You are on fire Andrew.

well done Andrew, 1 for us up North.

Bristol County Caravans

Cherry picked critique ? This was my post.

Bristol is a lovely city, a bit rough around the edges in places, but i like it.

I lived in Bedminster (Chessel St) a liftime ago, went to school here and have supported the best football team in the area since i was about 7. As much as i like the city, do you really think my comments are harsh.

Good morning Guys from another overcast Clifton/Bristol.

Thanks for the comments.

A shorter post than often as it's going to be a full on tourist day in the city for me as i could be returning to London tomorrow due to train strikes, although i'll play this decision by ear.

A decent day yesterday, but only fun bets with exception of Energumene and even that wasn't a lump on.

Good Land finished 4th so out of the places, but The Real Whacker jumped well and was very game in winning (8/1) although i felt for a racing mate who was on the runner-up at big odds ante-post. My EW selections Benson (11/1) was PU and Elixir De Nutz (16/1) finished 9th, but these big field Cheltenham handicaps are rarely easy. The heavily backed Energumene looked the winner from some way out and ensured i finished in profit on the day albeit not on a Tony Bloom scale unfortunately. I wonder if he doubled up on Brighton FC winning.

On to today, i'm playing the 2 shorties Mighty Potter (1.30) and Shishkin (2.50) in a treble with Lossiemouth in the opener tomorrow. As for the handicaps, your guess is as good as mine and to be honest i didn't give them a lot of thought, not my MO and i get them right once every pancake day. Having said this, Benson did win for this thread 2 weeks ago, so only 50 more to go.

My EW selections are the lightly raced Walking On Air in the Pertemps (2.10) who won LTO and could be well handicapped. Currently trading around 11 and 3.1 for 4/TBP. The other is Fugitif (4.10) who was an easy winner on his penultimate run and ran well over CD behind Il Ridoto who re-opposes today. Odds of 13.0 and 3.6 4/TBP.

Good luck and have a nice Thursday all.

Bristol County Caravans

Thanks. To be fair, i think all cities have areas that fit my 'rough around the edges in places' description, even Stockholm, beautiful that it is, and München, where i'm currently working also has areas as such. I like Bristol though and always have, the locals here are very friendly and customer service is at an opposing end of the spectrum to Bavaria.

We moved to Bedminster after my Dad (born there) finished his RAF career in Cornwall, i was 11 and went to school locally. I think it was North St, not far from what was then the WD/Wills tobacco factory. We stayed for a couple of years.

Please don't say you support the Rovers.

Likewise, good luck.

Good morning Guys, does the weather ever change in Bristol ?

A losing day yesterday after 2, but only small figures and i didn't see any of them run. Trying to win a stake on Lossiemouth went down after the first leg with the 3rd placed Mighty Potter, who with better luck may have won, but it didn't matter as Shishkin could only get a runner-up spot.

My 2 EW selections paid out for some at least (not me) with Walking On Air (9/1) who finished 5th. Take out the winner and a pillow case would have covered many of the places. My other selection,  Fugitif (11/1) was much better finishing 2nd and i would have been shouting this one home if i had been watching live as he looked the winner on the run-in.

On to this afternoon and regular readers will know one horse i'm backing today, in the opener at least. I put up Vauban to win the Triumph at 16/1 ante-post before he had jumped a twig and i'm hopeful the same connections can win the race this afternoon.

When i was looking at the entries last year, i thought the filly Lossiemouth looked useful after winning impressively in France, albeit bar a last flight mistake and i've been a fan since. I didn't back ante-post this time, odds of 8/1 looked a bit skinny when i checked and this was before her Irish debut, mind you in hindsight etc.

She should be unbeaten and but for an incident in the previous race at the DRF, she would be. I was at Leopardstown that afternoon specifically to back her, so i'm hoping she wins today. Losses were recovered (and more) on Tuesday, so no repeat of my bet in Ireland, i don't need to be greedy after winning earlier in the week. As long as it doesn't turn heavy i think she will be difficult to beat.

The Triumph (1.30) is the only race i will watch live at least, any other bets are only small.

I've already backed Saint Sam W/4TBP in the County (2.10). The outsider of WPM's 4 entries and was beaten at odds-on LTO, but it wasn't necessarily a poor run. Runner-up here in the Boodles 2021 and UR behind Edwardstone in 2022. Has snippets of decent form and Jack Foleys' claim reduces his mark to 149. Odds of 50 for the win (7.0 5/TBP) reflect his chances, but it wouldn't be the biggest shock of the meeting if he won.

