Jamie Snowden Stable Tour

I was absolutely thrilled when I heard that the London Racing Club was organising a trip to the Lambourn yard of Jamie Snowden; that is Jamie Snowden trainer of a Cheltenham Festival winner in Present View. He is currently training around 40 horses in his yard including 'Elvis', the aforementioned Cheltenham Winner. I didn't hesitate in getting involved and can report back that the day was absolutely incredible. We were taken to the gallops of Lambourn (absolutely spectacular) to watch the Snowden 3rd lot galloping before being treated to a tour of the yard and a resume of the horses under Jamie's care.

One thing that really struck me about the day was just how friendly and welcoming Jamie and the yard as a whole were in general. It was as if we were long time friends of the yard and had been going for years whereas the reality was that it was a first visit for the vast majority of us! I'd love to have the money to get involved in horse racing ownership (unfortunately I don't think it would be the best use of my PGCE grant!) however if you are considering it then do check out www.jamiesnowdenracing.co.uk.  Jamie was kind enough to run through the horses under his care and let us know about his thoughts for the horses and the year ahead. Let me share a few of those thoughts with you here. Hopefully it can be a great year ahead for Jamie with plenty of winners for the yard, perhaps even beating their previous best tally of 20 winners for the season!


Present View

Let's start with Present View, the yard's Cheltenham Festival winner and clearly adored by everyone at Folly House. Nicknamed Elvis due to his love of attention Present View was on the gallops in the lot we saw and looked fabulous, so powerful and strong. However he won't be going hurdling this year as that was the cause of his injury issues last year, he clouted the 2nd last hurdle at Cheltenham on seasonal debut which led to a nasty cut and time off (still finished a neck 2nd) and perhaps just doesn't respect the smaller obstacles. He blew up in the Paddy Power (still finished 3rd) but the lay off after the cut was probably the cause of his slight lack of race fitness. However because of his curtailed season he is only up 2 lbs this season rather than a stone or so and could be very well handicapped. Present View will be kept to fences, targeting the Showcase meeting and then the Paddy Power and I certainly will be backing him in these races given how well handicapped this horse could be. Stable Star and a worthy one.



Jean Fleming

A two time hurdle winner as well as a point to point victor who has never finished out of the first three in her life. She gallops all day long and really needs the emphasis on stamina to be seen at her best. She will go to a Ludlow handicap hurdle and then a Wincanton handicap where hopefully her stamina can be brought into play. Tries all day long.



Midnight Silver

An interesting horse, 2 time bumper winner last season including in the mud at Ffos Las. However the yard thought she was making noises associated with her breathing so she has had a wind operation. She must be pretty talented to win twice if her breathing was causing her issues so could be a horse to follow this season with those issues hopefully resolved. Could be smart.


Val De Law

A horse Jamie was dead keen on for the year ahead. Because he is still a novice he can go down the novice chase route this year with a year's experience under his belt. How he didn't win last year is a bit of a mystery; he fell at the last when tanking alongside Southfield Theatre at Exeter (looks very smart form now) before idling when in the lead at Leicester. He acquitted himself with huge credit in a Grade 1 at Aintree over 2 miles and 4 where he didn't quite stay. However the bonus about that is that he remains a novice of huge potential for the season ahead and will be kept to the 2 mile trip, going down the novice chase route before Graded races later in the season, all being well. Very much one to watch.

Be On Time

A potentially interesting horse for early on in the season; he can still run in Novice Chases, despite finishing 2nd in a case at Auteuil and also will be able to claim a hefty weight allowance as a 4 year old. In France they start them earlier so he will be able to race against horses with the same or even less experience over fences and receive lumps of weight from them! Jamie will look to get Be On Time out early to take advantage of this and I'd be keen to follow him in early this year.

Ardkilly Witness

This horse, rated 139, absolutely adores it round Sandown and the owner would love to win the Grand Military Chase they hold there later in the season. However to do this you need to be rated 130 or less so Jamie plans to run him in big races this season. If he runs well and his weight goes up then the Grand National can be targeted, if not then it'll be the Military Cup route.

Denboy

An unraced 5 year old for extremely patient owners. He is a bay gelding out of a sister to the great Denman and is an absolute tank himself. Jamie has had him for two years now and will send him hurdling this year. He has taken to the hurdles well at home and will be interesting, hopefully he can reward the owners patience (same colours as Dodging Bullets).


Rhythm Star 

Disappointed on her final start last season but that may have been the result of a long hard season. Is a winning hurdler and goes novice chasing this year; she could be well handicapped. Will mix and match between chasing and hurdling however as the programme for mare novice chasers isn't the best.

