Cheltenham Festival 2020

I would be amazed if altior got the trip in a strongly run gold cup,over the last few days the jump season really got going with some really promising novice chasers.

After the sweet run by Samcro he's a definite for me in The JLT; Lostintranslation/Santini/Altior (if he wins The King George pulling away) for the Gold Cup.

Black op has put in the most impressive jumping display from what we've seen so far without question for me from the novices, my only worry is that it's take 2 for him.

Champ impressed me today, nice start to his chasing career, and given his novice hurdling performances, I can see him going all the way to the top over fences,

Blimey that is rather short,but i had a feeling there would be a reaction if he jumped well and won today.

Done him in a double with B Dair this morning, was only 8/1 then.

What more would be expected?
First time over fences,no errors of note and won fairly comfortably.
Be loads more to come with more experience.
5/1 is too short yes,but the top staying novice hurdler going chasing at the right age,and proved he can jump a fence.....the bookies wont take many chances with him.

A couple I’m keeping my eye on today, and for aftertiming purposes, have backed AP:

Fusil Raffles at Wincanton, currently 16 for the CH. Usually avoid juveniles for the CH, but won his two races last year impressively, and likely any value will disappear, assuming he wins today.

Longhouse Poet at Naas, currently 33 for the Ballymore. Fast way to the poorhouse backing in novice hurdles/chases at this point of the season, but as a ptp winner and a pretty impressive Bumper winner I’m happy to have a few quid at the price. Not totally convinced about the ground, but connections won the Ballymore last year.

a poster on the horses forum last season said "fusil raffles is rated  at least equal to pentland hils at home " ,take that how you will but they obviously think a bit of him . and the champion is looking very open .

Clearly that should be 33!

I think with Fusil Raffles and Pentland Hills I sense the narrative where PH isn't really going to get the credit he deserves perhaps through not coming from France but from being a more exposed flat horse from over here. I think that FR is carrying slightly a bit of hype and is perceived as the sexier horse.

I was very impressed with PH last season who was an easy Triumph winner who was then able to back it up at Aintree. He'd do for me at this stage.

Must admit I was a bit surprised and a tad disappointed with FR yesterday.....until I heard Hendo talking after the race.His next race will be interesting.

Yes, also be interesting to see PH in his first run this season.

god knows what elliott is going to do with all these novices, pure guess work for the punter trying to figure it all out ?

Douvan wins impressively after 2 years out
over 2.5 miles
Trainer think he could cope with the 2 mile CHASE

10-1 SOUNDS fair

One of interest today, but not exactly a dark horse!

Decided to join the hype on Battleoverdoyen, AP at 16. Had a reasonable price last year for the Ballymore, but ran like a drain.

Battleoverdoyen looks pretty slow.

I suppose it’s what else is there in the 3 mile novice division this year.

There’s Champ given connections and good hurdle form, maybe Samcro, but will be kept away from BoD, so could be campaigned over shorter. Then we are looking at potential horses.

I would imagine that unless he starts losing, BoD will head to the RSA.

To be fair to him, it wasn’t a flashy win lto, but he did get the job done. Would’ve preferred to have seen him breeze past on the bridle winning 20 lengths, but when Davy said go, he did, and never looked like losing.

Will be interesting when upped in trip at Leopardstown over Xmas, it will certainly be a G1 against better horses, we’ll see what he’s made of then. My finger will be hovering over the cash out button!!

Agree Irish novices look very impressive might be wise to keep in mind the exams are taken in March and its ‘o levels’ not GCSE’s . You get no marks for course work. And just to clarify I would say the same if a poster in another year said the same but in reverse. Am I alone in despising this tribal rubbish?

Milton for me its all about hegemony in sport, its probably one of the best examples you can find currently
It ranks alongside the negative evaluations of women jockeys capacities which were prevalent for decades on dedicated horse racing shows like c4 on saturday mornings.
I personally dont want it to stop. I just laugh at it along with many others.... And we get the value!

sure It’s about Hegemony. I for one understand how you feel, how could I not you ram it down our throats and turn many threads into a political vent which of course is your right. I am on here because it is a Cheltenham thread.

Secondly I seem to remember (apologies if I confused you with another poster) one time that stated you have no desire to get to know me and that the whole point of forums is you don’t have to so in response I am not your mate.

Thirdly  and back to Cheltenham .. I wrote it’s NOT GCSE’s .It is O LEVELS so I obviously meant that you get no marks for coursework come March it is 100% on the day ..... like O Levels and not like GCSE’S  reading a post is the written equivalent of listening to others ... what a shock.