I have just attended the Oswestry preview night for which a summary is detailed below :-
PANEL :- Mark Winstanley ( MW ) Richard Johnson ( RJ ) Paul Ferguson ( PF ) Noel Fehily ( NF ) Chairman of the Panel Mark Ball ( MB )
SUPREME NOVICES - RJ said Cue Card best horse in the race, NF agreed and couldnt see it getting beat, PF has backed Zaidpour but also thinks Cue Card will win, but can make a case for Megans Star e/w at a big price. MW thinks Henderson has the race by the balls and has been told that Geraghty will ride Spirit Son.
ARKLE - With the forecast dry for the next 2 weeks RJ thinks Captain Chris will go for the Jewson. Ghizao cant win unless soft and picked Medermit as did MW as the best hurdler invariably wins the Arkle and Medermit would be his bet of the day. NF cant have Ghizao and he would select Finians Rainbow to ride, whilst PF has backed Medermit & Finians Rainbow and his preference would be for the former.
CHAMPION HURDLE - RJ predctably selected Menorah and said the normally calm Hobbs was really excited after his racecourse gallop this week. NF said Paul Townend & the Irish are really sweet on the Fly yet he would prefer Binocular. PF said Menorah was a really good each way bet but sided with the Fly whilst MW went for Binoular and would be laying Peddlers Cross all day long.
SUN ALLIANCE HURDLE - or whatever they call it now. PF thinks that the Irish horses are superior here, but Oscars Well was too short and sided with So Young but didnt discount First Lieutenenat. RJ said Megans Star would be value if lining up here instead of Supreme, but Bobs Worth is the one to beat as did MW. NF thinks Ireland will win and went for Oscars Well.
RSA - 3 of the panel went for Time for Rupert who MW predicted would go off 5/4 or 11/8 on the day. RJ has been trying to convince Hobbs to run Wishful Thinking here, however he said TFR is his banker of the meeting. Odd one out was NF who said 1833 would have a major chance with juice in the ground.
CHAMPION CHASE - RJ said Sommersby should be in Ryanair, both him PF & NF went for Big Zeb if the ground is good. MW thinks Woolcombe Folly would win as the old guard are not that good anymore.
After the first 2 days RJ had to leave, but he did suggest Kilcrea Kim would have a good chance whichever race he went for, if he had the choice in the Gold Cup would ride Imperial Commander. Snap Tie worked with Menorah this week and if good ground would have an excellent chance in the County.
RJ NAP - Time for Rupert.
Paul Jones ( PJ ) of the Cheltenham Betting Guide now took RJ's place
RYANAIR - MW stated that Poquelin would take the world of beating, NF agreed that he looked rock solid, wheras PJ & PF both went for Kalahari King with the likely good ground conditions
WORLD HURDLE - Unmnous decsion that Big Bucks would win, however they were split on the betting without the favourite, 2 went for Solwhit and 2 for Mourad. There was a lot of negativity regarding Grand Crus that his speed figures were not very special and his requirement for soft ground.
JEWSON - MW & PJ both thougt that Mr Gardner would reverse form with Captain Chris here and that he is currently trading at good odds as he will go off a lot shorter, NF went for Captain Chris, though did say De Bromhead is quietly confident in Loosen my Load. PF went for Hells Bay.
TRIUMPH - NF thinks disregard Sam Winners last run, PF agreed and said it was the best single piece of form this season on his first run. PJ dosnt fancy any of the market leaders and would back Smad Place. MW went for an outsider in Moose Moran of Hendersons who runs on Friday. He said that it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Geraghty would ride this instead of Gandouet or a Media a Luz.
ALBERT BARTLETT - PJ said Kilcream Kim will run here and is the most likely winner, if he dosnt run Champion Court would be his selection. NF has been impressed by Back in Focus. MW & PF both suggested Bobs Worth if he runs here and if not Mossley, also from hendersons each way.
GOLD CUP - MW cant have Long Run, Kauto Star or Imperial Commander. Denman is a watching brief and has backed Kempes but also on good ground put up China Rock e/w at 66/1. PJ was totally against Kauto Star and to a lesser extent Denman, worried about Imperial Commanders preparation so has seleted Long Run by default. NF believes the younger horses still have a bit to find with the older brigade and went for Denman. PF does not have a strong view on the race, but went for Imperial Commander.
SHOULDER RACES SUMMARY - General Consensus was that whichever races Aigle d'or or Quantiveasing go for they would be a hughe gamble and McManus plot horses. Tanks for that was a good fancy for the Grand Annual. Owners are very keen on Galant Nuit in the Kim Muir as has been laid out for the race. David Pipe says Junior is his best handicap bet of the meeting in the Kim Muir, but make of that what you will.Chartreaux was fancied in the Pertemps. Tullymore Dew was fancied whereever he turns up.Aegean Dawn & Psycho for the Morals Cup. The Irish horse for the bumper is Allure of Illusion. Great Endeavour was fancied of his current mark for the handicap chase on the first day.
NAPS MW - Tanks for That NF - Sam Winner PJ - Medermit PF - Time for Rupert
Sorry if it is a lot to take in, I have summarised as best I could !!
Thanks for attending last night, a significant sum was raised for the IJF, so we shall try to do the preview again next year.
Dicky was keen on Snap Tie, he worked very well with Menorah at Exeter, so he thinks he could be a class horse in a handicap. He was also keen on Beshabar for the 4m chase, will stay all day and " a very good horse" he said. Richard Burton may ride but that's not 100%
TItan De Sarti got a good mention for the Fred Winter, he hasn't had his ground all year, needs good, considered well handicapped.
Noel likes 18-33 but he must have cut, felt on good ground he would get lost because he's so big & long striding, they would go too fast for him on a turning track.
Hope you found some winners, and some negatives, enjoy Cheltenham.
Thanks for attending last night, a significant sum was raised for the IJF, so we shall try to do the preview again next year.Dicky was keen on Snap Tie, he worked very well with Menorah at Exeter, so he thinks he could be a class horse in a handicap.
Hi Mark, thanks for your additional input and it was a really good night and would definitly attend again next year and it was great to raise some good funds for the IJF, even though I didnt win a prize on the raffle !!
Hi Mark, thanks for your additional input and it was a really good night and would definitly attend again next year and it was great to raise some good funds for the IJF, even though I didnt win a prize on the raffle !!
i havent been to 1 for a few years now, but its such a buzz , everyone there for 1 thing , amazing nights which create a great atmosphere and raise a few quid for some charities ,, just wish 1 of these bookmakers would do 1 in swansea , so many betting shops around here and none of them with any iniative to put 1 on , would raise loads for so many good causes , plenty of places that can hold upto 1000 people in the area
i havent been to 1 for a few years now, but its such a buzz , everyone there for 1 thing , amazing nights which create a great atmosphere and raise a few quid for some charities ,, just wish 1 of these bookmakers would do 1 in swansea , so many betti
Extreme Conviction, he said that in his opinion Masterminded must have a bit of juice in the ground, that he wont be quick enough now on the usual prevailing good ground
Extreme Conviction, he said that in his opinion Masterminded must have a bit of juice in the ground, that he wont be quick enough now on the usual prevailing good ground