Our Three Sons 

Has run twice and been second twice. Came in late from the grass this summer and patience will be required with him however he stays well, will take in 2 bumpers this year and then be one for hurdles next season. Jamie can afford to take time with him as he is only 4 years old.

Miss Tiger Lily

Three time flat winner who sustained an injury and was off for a year. The owners have decided to send her jumping and she will run this coming Tuesday for the first time for Jamie.

Monbeg Theatre

A two time hurdle winner, in addition to a bumper victory, but the yard found out last year he doesn't stay three miles. Will drop back to two and a half miles and run in novice hurdle races where he could go well.

Fact of the Matter

Jamie likes this one, jumps brilliantly and will go for novice hurdles this year

Ethelred

Unseated the rider last time out, that was no fault of anyone, and prior to that had only been beaten a nose in a chase. He has been handicapped over hurdles but could be a better chaser and one potentially to note in handicap chases this season.

Our Reward

A smashing horse who has won a P2P and received a P2P rating of 91; to put that into perspective Present View got a P2P rating of 94 so this one could be very good. He is schooling well and is a very strong, nice type who is just starting work now.

Souriyan

Bought from the Aga Kahn Souriyan is a winning Novice Hurdler and was just touched off in the mud at Ffos Las the time after his win. He then ran in the Fred Winter, where he finished around 8 lengths off the winner. Will now go Novice Chasing.

Bob's Legend

Has been rated as high as 110, however is now down to a mark of 92 which is what attracted Jamie to him. We found out on his stable debut he needs a step up in trip from 2 miles so he goes over 2 miles 2 furlongs on Sunday and the yard think they can have a good bit of fun with him off his current mark.

Mollyanna

A sister to smart horse Oscar Time so will certainly stay a trip! Will go chasing with her.

Major Milbourne

Loves Newbury, the 2 mile 2 furlong trip suits and soft ground also ideal. He has been paced in bumpers and hurdles but his hurdle rating is a touch high. He has also won a handicap chase and may be of more interest in that sphere.

Ventura Castle

Still just a three year old and the yard will take him novice hurdling this season. On his first run for the yard he was unfairly carried out and then the next time it was found he may have a breathing issue. He has now had his wind done and will have one more run in novice company before going handicapping.



That's about it from my notes on the Jamie Snowden runners, hope you find them useful and we can get a few winners for the season ahead! One final time I must stress just how appreciative I was of the  day as a whole and the time Jamie gave up to take us up to the gallops and then give us an extensive tour of his stable. To give up that much time on a busy day just shows how friendly and welcoming the yard is and I just hope I get the chance to go back before too long!

Lets keep our fingers crossed for a good season for the Snowden yard!

Thanks for reading!

Alex Bellew

2015-2016 Season Coming Into View

Welcome back to National hunt Natterings as we gear up for another season of hurdles and fences with the overriding shadow of the 2016 Cheltenham Festival already looming large over all the action.

As we head into September the weather has gotten colder and rainier and we are starting to get a few quotes in the Racing Post from the traditional big jumping yards so I though that now would be about the right time to crank up the blog again in the hope of gaining a head start on the bookies! In Monday's edition of the Post we had a little bit from Philip Hobbs (Balthazar King "back in training by the end of the year " ) as well as a very positive trainer update on the promising hurdler Kitten Rock, now to be sent chasing and a tremendously exciting prospect for Edward O'Grady. All jockeys to have ridden him say he is a chaser in the making so certainly one to watch out for come November, which is apparently when we are next to see him. It's always exciting when a horse good enough to contest a Champion Hurdle is sent over fences and Kitten Rock is no exception, I am very excited to see him over the larger obstacles.

Kitten Rock, a very good hurdler, is to be sent chasing this season

Another yard from which I read some interesting news was that of Warren Greatrex, a trainer I have a lot of time for and one I think is sure to be in for a big season as owners start to take more notice of him off the back of his great success with, among others, Cheltenham Festival winner Cole Harden. He reports a few of his string to be ahead of others, including Kaysersberg, Horsted Valley, Alzammaar and Simple Assignment. The first of those has also had a wind operation and all should be out at the end of September so perhaps worth keeping on side in the hope that Greatex can start the season with a bang.

Waren Greatrex with his stable star

Finally I myself am off to the yard of Jamie Snowdon this coming Friday for a stable visit organised by the kind folk at the London Racing Club. Hopefully I can note down some stable hopes for the coming season and report back here as well as a general review of the day, one which I am hugely excited for!

