MARCH 6th CHELTENHAM PREVIEW EVENT REVIEW

I left cannon street tube station bemused i’d not been to London for over 20 years! Yet here I was searching for a bar even the locals had not heard of...... Eventually I arrived it was 6pm the event was not due to start until 7.30pm, the bar looked like an old tube tunnel the decor was modern the people were friendly and welcoming, I did not recognize anyone I wondered if any of the the people I spoke to from twitter were there yet, it was 6pm the event was not due to start until 7.30pm so i doubted they were, a few tweets and a drink later the two men who were sat on the sofa opposite me were talking  I heard the name Gosden mentioned and my ears pricked up, Simon Clare [SC] from Coral and Mark (the couch) Winstanley [MW] were happily discussing racing.

I’d never been to an anything like this before and here I was at a Cheltenham preview event one of the biggest racing festivals of the year.  Was I excited yes you could say that, nervous yes a little of that too I went outside for a cigarette and Spoke with Nick Luck who was also outside having a smoke in the big smoke, along with a couple of guys from Coral. upon entering back inside I was shown into a room with lots of tables given a programme of the races that would be discussed that evening a pen and most importantly a free drink token for the bar!!

The room was full, I looked around apart from a couple of bar staff I was the only female in the room, did I feel intimidated? Not at all everyone was lovely I met some of the guys from twitter Josh, Ian, Clive & TOM (Sorry Tom for getting the name wrong!) Not forgetting Mark who introduced himself at the bar slightly later so there we sat at our table 3 from the front myself Josh and Mark pens poised paper at the ready ............. It was 7.45 Nick Luck [NL] announced we would start without jockey Paddy Brennan who was on his way after racing in Exeter

So with the scene set & the panel ready let’s begin CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY 1

SUPREME NOVICES HURDLE

[MW] humour came out right away saying this race was “awful and best left alone so give it a swerve”[NL] gave a touch of encouragement to [MW] to find us a horse to bet on and eventually the following conclusion was reached. DARLAN who is currently the Fav for this one was discounted after his fall at Newbury the feeling was he would not be recovered enough [SC] passed comment on his price shortening due to being napped by the yard as JP’s nap for the festival.  GALILEO’S CHOICE currently 2^nd Fav was also discounted [SC] who was a wealth of statistical comments throughout the evening gave Dermot Welds poor stats at Cheltenham as a reason to avoid this one.

[MW] along with the rest of the panel did recognise that there was room for improvement with Nicky Henderson’s TATLAMI who had perhaps gone under the radar and could be a solid E/W bet, [MW] also mentioned the gallant COLOUR SQUADRON being in with a chance of a place, [NL] made me smile when he being a man of my own heart likes a value bet spoke of VULCANITE saying that had he been ridden with different tactics he probably may not have been 7 lengths behind MONTBAZON in his previous race.  For the record I did place Vulcanite in one of my lucky 15 E/W’s on Monday evening so my smile was justified.

ARKLE TROPHY

The question on everyone’s lips has to be will SPRINTER SACRE get up the hill??

Well this one was quite a debate there were agreements and disagreements jokes & laughter with the following conclusion made...  MENORAH may have the class but doesn’t jump so well to consider backing it, and the ambulance should follow Johnson round the track for not if but when he gets thrown off! Even more laughter erupted around the room with [MW] comments of Joe Tizzards booking on CUE CARD as “I doubt he would even give Rihanna a good ride”

Willie Mullins BLACKSTAIR MOUNTAIN was spoken highly of by all the panel as being a probable E/W bet.

As for SPRINTER SACRE other than [MW] advising us that Henderson believes he is better than Moscow Flyer there was no agreement as to whether he would stay up the hill or not.

JLT HANDICAP CHASE

Well this was interesting as the current Fav HOLD ON JULIO wasn’t really fancied by any of the panel & quickly discounted, yet they all agreed QUANTITAVEASING was a fair price even for a pretty solid E/W [SC] gave out more of his statistical knowledge stating the winners generally had a rating of 143 or less so named TULLAMORE DEW to run well at a nice price.  [NL] was very keen on LIE FORRIT and believes the race to be between him and QUANTITAVEASING.

With a NON RUNNER NO BET option there were two mentioned Emma Lavelles PENNY MAX who would need soft ground had a brief mention, along with THE PACKAGE who may be worth a bet.

CHAMPION HURDLE

Not dis-similar to the Arkle discussion [MW] & [NL] were disagreeing again [MW] quoted HURRICANE FLY as being Bullet Proof!! saying to LAY [NL] selection of BINOCULAR [SC] Was all for adding the FLY to a Fav’s multiple bet with Sprinter Sacre he also liked OSCARS WELL if the ground was good to run a decent challenge. [SC] also advised it might be worth waiting to bet FLY until the day as he will have his obvious on-course layers.  If you can get an on course bet W/O the Fav THOUSAND STARS along with ROCK ON RUBY were the two recommendations by the panel

Paddy who had snuck in also liked HURRICANE FLY.

In this one my fancies are definitely BINOCULAR along with BRAMPOUR & OVERTURN the later [SC] mentioned briefly as being tough

CROSS COUNTRY CHASE

Well they all wanted to avoid this one and move onto the next!! A quick conclusion by the panel was MALJIMAR being a good value call, as was one of my likes for the race BALTHAZAR KING who i tweeted on Monday evening, the panel from a betting perspective said it was a race best left alone.

Paddy confirmed he would not be riding in this one.

My personal fancies for this are definitely BALTHAZAR KING depending on the going another who could go well is A NEW STORY.

DAVID NICHOLSON MARES HURDLE

The whole panel especially Paddy Brennan were all in agreement with QUEVEGA Paddy who’s likely to be on TERRE DU VENT was happy enough to praise QUEVEGA another to put in a Fav multi-bet with HURRICANE FLY & SPRINTER SACRE backers.

[MW] did give a good mention to KENTFORD GREY LADY for value seekers [SC] went along with the Fav and also liked my selection for this race who is none other than UNACCOMPANIED

CENTENARY NOVICE HANDICAP CHASE

And so we get to the last race of day 1 the panel were in agreement along with Paddy saying good things about TRIOLO D’ALENE on this occasion even though i go for larger odds i have to agree very well handicapped and stand’s a massive chance for the Henderson yard.  [MW] said to be on guard for NEAREST THE PIN if it runs & Paddy opted for an E/W on ACKERTAC but preferred Hendersons to win. [NL] likes SHOT FROM THE HIP another who may have slipped under the radar for a value bet and the rest of the panel agreed (for once) haha SLIEVEARDARGH was also given a brief mention as one to be in the running

So thus concludes day 1 of the festival with [NL] going round the tables asking for peoples thoughts of horses running on the 1st day, which is the moment of the evening I made a complete pillock of myself by telling him about a horse i liked who was running in Day 2!!! You'll find out who that is tomorrow unless you were there you'll already know ;)