Imperial Cup Sandown

In for a penny in for a pound, I am of course going to have a few quid on Wicklow Brave in this race. I’m on NRNB already for the County Hurdle but the 25/1 here looks well worth a gamble. He never got a run last time in the Betfair hurdle having been out the back early and he is still a horse with plenty of potential to me and should be suited by this race.

1 Point EW 5 places 25/1 BetVictor and few other places

I’m going to add 2 small win bets on big outsiders with a small chance here. Hint of Mints form this year has been good and there is plenty of evidence that his current mark is within his grasp. Over 50/1 on Betfair is worth a min bet here. In addition Zaidiyn’s last run was eye-catching to say the least and he finished like a horse with more to show no his next run. He is in here near the bottom of the weights looks overprice at 48 on Betfair

½ Point win Hint Of Mint 55 Betfair

½ Point win Zaidiyn 48 Betfair

Gowran 3:50

Caolaneoin has been looking for a step up in trip and although this is only a couple of furlongs further it is in heavy ground and the finish here could well be a bit of a clog which will probably suit him. He can perform of this mark and has a fair bit of form over hurdles of a fair bit higher mark than this that would put him in with a shout. 14/1 looks value

1 Point win 14/1 Will Hill 12/1 Generally

3:45 Doncaster

This looks and really weak race for the money and I really can’t find anything of interest here at all in the main contenders so I’ve had a look at Wayward Prince’s old form and seen that he has suddenly run well a couple of times after poor runs and if he has woken up at all, he might get involved here of this mark.  The light weight and good ground might get him going and he’s worth a shot at 33/1 just in case.

1 Point win 40/1 Stan James

2:50 Newbury

Royal Guardsman was a decent prospect a couple of years ago but it doesn’t look like chasing suited him. He performed ok but aside from his rather poor re-introduction over hurdles lately after a long break he has some decent hurdles form and looks of a nice enough mark here if he has come on from that opening run. 14/1 might be worth a small bet.

1 Point win 14/1 Various

3:25

Easter Meteor is one I’m interested in for the festival, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he showed an improvement here.  He is of a decent mark and there is a possibility it wont want to be ruined here so close to what might be his target but it’s a decent race and my gut feeling is he might be trying today. I’ll have a min bet at 11/1 as that will avoid any remote’s been trown at the TV iv im not on today and he wins.

1 Point win 11/1 Various

I’ve added a few more selection to the Cheltenham ante-post Page

3:45 Kempton

Rajdhani Express has some top class form in the book before his poor enough run last time out when he had excuses. I think he has looked like he will like this step up in trip and of a proven mark of 155 with Sam’s extra 3lbs here he could well get involved here at a big price. He has stayed on well in the Ryanair last year and travels well in his races so I see no reason he won’t be suited by this trip around here. 18/1 looks a nice bit of value.

2 Points win 18/1 Generally

2:55 Newcastle

Count Guido Deiro is the only horse I can get even remotely enthused about here.  He last run was good in a very decent race and if he can tidy up his jumping here, he is of a nice weight and should still be improving, especially with this step up in trip. 20/1 looks a decent bit of value and he looks solid enough to place here. The 5 places with skybet is a very decent concession.

2 Points EW 20/1 5 Places Skybet

Wincanton 2:30

Oscar Prarie was a selection of mine last time out and he ran an odd race, being miles out the back and then flying at the finish . He is obviously capable of this mark and if he is on a going day at all he stands a chance here at 16/1..

1 point win 16/1

Haydock 2:55

Monbeg Dude looks a fair but ahead of these and will be well suited by this test of attrition today. Despite the fact he is favourite, I think 7/1 is value.

1 point win 7/1 generally

3:25 Haydock

Across the bay has a great record around here and even though he hasn’t been great this year he needs to be getting into form for another national tilt. He won a hurdle race around here 2 years ago of a 5 lbs higher mark. Worth a shot at 40/1

1 point ew 40/1 generally

2:55 Exeter

In for a penny in for a pound, I stated earlier in the year that I would follow Golden Chieftain until he won, so without much thinking ill have a point on him today. He probably needs a pound or too to get into a race at the festival and there is a danger a place would be more suitable for those purpose’s but having missed a few bigger priced out of pure laziness the 10/1 is still worth having a bet on. I also can’t leave the race with have a bet on my old favourite Burton Port. The stable is firing on all cylinders at the moment at he can win of this mark on better ground today.

1 Point win Golden Chieftain 10/1 Generally

1 Point win Burton Port 20/1 Betfair

2:25 Exeter

Ambion Wood’s hurdles form is littered with strong performances, of this mark even after a lay off of nearly 2 years, I think he may be worth a small bet just in case he is ready to go here.  He also has a fairly decent record fresh. 20/1 is worth the gamble.

1 Point win 20/1 Generally

Leopardstown 3:15

Dalasiri’s form in 2mile handicap hurdles isn’t bad at all. His last run over 3 miles can be safely ignored and down to a workable mark  here in a weaker race he may well outrun his current 33/1 Odds.  Barry Geraghty looks an interesting booking for such a big outsider and he has enough form in the book to suggest a high chance of placing at least here.

1 Point EW 33/1 Generally.

Leopardstown 3:50

This looks a messy enough renewal , In my view Boston Bob looks the most likely winner in these conditions but the value may lie with First Lieutenant. He will like the improved ground this time and generally get better and better this time of the year. He has been disappointing so far but improving all the same. 14/1 could be a bit of value in what could be a very tight race.