Thanks for reading

Post Cheltenham News Wrap

Well post-Cheltenham I suppose we can't be at all surprised but this week has been fairly quiet on the horse racing front, with the majority of the news of interest revolving around horses who have run at Cheltenham and where they might go next, with Aintree and Punchestown the focus of attention for the National Hunt fans. I've got a round up of some possible running plans for us to consider

Aintree

• Whisper, a creditable 5th in the World Hurdle, will go for the Liverpool Hurdle at the meeting where owner Dai Walters thinks the benefit of the Cheltenham run plus the flatter track at Aintree will lead to Whisper going close in the race he won last year.
• World Hurdle winner Cole Harden may also be seen at Aintree, with Warren Greatrex reporting his charge to have come out of Cheltenham bouncing. Apparently he has taken the race amazingly and will, all being well, go to Aintree for the Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle.
• Jockey Jason Maguire however is struggling to be fit for the Merseyside spectacular after a heavy fall at Catterick last month. A Grand National winning jockey Jason certainly deserved a bit of luck.
• The Foxhunters Chase at Aintree is the target for Big Fella Thanks, a horse who goes well round the track having finished a best placed 4th in the big race in 2010 in addition to numerous other good runs at the track.
• Carlingford Lough, joint top weight for the Grand National, will miss the race altogether despite running with credit in the Gold Cup on ground that was a touch too soft for his liking.
• One horse who is bang on track for the big one though is Saint Are who proved his aptitude for the fences with a 9th place finish in the race in 2013 and a 3rd in the Becher Chase in December. Tom George, his trainer, reports him absolutely spot on at the moment.

Has winning the 2014 Grand National left it's mark on Pineau Du Re?

• A trainer who recognises the need for serious improvement is the good Doctor Richard Newland. His charge, former winner Pineau De Re (2014), has run poorly on all of his starts this season and while reporting Pineau to be on track the Dr does realise he has to 'raise his game' come April if he is to retain his crown. 
• God's Own, who ran a blinder to finish 2nd to Un De Sceaux in the Arkle, could run at Aintree over 2 or 2.5 miles but that will be ground dependent as God's Own really needs good ground to be seen at his best. Otherwise he may head to Punchestown or Fairyhouse if the ground is more suitable there.
• Finally Ruby Walsh reports Vautour to be the most likely of Willie Mullin's Cheltenham stars to be Aintree bound as he needs a 2 1/2 mile race to be seen at his best. However the Melling Chase, a Grade 1 open to older horses, was all but ruled out as Vautour will be sticking to Novice company.

Punchestown and Fairyhouse

• Punchestown race course may be the lucky track that next gets to host the talented trio of Un De Sceaux, Douvan and Faugheen according to the man who will get to ride them, Ruby Walsh.

Will Faugheen be turning up at Punchestown?

• Fairyhouse on the other had must have been pleased to see Vautour and Don Poli in the entries for the Ryanair Gold Cup. 

Other News

A quick summary of the other headlines making our racing press this week.

• Glen's Melody, the brave winner (and possibly slightly fortunate) of the Mares hurdle at Cheltenham this year is to be retired; talk about going out on a high!
• Hurricane Fly may step up to 3 miles for the French Champion Hurdle after a highly creditable 3rd place in the Champion Hurdle this year. I for one would love to see this and hope Willie does go ahead with his plan.
•  Danny Cook, currently enjoying his most prolific season to date, will serve a 6 month ban after testing positive for Cocaine. Young Cook admits his 'catastrophic error of judgement' and has apologised profusely, taking his ban on the chin.

Danny Cook set for a spell on the sidelines

• Irish Grand National weights were released this week. Topped by Don Cossack, an unlucky 3rd at Cheltenham in the Ryanair, the market is headed by Grand Gesture and Gallant Oscar.If either of those two run well it would he a huge pointer to the chances of The Druids Nephew who beat them both easily at the Cheltenham Festival in the opening day 3 mile handicap chase.

Cheltenham 2015 - one to remember!

Only 360 days to go!

Another year and another Cheltenham festival over, but what an amazing feast of equine action we were treated too over for days in March. New champions crowned, trainers getting their maiden festival victories, Mullins domination and plenty of stories to come out of the racing. The weeks ahead will be full of festival review, horses for the notebook and future winners so I thought I'd do something a little different to remember Cheltenham 2015 with.

