I've found the best 10-11 shot at the Festival

Agree. I'd be surprised if anything else won. You can get evs for the three though. 5/1 each.

Going at start of meeting to be G/S

I'd rather not exclude irish horses. Realt Dubh has a shout.

Realt Dubh would have to start the day before. It's a very sound bet, although Finians Rainbow likely to hit the deck.

Distances line will be around 110 lengths, 10/11 under/over, make the unders a decent 10/11 play

World Hurdle "Without Big Bucks" - Grand Crus @ 10/11

(some even money about as well)

couldn't agree more, sound double that

Evens on the three looks a sound bet as does Grand Cruz.

I don't think he'll beat Big Buck's that's asking a bit too much of the horse but the way the race will be run is what attracts me to the bet.

Grand Crus will try and go early which will stretch them out like washing coming down the hill and I doubt if anything else will get near them.

agree with cv byrne dont underestimate the irish ,n.meade thinks a lot of realt dubh look at his form its holding up well and has been franked several times .

i don't think you need to bother with the 10/11 without Grands Crus. just have the 9/4. he will win the race and win it well. i was at trials day when he hammerred the same horses big bucks has beat well, but people who were there that day saw a very,very special horse that day.he would have beat big bucks that day too, he's 6 years old and still improving. he is my banker of the meeting,i also like the 13/8 about 7.5 or more Irish Winners and surely Barry G is decent value for top jock?

i don't think you need to bother with the 10/11 without Grands Crus. just have the 9/4. he will win the race and win it well. i was at trials day when he hammerred the same horses big bucks has beat well, but people who were there that day saw a very,very special horse that day.he would have beat big bucks that day too, he's 6 years old and still improving. he is my banker of the meeting,i also like the 13/8 about 7.5 or more Irish Winners and surely Barry G is decent value for top jock?

Barry Gerraghty top jockey is stealing money. Walsh does not have the ammunition of the last couple years and has not ridden all season.

I think we Irish will have a good festival. Some good novices in particular, Oscars Well, Realt Dubh, Zaidpour, Noble Prince, few in the RSA, Call the police...

To go with Hurricane Fly, Big Zeb, Quevega, Garde Champetre and a few good ones for handicaps.

Could be a good year.

Only concern about Grand Crus is that he will try to race with Big Bucks whereas the others will likely be ridden for a place and be running on at the end.  Grand Crus may well win but it will have to get in a tough battle with big bucks and that could cost grand crus a place.

So for me I would prefer the 9/4 win that the 10/11 without.

problem i have with hurricane fly is it only ever beats solwhit and solwhit has been stepped up to 3miles, so the form is tricky to weigh up.i like cork all star for foxhunters and cross kennon for pertemps final as my lively outsiders

I am convinced the Irish are set for their worst Festival in years. The quality of National Hunt racing this season is poor, and the results come March 15th will reflect that! Realt Dubh is no threat. He doesn't look explosive in his races, and his last two wins have come as a result of the race falling apart in the latter stages.

i tend to agree,but they always have them ready for the festival. i still can't ignore the fact that when an ageing, overweight Kauto still beat a fit Sizing Europe earlier this season. That's why i think Masterminded could be a good thing for the Champion Chase.

Irish strong this year awith Big Zeb, Oscars Well, Hurricane Fly but Realt Dubh is slow as...