1 Point win 14/1 Generally

Betfair Hurdle

I was waiting for the confirmed field and nrnb to come out to have a go at Wicklow Brave here. He has been a bit of a disappointment since his very good novice form, but his season may have been planned with this in mind. He had run here earlier in the season and it didn’t go well but it seemed at the time a strange race to put him in and i’m hopeful that it was just a precursor to this race.  He ran really well in the Supreme at the festival but didn’t quite see it up the hill. That indicated to me he will like this strong run race and i’m not about to let Willie Mullins only runner , who has some very decent form go of at 33/1.

2 Points EW 33/1 5 Places Bet365

I’m going to go with another small bet here on Cheltenian . He was 4^th in this last year and is still a relatively unexposed horse with a decent hope that he can be better than his current mark. If he can improve his jumping he may well come there with a chance at the last and that is all that can be asked for a 40/1 shot. His chances of getting in the first 5 looks fairly high to me .

1 Point EW 40/1 5 Places Various

Warwick 3:50

I was very sure of Ackertac placing at least last time out and he ran well just getting  knocked out of it close home. I think this slightly shorter trip and weaker race will give him a great chance of making up for that, along with the couple of more pounds is hand this time. 7/1 is bigger than I thought he would be.

2 Points win 7/1 Generally

3:40 Naas

Blood Cotil’s hurdles form is a long way clear of anything else here, but he has been a bit of a disappointment so far over fences. If he can tidy up his jumping at all he looks overpriced here at 10/3. That favourite took a heavy fall at the last when tanking along last time out but that could be a dent to his confidence and I’d prefer to be on a fairly solid performer like the selection in this case.

2 Points win 10/3 Coral

2:25 Newbury

This race looks up for grabs for me as Houblon Des Obeaux should really be winning this on pure form, but he isn’t one that wins enough and looking the rest of the field there really isn’t anything much between any of them on all known form. I think for example there isn’t anything between Double Ross and Tarquin Du Seuil. His 3^rd behind Tarquin and Menorah in the Charlie Hall is near good enough form to be close here and it looks to me as if he may be underestimated. Id make him more of a 12/1 shot so the 20/1 available would have to be taken.

1 Point win 20/1 Double Ross Various

2:05 FFos Las

I’ve had a decent amount of success here just going for something with bottom weight  in heavy ground but when the possibly best horse in the race is carrying that and at a big price it makes it an easy selection. Williams Wishes probably hasn’t progressed as much as hoped this year but he has been running in top class races over fences and apart from his last run , has more or less been running up to his higher chasing mark. He is in here with a 10lbs claimer on today giving him a nice racing weight and the trainer certainly likes winners around here. There is step up in trip to contend with but that looks a positive. 18/1 looks well overpriced.

2 Points EW  18/1 Various

2:25 Sandown

Grumeti is the outsider of the field here but my gut is that he will improve here for the step up in trip and after looking at his last run again he is a tough as it gets when he is putting it in. He is more of an 8/1 shot here so ill have a small bet at 14/1 just in case.

1 Point win 14/1 Stan James  

3:00 Sandown

Imperial Leader has been a bit of a disappointment is his last few races, but looking at his history he needs soft ground, and given that he is getting that here and is of a decent mark he should get competitive. HE is back from a break here but that isn’t much of a negative and 8/1 looks a bit of value.

1 Point win 8/1 Various

Cheltenham 3:35

Reve De Sivola looks almost forgotten here.  He is an in and out performer but on soft ground here against horses that simply haven’t seen his type of game performance before 6/1 looks positively huge. He may not need to get to the level of his last performance at Ascot when he wore down about as good as yardstick as you’re likely to get in Zarkandar. He may not be favourite in my head but he is 3/1 at the most and 50% price margins can’t be ignored. The newcomers to this level have a fair bit to prove yet.

3 Points win 6/1 Ladbrokes Stan James

3:15 Doncaster

Vino Greigo has been pretty shocking this year but, there looks to be better ground here tomorrow and he is down to below his last winning mark. I’d be afraid to pass up the 25/1 in case he is going to put it in tomorrow and I wasn’t on. He’ll most likely win at a decent price this year at some stage.

1 Point win 25/1 Generally.

1:50 Cheltenham

I went with The Giant Bolster last year in this as one of my most confident bets of the year, and although this race is much tougher, I still feel he is the value at the prices here. The top 3 in the betting have it to prove that they are up to his standard around here over this trip and 13/2 looks a decent price.

2 Points win 13/2 Generally

Cheltenham 2:25

My Gut here is that Big Fella Thanks might just have been given a shot here by the handicapper.  13yo’s don’t win many races around here but he is below his last winning mark and is just too big a price at 28/1 not to have a tiny bet. He ran well on his reappearance last time for a long way and just got tired at the end in Heavy ground. He can build on that.

1 Point win 28/1 VCbet / Stan James

Very tough race as it is every year, but I’m going to go with a couple of novices from last year at big enough prices. My Murphy has solid form, and has run well this year in both the Paddy Power and the Troytown. He is down a couple of pounds here and with proven heavy ground form and the step up in trip slightly from those races he really should be right in the firing line here at what looks a big price on Betfair of 23. Toon River has been gradually coming into form this year and hopefully can continue that today at a huge price. He has a bit of course form but would have to prove he stays this far. He looks worth a shot at 44 on Betfair.

1 Point win My Murphy 23 Betfair

1 Point win Toon River 44 Betfair