A good festival for

• Willie Mullins. Even allowing for the unexpected defeat of Annie Power the master of Irish racing still won all four grade 1 races on the first day on his way to surpassing Nicky Henderson's record of seven wins in one festival with eight of his own. In Don Poli, Vautour, Djakadam, Faugheen, Douvan and a Un De Sceaux he has the building of a formidable squad for next year already and quotes of him stopping all four championship races don't look that fanciful! And let's not forget Mullins saddled the 1-2-3 in the champion hurdle, a ridiculous achievement akin to the Dickinson first five in the Gold Cup. This was some week for Willie.

• The Bradstocks. Criticised in some parts for sending a novice for the Gold Cup the combination of Sara and Mark Bradstock were fully vindicated come 3:30 on Friday after Coneygree produced one of the most impressive displays ever seen by a novice round Prestbury Park on his way to winning the biggest race of them all; The Cheltenham Gold Cup. This is such a remarkable story, think back to when this horse was being withdrawn from a race at Plumpton at the start of the season on vet advice, the price paid for this horse who was seeing off Gigginstown Stud horses, Rich Ricci horses,the size of the Bradstock yard...Willie Mullins had more winners at Cheltenham than they have had all season, the prize money won in this race more than the Bradstock's had learnt in the preceding 5 seasons! It's what makes jump racing so good; the fact you can win big no matter who you are, a horse bred out of a £3,000 mare can best off the most expensively bred beasts out there.

• Warren Greatrex and Gavin Sheehan, the trainer jockey combination responsible for World Hurdle Winner Cole Harden. Gavin gave this a great ride from the front and thrust the pair into the Cheltenham spotlight, something I am sure we well become accustomed to in the future especially Sheehan who many top to be a jockey going places, even more so with the retirement of AP McCoy.this was a taste of the glory offered at Cheltenham and I'm sure the pair will now be working even harder so they can taste it again. The tears down Greatrex's face in the aftermath of this win Sun's up the emotion that the festival stirs in people who love the sport and this passion is marvellous to see.

Not so good for

• Bryan Cooper. OK so he did get on the score sheet with Don Poli but a host of his mounts where disappointing; the likes of Ourlander, Don Cossacks, . Young Bryan would have hoped to pick up a fair few more winners and to top it off he received whip band ruling him out if both English and Irish grand nationals. He has plenty of years ahead of him do I'm sure he will be able to put this behind him but it's fair to say Bryan and Gigginstown would have been hoping for a better festival.

• The old guard. The likes of Silviniaco Conti, Sprinter Sacre, Sire De Grugy, Zarkandar. All festival hopefuls who on previous form had great chances but who ultimately didn't perform and had to give way to younger rivals, New kids on the block. Where they go with Sprinter from here I do not know, to be honest retirement looks the only option as he seems a shadow of his old self.Conti surely had had his chance of winning a Gold Cup now, ditto Zarkander and the World Hurdle. It looks like we saw a real passing of the guard here and these old hero's well have to give best to fresh young horses from now on in. And I've not even mentioned Bob's Worth...

The New One. After last season's champion hurdle when he was supposedly unlucky not to have won after hampered by the sad and fatal fall of Our Conor The New One had no excuses this time. He was just not good enough and finished our of the placing, not the run Nigel and the team were hoping for or expecting. Arctic Fire and Faugheen both seen to well and truly have his measure and will do next season as well whereas Hurricane Fly at least may not be around to beat him again. Still they may have to look at stepping The New One up in distance, our maybe even look at fences, if he is to taste Grade 1 victory at Cheltenham again.

And one that will live long in the memory of...

AP McCoy. His last Cheltenham festival of a long and glittering career will be one McCoy will never forget. He had had more successful ones, more winning rides and more praise for tremendous rides but for sheer emotion, the adulation of the public and the love and appreciation shown to the champion this will be one he will never forget. By all accounts the cheer that greeted AP as he entered the winners enclosure on his sole winner of the week, Uxizandre appropriately in the JP McManus colours, was the loudest heard for many a year. And seeing the reception afforded to the man after his final ride, in the AP McCoy Grand Annual where he finished fourth, made me smile. As racing fans we are showing the man just how much we will miss his, how much we appreciate just what he has done for the sport. For sure Cheltenham 2016 will be missing something and I think we all know what, or rather who, that special something is.

Cheltenham Friday; Day 4 Selections

Friday Selections

Triumph Hurdle

 A race that could turn into a benefit night for owner Simon Munir as he owns Peace and Co (hot favourite), Top Notch and Baraka de Thaix; could he really have the first three home? Surely not but the one I like the most of his is Top Notch who I believe to be the most professional of the three and the one most likely to give his running in the lively atmosphere that will greet this field. After all this is the first race of the biggest day of the Festival, the crowd are likely to be fairly raucous! Top Notch is unbeaten in all 5 starts and hurdles beautifully, he is only proven up to class 2 level and hasn't beaten much but he has done all he has been asked too and looks full of potential. At 10/1 I cannot see him out the frame and is a much more attractive bet than Peace and Co at 5/2.

