TOPIC: Cheltenham Festival 2016 Thread

For all us Nag lovers, hope everyone has a few winners...

"For all us nag lovers"

Just the 2 Bets for me today...

1.30 - Altior - Min may prove to be something else, but at twice the price and a Course win under the belt I fancy Altior.

3.30 - The New One - Unlucky 3rd in 14, 5th when reportedly not 100% in 15, hoping its third time lucky for my favourite Hurdler. The only horse in the field to run in this race last year, can't be often that's happened? I just can't have Annie Power at a distance she hasn't ran at in ages under what will be a relentless gallop.

In the other races, Douvan (2.10) and Vroum Vroum Mag (4.10) are likely winners, but the prices reflect this.

I don't touch the Handicaps with numerous runners, minefields, and Amateur Riders races are a lottery!

Good luck anyone having a bet...

paddy power are offering new customers 9/1 on Min in the 1.30.

Sky Bet are offering money back on all losing bets in the first race of each day up to £25. I'm on Charbel today at 20/1, reckon Altior will be Min's closest challenge though.

Number of offers/free bets is getting ridiculous!

CCU wrote:
I'm on penglai pavilion in the 1.30.

CCU wrote:
Other boarders would argue there's not enough!

5.30 Amore Alato. e/w.

Good start CCU.

cufcdeano wrote:
That it was, absolutely bounded up the hill...

Annie Power was impressive there, be interesting to see if they race her v Faugheen next year! Chuck Altior in the mix and it'll be the race of the Meeting...

They won't race against each other. And Faugheen would have won today.

I had Vautour for the Ryannair antepost but I am still pissed off with them for the switch this morning.

Tom wrote:
Agree it's highly unlikely, but what a spectacular it would be! Imagine the build-up?

Backed one today at 10 to 1.

It's just tip-toed back into the yard at half past 5...

You do not agree at all. You say unlikely, I say no.

Absolutely cracking day for many, aloomomo spoiled it at the end for me.

On the flip side, sad to hear about the govaness and port alexandre, another couple who paid the price for doing what they love on the grandest stage in the sport

Just the 2 Bets for me today...

1.30 - Yanworth - Fourth in the Bumper at the Festival last year, and has taken to Hurdles superbly this campaign (4/4) with a superb win at Cheltenham last time out.

2.10 - More Of That - Backed this one a couple of weeks ago. Superb Cheltenham record (4/4) including a beating of Annie Power in the World Hurdle in 14, and 2 Chase wins there this season, his only races over the bigger obstacles. Lightly raced for an 8yo.

In the other races, Un De Sceaux (3.30) is a likely winner, but the prices reflect this. With Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy too, this should be a good watch.

Again, massive field Handicaps of no interest, and the Cross Country race is just barmy!

I'm a geek and I love the handicaps. I can spend hours going through the form. Even though it is a funny old race I am annoyed that the Cross Country is no longer a handicap.

The Champion Chase is my favourite race though, amazing spectacle. Just hope Sprinter can beat Un De Sceux.

I'm hoping for a big run from Missy Tata later on.

That race is what Horse Racing is all about...

Superb from SS...

Until that race I had had my worst first couple of days for many a year but that has made it for me.

Thank god I didn't go with my head and go UDS, went with my heart and picked UDS, SS and ST in a 50p combi tricast. £25.50 return

3 for me today...

1.30 - Outlander - One of the hardest races to decipher for me, with several with good chances. I'm taking Outlander, thought he won well at Leopardstown last time and hope he continues in that vein.

2.50 - Road To Riches (E/W) - Ignoring all the uproar over which race Vautour should run in, I'm taking Road To Riches E/W in the Ryanair. Front running and this trip should be no bother for a horse that was 3rd in the Gold Cup last year.

3.30 - Thistlecrack - Dominated the staying Hurdles this year, seriously impressive over C&D; last time out when hardly off the bridle. This is a horse who could be seriously impressive!

Other races, Limini is big odds on in the new Mares Novice, likely winner but no appeal from a betting view. I'm not touching the other 3 races with 24 runners each!

Good luck all...

Hello all, I've been quiet on this one so far but thought I'd join in now.

Reflections on first two days - Some impressive performances - Altior, Annie Power (substandard renewal?), Douvan and Yorkhill. Barry Geraghty/J P McManus must have been tearing their hair out yesterday as chance after chance went begging. Thought the ride on Yanworth lost him the race - Ruby scraped the paint and got the break where Yanworth traveled wide and got shuffled even wider off the bend. More of That unlucky as he burst and then Josies Orders in the cross country - just got dropped when the pace quickened but stayed on like a train - have to say I was pleased for the winning trainer of Current Exchange, Martin Keighly is a nice guy and good to see smallish yards (by comparison to the Mullins/Nicholls/Henderson/O'Neill juggernauts) getting some success.

