Cheltenham Handicap Dark Hosse

Agreed. Hurdles or Fences though?!

Form at Chelts and loves better ground... One to watch closely.

Eastlake for the Grand Annual

not really a dark one but olofi off 142 atm over hurdles...has managed to travel extremely well in very good company (the new one, rock on ruby, vanieteux)

won a greatwood...

How exactly is Ted Veale a dark horse??

Join The Clan in the Pertempts is interesting imo. May struggle to get in off 133 though.

Thomas crapper for the novice handicap on the first day,roughly on last year's winners mark,been running against horses over 2 mile like vibrato valtat and irish saint on bad ground over too short a trip,stepped up in trip on good ground will bring improvement,and loves Cheltenham,2nd to Don poli in Martin pipe hurdle last year.16-1

Thomas Crapper has certainly been running over the wrong trip this season.

Agree about Thomas Crapper. I wouldn't be to sure that he's been running over the wrong trip as a plot though. The trainer has some odd ideas IMO, I remember him saying that Restless Harry could be an Arkle horse, when in truth he really wanted 4 miles.

He was never going to beat vibrato valtat over 2 though,I think he is rated 138 now,last year's winner was 139,just with him liking Cheltenham,big believer in horses coming back the next year and running well again,horses for courses and all that

Next Sensation could well be ruined or could be a plot horse.

Completely agree, I just think it might by accident rather than a plot. He's definitely of interest though.

Nothing better than festival form, plus TC is the best named horse in racing.

He has indeed. If you've never heard it, have a listen to the commentary towards the end of his first bumper run

I like Eastlake too though not sure any in the green and gold are true dark horses - he ran well yesterday under a tender,considerate ride at the business end of the race.

On a different note, every time I look, Malcolm Jefferson's stable seems to be out of form, he might end up with a couple of nicely handicapped horses when the festival comes around and knows how to get one ready for the festival.

My boss is Jefferson's niece so I will find out about his horses,especially attaglance,Brian Hughes,what a clown

lol ben, just did. down the pan

Guitar Pete (if still sound, hasn't run since October, so don't know) in County Hurdle.

2 times Grade 1 winner last year, won 1 Grade 2, and placed in the Triumph and now rated 132.

If you wouldn't mind sharing any info on Jefferson's yard cufc.

He never sends one to The Festival for fun and whilst it hasn't been a thrilling year for his inmates, I'll be closely examining anything he enters irrespective of that.

Roger when he had a double a couple of years ago he told my boss he was as confident of them winning as much as when dato star ran,attaglance should have won last year ! Will do mate

thanks, cufc (Carlisle?) - I see Attaglance is entered in Skybet Chase at Doncaster on Saturday, but would presumably need decent ground even if it's on.

Mindboggling achievement to get both him and Cape Tribulation to win at both Cheltenham and Aintree three years ago, not sure he really got the credit he deserved for that.

Urban Hymn could be interesting in the race Attaglance was runner up in last year also.

I am that stupid I only backed cape tribulation that year,and didn't back any of them at Aintree,do feel attaglance trained this year for the festival with good ground in mind !

keeping an eye on minella foru in hacp chases but dont know if they intend on bringing him over.

Jan 18, 2015 -- 2:09PM, Benjy wrote:

Join The Clan in the Pertempts is interesting imo. May struggle to get in off 133 though.

He'll get in now at least...

more random thoughts:

Cape Tribulation is entered in Pertemps qualifier at Haydock this coming weekend...

Edeymi was barely put in the race during the qualifier at Musselburgh and still managed to finish fourth (looked like they were trying to finish 8th!).

Admittedly, probably the Pertemps qualifiers are tricky because there are many others with similar modus operandi.

Finally, I probably need to go back and watch Betfair Hurdle again, 'cos more than one hard luck story - Arzal's run was striking though, hampered to the extent that he dropped back to be last, nursed back into the race by his jockey and finishing a never nearer sixth - possibly flattered to some extent by running on through beaten horses who raced on the pace plus, in any event the front two were well clear. Nevertheless a lot to like about his effort, not least the ride he got from young conditional Paul O'Brien.

I was thinking County Hurdle, but looks like they're aiming at Imperial Cup first, hope the young lad keeps the ride...

^^^ re. Arzal...... Conds race mebbes?

Padge, Just hope the bookies haven't noticed it too otherwise it'll be saved for another day.

Stellar Notion was rated 137 a few weeks back and needed to run again to qualify for a handicap chase but  had to avoid any more than a 3lbs penalty to get in.

