The hardest race to solve this year

Piece of p1ss that race mary. Ballycasey will pulverize them

Triumph the toughest for me, as it is most years.

RSA and Arkle are horrible races to pick a confident selection in this year.

All the handicaps

bumper - haven't backed a winner since the 2/1 jolly Liberman. Sadly I use logic in my selection process and it always needs a leap of faith in that race it seems.

Agree with the RSA & Arkle shouts. It's not hard to imagine 5 or 6 different winners in that race.

The easiest for me, in my mind anyway, is the Champion Hurdle. I think The New One wins easily.

Coral Cup, because I'm there Tues and Wed and won't be studying the overnight decs on Tuesday night so gotta do it with 88 runners!

Even though you can eliminate a fair few cos they won't get in, it still takes forever. About half way through, most of 'em have some sort of conceivable chance but liking Dell Arca and Lac Fontana most so far (don't even know if they're gonna run!)

Same here Rease, I've gone through Tuesday & Wednesday handicaps today and got a shortlist. Added 2 more ones that if they're declared their price will contract. 

Also backed Last Instalment for Ryanair @ 8/1 nrnb just in case he runs there because if they water ground on Wednesday it'll be softer on Thursday than Friday.

RSA & JLT look tough to work out at the moment

The Conditional Jockeys Handicap, Not even looking until final decs.

I'm looking forward to that race having put up Caid Du Berlais at 33/1 I'll likely have a look at the final decs on Wednesday evening when on the train back from Cheltenham.

I'm struggling with the County Hurdle too.

You put up Caid du Berlais for the JLT didn't you?

At first yeah but he's a non runner. I put him up for the Martin Pipe then afterwards. All on my site and twitter

I fancied him for the JLT which is why I remember. Couldn't back him for anything now tbh.

I fancied him for that, but I think off 143 and up in trip he has a fantastic chance back over hurdles. His 2nd to Jezki is good form as is his 2nd in Fed Winter when giving 10lbs to Flaxen Flare. He'll relish that good ground on Friday.

Value is gone now though as he's favourite.

Assuming you put a line through the last run?

Oh yeah, my favourite thing to do in racing is forgive a horse a bad run. It's my favourite angle for getting value.

Ground was too soft for him and trip too short, never went a yard. Look at his previous 3 runs and better ground and hes smart.

Nicholls has said he's backed him for the race hence the price crash.

Not convinced myself. I agree he wants better ground, but he's run some very decent races on soft, so I personally can't the last effort down to that. He looked likely a horse with issues that day to me.

As for PN backing him, that puts me off even more! He's a hopeless punter.

Well I'm really keen on him, would say that 33/1 is among the best value I've got at the festival. Hope they ride him up with the pace though.

Yes can see why you would be delighted with 33/1 and that's clearly a great price. Hope he does it for you.

I'm hoping that I can nab a handicap or two this year at a big price as that should put me well in profit for the handicaps at the festival. I'm treating them as a separate beast to the graded races where I play almost entirely antepost.

I've only gone e/w on only a couple of horses who I think are solid and race up with the pace so can be placed if they don't win. I'm going pretty much win only at the festival.

Always trying to learn from past mistakes.


I lack a bit of proper balls, for example the NH Chase. I was thinking backing all of Foxrock, Shutthefrontdoor, Suntiep & Rogue Angel would be bomb proof as 7 of the top 10 in the betting are not going for the race. If I had to make my living from betting I'd be doing those things.

I take very much the same approach. Back AP all season on the graded races and only touch the handicaps a few weeks prior to the festival when I can see all the form. Hadrians Approach my handicap nap of the week. On at 16's / 14's / 12's and will get me in profit even if I don't back another winner all week! Just can't have him out of the frame.

Lacking proper balls is a good thing and a bad thing, but overall I'd say it's just about a good thing!

How hard to solve was that? Jesus. Congrats to anyone that got that winner. Any from 8 jumping two out, and that was after my two against the field brought each other down. Great race.

yep, and the Arkle.