Spinal Gold Cup(2m5f)

Cape Tribulation for me - ran well over hurdles of biggish weight last time out which should have put him spot on.

seriously? you think he is well in enough to win a fierce race like this?

Divers with ground in his favour at present looks the one to beat, also saver on Roudoudou Ville at 20s on here last week.

super competitive race I keep looking at all the runners thinking "cor he's tasty, oh no he's tastier...errm blast "

looks like Quel Esprit and Cape Tribulation amongst those not declared

Quel Esprit out?

Wow. Well backed all week.

QE and Haventgotascoobydoo out

McCoy opts for Sunnyhillboy over Quantatitiveeasing btw

Barry G on the fav

Mullins such a flake, glad i waited to back it now.

been laying it all week (NAP)

Scooby still in but is the reserve

surprised A P has chosen sunnyhillboy as he is always prone to mistakes, well handicapped with G E on course form 2 seasons ago but i think Quantitive has the better chance possibly the going decided his choice

poor Scooby got ballotted out

anyway time to get stuck in to this now. Can QE and Divers reverse the form with GE on the PP race? Hmm

Calgary Bay added ew to join Woolcombe Folly at 33/1 now he's made the 48 hr decs. Simply too big in price relation to last years form with Sunnyhill Boy

had a few quid now on CB also,  NRNB. He was beaten 38 lengths last time out so clearly needs to improve, and trainer is on record as saying he was ''very fit'' for that run, but if that was a bit of spin and more like a prep for this race where he was 4th last year then he may make the frame again.

Divers for me.

Tipped Calgary Bay for the Paddy Power so will have to give him another chance at the price - he ran badly first time lst season and then hosed up on his next start so hopefully similar pattern this year.

slightly worried about them having more rain than normal last night with regards divers...don't want anymore....it was a bit more rain overnight last time that worked against him......if he can just jump a few more fences better will surely see him go close....ground permitting.

no rain forecast for today or overnight

Well I have had to decide that Great Endeavour could confirm the Paddy Power form. He runs here off 157 and if he really is a 170+ horse he should win. Might have Salut Flo on my side just in case and at the price it is cheap enough to bet him.

Great Endeavour  2pts ew 8/1
Salut Flo 0.5 pts ew 16/1

Is he supposed to be a 170 horse then ? I never realised connections had such pretensions tbh ..

That's just my assessment Sint - he could well be up there under the right conditions. Might be tomorrow, we shall see

that hennessy run must have taken it's toll.

Glad I only invested small on Calgary Bay as just gave his last run a review on video and he didn't jump that well, hit a couple, and has shades of Somersby about him. No idea what Henrietta Knight is up to these days but she hasn't done that well with some very talented stock. These two horses just dont jump that well but obviously hope I am proven wrong tomorrow. CB appears to have lots of things in his favour, ground,trip,handicap mark. it just depends whether the trainer has got him right.

It is a shame Great Endeavour ran in the Hennessy imo as I dont think the weight pull is enough for Quant and Divers to reverse form tbh, he gave them a convincing beating. But the Hennessy run may have taken the edge off him a bit ? 8/1 fair price though.

Still undecided about my main bet in the race!

Cant have Ghizao at any price. He can win without my cash.

Think Roudoudou Ville can run big race, up in class but improving on at around 18s expecting decent run, with saver on Divers 10/1 shame about Lee though?

Ok - Divers and Great Endeavour for me.

think roberto  goldback has a very good chance, and with paddy on top even better. still a bit of 28/30 on here...think this will be 16/1 tomorrow.

Sintonian, a possibility is that her man is ill and although she is an  honest and very capable trainer, worry could be an interference, she declares that the Spinal gold cup is CALGARY BAYS second choice, the 3.20 at Doncaster is the first choice.

This looks oh so tough a puzzle to solve.

Ones I have been keen on

Great Endeavour ,

I backed him in the Hennessy and he ran a blinder over a trip too far prolly and surely it has left a mark , IS the best horse in the race imho and this mark might prove ok in time but just worried about that run

Ghizao

I have always loved this animal btu he has dissapointed me.
He can absolutely tank thru his races as he did early as a novice when I thought he was the second coming.
Remember this horse has beaten Captain Chris TWICE easily so he is capable of that type of form and this mark would be easily within his grasp if he could run up to his best. "nd time out might be the best time to catch him as last year he dissapointed first up running very fresh then hacked up next time over CC.
I simply can't let this one win without a few bob on

Quantitataveasing

This one has always shouted "Classy Staying Chaser " to me and will win a big one soon.
Has run well vs GE and Divers and could still be well handicapped
He might just find it a bit quick tomorrow although there was a VERY heavy shower today when I was there that has to have got in and who knows if the rain will miss.