Simon Munir's colours will be very hard to keep out the frame

Karazak looks sure to give his running and will be in the first 5 I'd reckon, however isn't good enough on all known form and looks plenty exposed enough. The other I'm really excited to see here is Hargam, another from the Henderson yard. Now I wouldn't rule out a Henderson 1-2-3 here! This horse will love the good ground we look like getting, has Cheltenham form and was very impressive the last time up at Musselburgh, where he went in search of decent going. If the ground was riding really quick he would overtake Top Notch as my selection as he looks the more likely to produce a better run on those conditions, at 13/2 he is short enough now though and I prefer the 10/1 about Top Notch.

County Handicap Hurdle

I'm on Cheltenian here for the Philip Hobbs yard, a horse good enough to win the champion bumper in the past so brings some course experience to the table. He ran his best run for some time in the Betfair hurdle at Newbury last time out and the form of that run is working out well, with the 3rd horse running really well in the Coral Cup and Ebony Express (going really well when falling 2 out) won the ultra competitive Imperial Cup at Sandown last weekend. Chelteniam handles a variety of ground, so the forecast rain isn't an issue, and Richard Johnson has been talking this up as his ride of the week at preview nights. I'll take this former Champion Bumper horse to grab more festival glory, but at the price (14/1) an e/w investment is my approach.

Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

I'm going to go for the Father-Son combination of Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies here and back Blaklion who looks massively overpriced at 14/1. The horse acts well round Cheltenham, see his win over c&d in December 2014 and produces his best over this 3 mile trip rather than the shorter 20/21 furlong trips he has been seen over. Add to that we have a jockey upgrade as Sam TD takes the reigns from good claiming jockey Ryan Hatch for the first time since his debut over hurdles and we look to have all the makings of a knocking e/w bet especially at the price.

Maybe it is because he has come into this slightly under the radar, ok so he was beaten a head last time out by Caracci Apache from the Henderson yard but a head can be overturned by Blaklion's form at Cheltenham whereas C.A. is unproven over these undulations. Just look at the price of the likes of Black Hercules who is only proven up to Grade 3 over hurdles (the selection has Grade 1 form, and winning form in Grade 2 races). No More Heroes is a horse I have a lot of time for but I'm not sure why he is 7/1 when he is unproven over 3 miles as of yet, let alone a still 3 miles like Cheltenham presents. No I think Blaklion rates as a great bet at 14/1.

I fancy a father-son victory in the Albert Bartlett

The Gold Cup

One question that you have to ask yourself when assessing this race is can Silviniaco Conti, top rated, the only horse in the field rated 170+ currently and the horse with the best form this season, replicate his flat track form around Cheltenham? If you think so then this is an open shut case as he looks to be the best horse in the race on his preferred track. Arguably he does act round Cheltenham as you don't jump the final fence of a Gold Cup in the lead if you don't act at the track, however I haven't a clue what he was up to after the last and that has to be a concern. Add to that we should get good ground on Friday and Conti would prefer a bit of give and I think we can look for one at an e/w price to take him on with.

The 2014 renewal of the Gold Cup was an absolute thriller

If you fancy an e/w shout I think you can do a lot worse ON GOOD GROUND!!! than last year's winner Lord Windermere. This horse comes into his own at Cheltenham on good ground; whereas many of his rivals would prefer a bit of give in the ground LW definitely prefers decent going and will show his best on it. He has top class course form; RSA winner, Gold Cup winner, you don't get much better than that! He has been targeted at this race by his trainer since winning last year and everything he has done this season is purely warming up to the big one. He has improved for each run, which is encouraging, posting his best performance to day last time out. Davy Russell is plenty happy enough with his mount if you listen to the man at the preview nights he has been doing and I like Lord Windermere to get at least a place so is the e/w selection. I stress good ground, if the ground gets soft do not touch this horse and look instead to my alternative selection later on...

It is hard to pass Holywell over but I'm not sure Ritchie is the best jockey for a horse that is best ridden with a great deal of push from the saddle; Ritchie is a bit more softly softly and I'd be much more keen with the Champ on top. Road to Riches will love the ground but did the Lexus he won fall into his lap slightly? Sam Winner is definitely worth a quid e/w if the rain arrives and the ground turns soft as I could actually see him running on into a place with his endless stamina if they go quick up front, even more likely with Coneygree in the line up. He has run really well so far this season, stays longer than the mother in law, and will surely be ridden for a place here. While lacking the class to win a race like this I could easily see him plugging on late in the day and on soft ground he would be the e/w bet here.

