It wont be down to 'unseen' improvement cvb.

He's the classiest hurdler in the field, and hasnt had the chance to match that over fences yet. And certainly not over his best trip.

The key to Catch Me is the ground. At the moment it looks as if he won't have it soft enough.

He hardly snatched 3rd got bumped about something terrible, whatyouthink squeezed up by whatuthink before nearly being brought down when coolpotts fell, lost alot of ground there.

To be fair bud how can you say max's jumping is better than long run? The later was very you last season and has grown. Max's arkle run would have me worried a bit. I like the horse and will have a nibble if he continues to drift.

But many of these horses are going on potential and improvement. Poquelin us the only proper consistent open company chaser over the distance in the field.

It'll be a fascinating race.

Poquelin
1,2,1,2 around Cheltenham
won the **** carrying 11-8 by seven lengths
ground will be perfect
fit and ready for its run at Aintree
good claiming jockey taking 5lb off
fits almost all the trends for this race
definate runner
available at 15/1 on here each way for four places

just has to jump round now

Sorry mate but looking at the horse I cant see that after only 4 Chase starts in Ireland he will be suited by the hustle and bustle of this race. Hes not the only one of the fancied runners I worry that him long run and Mad Max will all struggle with their jumping come saturday.
Its not that I dont think he is a good horse or well in at the weights as I do, I just think like a few he will struggle early on and he may not get a chance to be involved at the business end.

yes mate

Not as yet mate. Im toying with the idea of moving it as it was a bit cramped last year and there isnt much room if any more people turn up this year.
I would think Brown, Howard and Turner should be there, poss get Scu back again. Id like to get Joe McNally back if available and will be looking at poss geting somebody new just to freshen it  up. Will also try and mix up the phone interviews though David Pipe will hopefully be availble again.

Long Run is the best horse in the race and has a very good racing weight, Little Josh is a very likely improver too. Long Run is value and i think he will go off very short on the day

CV,last season watching both horses i came to the conclusion that Mad Max looked the more natural jumper out the 2.I only saw one mistake,in the arkle.Long run i thought looked rather clumsy at his fences to me.

Poquelin will be fit and that could make the difference,thats why i said i would take the chance on Mad Max fitnes.I happen to think Mad Max will prove to be the better horse this season,so if he is fit i think he has a great chance.

LR is value? LR is a superb price? He's alot of things but neither of those (imo)

Declarations out tomorrow.

nice work ex con

Good write up Ex Con, and I agree with most of it. Think it all hinges on Long Run's jumping. I know your selection is primarily stats based, but I have a keen interest in Mad Max too, and think he could take this, if anything happened to Long Run. The stats are quite poersuasive in Great Endeavour's favour though, so he's one to be respected.

Sky bet don't have the following priced up in their odds, so maybe defections at latest stage:

Tatenen
Il Duce
Fisher Bridge
Chaninbar
Pickamus

So that would leave 21 left in.

I thought it was 24 hour decs with national hunt

nice to see he just squeaked in*!

Amazing racing this weekend at Cheltenham! Can King of The Night pip Cue Card?

Safari Journey looks a different horse with the blinkers on, could hack up.

Backed Hell's bay last month and can't believe he came 5th given how he was traveling the best coming round the home turn. Maybe the hill wasn't to his liking, but surely a less stamina sapping 2m4 tomorrow will see Hell's bay in the mix at the finish?  Reve de Sivola will be the main danger in that race imo. Goes well fresh,on any ground and at Cheltenham. Plus he'll be racing over his best distance. Lets hope he takes to the larger obstacles!

Good luck to everyone going to the open

happy with my 8s Great Endeavour and 14s Catch Me, saver on Mad Max all done, good luck all!

Gwankano is overpriced imo @ 33/1 with 5 places paid. It was a good performance to come 5th under 11-8 in the Plate at the festival and effectively fell in his last 2 runs. If he gets a good round in he can easily make a place. Talented horse just too many jumping problems.

He's been added e/w as my 3rd horse instead of Max who's price seems to be coming in too much for my liking.