Think the above has more to do with his run  when 7th and  his career form now looking like 112117 rather than him being exposed so early - doesn't usually happen with that yard.

Hopefully gets priced up as exposed with a big point to prove off a big weight for a smaller yard. 16s now but hoping for 25/1 as more price up.

cause of causes  dont know witch race

cause of causes .... dark horse? it's like a bonfire upon a lighthouse that's being struck by lightening on the darkest night of the year

^^^^^ brilliant. nearly typed lol

My choice of Guitar Pete never got any handicap entries.  Must have been injured after his last race.  Shame - a G1 winner rated 132.

Having a quick scan at the handicaps, its noticeable that PP are well the lowest price for Abyyssial in the Coral Cup - may be a sign of where he will run?

Massive fan of Abbyssial, you would think he will be run in either the coral cup or the county

Same here Sonko, his front running win at Punchestown last year was fantastic.  Yeah, I think he'll run in one of the County or Coral.  He's in the World Hurdle but really doubt he'll run in that, and I think the Coral Cup will suit him trip wise.

Talking myself into my first handicap bet at 16's, but at this stage I don't know whether it's too risky.  I suppose 365 will be 10's NRNB after midnight.

Le Mercury in The Coral Cup.

He as staying on nicely last time over shorter & wasn't given a hard time.

I wonder if he's been campaigned with this race in mind?

At 20/1 NRNB I'm more than happy to take a chance on him.

Tango de juilley could be interesting if going for the plate. Venetia had 3 winners in race recently (same as pipe). Might be a bit younger and higher in the weights (142) than her other winners but if the likes of Rajdhani express and taquin de seuil run, he should have a nice weight. He's a right monkey though, pulls hard, whacks a few, better right handed ? - got Venetia winner all over it - but seems to be maturing nicely.

Ted Veale-Grand annual

Probably

venetia will have to be able to turn form on at the switch of a light,umpteen runners since she had a winner,she always seems to find one but think she,s had her post xmas run this year

Trustan times for the Pertemps
Sew on Target for the Grand Annual
Guitar Pete
Gevrey Chambertin

Lite Duties for Charles Byrnes in the Pertemps. His only runner at the meeting. He'd have finished a lot closer in his qualifier but for a mistake 4 from home. I'd say Davy Russell rides. That Leopardstown qualifier looked a good race ... I'd also have a strong feeling for Mydor for Tony Martin.

NOBLE ENDEAVOUR for Gordon Elliott in the Conditionals Hurdle.

No such thing as a Tony Martin trained or McManus owned "dark horse" when it comes to the Festival - every deluded conspiracy theorist latches on to their entries as soon as they're published and they end up overbet as a consequence.

If you're looking for genuine dark horses - all currently available to back at big fancy dan odds NRNB - how about Qewy (Supreme), Vino Griego (Festival Handicap), Storm Force Ten & Beatabout The Bush (both Fred Winter), Smashing (JLT), Sybarite (Pertemps), Eduard (Ryanair), Sign of a Victory (County) & Croco Bay (Grand Annual).

I'll try.....

Novices Handicap - Oscar Fortune
Coral Cup - Ttebbob
Kim Muir - Colbert Station
County Hurdle - The Game Changer

Wicklow Brave, Tiger Roll County
Vino Griego.

Killala Quay - Novice H'cap Case
Rolling Star - Coral Cup
Royal Irish Hussar - County Hurdle
Astracad - Grand Annual

KQ backer signing in

I’ve taken 40/1 (Ladbrokes) about Sandra Hughes’ Art Of Payroll in the novice handicap chase. They have form with this horse regards getting him handicapped, but they over did things last season as he was too lowly rated to get into the County Hurdle. He absolutely cruised home off a mark of 127 in a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown instead.

He’s been out for three runs over fences, and although a mark of 137 looks high on what he has done over the larger obstacles, he’s definitely capable of much better than what he has done and looks a real plot. He’ll improve for the likely better ground and at 40/1 he’s well worth a punt imo.

Just been to the Aintree preview night and Charlie Longsdon very sweet on Kilala Quay in the novice handicap chase.  Might wear first time cheekpieces.

Fits good few trends wellchief,worth few bob at 20/1.

id have bought you a beer wellchief if I'd known you were there too

I was the one who asked the questions about Smad Place and Reve de Sivola mate.

What did you ask about Smad Place mate.... And what was the response?!

They basically thought he weren't good enough mate, although that was John Parrot!

I said he'd been placed in two world hurdles and an RSA after an interrupted prep, but they liked the horse and would love to own him, but might lack the class and pace.