Of the rest Bobs Worth hasn't shown his best for some time now, Djakadam could be a tad too inexperienced for a race of this nature although undoubtedly talented, Carlongford Lough will probably be overbet with the AP factor at play and would also not like any rain, Many Clouds would need softer ground and looks best at Newbury and The Giant Bolster surely isn't good enough?

The selections here Lord Windermere and Sam Winner, both e/w. We look like getting rain at some point on Friday; if this doesn't materialise or isn't excessive Lord Windermere would be a stronger selection, if the heavens do open then Sam Winner comes into play with his bottemless stamina reserves.

Foxhunter Chase

The profession jockeys take a breather here after the Gold Cup and the amature riders get their chance to shine. I must confess Irish P2P form is not my strong point so I'm not too sure where to start here; I'll reach for a few stats to kick me off. Look to horses younger than 11 as 22 of the last 24 winners were all under this age,also last time out winners do very well - responsible for 23 of the last 29 winners.Interestingly Paul Nicholls last 7 runners in this have been beaten, not great news for No Loose Change.  Top rated will be On The Fringe but he has been here before and doesn't quite stay the trip. As a token selection I'm drawn to Paint the Clouds for Warren Greatrex, the stable having enjoyed a World Hurdle victory on Thursday. Paint the Clouds comes here off the back of 4 wins on the trot, each rated higher than the last so looks to be on the up, beating smart horse Quinz last time out and has the services of top amature Sam Waley-Cohen who certainly knows how to win around here. In a race I know little about I'll take Paint the Clouds at 4/1.

Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle

The boys race. Another race where the professional jockeys sit out and let the conditionals have their glory. One I really fancy here is a Grade 1 winner, a horse who has beaten Tell Us More who went on to run well in the Supreme on the opening day, who has won over the distance, can handle a variety of ground conditions and is somehow on a mark of 136 for this race. McKinley is the fancy here and he looks to have an absolutely cracking mark considering form in the book. Trained by the master Willie Mullins who is enjoying another great week I really want to be with McKinley here as I think for a Grade 1 winner he is thrown in. Perhaps that form has been underestimated because he was the outsider of his stable's runners? Still I won't complain and McKinley is the selection in the penultimate race of the 2015 festival.

AP McCoy Grand Annual

One thing is for sure here and that is that Ned Buntline, in the JP colours with AP McCoy on board, will go off a seriously short price! Apart from that I'll return to this race once entries are confirmed but you can back Ned Buntline now and lay off on the day for a free bet as I can see him going off around 3/1, especially if AP has a good week.

Will this man cap his final Cheltenham festival with a winner in the race named after him?

I fancy Next Sensation here for Michael Scudamore. You may member this horse as the one that went off at an absolutely suicidal pace in this race last year only to unsurprisingly not last home. He was beaten less than 2 lengths in the end, absolutely great effort considering his starting pace, and I marked this down as a great run and a winner in waiting ridden with more restraint next time out. Unfortunately Next Sensation hasn't managed to replicate that form since but the trainer has had this horses wind done since his last run (before Christmas) and laid him out for this race. With improvement hopefully to come after that wind op, and ridden a bit more sensibly, I think Next Sensation can give us something to cheer in this final race, the AP McCoy Grand Annual.

Cheltenham Thursday;Day 3 Selections

Thursday Selections

JLT Novices Chase 

I'm taking on Vautour here with Apache Stronghold from the Noel Meade yard. Paul Carberry has put this one up as his ride of the week and I agree that he has a smashing chance over this 2 mile 4 furlong trip. He was outstayed by Don Poli over 3 miles, no shame in that, in the Topaz Chase two runs ago and showed that his best form will come over this trip the last time when beating Valseur Lido and The Tullow Tank, both of whom could re-oppose on Thursday.

Apache Stronghold is the play in the opener

Vautour will go off favourite but the only time he hasn't been given an easy time up front he has made a horrid mistake at a fence. He definitely won't get an easy lead here and I think the question marks remain over his fencing ability under pressure. Ptit Zig comes here off the back of a fall, for all his form is top notch horses coming into the Fez off the back of a fall have a measly 3% strike rate so I have to leave him alone. Valseur Lido is held by my fancy on their latest run and Apache Stronghold at around 6/1 is the bet here.

Pertempts Network Final

 One stat I really like for this race is that in the last 17 years only Fingal Bay the last year has won one of the qualifiers for this race in the run up to actually winning the final at the Festival! Just look back at the replays of some of the qualifiers and you will see numerous examples of top class 'tender' rides!