Sunnyhillboy

How can you ignore this one , especially as AP has turned down a safe & fancied horse like Quant.
This has all the looks of a proper old fashioned Coup as is JP's want when planning a campaign for his horses.
Will satay all day / has the speed to win / has bits that make him look chucked in and a combo that land these things all the time, HOWEVER he always chucks in a stinker of a jump somewhere.
I so want to lump on this one off a light weight but simply can't see him NOT making at least one mistake on a tricky course in a top race run at a propper pace.

Roudoudou Ville

Victor Dartnall is an absolute genius with this type of staying chaser.
He brings them along quietly allowing them to fill their frames and become proper chasers , his brother Gerald does all of the home work on thier NICE horses and they are a very good judge of a horse but I feel the value has prob gone now after the Shoe tipped it up today.
If it went back out to 14/1 I would back it ew.

Divers

This one could be the one in a race that will be perfect for him.
I want to bet it at the 8's but that will be 80's if the rain comes so will have to take shorter just before the race if it's dry.
Ran a decent race in the PP and think this little bit extra will be perfect as they might just come back to him at the end if he is ridden quietly.
His mark is fine and he is obv like Chelt.
I cannot stand the trainer  but guess even HE wouldn't tug one in a race like this.
He didn't look too happy about Hennessy finishing 3rd today after it was miles behind and got gifted 3rd.

Imsingingtheblues

Without doubt the forgotten horse in the field as every one of us has probably backed this one and been let down before but this mark is deffinately NOT beyond him if he is in the mood.
He has run against some top nothers in his time and slaughtered them at Ascot.
The race could just be run to suit him as he can travel really well and does have a touch of class.
152 is within his capabilities and I would not be supprised if he was placed.

A tough tough race to bet in but thats what Sat handicapps are about.

Ghizao is a small bet for me

Imsingingtheblues 20/1+ e/w

If it rains Quantitat if not then Divers for me.

Then after all that I will sit and watch the race KNOWING AP is going to gagg up and land a monster punt with the surreal fealing we all get thinking "HOW THE FECK DID I NOT BACK THAT"

GL ALL

if CB is not going to run,why declare him in this race.
Maximumn field she's cost another runner a place in the line
up if that happens.

Salut Flo been well backed, took half a point ew at 16s wishing I had been braver now

betfred goes 10/1 and still shortening

Tatenen will do 4 me off 145 and fresh. This horse is capable of posting 160 imo, on his form with Riverside Theatre first time last season and on his defeat by Follow the Plan way back. I do have a large Benedictine & Baileys at hand which maybe clouding my vision somewhat ....

Salut Flo needs soft ground.imo

An interesting runner fo shure Liam ..

that's why I only had 0.5 pt ew

A.Thornton a deffo liability in a tight finish(maybe not so important nowadays) just hope he has him in the van from ze off. Salut flo deffo capable of more as well ...

I'm strong on Medermit. Won the Haldon Gold Cup (albeit somewhat luckily) off 154 - racing tomorrow off 157. He's a genuine class one horse...his win in the Scilly Isles novice at Sandown was super impressive. Got taken off his feet a little in the arkle, but there's no disgrace in that - Captain Chris & Finian's Rainbow have turned out to be cracking sorts. The extra 5f will suit him and I can't have him out of the first four at 11/1+

The other one who could run well at a price is Matuhi. He won a class 2 handicap at Haydock in April off 135. Next time out he was going well in the Galway Plate before being brought down. 6lbs higher than previous win could well be within his range and at 30/1+ he'll be on my side too.

Great race on the cards. Looking forward to it. Good luck all, whatever your bets.

Liam. Tatenen, in the main, runs stinkers all the time .. even his win last season came out of the blue at 22/1 as he had shown phuck all before then imo. Cant have him meself. 

worth a poke at decent odds mate

Oh, and to all those that put up Calgary Bay, I completely agree. I too was going to back him. He's 8/1 for the Doncaster race tomorrow. I think he's more than capable of repeating his 2009 exploits off a mark of 145.

