So what will Jamie Codd ride in the 4 Miler?

Whatever it is , it will win if it's within a stone of being the best horse in the race, because the biggest gap in racing right now is between Jamie Codd and the rest of the amateurs. He's basically a pro against amateurs and the British amateurs, a bit like their professional counterparts are miles behind even the ordinary Irish amateurs

......the biggest gap in racing right now is between Jamie Codd and the rest of the amateurs

think Derek O'Conner might disagree with that..

Is Katie Walsh not an Amature Cheltenham winners including against the pros Irish Grand National and many more unless ive missed something obvios and she is not in the race or an amature id say the above statement is pretty strong to say the least.

He's basically a pro against amateurs and the British amateurs, a bit like their professional counterparts are miles behind even the ordinary Irish amateurs

You do realise we can watch Irish racing on the telly now and see how bloody awful some of their jocks are?

Did Derek O'Connor ride Minella Rocco in the 4 miler last year?

Feb 8, 2017 -- 9:36AM, Hubert wrote:

Did Derek O'Connor ride Minella Rocco in the 4 miler last year?

Yeah. Pretty sure JJ got off Minella to ride Noble Endeavour.  From memory JJ was booked to ride Minella weeks before Cheltenham. May be wrong however

Derek O'Connor jumped ship 3 times in the lead up to the race. During the preview nights he was all set to ride Southfield Royale, he then switched to Native River before eventually picking Minella Rocco at the last minute.

From memory Codd was always down to ride Noble Endeavour.

I thought he was booked for Native River originally and got off that one to ride Noble Endeavour?

Apologies, you are correct Jackie - you obviously have a better memory than me.

I had to cheat and read last year's thread on amateur jockey bookings.

^^ What he said ha!

Apparently Codd has been booked for A Genie in Abottle in the 4 miler. 12s into 8s pretty rapidly

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/article/465/10766786/noel-meade-looking-at-jlt-novice-chase-for-disko

Discussing some of his other Festival plans, the trainer continued: "A Genie In Abottle runs in the four-mile race (National Hunt Chase) and Jamie Codd has agreed to ride him.

"He was beaten by Tony Martin's horse (Anibale Fly) in Naas the last day, but he's a Grade One performer and there was no disgrace in that.

"He stays very well and his jumping has been very good up to this point.

Softer the better for A Genie in Abottle perhaps? The 4-miler is on the first day though so will get the maximum benefit from Simon Claisse's watering can.

Having already backed the horse, delighted with the news about Codd.

I don't think he needs soft ground particularly Ramruna. By Beneficial out of a Supreme Leader mare. Won his point on Good to Firm and ran an excellent race behind Martello Tower earlier in the season on decent ground. As you say, best chance of it being the softer side of good on Tuesday and should be no excuses on that front imo.

Opposite for me CCM - was going to back him and now gutted I missed the 12's.

When I was going through the RSA yesterday and picked out Balko Des Flos and I noticed Genie battered him last time out, so if I like Balko for the RSA, I've have to have a little bit on Genie in the 4 miler.

Still 10's mate?

Blimey just looked again. 8's already! Didn't realise it had dropped so quickly. Unlucky mate

Just taken the 8's mate - down to 6/1 and 11/2 with the NRNB firms, so can see him getting a good bit shorter yet.

Any idea what derek O'Connor is set to ride guys,these 2 jockeys are the pick of the amateurs in my opinion,ps I got a bit of 20's on the genie  happy days

Torrid price for Fav now.

I am still a Premier Bond fan for this race.

Beware The Bear

Looks like Derek O'Connor will be on EDWULFin the 4 miler.  Mark Walsh rode him last month to comfortably beat Bachasson and that horse has today franked the form in fine style.

However, tomorrow Edwulf lines up in the Ten Up Novices Chase and Derek O'Connor is on board?  To me it can only mean one thing.  He's getting a spin on the horse before the Festival.

He's still available at 20/1, but I've played safe and taken 16/1 NRNB.

Edwulf has two falls and an unseat from only eight runs.

All to be taken into account RAMRUMA.  I think he looks like he's going the right way.  Over obstacles when he finishes he's never been beaten by more than 12l (That was MIN) or he's won.  Obviously very consistent and has talent.  I think 16/1 NRNB is very fair. If he bombs today probably a NR.  If he wins/goes close he'll probably shorten.

As you said Ramruma

I fancy Champers on Ice and Emerging Force in this, fingers crossed they get decent jocks!

bp now 6/1

Looks like Edwulf is back on.

I like Edwulf, and also have backed, Shock. This is a race McManus targets and does well. With Mystical Knight (his other NH entry) fluffing his lines yesterday at Chepstow, I'm hopeful they'll run him. Also, hopefully Derek O'Connor still takes the ride, despite being dumped onto the deck last time! I suspect today was a confidence booster before the Fes.

