A huge shock on day one with the mighty Hurricane Fly being beat into third by Rock On Ruby and Overturn in the Champion hurdle. You just got the feeling that he was never really going too well before turning down the hill and finding very little compared to what he usually does. But in the good part of the day Cinders and Ashes landed the Supreme Novices for the blog and a heart warming family success for Hunt Ball in the last on the day, my bank balance profited yesterday but hey today is a new day.
1:30 - Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase
The usual marathon to start off day two in the National Hunt Chase and as always the Irish challenge is a strong one. But the home challenge is lead by HARRY THE VIKING from the Paul Nicholls yard and ridden by Will Biddick, he has done nothing wrong this year and has been in fantastic winning form at Doncaster. My only worry is that he doesnt do alot when he hits the front and you cant do that at Cheltenham. SOLL leads the away teams charge and has been tipped up by Pricewise, an absolute mountain of a horse and a winner of 2 out of his 3 starts but is still to prove himself on good ground. STRONGBOWS LEGEND stays absolutely all day but really doesnt look good enough. TEAFORTHREE also stays all day and is only a novice, he has won some really strong events though and looks to be one of the horses to beat in the race. IRON CHANCELLOR and LIVELY BARON look to only be playing to place chances today but both represent big name stables. UNIVERSAL SOLDIER has a strong chance but does seem to run best with more give in the ground. FOUR COMMANDERS is ultra consistent and always seems to run an honest race but when he has tried good ground he hasnt loved in and like many here looks more at home on a softer surface. The same cant be said for BLENHEIM BROOK who seems to go on absolutely any surface and isnt without a chance today but a place may be his best claims. OUR ISLAND finished half a length behind TEAFORTHREE in a beginners chase at the start of the year and is a much bigger price than the latter however he hasnt been in form as of late and has something to prove. This race has been planned for ALFIE SPINNER for a while and Sam Waley-Cohen gets the leg up today, he is a serious contender and ran a blinder last time at Ascot. But preference today is for the Willie Mullins horse ALLEE GARDE who has no ground worries and has been freshened up thanks to a break since January.
1st - Allee Garde
2nd - Alfie Spinner
3rd - Four Commanders
2:05 - Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle
Rock on Ruby was second in this last year and the year before was won by Peddlers Cross, its clear recently this race has a good link to the Champion Hurdle and one that could be next making that step is SIMONSIG. Nicky Henderson turned down the chance to run in the Supreme yesterday in an attempt to sort out his jumping worries, but that is enough to oppose him today for me, saying that he is a very strong horse and is a worthy favourite, as im writing this BATONNIER has been confirmed as a non runner. In strong opposition to the favourite today Willie Mullins sends over SOUS LES CIEUX who has done nothing wrong in Ireland and suffered from a slow pace last time out but was getting there late on. It was mistakes that cost him that day and will need to be better this time and is a serious contender. NAGPUR has been running well lately but against much weaker competition and will need to improve considerably to land a blow. Towards the start of the season SECRET EDGE had some fancy form after winning the Wensleydale and is now the stables number one entry in this race. He has been freshened up since running here on trials day but looks to be playing for a place. NELSON'S BRIDGE beat Dualla Lord last time out and is yet another with strong place claims. MONKSLAND shot into the picture with a decisive victory at Naas in January, he is yet to encounter fast ground though and is best watched. He was ahead of Lyreen legend that day who had MAKE YOUR MARK behind him at Leopardstown. Its no secret Davy Russell fancies him and he has encountered fast ground in which he won on before. More will be needed though. John Ferguson has had a brilliant season and a notable Jockey booking on his horse COTTON MILL in Barry Geraghty. He won a trial for this race at Warwick and is well in with a shout today. Im going to take the value on FELIX YONGER however who hasnt done anything wrong since changing to the Mullins yard and will improve no end for good ground. An attractive price of 20/1 and 25s can be found in places, there is value to be had in this race and im siding with the Willie Mullins second string to give us a big race winner.
1st - Felix Yonger
2nd - Cotton Mill
3rd - Simonsig
2:40 - RSA Chase
Alot of horses with huge potential in this race none more so than GRAND CRUS who was argued to go for the Gold Cup and looks the one they all have to beat. He brings the best hurdle form to the table by far and has gone from strength to strength over fences. He had BOBS WORTH 5 lengths behind him in the Feltham at Kempton when really it could have been much further. Nicky Henderson's charge has been a bit disappointing over fences are promising so much over hurdles last year, but there could be more to come from him and is a contender. Mouse Morris really fancies FIRST LIEUTENANT to spoil the party for the big guns today but needs to show more here than he has at home. He beat Rock on Ruby here last year who won the Champion Hurdle yesterday. Another horse strongly fancied by connections is JOIN TOGETHER who is already a course and distance winner when he beat a useful field in November. He has won here twice this year and there is no doubt he loves the course after not being unplaced in 3 starts at Prestbury Park. MR MOONSHINE was my fancy a while ago and is a lovely bold front running type but does look out of his depth here, Shane Byrne gets the leg up today which is a positive from Henry Oliver. Alan King has a live outsider in WALKON who looks as if he really needs 3 miles to produce his best over fences. He will however need to produce a career best today. CALL THE POLICE ran a cracker on his comeback run and as long as the bounce factor doesnt affect him he should have live each way claims. Its very hard to see past GRAND CRUS though
1st - Grand Crus
2nd - Call the Police
3rd - First Lieutenant
3:20 - Sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase
Here we go then another Irish Banker in the main race on the day and again he looks pretty bomb proof. SIZING EUROPE'S best performance came in the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December when destroying a very decent field which included back in second KAUTO STONE. He burst onto the scene at Down Royal with a big reputation and didnt let down his supporters, since then he ran second in a Tingle Creek and disappointed on his step up to two and a half miles at Ascot. A drop back in trip shouldnt be enough to see him win today but strong place claims are there. Disappointing in the Tingle Creek was WISHFULL THINKING who didnt enjoy leading that day and since the change of tactics in holding him up he as been a different horse. Second to FINIAN'S RAINBOW at Kempton before disappointing at Ascot. The latter mentioned went down a gallant second to Somersby in the Victor Chandler and cant be dismissed easily. You get the feeling he will just need to step up on what he has done so far though. BIG ZEB has been here and done it after winning this race 2 years ago, an 11 year old now though he could be getting a bit long in the tooth. Though he always gives his all and is definitely a contender. REALT DUBH hasnt run this season but is reported to be in good order and has 'never felt better' according to Paul Carberry. He may just need this race today though. Each way claims though. IM SO LUCKY ran a good race here last year but isnt good enough whereas GAUVAIN probably needs further. SIZING EUROPE should make is two years in a row and a 3rd successive festival win.