Divers all day long for me. Will probably look to back him in running as he usually trades higher than at the off due to his early sticky jumping and being nursed into the race from a fair way back.

I'd be very disappointed if he's not involved. Seems to me the easiest angle to take on the whole race - he's better off with Quantitativeasing and Great Endeavour, has a perfect racing weight, and is the one who will really benefit from the decent ground. The race looks no better than the Paddy Power (it's probably weaker), so hard to see him not going very close indeed.

Medermit is interesting for the reasons you state, Keith, but I just don't like horses that hit flat spots in top-notch handicaps, and have never been convinced that he is in love with Cheltenham. All in all, I'd be a little disappointed if nothing proves better handicapped.

First time last season was a Phukkkin good run sint. Golan way & Slakbencher behind giving them 7lb along with Riverside postig phatta figs after !!

Agree about Calgary Bay at Donny - looks to have a rattling good chance. That looks a weak race and I think he is another that doesn't especially love Cheltenham. making him a big danger at Doncaster.

OK, i'll give you that. Horse is still a liabilit though. At least he is ownder by the right man for the race though so you never know.

Maybe dont like big fields, otherwise primed to expode all over Prestbury imvho

Fair play Tom - you could well be right about his not liking Cheltenham, though he was second in the Supreme Novices. His record at the track reads 233724. Little disconcerting that he hasn't gotten his head in front there, but there's enough evidence there to suggest he'll at least place.

gone for an eachway poke on Quant. Geraghty got to be an inprovement on Tinkler lto and this horse looks the safest option,imo, amongst many contenders.

gl all.

re CB .. surely Henrietta would rather be receiving weight from horses than having to concede lumps at Donny ?

great endeavour cant be out the frame surely, 3 win 5 place

sint - I'm not sure about that. He won off 11-10 in the race two years ago and might just be the sort of horse that prefers taking on lesser lights.

Woolcombe Folly looks a big price to me.

Agree RH, he;s looked as if a step up might help although hes already won at 19f, Ryan gets on with him and rode him when he won the 2 miler at this meeting last year

Salut Flo continues to shorten, best priced now 11/1. Was 14s best price at 8pm.

can anyone explain how Sunnyhill Boy is favourite for this race? Other than McCoy riding him and doing light I see no reason to think he is suddenly going to spring to life. Beaten 7 lengths in this race last year off 3lb lower and 9lb better for 5 lengths with Great Endeavour  For me, he cannot win

he's the fav and CB,closely matched,going to Donny
probably.(7s & 25s)

poor old Scoobydo coulda got a run in the Spinal if Calgary Bay was declared a non runner before 9am on Friday

cow Hen Knight

Maybe the ruling needs changing,cant blame a trainer for giving owners every chance of a run.
Supposing Doncaster is off.

yeah fair enough but at least give the reserve the chance to run

yeh,it aint fair on him for sure

wonder where Calgary Bay is right now,on the way to Donny,chelt,or in a layby between the 2!!!

Sorry,just noticed hes a non runner at Doncaster.

might get a run for me money.

Calgary Bay is obviously ripe for a run,has to be onside at that price imo

Salut Flo 9/1 virtually across the board

I know he has been Pricewised but the gamble started long before that. I took 16s at about 7.30pm last night and he was 12s and 10s by 11pm

and I think he will shorten some more

almost the same scenario with Calgary Bay last year - re-routed from Donny to finish fourth in this, Donny off last year though.

Fuming that Tom put Salut Flo up

had to take 9s, thought he'd be bigger this morning than the general 16s he was earlier in the week

but your bets on before friday night?
happens to me all the time that a end up picking a pricewise horse and you lose all the value.

Divers and Quantitative easing for me. Small e/w on Roudoudou Ville 14s.

Well done otis, that should give you a LIFT, get it.

QUANTITATIVEASING 7/1 Christmas has come early

BBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!

Also had it in a £20 trixie with double figure prices on Sea of Thunder and Eagle rock in next race. That fall at the last could still make it a sickening day

My two were both trading at 6 in running and less until both made bad jumping errors Great Endeavour and salut Flo

add that to Rileyev getting hampered and then headed on the line...  not happy

wd winners. Good finish by QE

bazzar, i'm so happy with that run in and result that i'll let you off with that :DDDDD

Typically bad luck for me, getting a lot of it lately!

