Inthepocket

I was very taken with Down Memory Lane on chase debut, especially for such a lightly raced horse. I expected him to be stepped up in trip though. The changes to the novice chases at Cheltenham certainly make the novice chase program more interesting imo.

For the RSA, I'd point out that Mullins is very keen on Majborough (though as a 5-y-o he wouldn't be for me). Caldwell Potter should also end up here, and given how keen Elliott was to keep him, he should be good. Croke Park looks like a typical RSA horse - not flashy, but solid, tough and a stout stayer.

Meanwhile, the Champion Hurdle is boiling up lovely. I was astonished when Sir Gino went favourite after beating a bunch of moderate handicappers. Lossiemouth looked superb, but in a race run perfectly for her. I'm loving the way Mullins in messing with Henderson's head by saying she'll run against Constitution Hill at Kempton - Nicky regards that race as his own personal penalty kick - he must be crapping himself.

Think best is 4/6 now

Yes, just seen that. Between 4/6 and 4/9 antepost now. King of Kingsfield can be a total rogue and make horses look better than they are, so interesting to see if they bring DML over to take his chance.

Uncle

Think you're being a bit harsh on Sir Gino in relation to Lossiemouth, people can crab SG but must do the same for Lossiemouth, she beat slow horses in a crawl, a proper crawl, the novices that weekend went further and 25 seconds quicker the day before, lossiemouth ran in an absolute farce of a race and did precisely what she should have done, she's beating teahupoo and beacon edge receiving weight, in relation to and trying to assimilate that to a champion hurdle is, well it can't be done and she's priced up as if she's already been there and done it.

It's all part of a fascinating puzzle. State Man sets a very solid standard, but one of the others could clearly be better than him. Lossiemouth and Sir Gino still have to prove themselves at that level. If Constitution Hill remains at his best, he'll pick up and carry the others, but that is a huge "if" (and his best was arguably in March 2022). I suppose that's why it's called "gambling".

It does wear on you though, every trial that comes and goes seem to leave nothing answered, races being run at a crawl or level of opposition sub standard, then you've got the will he won't he be back, owners having multiple entrants, trainers having multiple entrants, avoiding one another, he'll go here, she'll go there...round and round and round we go

Energumene came back with a win last Sunday though he was receiving weight and was left alone when being challenged at the last by Banbridge.
He clearly loves Cheltenham and if it cones up really soft again he could do a Moscow Flyer at age 11.
Banbridge has been well backed for the King George and the weather forecast is in his favour. Yet to win at 3m though.

At Cheltenham it was more quantity over quality though Jet Blue was impressive in the Albert Bartlett trial and 25/1 is not the worst price.
Liberty Hunter was impressive and it will be interesting to see how he gets on up in grade.

Over in Ireland the main focus was on the novice chasers. Majborough won impressively at Fairyhouse first time out and was made 5/1 for the Arkle. Not sure 2m on the Old Course will be far enough for him.
Today at Naas Lecky Watson beat Slade Steel after a great round of jumping.
Slade Steel jumped safely but maybe not a natural. I will add the Henry De Bromhead stable is in shocking form so I would definitely give him another chance - out to 50/1 on here which I put a few quiz on. I also threw a couple on him for the Champion Hurdle at 350.

Sir Gino, Constitution Hill and Galopin Des Champs are sorted; 2 are previous winners, the former was unavoidably detained in his box. I think one could add Jon Bon to the list.

Well the usual busy Christmas period and plenty to cogitate on.

At Ascot the the Long Walk was won for the second year running by Crambo but as with last year you could throw a blanket over them and the race had little bearing on the Stayers Hurdle so hard to see why it will be different in 2025.
Over at Leopardstown the 3m Grade 1 was won by Home By The Lee who also won it in 2022. On paper he looks the ideal type for the New Course, similar to Inglis Drever, but he has not been competitive in the last three Stayers Hurdle, just staying on once the race is over.
He still looks the main danger too Teahupoo.

The Champion Hurdle picture is still very unclear despite all the main protagonists showing their hand over Christmas.
Constitution Hill won nicely from Lossiemouth who was flat to the boards all the way and never looked happy. The proximity in third of Burdett Road, who made. terrible mistake at theist which must have cost him 3-5 lengths, definitely raises doubts about the form.
Of course there are legitimate reasons to think Constitution Hill should improve for this given his year off and if he stays 100% sound he should take the beating. Lossiemouth drifted out to 7/1 and she looks the bet to me. Her run reminded me of Galoipin De Champ in the 2023 John Durkan - never travelling or jumping from the word go, over a track/trip that was too sharp, yet still only beaten a short distance.
In Ireland Brighterdaysahead put up an astonishing performance on paper to thrash Stateman who couldn't even finish second. However it does bring to mind the likes of Apples Jade and Cyrname, even Hawkwing's Lockinge, and there is still a chance she goes for the Mares Hurdle.