Today?

I half fancy a couple but nothing major. I've been looking for some value each way but just can't see past the shorter priced horses.

Alpha Des Obeaux in the World Hurdle
Vautour
Limini

I'd put La Vaticane in but see it's now a non runner.

The Giant Bolster could go well in the last - well handicapped and likes better ground. Has run very well here in the Gold Cup in the past.

CCU wrote:
Great performance by outlander for the matched bettors. £20 fallers insurance with one bookie and £25 back as he didnt win with another

Just put a pound each way on Bailey Green in the 4.10 @ 40/1 because my daughters Dog is called Bailey,5 minutes later it's 33/1,bookies must be bricking it.

Pete/Tom moved it over!

Had Thistlecrack at 11/4 to win by 4l+, utter machine...

A winner at last.

Gan on Cooper lad.

And gan on the Codd!

JFF - On The Fringe is almost double the price now, any other thoughts?

Did alright yesterday - went for Black Hercules, A des O Limini and Vautour in combinations so although not a millionaire, I'm in front - which at Cheltenham is almost unheard of fir me!

If you forgive On The Fringe his last run then I strongly believe he would be evens. Slaughtered a lot of these here and at Aintree last spring. Ninja is as good as they come in this sphere. I fancy him but with the connections, a drift in the market would put me off a bit.

The rest look trappy affairs. Don Cossack, Djakadam and Cue Card all have strong form. I'm going for Don Poli though. Has won here twice and hasn't done a lot wrong. Others have some question marks about jumping or stamina.....

Could be a day for some outsiders so looking for each way value.
If any of the following win I will be alright!!

Apple jade (1.30)
Devilmemt (.2.10)
Open Eagle (2.50)
Work in progress (4.50)

Ever the optimist.....good luck.

A few people who's opinion I respect are talking up the chances of a horse called Mr Mercurial in the foxhunters. Impressive in his point to point win and has won (albeit at a lower level) round here. 20/1 could be good each way value.

Decent day yesterday, onto the last...

1:30 - Sceau Royal - A field dominated by Mullins, Nicholls and King. I'm going for the latters Sceau Royal to keep up his winning run.

2:50 - Barters Hill - Has been hammering the Novice Stayers Hurdles this season and I can't see any reason he won't today.

3:30 - Don Poli - I can find a reason not to back each of Don Cossack, Djakadam and Cue Card. Don Poli I can't! Not the flashiest, but 2 previous Festival wins combined with undoubted staying power will do for me!

All eyes will be on Victoria Pendleton in the Foxhunters, it's really split the Racing world, good on her I say!

Best of luck fellas...

Was watching a preview programme on at the races and they were saying the problem wont be Pendleton they reckon the horse wont stay the trip or they would be backing her to complete the course. Think its 2/1 on betfair for her to complete. Think ill leave it myself.

Definately a day for 'cloce your eyes and pick a number out of a hat' ... and definately each way
13.30 Sceau Royal
14.10 Great Friend
14.50 Long Dog
15.30 Smad Place
16.10 Mr Mercurial

Anyone know a football club I can buy when they all win?

I thought VP did well and apart from waiting too late to kick on (probably for fear of running out of steam) she couldn't have done too much more.

But... Nina Carberry.... what a rider.

With strong support for On The Fringe my confidence was restored! it was my biggest bet of the week. Well chuffed.

Waley Cohen gave Paint the Clouds too much to do as well. Was flying at the end.

Davy Russell was shocking on Don Poli. Never understand why jockeys keep horses so far back. Fair enough some horses are 'held up' but that was ridiculous! Was coming up the hill nicely but never able to have a go as had been too far back. Racing Post description sums it up...



Thought Pendleton was excellent, think she shut a few of the complainers up! Brought a lot of interest to racing too...

Looked like Don Poli couldn't keep up. Ground too quick or more of a national type?

Just six horses died this year..

@jumpforfun yes, don poli is more a national horse

@ronbacardi that's the nature of jump racing sadly. Them six horses, as sad as it is died doing something they love doing more than anything in the world


I'm still fuming with the gold cup. Hands up if you had £100 on cue card!!!
Was shaping up to be an epic run up the hill between cue card and don Cossack, but cue card was jumping awful for the whole race

The moral of the story is don't put £100 on a third or fourth favourite and expect it to win. Unless you can afford to of course.

Dancingbear wrote:
You either go hard, or you go home. I went hard then ended up going home.

And yeah, I had a cracking win on the FOBT