Hopefully will still be the plan. Blown his mark for the Kim Muir and will surely favour this over the RSA?

Surprised Degsy didn't have another chance on him today though.

Still a little worried about that RSA entry, but this form surely isn't up to that standard and also hopefully Coney Island will take that slot.

O'Brien on Edwulf:

"Puppy (Power) gave him a great ride. He jumped very well today and I'm delighted with him," said O'Brien.

"I always thought he was better than a handicapper but his jumping has let him down all year. Hopefully he can keep things together now.

"He's in the four-miler and the RSA, and there is also the Leinster National back here. We'll see how he comes out of this and make a plan for him.

"He gets three miles, and he has as good a chance as any horse of getting four but you don't know until you run."

Surely the Leinster National will not be a priority! Looks like degsy was riding at Borris House ptp today.

Hope not! Just wonder why he wasn't given another chance if he will be riding him at the Festival though?

It's surely a worry now that the horse has jumped well and won without him, yet the only time they've been paired, it was over early?

Well Geraghty was due to ride, perhaps with the aim to give a more assured confidence booster pre festival. Then perhaps degsy was already claimed to ride elsewhere so couldn't by the time his injury was announced?

Yes hadn't considered the Geraghty angle. Good point. Reckon you're spot on.

That's what I'm hoping. More about giving the horse a confidence boost after a fall, at a shorter distance (rather than slogging 3 miles on heavy ground 2 weeks before the Fes), than O'Connor experience of the horse.

Yep. And he will have plenty of time to school him to get to know him.

Indeed, and he's actually had more experience of the horse already than most of the jockeys will get with their rides, having ridden for about half a circuit in an actual race. Hopefully he'll have picked up some tips on what the horse might do after the fall as well!

If he jumps and travels like he did yesterday, he will be mighty hard to beat in the 4 miler. Fingers crossed he goes there. As my original post suggests I backed Edwulf early when I thought it was possible Codd would ride. The way these amateurs switch back and forth, I don't think any jockey booking is sure until final decs. Would be very happy with O'Connor mind.

Apparently Elliot has said if the ground dries out, Codd will ride Tiger Roll.

If Tiger Roll is that good, how come Elliot only entered him in seven races at the Festival? (Conditionals, 4-miler, Kim Muir, Ultima, Plate, RSA and JLT.)

Maybe he is so good he is going to run in multiple races

Jamie Codd was one of the busier riders in action at Leopardstown's gallops and schooling morning on Monday, when his mounts included A Genie In Abottle, on whom he will bid for a second National Hunt Chase victory on Tuesday.

The Noel Meade-trained six-year-old is 11-2 favourite for the four-miler, and after schooling him Codd reported: "I'd never sat on him before, so it was good to get to know him with next week in mind. We popped a few fences and I let him stride on up the straight. I liked him."

Codd, who has notched five festival winners, added: "I'm expecting to have four rides next week. In addition to A Genie In Abottle, I ride Cause Of Causes in the cross-country chase and On The Fringe in the Foxhunter, and I might be on one of Gordon [Elliott]'s in the Kim Muir."

what a horrible price this genie horse is for this codd or not...it's similar to the acapella horse in the rsa just horrible

no doubt they'll both win but it really is rancid what odds people are prepared to take on these 2 horses

Beware The Bear probably Hendersons only runner in the 4 Miler according to Henderson.

Glad to see EDWULF & ARBRE DE VIE taken out of the RSA.  Think they have a very good chance in this. I've also backed Champers On Ice so hope he runs here as not NRNB.

If all 3 run I'm in with a chance? Hopefully they'll get good jocks.

Delighted to see Edwulf out of the RSA. Come O'Connor, you know you want ride...

Rich Ricci confirmed Arbre De Vie for the 4 miler on #Racehour podcast.

on beware the bear antepost and have gone in today on flintham who is sure to relish the trip and who's a bigger price and possibly got better jockey (no nothing about mr b o'neill?) than bigbadjohn who short headed him over 3m last time

Shame Prem bond is out, my first loss of the week!

on beware the bear antepost and have gone in today on flintham who is sure to relish the trip and who's a bigger price and possibly got better jockey (no nothing about mr b o'neill?) than bigbadjohn who short headed him over 3m last time

He is a top (arguably the top) Irish point-to-point rider.

https://twitter.com/bononeill1?lang=en

Don't know who's riding ur steer but Barry o'Neill is top class

mikey legg who's pretty decent but Mr B O'Neill seems to be the man so maybe saver on bigbadjohn although i think flintham will stay better

Well done to those who backed Tiger Roll. I couldn't see a Triumph hurdler winning a 4 mile chase but he looked in total control from halfway.

I thought Codd rode a poor race. He jumped off will and got a good position.  However he allowed himself to drop back to the rear before being forced to change position and ride when the race got serious.
He should have stayed either tracking the pace or midfield