Cheltenham Festival
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Along with the Arkle and the Champion Hurdle, this is one of my favourite races of the Festival.
Is it just me, or is this race (so far) failing to capture the imagination this year?
Last year we had an impressive bumper winner in Cue Card taking on older horses, and Zaidpour looking like a star in Ireland. Then when Spirit Son and Sprinter Sacre entered the scene in early February it really hotted up, and Al Ferof kind of slid under the radar for a lot of people.
I'm not sure we have seen the likely winner yet for this years. Prospect Wells and Steps to Freedom look admirable, and I'm a Simonsig fan but he no idea which novice hurdle he will end up in, Waheeb is yet to run, we have lost Lovingthehigherlaw: there must be something out there that can shake the market up a bit and add a bit of spice into the race?
Is it just me, or is this race (so far) failing to capture the imagination this year?
Last year we had an impressive bumper winner in Cue Card taking on older horses, and Zaidpour looking like a star in Ireland. Then when Spirit Son and Sprinter Sacre entered the scene in early February it really hotted up, and Al Ferof kind of slid under the radar for a lot of people.
I'm not sure we have seen the likely winner yet for this years. Prospect Wells and Steps to Freedom look admirable, and I'm a Simonsig fan but he no idea which novice hurdle he will end up in, Waheeb is yet to run, we have lost Lovingthehigherlaw: there must be something out there that can shake the market up a bit and add a bit of spice into the race?
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I've had a decent bet on Cinders and Ashes, who has impressed me. Trainer rates him highly, and as you say not looking like a vintage renewal atm, so I think he could run well.
Two horses that have not been out that are rated by connections are Trozulon and The Last night, been looking out for them but nothing yet. Mullins has several decent novices as normal, but its anyones gues where they will end up. |
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Was thinking the exact same thing. I am liking the 2 hurdle races Colour Squadron as ran in so far. I think himself, it's a gimme, mono man & Montbazon will be decent enough hurdlers and hope one of them go forwards. Nothing is really grabbing my attention yet Novice wise apart from Fingal Bay & Simonsig. There was a lot of talk about Darlan & who knows he may turn out to be a fair horse even though he wasnt visually impressive lto he hasnt lost yet. I'm sure something will come out of the woodwork but still waiting for a horse to cement itself at the head of the market.
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i agree its nt looking like the most amazing races at the mo bt im a big fan of steps to freedon. like thats he won on the course and in ire on ground that prob abit to soft for him.
The aintree bumper seems to b wrkin alot better this year than chels bumper. steps has already beat montbazon giving him weight and im nt alan kings biggest fan. i dont see why both montbazon & prospect well shud reverse there form ive bin nibbling away and fourth estate and lovethehigherlaws  all year so hopefully fourth will b out soon. he's been entered up the pass few wks kempton and donny. think welds other runner look intersting galileos choice ran a decent race behing sous. all tho sous won easing down galileos was always running on and will b better on good ground |
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Massive fan of this race also, but nowts really grabbing me at the moment. Steps for Freedom would be my e/w pick at the moment
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Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown this Saturday should be enlightening.
Hopefully Simonsig runs and wins  |
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Is Samain still being targetted at this?
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Mullins won't tell you what he's being aimed at 24 hours before the race so no way of knowing his intentions this far in advance
 . Horse may be dead for all we know - Mullins wouldn't say a word either way . |
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I agree Uncle - Only if the horse is declared overnight (and not pulled put in the morning!) would we be sure with Mullins!
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Unoriginal but agree with others, Steps to Freedo, deserves favouritism at the moment. Was conceding weight to Prospect Wells lto and thought he beat him snuggly despite a slow pace.
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Wouldn't be surprised if Henderson has got one hiding in the back of the stable that we haven't seen yet. Sprinter Sacre and Spirit Son weren't really heard of unitl mid January/February, although Simonsig has a great chance in this if he is aimed at it.
Hard to tie in form lines for this race at the moment, because nearly all the ones at the top of the market have barely ran all year. Also, last year we had the likes of Recession Proof and Cue Card running against more experienced horses. |
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Been chippin away at Dylan Ross at 50+ with a few euros here and there
Similar profile to Go Native who won this for connections - Has nt looked straightforward in his last 2 races, looked to have a G1 at his mercy last time b4 gving in late on but is no doubt talented Think 50+ is too big with no standout horse/form in the race |
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Just didnt have enough to get past the machine in front imo
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Joking aside, I know who I think will get up the hill best though.....
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Cash and Go: Grade One winner, travels well, battles, goes on any ground, small and big field winner, highly thought of by trainer who has had just the eighteen festival winners. Certainly a better bet in my book than those who still have it to prove, and a longer price than some who have yet to jump a hurdle in public, strange.
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You sound like a man who speaks sense to me chaz
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CCM - aint got a hope mate :-)
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Simonsig not among the 9 entered for the Tolworth.
Will be very disappointing if any of the 9 declared proved up to winning a Supreme imo  |
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Henderson on atr now....mono man was the tolworth horse but now goes for a lesser race soon, simonsig very likely to go for the neptune at chelt.