1st - Sizing Europe
2nd - Kauto Stone
3rd - Finian's Rainbow
4:00 - Coral Cup
Only the 28 horses go to post for this years Coral Cup and they are head by Betfair Hurdle runner up GET ME OUT OF HERE who was badly hampered by Darlan falling in front of him that day and he may have won had he avoided that trouble. CARLITO BRIGANTE won this last year and is undoubtedly a very good horse but was no match for Big Bucks when they met at Aintree. There arent any horses of that caliber today though and he should be there at the finish. BALGARRY sneaks in at the bottom and could be anything after an impressive win at Newbury. That was his first run in England but they do have the bounce factor to overcome today though. SPIRIT RIVER is another that has won this before when getting home in front here 2 years ago but seems to have lost his way lately since trying chasing. CONSIGLIERE will want it softer and the same may go for TENOR NIVERNAIS. Brendan Powell has a live chance in his first festival ride aboard ACT OF KALANISI who runs well in these handicap hurdles, but there may be others that are better in the field. THIRD INTENTION was the very impressive winner of the National Spirit hurdle at Fontwell but hasnt really shined in big handicaps this season. DARE ME ran a nice race at Taunton and was squeezed out when passing a hurdle, whether he would have won that day is doubtful and doesnt look good enough for today. CAPE DUTCH has been improving all year and runs off a career high mark which looks testing enough even with Jack Quinlan's 5 pounds off. Chris Honour has one more win before he rides out his claim and retires, he rides his beloved POOLE MASTER and isnt without a chance but preference is for MEGASTAR to return to form with a bang. I just feel that a return to a big field will help him concentrate more on his racing and reproduce his best form. Saying that he could drop himself out and sulk.
1st - Megastar
2nd - Balgarry
3rd - Cape Dutch
4th - Carlito Brigante
4:40 - Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Alot of ante post bets have been for Alan King's VENDOR after he has been talking it up like defeat is out of the question. Comparing him to Grumeti and Balder Succes. Racing off 129 he could take all the beating. SOLIWERY was behind COLEBROOK at Sandown but he may be better for that run as he was very green and just couldnt get past. Saying that the latter mentioned was very tough and looks to have a live outside chance and could hold on for a place. LEMON DROP RED is fancied by Paul Webber after getting off the mark over hurdles last time at Southwell. He may just be a bit short of the best in this race however. ULCK DU LIN is somewhat of an unknown quantity in the fact that he hasnt been seen in England but was a smart horse over hurdles in France and if translating the form he is in with a great shout. GORGEOUS SIXTY was outclassed last time in a grade one and has quite a bit to find but a positive is that Ruby has chosen him over the others available to him. ARDLUI won really well at Newbury first time out but disappointed at Doncaster next time out, a return to his debut form would put him bang there and has a great shout. Noel Meade has booked Maurice Linehan to claim 7 pounds off his BAT MASTERSON which is a notable jockey booking. He seemed to fancy his horses chance but on the form book he may have something to find on the main protagonists. KAZLIAN hasnt beaten much so far but its the fashion he has won it in is that has caught my eye. He is really fancied by David Pipe and should go very close. Im going to take a chance on Ardlui today though as Alan King's second string.
1st - Ardlui
2nd - Vendor
3rd - Bat Masterson
4th - Ulck Du Lin
5:15 - Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Last year this was the only race won by an English trained horse on this day, hopefully today is a bit different. But Hobbs and Johnson could hold the key to this race again this year with VILLAGE VIC who has been running well in all races, just touched off last time at Newbury he could take the beating today. NEW YEARS EVE is a nice horse and is unbeaten but may be a bit inexperienced, saying that i fancy him to run a strong race. THE NEW ONE won a bumper here on New years day but im just questioning how strong that race really was with the selection beating chancery by further than the twiston davies horse. CHAMPAGNE FEVER is bought over by Willie Mullins and is ridden by Paddy, this will be the first time he has encountered good ground and could be anything really. SIR JOHNSON is probably the most experienced in the race but has won 4 from 4 and 12/1 does look a big price. ROYAL GUARDSMAN has lost to SIR JOHNSON and there is no real reason why he should reverse that form. But Village Vic is the selection.
1st - Village Vic
2nd - New Years Eve
3rd - Champagne fever
happy punting everyone
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