whats going to be the shock of the festival ?

I could tell you but then it wouldn't be a shock.

ahaha go on mate spit it out

i was going to say that strontium. 


ps .hope its cash and go

A new winner of the Gold Cup

Me finding a winner!!

NICE ONE

A shock to some does not necessarily mean a shock to others.

Quel Esprit winning the GC

blimey that would be the shock of all time

stranger things?

I gather you were asleep while Nortons Coins was winning the Gold Cup then?

what a friend could win it though

Didn't he pay a 100 coins to 1?

Yes, good job they didn't have betfair sp in those days, we'd never have heard the end of it.

Midnight Chase fending off all comers, will be a shock to lots, but not to me, im balls deep ew.

Big Bucks getting beat.... as he goes through his usual flat spot with Ruby rowing away and then gets done for toe by Oscar Whisky when its too late

or Simon Claisse getting the ground perfect!!

Jockeys giving a cogent and articulate description of their winning ride when Thommo (or some similar Channel 4 oaf) buttonholes them at the top of the chute, asking them 'How does it feel to have won?'

JP having no winner AGAIN this year !

Kalahari King is better than a look at the form figures suggest, wouldnt surprise me a place in the Ryanair.

hardly a shock though, he was second last year

Alan King top trainer 33/1.

Has some excellent chances imo

and in the frame the 3 festivals before that as well.

Rock On Ruby might surprise a few in the Champion Hurdle if Zarkandar doesn't run his race...

Cue Card might surprise a few in the Arkle if Menorah doesn't run his race...

Wellchief, I put up Kingy on another thread as an outsider for top trainer, shame they dont do ew 1,2,3, at 33/1.gl.

Yeah mate, it was you who first put me onto it!

It was my thread from mid January where Mullins, Nichols and Hendo were all 2/1.

As Sint has said, Alan King could be a good little punt at 33/1 - shame you can't go each way.

Hold on Julio is still fav for the William Hill, Grumeti has since "won" the Triumph Trial, Invictus impressed me in the Reynoldstown, Vendor is a strong fav for the Fred Winter, Medermit ran Riverside Theatre close, Montbazon really caught my eye for the Supreme, Raya Star will go close in the County and Batonnier won the Neptune trial - sporting bet at 33 imo.

Credit where credit's due

Yeah could be interesting. A lot of the Hendo/Mullins/Nicholls horses clash in the same races aswell.

Would be nice if Mont won the first race of the festival aswell!

More trends are bust than ever before, crowned by Kauto Star bolting up on Friday.

"in Kauto Star we are dealing with a freak, a truly exceptional champion, the best since Arkle's days in terms of achievement, and exceptional horses are generally rule breakers." - Paul Jones (trends guru).

Sprinter Sacre getting beaten in the Arkle. Some think he's Pegasus incarnate already.

SHOCK OF THE FESTIVAL WILL BE OSCAR WHISKY ENDS UP RETIRING AFTER THE WORLD HURDLE AFTER BIG BUCKS HAS HAMMERED HIM OUT OF SIGHT!

The biggest shock might be be if there were no shocks. I would be surprised if any of The Fly/Quevega/Sizing Europe/Big Bucks lose. Nothing else would shock me.

Sprinter Sacre finishing third in the Arkle

anyone know what the oldest age of a horse to win at festival is.?

As far as I know, 13.  Couple of foxhunter winners at that age (inc as recent as 2004) plus a County Hurdle winner and a National Hunt Novice Chase winner.  Oldest winner in an open championship race was 12 - achieved twice in the CGC.

Something who's name escapes me won the Pertemps at 13 iirc....

williewumpkins

Harchibald coming out of retirement, being supplemented for the Champion Hurdle, flying up the hill, finding loads off the bridle and registering a 12L victory

Time for Rupert plodding on for third in the Gold Cup

when he dropped the saddle cloth just before the line cost me the placepot for 8 tenner lines, paid a couple of grand if i remember

Tidal Bay front running win in the Gold Cup

Overturn serving it up to them all in the Champ Hurdle and despite a galliant effort from both Hurricane Fly and Rock on Ruby; winning by a short head.

all the jockeys to take the correct course in the cross country!

My pal, who arrives in Cheltenham from Scotland on the Sunday night getting the first round in....now that really would be a shock!

Sprinter sacre 30 lengths clear over the last











Slips on saddle cloth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mister McGoldrick how old was he when he won ?

ok my shock is therefore that the oldest horse so far to win a race at chelt will win..and its currently 20/1

Mister McGoldrick was 11. he just seemed older.

Mister McGoldrick was 11. he just seemed older.

and he came 4th in the 2010 renewal as a 13 y/o...

yeah think that is the one I was thinking of FFT. Plat tipped him that day at 66 or 50s I think.

Hopefully no fatalities !

Ruby not being top jock...

Barry Geraghty sitting motionless at the last, still swinging after the last and then getting beat by under a length more than once at the festival....

Willie Mullins letting us all know where his novice runners will be running in exactly which races before they sail over so we can avail of some value!

Willie Mullins letting us all know where his novice runners will be running in exactly which races before they sail over so we can avail of some value!

I'll go for a miracle rather than a shock - punters on here being humble about their antepost coups....

A big price shock in the Gold Cup

I agree BBF Weird Al or What A Friend!

Get on Weird Al sooner rather than later if you fancy it - the price is bound to contract when people spot it goes well fresh, has good course form and got within 2 lengths of Long Run at Haydock. I'd expect it to be the big mover between now and the race.

Agreed Stronty, all the each way money in the week will be for Weird Al, expect it to go off no bigger than 10/1

HOPE YOU LAST TWO GENTS ARE RIGHT IM ON WEIRD AL AT ALL RATES DOWN FROM 45 TO WIN. AND AT 12 WITHOUT KATU AND LONG RUN. PULLED UP LAST YEAR HOPE TIMMY MURPHY GETS HIM SETTLED IN BEHIND EARY DOORS P.S NOT TOO FAR BEHIND TIMMY.