The Gold Cup (3.30) is open to my eyes and i'm not convinced WPM will win with Galopin Des Champs, but he just may be a star in the making. I fancy Noble Ye@ts and if this one is in contention 2 fences out he's in with a shout, we know he stays on strongly. Odds of 17 and 4.0 3/TBP appeal for a small stake.

I'm a layer of Allegorie De Vassey in the Mares chase (4.50). A talented mare, but may need soft/heavy to be at her best. 8 races, 6 on right handed tracks, but at Compiegne was beaten in both.

That will wrap up my Cheltenham festival betting for this year. I had a fantastic day on course Tuesday and it will remain with me for many years to come.

Good luck and have a nice Friday all.

Thank you ANDREW and T.A 

Good Luck

Well done Andrew, hope you won plenty.

She won well,that will make your journey seem shorter.

" You only sing when your winning ".

.... I can tell what will next years Hunter Chase if it helps.? ( Ferns Lock ).

Thanks for your posts Andrew hope you have a smooth journey home

WD with the placer Andrew

Andrew, update on Noble Style from C Appleby, wintered and working well, plan is to take on Chaldean in the Greenham over 7 furlongs to see if he is a Guineas or a Commonwealth cup horse. 

let's hope he is a Guineas horse.

The hotel rates are total, not per night

WD Andrew, most of my bets are in much lower grade and I've never heard of Equinox before reading this. Got a bit
of 18s forthe Arc, hope it runs.

Saddo/Ashleigh

Thank you. I knew of the horse and i've watched VR's, but today was the first time i backed him. As mentioned i think he's decent although i wasn't expecting him to front run, but what a performance and he's beaten the 12f TR by a second.

WD getting the 18/1, he's certain to run, it's the obvious race and the Japanese have been trying to win it for decades. They may have one who's up there with Deep Impact now.

I had a few bob on today but didn't back for the Arc

Good luck with the Arc bet.

Good morning Alan,

No worries, it's not a secret, the stable is Daniel and Claire Külber's in Upper Lambourn; we plan to visit them in the morning, then Newbury races in the afternoon. Hopefully my small ante-post bet on Noble Style to win the Guineas is not wasted.

Sure, i'm good to meet up, i can send you a PM closer to the day.

Good luck.

Good afternoon Guys/PHS,

A shortish post as i'm in the office playing catch-up after my GB week, and with the forthcoming 4 day Easter weekend in mind.

A reasonable array of cards today with start of the turf flat season at Doncaster and a couple of G3 races at Saint Cloud with several trainers/jockeys representing GB and Ireland.

Getting the flat season under way is the Brocklesby (1.50) and there's been a fair bit of media attention surrounding 250,000 euros yearling and likely favourite Valerdero recently due to the high-profile owners who won the race last year and use of a not so high-profile trainer.

All the world and his brother appeared to know Persian Force was going to win this race last year and he duly went off the even money favourite and won easily. If Amo Racing have another from his ilk they will probably win again, but Valerdero is not as speedily bred as him by any means, or others in the field for that matter and heavy going could be against him. I would be a layer at the odds although i haven't got a who's going to win.

Staying at Doncaster, the first Heritage handicap of the season, the Lincoln provides a good test for form students and is the minefield it often is. Generally it pays to find an improving 4 year old carrying around 9 stone ish, but this is simply a stat. My idea of the winner is a year older, the John Quinn trained Empirestateofmind who is improving (now rated 99) and weight is reduced by a decent 5lb claimer. Has performed well recently finishing in the runner-up spot on 3 consecutive runs including over CD, and is drawn 11 so has an option of which side of the course to take, that should be easier considering he races up with the pace. Claimers rarely win the Lincoln, but again, another stat. Currently 19 for the win i think he's a tentative win/4TBP selection.

As for a couple of shorties i think the better one is the evergreen 8-year old The Reverant in the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc (4.00) at Saint Cloud, a race he's won twice before. Soft/heavy conditions are ideal and his record over CD is 1-1-1-3-4-1-1-1. He may not be as good as he once was, and Ryan Moore/Angel Bleu are valid rivals, but i actually think Facteur Cheval is the one to beat. However well either of these runs, i expect the favourite to win and at odds against.

The other shortie runs closer to home in the opener at Stratford (2.17) the ex French trained Beau Balko who carries a penalty although much of it is negated by the 5 lb claimer. Both his wins have been from the front, but i hope he's ridden with more restraint today as trying to keep up with the erratic Jupiter Du Gite, who could go off like the proverbial scalded cat will not be a positive.

Good luck and have a nice Saturday all.

G/L  ANDREW

Good luck with your bet but I did not think he stayed this year at Cheltenham(3m 6f).I have not had a bet or a good look at the National field yet.