Good shout, Hib

Im having a fever for the opener, 33s far too big, never dabble AP but had few quid on today

No mate, Bambino

Well despite getting beat I was perfectly happy with the run of Sortudo at Naas. The omission of hurdles up the straight meant there was only one hurdle in the last 3/4 of a mile and that meant the all the way winner could kick on early. Patrick Mullins loomed up going best but just couldn’t get past on the long uphill run to the line. It was miles back to the third.
The Old Course at Cheltenham will suit him much better and he still strikes me as a great bet now he has been pushed out to 20/1 so have gone in again.
I’ve also had a decent saver on here for the Supreme at an average of 110 just in case they drop him back.

A smooth win for Shuttle Diplomacy (mentioned in op) at Naas today which was a nice boost for King Rasko Grey.
Hoping KRG can put up a big performance in the Grade 1 at the Dublin Festival next week.
Shuttle Diplomacy is 50/1 for the Turners which in an open renewal looks fair, though the trainer also mentioned the possibility of going for a handicap.

Good to hear that Sir Gino is doing ok.

Not sure where Captain Hugo would go next if he wins at Musselburgh tomorrow. I still rate him very highly but he has a very good horse to beat in Mossy Fen Road. Agree with Uncle about The New Lion. Surely no way he can beat Golden Ace and there are plenty of others to beat as well.

The Champion Hurdle was throughly run throughout which contributed to the pace collapsing off of the home bend, up to that point they were way clear of the earlier novice hurdle which was run far more steadier throughout and to that end I think you can greatly mark up Talk The Talk who had to make up a lot of ground off of a steady pace against horses that weren't stopping, they really picked up the pace from two out and for him to cut down the front two from that position was impressive. The Supreme is looking to be a really hot race.

You're deluded x20 if you think f2f won't run in a GC after today,probably ricis in ryan air as too free

Another interesting day that muddied the waters even more.

Dr Steinberg won the long distance novice hurdle in almost identical fashion to Final Demand the previous year. Whether he goes for the Turners or Albert Bartlett will be the question now - your guess is a s good as mine.

Narciso Has dominated the Triumph Hurdle trial and is a worthy favorite for Cheltenham, but I'm not sure there is much strength in depth to the Irish juveniles this year and so I'm not backing him at 7/4.

The Arkle trial showed that a two horse race (effectively) can still be a great watch. My favorite horse Kargese ran well and, just like in her juvenile hurdle days when she travelled all over Sir Gino and Majborough, she looked to have the race in the bag two out but stamina eventually won the day. I have always maintained the Old Course will play right to her strengths so can certainly see her reversing form with Romeo Coolio, if he shows up, though it won't be surprising if she gets run out of it late on by Lulamba.

Fact To File bounced back to form and also showed he stayed 3m, after looking a non stayer in two goes last year,  though he wasn't up against a peak form GDC like last year. Again the question is which race will he go to, and if he does go for the Gold Cup will he stay the extra distance.
With Inothewayurthinkin flopping again JP may well supplement him and I wonder if that were the case could Spillane's Tower be rerouted to the Ryanair?
Gaelic Warrior ran well enough and should go for Gold imo, but again could end up win Ryanair.
Galopin Des Champs ran ok and I can understand Mullins suggesting he was below his best after the Christmas run so 10/1 e/w isn't the worst price.
I just don't fancy Jango Baie or The Jukebox Man who head the market - all very confusing.

Well a quiet enough period since my last post with just the Constitution Hill fiasco having much effect on the markets.

The way the market was I had begun to lose all hope of my main antepost position, Sortudo, even running in the Turners but I saw Patrick Mullins give him a decent shout on a Paddy Power YouTube video yesterday and he has shortened on here from around 50 to 24.
He might only be the third string from the Mullins stable if Mighty Park and King Rasko Grey run. Got my fingers crossed that Danny Mullins can take the ride and not Patrick.

Mighty Park to go for the longer race?

JP McManus turning 75 on Tuesday, may have something to do with it.

Well done Uncle.
Sortudo has just shortened up

Well done with Kargese, Unc. She's a fine-looking mare.

Hoping the rain comes in sufficient quantity overnight to enable Spillanes Tower to at least get a run, and hopefully win the GC.

Also got fingers crossed for Maestro Conti in the Triumph and Fruit De Mer in the potato race.

That’s sad to know Uncle as you pick out genuine AP bets, you have a few to look forwards to this year on the flat that I’ll be keeping an eye on such as your filly for the Jubliee.

I'll miss you Uncle, I always enjoy your thoughtful analysis.

I had a frustrating time AP-wise too - I'd got some nice AP positions, but nearly all of them then ran like dogs. But I'll keep at it, because I enjoy the challenge. Maybe fewer of Eliott's going forward though...

The habit of shuffling your horses right up to the 2 day final decs has steadily increased and combined with late injuries and sickness reinforces my view that finding a runner in a named Festival race on January 1 is an odds against exercise. The only ones I was tempted to have were Constitution Hill (before Newscastle and laid off after Southwell) Golden Ace and The Jukebox Man. two out of three ran but both disappointed. My best results were last minute decisions, often in running such as Libberty Hunter and Bass Hunter place only on Wednesday and several near misses laid off such as Final Demand, Regents Stroll and Minella Study.
The continued failure of Sean Bowen and Olly Murphy is a feature of the meeting and demonstrates that they are masters of placing decent but not top class horses.

It’s not the same watching on replays for sure, I watched very little this season of the jumps and I felt better off for it! Most Saturdays have poor cards and you see the same again and again.
As I’m not a big fan of it I just stick to the races that I know, the class events, the handicaps are ok if you have info but many of these races offer little value to the punter.
Paying only 3 places for such big fields is terrible, even the Gold Cup only had 3 places! One firm went 4 and they were all short at the top of the market bunched together, the others out of them bad ew prices.
Really the books squeezed every last drop out of it.

World Hurdle continues to be a dire race so I’ll be scratching that from my ‘class races bracket’ as im happy wirh a treble anyway! not greedy me!

Nice one Paul!! Watch out they’ll be after you!

I kicked myself for not seeing that after as it’s a race where a price can win and as you said he couldn’t ride the others so his dad put him on one that could!

Missing you already, Unc.

Good luck in the new job.