Expecting Menorah to tip up when clear at the last now

wd Quantys

like most e/w punts,comes 5th.

A most pleasing result in that Quant became a juicy price thanks to AP jumping ship. He rallied well to win.

Penzance, yes he ran rather well .. maybe he'll have his day at the festival in March.

Seems crazy that having Gerraghty on a horse instead of McCoy shoul0 dsee it drift - other than on really lazy types like Wachita Linesman I'd pick Gerraghty every single time.

I was in charge of the Ballymore Hurdle thread a few years ago and made QuantitativeEasing my early pick before he'd even jumped in public

Roudoudou Ville moral winner was on at 20s, very unlucky!

moral winner you have to get up the hill stevo ihad 100 at 8's quant and in the past i've had plenty of moral winners

one horrendous error cost great Endeavour, he had the whole field in trouble up til then and beat QE 6 lengths or so when they last ran against each other. Woulda gagged up so all you who collected are very lucky

and GE backers in the PP cant count themselves lucky Noble Alan unseated.

Jumping is the name of the game, im afraidn, and Quant was a worthy winning.

The weight usually tells in the later part of races so THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING if GE would have beaten Quant. There was a long way to go.

* can count

Boy wonder Roudoudou Ville travelled best in race thats all im saying, had saver on winner 8s with Grandeout and Mossley doubles and treble, so still happy!!!

less of the aftertiming,boy wonder/stevo

I have a strong feeling that we might see Quantativeeasing over hurdles in the coral cup at the festival. Even though I backed him - his jumping was terrible - so slow over every fence. With a mark of 139 over hurdles I think he'll p1ss up - gonna try and get a nice antepost price for it

hey sint i dont aftertime i mentioned the winner on page 1 lets see who names the tommy whittle winner next saturday i will post mine when final decs up on friday morning

giggitygiggity, that's a bit harsh. Just watched the race again and Quantitativeeasing jumped superbly bar the first down the back, in fact you could say his jumping won him it in the latter part of the race. You sure you haven't mixed up your McManus colours?

Salut Flo looked the unlucky one to me, I bet something else but my eyes were drawn to this one, absolutely cantering.

Tatie I know i'm being a bit harsh as you always get ultra critical when you've had a big bet on a horse and his jumping was my only concern before the race. I know he didnt make catastrophic mistakes but I dont think he is natural jumper who pings the fence and gets away from the fence quickly. In his races over fences he seemed to be losing a length every fence - it could be argued he was just outpaced and needs a step up in trip.

My point is that if he gets raised 8lb for his win that would mean he is rated a stone less over hurdles and it must be an option for connections to put him back over hurdles for the festival.

Worth keeping an eye on the entries when they come out

Giggity, just out of curiosity do you have a post on the forum where you said you were backing Quant ?

4th one down on this one,he's got 7s.

Yes Sintonian - no aftertiming from me- third reply on 6th December 4 days before race I posted:

QUANTITATIVEASING 7/1 Christmas has come early


Apologies for giving a price less than it was available on the day but I wasnt expecting McCoy to jump ship.

yeah I see that but it didn't look like the whole post.

lets give Giggity the benedit of the doubt

yes Giggy just seen it. well done.

Thanks for that benefit of the doubt! LOL

First tip in response to OP 4 days before race, one line and one horse mentioned, comment about xmas coming early and no less than 3 excited smiley faces!

I hope you forgive me for that monumental bit of aftertiming and have tried to make up for it by tipping him for a hurdles race 3 months in advance

What a great looking horse that Rodoudou Ville is,he has a big race in him this season.

giggitygiggity, definitely go along with the outpaced thing, he was only just hanging on to them for a while, but I have no issues with his jumping.

I wouldnt back him over course and distance again but would consider him over 3 miles over fences at the festival.

Even if there is no issues with his jumping his hurdle mark will be a stone less and I think they might consider it while he's young enough to still compete over hurdles.

Could be completely wrong but just worth a look at the entries when they come out

sorry giggy but there are lot of aftertimers on these here forums! You on the other hand did say you were backing it so well done.

re going back to hurdles .. IF they were to do that, what price do you think he would be!?? Nothing backable.