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Hendo thinks a lot of Mono Man but probably worried about very tiring ground a Sandown. Prospect Wells really hasn't done a lot wrong but it would be a surprise if he is good enough to win the Supreme.
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when was this henderson feature on did he speak bout simonsig ? is he ok and where can i listen tot this not on atr website yet
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Not sure we've seen the winner of the Supreme in the Tolworth today.
Captain Conan could improve after his first run in a long time though; Prospect Wells very dissapointing though and making Steps to Freedoms win against him maybe not looking as good as we first thought it was? Can't think that that was the same Prospect Wells that turned up at Cheltenham earlier in the year though. |
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This race is a complete puzzle at the moment but in many ways it's not too bad as all odds are still high. Don't have to have such a big bet on your selection for good returns.
Will be going with the stats on this one and wait until day of race to have a bet. Was a great start for me last year as had Spirit Son e/w and had pretty much completely forgotten that i'd had a cheeky £25 on Al Ferof AP at about 25/1  |funds were used to pile into H Fly and Quevega |
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I think you can safely say that wasn't prospect wells true running
He looked a tired horse there, not that I think he is good enough for a supreme Liked the winner tho. Looked very green through out the race but still did enough Looks a real chaser for next term |
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Prospect has been campaigned badly for a prospective Supreme horse (which I have not/do not think he is). The way he has been campaigned suggests to me that his master trainer does not thnk he is a Supreme winner in waiting either. He would not give many of his best 2 mile prospects 5 runs by Jan 7th. I think he'll be better on spring ground back at Cheltenham in a fast run race after being freshened up (today was an afterthought apparently too), but to me he looks more like a ex-flat handicapper and teh County looks a better prospect IMO. I would not give Steps any chance either btw. It is all about opinions though!
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Prospect was too bad to be true today. Colour Squadron would have won but for hanging very badly, which franks the form of the maiden hurdle at Newbury where he just beat Montbazon.
The winner today (Henderson's) is a big horse with a crazy look in his eye and a fair amount of "character". I imagine he's a handful at home and looks like a chaser in the making. |
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I'm not going to right either of the front two off in the Tolworth but they don't look like Supreme horses. Colour Squadron threw it away today but can't help but be impressed by the winner. Looks a proper chaser & will probably come on for it. I think Montbazon, Mono Man & It's A Gimme have all had their runs boosted a bit today. I think all of them will appreciate the better ground come March & out of the three I would take Mono Man. I think he was slightly unlucky to end up running 3rd after making a mess of the last. He's pretty well regarded at Hendo's so will be interesting to see where he turns up next.
I personally don't like the Steps To Freedom/Prospect Wells form that much. I wasn't visually impressed on the day and feel there will be more unexposed improvers that will be getting their heads in front come March. Anyone know where Waaheb or Samain is? |
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As Howdi posted on the other thread, looks like Waaheb is struggling for the race. Definitely looking one of the weakest Supreme Novices in a while, which couldnt please me more!
Just like others, I thought Capatin Coan looked a really exciting future chaser. I wouldnt rule him out for the Supreme though. He clearly needed that run, and even if CS had stayed on a staright course and won, he wouldnt have won by more than a couple of lengths, and thhat would still have represented a very decent debut for CC. |
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i agree with bjg, i think dylan ross is a standout bet... he has grade 1 form looks a 2mile hurdler not a gold cup winner in waiting..even 25 is massive.. if he goes to naas on the 26th feb and wins the same race go native won he'll be single figures 2 weeks later for the supreme.. he travels really well so the faster pace should suit.. i haven't backed him yet but he's been in all my lucky 15's so far
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I cant believe the price of Darlan. 14 and second fav on here!
When you compare his form to many of the others, its laughable. Must be working the house down... |
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Did you see him win today mate?
Not sure he beat much but did it very stylishly. |
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I wish Henderson would give some indication whether Simonsig is to go over 2m or 2m5f.
I've got him e/w at 33 for the Supreme, but don't know whether to lay it off, back something else etc. If he confirmed him as an intended runner I'd go in again e/w. This year could be like Captain Cee Bee's - co favs of 4, around 8/1 the field! Not a good sign for me - lost a fortune on Rippling Ring on that race! |
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Ra today CCM - did it well
would nt fancy him myself but price is about right imo |
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Thinking about it, Henderson now has Darlan, Simonsig and Captain Conan all near the head of the market.
I doubt he'd run all three, so of the 3 I'd imagine Simonsig would be the one to go for the Neptune. |
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Would be very surprised if Captain Conan didnt step up in trip nto and would doubt if he went to the festival at all the way NH was talking
Also has Mono Man in the SN who is the forgotten horse imo - would be near fav bar a bad mistake at the last lto |
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Also has Tetlami and Molotof,whats happening with those 2 i wonder.
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Whilst I dont doubt Darlan has done it well, and yes he was quite stylish today, his form equates to very little imo. I dont think he has beaten a single decent horse and is second fav for a Championship race? Purely based on connections for me.
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I've backed Tetlami for the SN, so he won't run in that!
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