The King George was a bit weird. No surprise to see the French horse run them ragged for a long wag and equally no surprise it fell in a hole once it came out of cruise control (I think I read it burst a blood vessel again). The only surprise was the the only horse able to take advantage was the unproven stayer Banbridge. I guess his ability to travel in his comfort zone was a key point and the rest were all done before the home turn.  He is now favourite for the Ryanair and given decent conditions he should go well. The likes of Spillanes Tower, L'Homme Presse, Grey Dawning etc may do better at Cheltenham, though if he were mine I'd save Spillanes Tower for Fairyhouse and Punchestown.
In Ireland Galopin Des Champ did his usual Leopardstown procession and will need to underperform for anything to touch him at Cheltenham. Fact To File ran well but an extra 2f at Cheltenham is surely not what he needs and he would be an odds-on shot if they go for the Ryanair. Inothewayyourthinkin ran ok and 50/1 e/w looks a reasonable bet for the Gold Cup.

The 2m Grade One at Leopardstown was won by the fully exposed Solness with Gaelic Warrior running a bit flat in second. It still wouldn't be a surprise top see him win at Cheltenham, especially as I don't like Jonbon.

The novice chase races threw up some nice winners and obviously Sir Gino looks a penalty kick for the Arkle - as suggested a year ago in last years thread.
I was very impressed with The Jukebox Man who jumped impeccaby. At 7/1 I much prefer him to Ballyburn and Dancing City. The big novice chases in Ireland weren't desperately exciting with Croke Park winning at Leopardstown and Impaire Et Passe beating a bad field at Limerick.

The novice hurdle divisions still looks very open. The Supreme is still 10/1 the field. As I suggested up thread Romeo Coolio was much better suited to making the running over 2m and while he won well I can't get excited about him for the Supreme. At Aintree Potters Charm won the old Tolworth but it was a very weak race and he may be better suited to the Turners.
The Challow was won effortlessly by The New Lion and he is now 3/1 favourite for the Turners. It wasn't a great race and there have been a few impressive winners in recent years who have gone on to get stuffed at Cheltenham, though the Irish challenge is currently not looking that threatening.
In the non graded races there wasn't a huge amount to get excited about. Kopek Des Bordes was the most interesting and won easily despite jumping poorly. I assume he'll go up in trip but he might be one for fences next year.

Does anyone think there is a possibility of Losange Bleu coming over for the Stayers ? I realise all runs have been at Auteuil , but at least its the right way round .

If BDA and Lossiemouth run in the CH, Kargese will definitely run in the Mares. To be honest, I don't think she will run in CH, no matter what happens.

Has constitutional Hill got a share in Galloping des champs crown

Looking like Kawaboomga won’t be running at Cheltenham judging from markets on here.,

If you are going and looking for somewhere to eat afterwards ... The Beefy Boys in Cheltenham was ranked the best burger in the UK and 2nd best in the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ19M5-23rs

No horse wearing any type of headgear has won since Flown in 1992 if thinking getting your betting bank for rest of meeting on fav in first wears a hood mybe 34 time lucky

There's only one horse everyone has come to see tomorrow. It's Galopin Des Champs. Let's hope he wins, and is accorded the same accolade as Arkle and Best Mate.

Went to Gold Cup day this year and honestly it was a bit underwhelming. Watched more races on the big screens than actually live, queues for the toilets were excessive in the Centaur building and 3 deep when you actually did eventually get there.

Food and drink grossly overpriced, £7.80 for a Guinness and £3.10 for a can of Diet Coke for example.

Wouldn't rush back if I'm being brutally honest.

I was in an Irish bar in Birmingham called Hennessey's on the Thursday and they had screens everywhere showing RacingTV along with tables and chairs, no excessive quesues for drinks, decent food menu too. That'd be my kind of idea of watching the festival next year.

They are just taking the p1$$.

Surprised they haven't started charging for that, big queues, a good few quid in that

The management will squeeze and squeeze and squeeze the maximum profit they can. As their prices / profits go up, the crowd numbers will drop accordingly. Shame on them.