One of the most tender of rides can be seen on Edeymi last time at Musselburgh, this is worth watching! The only think the jockey that day didn't do was stroke his horse as he was 'delivering' him with a challenge, and a riding enquiry ensued, but the horse was allowed to keep his 4th place and earn him a place in this lineup. Martin loves a good handicap smash up and this horse looks to have masses in hand of his mark of 135, it's just a question over whether there is something else in this field that has more in hand! However we know Edeymi has a huge amount in hand and that's good enough for me to put him up here.

Ryanair Chase

My selection months back was Don Cossack for this race but at the prices now I would not get involved again. This race looks a fairly competitive renewal and all the Don's for this season is going the other way round on soft ground, he fell the only time he has tried Cheltenham and those concerns are enough to swerve him at current prices for all he does look a totally reformed horse this season.
I'll put up a horse who certainly does have Cheltenham form, he won last years JLT, and that is Taquin Du Seuil for the Jonjo O'Neil team at a huge 16/1. Ignore his three runs this season, he doesn't stay 3 miles and the stable was in rank form. Look back at his form last season, top novice form with the beating of many top horses; the late Oscar Whiskey, Uxizandre, Wonderful Charm... Back down in trip but on the stiff Cheltenham track really suits this horse and he is a great e/w price.

Taquin Du Seuil on his way to winning the JLT in 2014

Interestingly Wonderful Charm has had a wind op since his last run and Paul Nicholls rates him as a great e/w bet; he has even had some of the 25/1 himself!

World Hurdle

Unfortunately we go into this race missing last year's 1-2 in More of That and Annie Power. However this does leave this race looking wide open as we look for a new champion. Unfortunately Rock on Ruby is also now confirmed missing as he was a horse who I like for this. 

Will Monksland finally fulfill his huge potential this year?

In his absence I'm putting up Monksland as a knocking e/w bet at 16/1. This horse will absolutely love the good ground we are likely to get at Cheltenham this year; a fragile horse who has been difficult to train it looks like Noel Meade may have managed to get him to the Festival this year and I think he will run really well. On his first run for a year he was only just beaten on the like by Dedigout last time on ground he would have hated, I definitely think on better ground he reverses that form. He had Zaidpour and Briar Hill in behind that day and look at some of his form from 2012, it is top class staying form. I think this is the year Monksland finally gets the chance to show what he has the potential to at Cheltenham and he looks a great e/w price.

Brown Advisory Plate

This is one race the Irish fare poorly in having never had a winner of it! I'm going with Un Ace here from the Kim bailey yard, AP booked and coming here off the back of the famous breathing operation. Kim was on the Sunday Forum recently and didn't rule out this horse finding as much as 5 lengths on his previous running after this tweak as McCoy has commented how it was stopping him breath at the business end of the race. Interestingly McCoy is back on board here, if he didn't think the wind op would bring about improvement I am sure he would have gone elsewhere for his ride!

Un Ace has the Cheltenham form that we so adore in a selection, running a good 2nd to Champagne West last time out on ground he wouldn't have loved and also with this wind issue. They think this horse good enough to warrant running him in the Supreme last year and back on good ground tomorrow, over a distance he has won at, with his breathing tweaked I think that we could see a much improved performance from Un Ace and he is the bet in a tricky handicap.

Kim Muir Handicap Chase

In a race limited to amateur riders I will add a selection here once riders have been finalised as so much depends on the jockey put up on each horse.
Now decs have come through I'm going for Just a Par for the Paul Nicholls team, the trainer booking top jockey in these events Will Biddick. Just a Par does nothing quickly but ran with credit in the RSA chase last year, jumping the Cheltenham fences and finishing a decent 7th. He was also back here in January running a very good 4th in the Betbright chase, only 4 lengths off the winner, so clearly goes well at the course.
It could be that the venture into a race with amature riders can spark some improvement, some horses really like these evens, and we know he can jump and run well round the course. It a race I wouldn't take too strong an opinion on due to the nature of it Just a Par is the e/w selection at 14/1.

Cheltenham Wednesday; Day 2 Selections

Neptune Investment Novices Hurdle

I like Windsor Park for this race, and definitely fancy him to turn around form with Nichols Canyon over this longer trip. I think NC should be going down the Supreme route as he will be best off going from the front over 2 miles; I think if they try and hold him up behind horses to get the trip here his jumping will come under too much pressure with horses around him. The selection has a good amount of flat speed, stays the 20f trip and will improve for the better ground. Dermot Weld is a dab hand at getting his horses right on the day and I fancy Windsor Park to take this opener. 

