Dildar wins comfortably enough but not as easily as some would expect,,,,ground looked very tacky but once squeezed he picked up effortlessly to accelerated passed the Tizzard horse without much problem......in fact looking at the replay I think the way he picked up and strode out was very good in that ground.

Dildar

Happy with that, 14s an over reaction!
Fto, very green at his hurdles, didnt blow at all, enjoyed it, experience is what he needs, one or two more runs before the triumph on better ground he will be a force!
In that race there was no pace, he was very good at one down the back where ruby pulled him out to catch up with the leaders! Very happy with my voucher at 20s!

agree bunny hopped a few of them

oh dear have i hit a nerve

triumph minefield!

they should re-name the race

gawd knows what will be winning - I will as usual combine whatever trends come out with the top 3 or 4 on the topspeed ratings nearer the time

Highly likely OTS, which is why I will wait til everything has run before playing

lol masterminded, there are hype horses in every Triumph - hence the "minefield"

Judo - out of interest, do you feel you can trust the speed/timeform ratings for novice hurdles when the runners have often only had 2-4 races, often uncompetetive? For example, how did Zarkander come out before the Triumph last year?

Strontium

Zarkandar was clear top rated on Topspeed despite only having run once and that was very significant I thought - especially as that was in a Grade 2 on debut

But it is a basic strategy I use especially in non handicap races i.e trends + Topspeed

Note: I am looking for runners that produced their highest Topspeed on their most recent race to show that they are getting faster. This is why I will be looking to see if Sprinter Sacre improves his rating next time.

Thanks Judo. OK, maybe Zarkander was a bad example

Do the Topspeed ratings stand up in general for novice hudlers? As I said, they're oftne lightly raced, often in small fields and uncompetetive races?.

yes they work very well in most non handicaps, except the bumper. It's handicaps where they are not so consistent but will throw up massive price winners and places from time to time like Mr McGoldrick at 66/1 and Tullamore Dew placed at 80/1 in the Coral Cup

but I don't use them in isolation, I also use the trend analysis in particular Paul Jones book

Anyone know which Henderson horses could become candidates?

Yes have to agree, there are hype horses every year. MINSK ! ! ! Being the biggest yet!

However you have backed both Dildar and Minsk without them having a run? Why?

I am a big follower of this forum, i do hold my own opinions of course i do but i am also an equally as big a follower on here and if a few people seemingly in the know on here are bullish about something, i will look at it and make a decision for myself as to whether to play or not. Try and get a grip from any vibes on here and in the market.

time for the Taunton win by Dildar was very slow really - 21 seconds slower than standard, there were much faster races on the same card

Glenwood - because the entries aren't released until tomorrow lunch time.

Grumeti all the way...

Still think he is the one to beat. Speed, stamina, guts, trained by a Triumph master having a good season. All you could want at 12/1. Actually think he was made to look a little less than he is at the weekend - he was the only one to be involved from a way out and stay on strongly up the hill. I really like him.

Think we all know how you bet Judo,told us enough times.

The 2 i really like are at this stage also grumeti but as i have already stated dildar, i think he really is the real deal and lightening will strike thrice in that both celestial halo went onto win the adonis as well as zarkander and both after rather lacklustre looking debut's. But i don't see that with dildar, it only looked lacklustre due to the early pace, he bunny hopped almost all bar one hurdle cos he was galloping too slowly for himself i felt. When Ruby quickened him up down the back straight to catch the leaders, that hurdle he jumped when doing so was jumped very fluently. He has immense flat speed and although a little green first time up, can only improve for better ground and a better paced race.

Grumeti i fully agree with the above statement, though the winner that day was impressive to the eye, cruised in behind them, Ruby giving the field upwards of 4 lengths at one stage, and showed great battling qualities to get up up the Cheltenham hill, whether Grumeti wasn't fully wound up at the weekend i do not know but i was impressed with what i saw in Pearl Swan also.

One thing is for sure, we should be in for a treat come 1:30pm Friday 16th March!

Am actually going to have a small bet on Grumetti at 12/1 now we have seen Dildar. There is plenty of positives for him,imo, but at the same time he is no certainty given the open nature of this race, but at the prices there is room to add another if needs be.