Same with Reve. I said how can he be 5 times the price of Zark and SDR when he beat Zark and at the weights beat SDR. They said if the World Hurdle was at Ascot he could win it but not at Cheltenham.

Not sure I agree with that to be honest. Won a cleeve, second in a cleeve and placed in a Neptune.

Good stuff, cheers. I am sticking with SP in an open year and not unduly worried Parrot doesn't fancy him!

Viva Le France for Tony Martin.

Just think this has a similar profile to Savello last year (who I put on last years thread) and looks to be a similar plot. Expensive, well bred horse owned by big owner who has been given a few easy rides and kept for a big handicap before showing any decent form to recoup some of the costs.

I was the one who asked the questions about Rajdhani Express and the Fred Winter

@shrewd. he wouldn't get in though would he?

GRUMETI in the Grand Annual.

Has an absolutely ideal profile for this race, which King has won with Oh Crick previously. Classy, unexposed, goes on likely good ground, enjoys fast-paced race, recent prep run, not outside first four on any completed run this season and ahead of handicapper based on penultimate run.

Both Gitane De Berlais and Irish Saint have come out and won since the Scilly Isles Chase, where Grumeti came third (admittedly a long way off third) but that looks a particularly classy renewal.

decent shout roger

Good to see we're getting some decent posts on this forum page at long last instead of a whole host of phantom Tony Martin and Jonjo and JP McManus plots.  There are many shrewd punters who are users of the Betfair forum and if you can sort the wheat from the chaff there will be opinions expressed on these pages that will bear favourable comparison with those of the so-called (paid) experts.

Champagne James - good bumper winner for Ted Walsh has been brought along steadily over fences and running in handicap company recently. Very nice staying on close second last time at Naas in a 15 runner handicap, gets in here with a perfect mark and is surely better than has performed to date. 20/1 NRNB B3.65 and others or 25s take yer chance with Laddies.

I've done a £1ew yankee on some of these for fun.

yep gary obrien really liked ch james for his last run ,has he put him up anywhere for chelt

Mar 3, 2015 -- 4:36AM, rogerthebutler wrote:

GRUMETI in the Grand Annual.Has an absolutely ideal profile for this race, which King has won with Oh Crick previously. Classy, unexposed, goes on likely good ground, enjoys fast-paced race, recent prep run, not outside first four on any completed run this season and ahead of handicapper based on penultimate run.Both Gitane De Berlais and Irish Saint have come out and won since the Scilly Isles Chase, where Grumeti came third (admittedly a long way off third) but that looks a particularly classy renewal.

Interesting shout this. Did he not win a Plumpton race with a bonus as well?

That was the hurdle race actually. I take it back

You are spot on Benjy, think Grumeti would get a 60k bonus if winning at the Festival - definitely an interesting runner

Grumeti won one of the Plumpton bonus races so connections would receive an additional £60k if he wins any race at the Festival.  The bonus has only been won once before - by the Alan King trained Voy Por Ustedes!

Sybarite ln the  Pertemps

If it sneaks in down the bottom off of 133 then KILLULTAGH VIC in the conditional handicap hurdle. I really want Mullins to run him as a back up to Black Hercules in the Albert Bartlett as I believe he will be massively improved when stepped up to 3 miles.

Anyway, the 2.5 will do on the stiffer track, he is not a slow horse as his runs in last years bumper at the festival and at Punchestown show but he is being seen in a better light upped in trip, he won his maiden effortlessy enough and was then beaten by L'ami serge over 2 miles that was just too short. His final run was the one that really made me take notice of him, stepped into a hot grade 2 he travelled at the back of the pack, as the race was hotting up he missed out the 5th, 4th and 3rd last but it did not interrupt his smooth travelling style and he travelled into  contention around the outside and looked a threat before sticking on well enough to take 3rd, obviously his jumping is a question, but his performance in this race which was full of festival hopefuls and particularly how he travelled suggest to me that he's very well handicapped....I'm not a stats man as such but even I have noticed that he hits pretty much all the criteria for this race....he's also entered in the coral cup too...I'll be backing him wherever he turns up.

Grand Vision only has 1 entry left and that is in the Kim Muir. I think he should have a rating in the low 140's but is in off 137 so has a bit in hand and 20/1 NRNB Ladbrokes has appealed to me.  Sure to be shorter if he takes his chance next Thursday and money back if he doesn't.

Thunder Zone for the Fred Winter.

Ted veale going for the grand annual
Ground too soft for him though