The 6 Novice Race winners

I'm fairly sure that Noble Prince and Al Ferof were fairly well fancied all year (albeit Al Ferof had questions about potentially going for the Neptune).

But fair point and I totally agree, someone posted about wanting to get "stuck into" the Arkle the other day! It's bloody the 5th of October and that will probably be the hottest race of the Festival, unbelievable stuff.

Al Ferof as the runner up in the Bumper probably was, not sure about any others

Al Ferof was I keep all ante post lists at start of season

Cue Card was 10-1 fav for Supreme
Al Ferof - 14-1 / 16-1 with some firms.

When its 8 and 10 to 1 the field I think it's not that huge an issue, I really regret not taking the 25's Sizing Europe after him hacking up in his beginners chase in May, he'd just run really well in the Punchestown champion hurdle and had shown he was back.

The biggest issue for me is finding the races which these horses will run in because for example, I'd imagine, if Peddlers Cross shows up for the arkle next season, unless he is an absolute catastrophy over fences, I cannot see him going off any bigger than 8's.

Mikhael D'Hageunet went off around 10-1 this year having never won a race over fences.

agree neil but the order helps knock them into shape and gives you a pecking order based on previous years form. In this case the form weighyed up as Cue Card was 4th at 7-4 and Al Ferof won at 9-1.

and i was on him

For the record Al Ferof was a shorter price for last years Neptune at the start of last season!

That was a good spot Howdi, I think he was 10's on the day, I remember seeing him look really good at Taunton but always thinking 'there must be something better than him about.'

In hindsight, Nicholls, with all his firepower, would not have taken on Cue Card again unless he knew his horse had improved a tonne.

the list certainly does put order into your thoughts, and can be a good way of spotting value by referring back to for horses that have maybe lost a bit of form.

to add to the plot. cheltenham preview night which I always attend.

Paul Nicholls NAP

CUE CARD

oh yeah

Sensible thread,people going on about horses winning the Arle etc should take heed.

That would be the Arkle

i thought the cheltenham executive had introuced a new race then - the arle a race for horses rated below 135 - run on thursday at quater to six -

dont give em ideas Howdi

we already have the 'Ladbroke world hurdle run on thursday over 3 miles with one one possible winnter whose name rythms with fooks'

captain chris was very popular this time last tear...on the arkle early season ramblings thread he was the first horse mentioned.

^
last year

Maybe on this forum but he wasnt on the highstreet was he? Taking it a step further, after a race or two he certainly wasnt up there...

For the chases, consistently good jumping is paramount in my view- not many horses can simply outclass a championship field. So do we look at ex P2P horses ie Peddlers? Also some trainers/owners will view the 2m4f race as a backup wheras some simply want to win any race at the festival... and for some its all about money of course.

the good captain was 5th fav for arkle last year alex 20s

the fav was celestial halo 10-1
get me out of here 12-1

thankyou howdi

he was in the top 5 in the betting.....the question was also at this time last year....never mind 2 or 3 races in.....captain chris was a buzz horse for the arkle alright ...this time last year.

i think that the arkle is probably one of the races that would have a stronger chance the most of providing a winner from one of the classier higher thought of horses early doors..........these new races filter down the field.

pleasure duffy

only because i like team B isn't it

^^^^   

personally i think i'll piss that competition!

Just as a reminder to oneself on this thread

TEAM A                   TEAM B

REALT DUBH               HURRICANE FLY
PEDDLERS CROSS           BIG BUCKS 
ZARKANDAR                FIRST LIEUTENANT
SIZING EUROPE            THOUSAND STARS
OSCARS WELL              GRANDS CRUS
SAM WINNER               AL FEROF
OUR GIRL SALLEY          SOLWHIT
CAPTAIN CHRIS            SPRINTER SACRE
SIR DES CHAMPS           BOBS WORTH
MONTBAZON                GOLDEN SILVER
SO YOUNG                 WAAHEB
SPIRIT SON               MENORAH
LONG RUN                 LOVETHEHIGHERLAW

pardon ^^^^^


who wins then cather ?

2 in 6... still not that great, all i remember is for the majority of the season FR and Ghizao were vying for favouritism around 5/1

Finian's was 33s early doors iirc altho was punted before he had run, and Ghizao was 50s on here after his defeat by Kilmurry. Came in to 12s when he won next time out.

..... yes that was mid-oct... majority of season, ie, after couple of wins they were much lower.... anyway not arguing with anyone just saying these early prices are a joke. Nothing from Ireland even factored in yet

Amazing how many horses won at festival over last 2 years who were in the front five of ante posts lists though.

only certain races

here is this years winners

- royal guardsman  supreme
- peddlars cross  arkle
- grand crus rsa
- minella forfitness ballymore
- cue card jewson
- ericht albert bartlett

easy as that.... i wish

I think Cue Card would pish up in the Jewson

Prince of Pirates for the Jewson tks

jumping needs to improve a tad

Some thoughts from The Insider in the Sportin' Life......

Ante-post punters will be constantly perusing the Cheltenham Festival markets at present goggle-eyed at the number of opportunities and big prices at their fingertips.

With four more entries released on Thursday we're happy to now have a play in the championship novice hurdle races though their release have hardly made things clearer.

Many horses have dual entries with decisions likely to be made much further down the line, so, though the prices are inflated be prepared for disappointment if your selection turns up elsewhere.

The William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle has attracted 91 entries with Irish raider CASH AND GO the one we like the look of at 16/1.

Edward O'Grady's five-year-old is unbeaten over hurdles after three wins over timber including a gutsy win in Grade One company last time at Leopardstown.

He beat Sous Les Cioux by almost five lengths fair and square that day and on a line through him he has the beating of the likes of Galileo's Choice and Midnight Game who are both shorter than him in the Supreme betting.

It seems to me O'Grady's charge has gone under the radar a little and with better ground likely to hold few fears for this son of Sulamani he looks worth adding to the portfolio.

He could run in the Deloitte Hurdle at Leopardstown on Irish Hennessy day and if he confirms how good we think he could be there his odds will tumble.

I really like Boston Bob for the Neptune Investments Novices' Hurdle but second guessing Willie Mullins and his Festival plans isn't easy at this time of year even if he is leaning towards this race with the Graham Wylie-owned horse.

There's a chance he could go for the three-miler and with that in mind I'd rather back Noel Meade's MONKSLAND at 16/1.

If you fancy Boston Bob I think you've got to consider Monksland as he easily accounted for Lyreen Legend in the Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas and that horse went on to get closer to Mullins' charge at Leopardstown.

Monksland's unbeaten under rules and looks to have a touch of class. I can see him coping well with better ground and come the middle of March 16/1 might just look huge.

In the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle over three miles SEA OF THUNDER appeals at 16/1.

Charles Byrnes' horse was going well clear when falling at the last in the trial for this race at Cheltenham's December meeting.

That effort proved his liking for the trip and track and his fifth behind Boston Bob on unsuitable heavy ground over an inadequate distance can be seen very much as a positive, especially as his confidence didn't look to have been dented.

With Boston Bob and Fingal Bay likley to contest the Neptune, Sea Of Thunder could well go off a short single-figure price on the day and we have to back him at 16s.

The JCB Triumph Hurdle looks wide open but we like the look of HOLLOW TREE at 25/1.

Donald McCain's horse ran well in the trial at the end of January when forcing the pace in a small field and was only beaten just over three lengths by Grumeti and Pearl Swan - despite Jason Maguire dropping his whip at the last.

The cut and thrust of a strongly-run Triumph will surely suit this tough as teak performer who hurdles fluently and the price looks too big.