finished 6th only beaten 7L. He looked a horse that day that was crying out for a step up in trip which he gets here. They’re my two but it’s a devilishly hard contest.

 

BLUE SARI 1 point EW @ 10/1 1/4 odds 123456

GUARD YOUR DREAMS 1 point EW 11/1 @ 1/5 odds 12345

 

3.05

Chacun Pour Soi’s day of destiny. He’s yet to race outside of Ireland for his trainer Willie Mullins but everything he’s done in th best company over there has screamed Champion Chaser and although he’s a skinny price it’s hard to see past him despite the fact that he has no experience of this track. He was of course pulled out on the morning of the race last season and can make amends here.

 

CHACUN POUR SOI 2 points win @ 4/5 Paddy Power

 

3.40

Not my favourite race and my first thoughts were that I wanted to get the favourite Easyland beat as I can’t get out of my mind his lack lustre performance in a handicap over this unique course back in November. However when you start looking at the opposition it’s hard to find any serious challengers! Tiger Roll looks a horse who’s half gone. I’ll keep my stakes low but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s Easyland’s to lose.

 

EASYLAND 1 point win @ 5/6 Paddy Power

 

4.15

A competitive renewal of the Gran Annual. Joseph O’Brien has thee interesting runners  here including last seasons third Us And Them and novice Embittered but this maybe a race the home team can take and I’m particularly sweet on Philip Hobb’s Zanza. He was travelling as well as any when crashing out at the third last here in November with the two that went on to finish 1st and 2nd Sky Pirate and Ibleo now rated 18lb and 17lb higher respectively. Zanza has been off since and can race off of the same mark as he did that day making him look dangerously handicapped.  In such a big field with the enhanced places I’m also tempted to back Venetia Williams’s Ibleo who has done nothing wrong in his last two runs and looks over priced to me.

 

ZANZA 1 Point EW @ 15/2 Boyles 1/5th 12345

IBLEO 1/2 Point EW @ 14/1 Boyles 1/5th 12345

 

4.50

The Champion Bumper concludes Day 2 and this looks fairly certain to be going across the Irish Sea. The front two in the betting could both be very good horses and although I have every respect for Willie Mullin’s Kilcruit who was so impressive at the Dublin Racing Festival I have to stick with Sir Gerhard, who is now trained by Mullins following his move from the disgraced Gordon Elliott. He’s done nothing wrong in his short career and could be another Cheveley Park Stud superstar.

 

SIR GERHARD 2 points win @ 9/4 William Hill

[Tedthewolf]

Very tricky  days racing at Cheltenham so small e/w bets for me.

2.30- PALMERS HILL 33/1 & BOTOX HAS  16/1

3.40 HOGANS HEIGHT 25/1

4.15 US AND THEM 14/1 & BUN DORAN 33/1

Good Luck on Day 2 Folks.