RSA Chase

This is an open and shut case for me; Don Poli wins.

Don Poli on his way to winning the Topaz

Basically I was hugely disappointed by Kings Palace last time out and don't think his jumping will stand up to the heat of an RSA having done his winning over fences in small field events. Coneygree could well go for the Gold Cup but if he comes here I fear he and Kings Palace could cut each other's throats up front. Also note Nico De Boinville will not be able to claim his 3lbs in this race, effectively leaving Coneygree 3lbs wrong before we start. 

I think The Young Master should go for the 4 miler which he would surely win but I'm not sure he will be quite good enough here. However he is hugely progressive and is hard to totally rule out; he has plenty of big field experience against hardened handicappers and looks a great bet to make the frame. But look at that form Don Poli has; he won arguably the best Novices Chase run so far this season last time out, seemingly all about stamina which will make him perfectly suited by this grueling test. Prior to that he won at Gowran over 20f, showing a nice turn of foot to go with his tenacity. Mullins has him down as a future Gold Cup horse and I am thrilled he is coming here rather than going for the 4 miler. Already rated good enough to have won the last two renewals of this race he is the best horse in this and wins

Coral Cup 

This race gives me another chance to follow Goodwood Mirage off a cliff! However I've been with him all season and he finally looks like getting the good ground I've been waiting for. Jonjo O'Neil has finally come into form having been in rank form earlier in the year which is encouraging as well. Goodwood Mirage definitely has the speed to take a race like this, the step up in trip is interesting and could eek out improvement as well given he is proven over longer trips on the flat. In a race where many have been laid out for we want a big price to go to war with and at 25/1 Goodwood Mirage is the each way fancy

Can the crafty Jonjo land another big handicap punt?

Queen Mother Champion Chase

This renewal is wide open, and who would have thought 2 years ago you could say that with Sprinter Sacre in the field. But he comes into the race with question marks after his well publicised issues with his heart, last years winner Sire De Grugy has had injury problems and also shoe issues according to Gary Moore. We have the hugely improved Dodging Bullets but he needs to prove he can be as good in March as his is in December (look back at previous form, he goes off the boil in Spring however Paul Nicholls is training him differently this year). Add the that the lovable rouge Mr Mole, Mullins sending Champagne Fever back over the minimum distance after not appearing to stay the King George trip at Christmas and Special Tiara, who will go tearing off in front and treating us to a display of bold jumping. A fascinating race for sure!

I'll put up Champagne Fever for this; he is at his best when allowed to go at his own pace, not being held up, and jump for fun, which he will be able to do here. He boasts really good Cheltenham form, 2nd in last year's Arkle (how he didn't win that I'll never know!), 1st in a Supreme and 1st in the Bumper they year before that; the horse loves this place! Ruby Walsh will ride and will get Champagne Fever in a good rhythm, we know his well being is assures and I'm sure he will give us a run for our money.

If back to his imperious best Sprinter Sacre will hose home, but that is a huge IF!

Cross Country Chase

Not my specialist race that's for sure! However, in a race that the big name jockeys usually avoid I think it could be significant that Sam Twiston-Davis takes the plunge in the race to ride Sire Collonges, who I've heard Sam put up as his ride of the meeting! He has form over the fences, his 3rd behind Balthazar King here in November is smart, and also proves he gets the trip. In a race I wouldn't be too keen on getting hugely involved with Sire Collonges is the selection

The Unique Cross Country Fences present a different test

Fred Winter

I fancy Zarib here to break the festival duct of young Dan Skelton, a trainer who definitely will be winning many more races at the Fez in seasons to come. This race is only ten runnings old but there are some stats to look at; 7 of the 10 winners had only run the minimum 3 times over hurdles so they can get a mark for this and all 10 winners had run from February onwards. Zarib fits both of those trends! He won last time out well, finished 3rd round Cheltenham to Peace and Co and Karazak in January and looks to be on a nice mark for this race. Zarib for me.


Champion Bumper

Oh dear oh dear. Another race where I usually would not get involved with! However I know previous winning form is key here with 20 of the last 22 winners having won last time out as well. This race is traditionally farmed by the Irish and I'll go for a rare Gigginstown runner in this race in the shape of General Principle. This horse has won on his sole start on these shores, a flat race at Punchestown at the start of Feb, and I think it interesting that the owners are pointing him towards this race considering they don't usually bother with it. Perhaps they think they have a proper chance of winning it this year and I'll take a chance on their General Principle.