Festival fever is in full flow here and Cheltenham is only 3 days away with the action getting underway on Tuesday afternoon and with good weather promised. But we have the small matter of five meetings to get through this afternoon as Sandown stage the Imperial Cup which includes Regal Encore who was second in last year's Champion Bumper. They also race at Ayr and Chepstow as well as Wolverhampton who hold a meeting on the all weather with a few valuable contests. The only meeting in Ireland today is from Gowran Park in which a few Cheltenham entries opt to go there instead of the Festival.
As always we have a video prepared for you and we also have another Cheltenham Preview prepared as we cover the Gold Cup, World Hurdle, RSA and the Cheltenham Foxhunters. Joining me in the videos are the regular panelists in myself, @Adamwebb121, @Mytentoryours and @Calummadell. You can find both of the links below, enjoy the show!
Preview for today's racing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBTkOUoBH9k&feature=youtu.be
Cheltenham Preview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqbxVje0rhM
Now onto today's selections!
Alan King has a few good chances next week at the Festival and he has another good one here with Gone Too Far and AP McCoy. He is having his first run in a handicap today after chasing home useful novices Garde La Victoire and Vaniteux on his last two outings. Most recently he travelled into the race nicely at Doncaster before not being thrown around by AP, but still ran on to be a good third. That was behind Vaniteux as mentioned before who is entered and fancied in next week's Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham. He proved no match for Garde La Victoire the time before that over a shorter distance but won nicely at Wetherby on his hurdle debut. He has been assigned a mark of 125 which looks workable and if ready for today's task he wont be too far away. (8/1)
3:15 Sandown - Vibrato Valtat
This looks far from a vintage renewal of the Imperial Cup but as always there are a few unexposed types in here, including the selection Vibrato Valtat. You may remember that last week our best bet of the day was a horse called Tiqris who looked likely to win comfortably when bought down two out. He was beaten comfortably by today's selection at Exeter by three and a quarter lengths when really it could have been ten times further. Vibrato Valtat was in receipt of weight that time but it didn't make the difference however he did take a while to discover how to win in his career. He first caught my eye over 110 yards shorter after being out sprinted again by Vaniteux (There is a running theme in today's blog) before again finding one too good at Kempton off a lower mark. Everything seemed to click last time out though and if he can carry that improvement forward it will take a good horse to beat him today. (7/2)
4:50 Ayr - Forward Flight
We end today's blog with another JP McManus horse, this time trained by Sue Smith who has her string in fine form as of late including Forward Flight. He is yet to win away from Sedgefield in his so far short career and hasn't looked the easiest ride on a few occasions but he possesses a lot of talent. Last time out he was able to ease up at the line when winning by 15 lengths but has a seven pound penalty to deal with today which shouldn't be a bother in truth. He finally seems to be coming into himself and should take the world of beating in what looks a below average field. (2/1)
NAP - Forward Flight
Nb - Vibrato Voltat
Good luck and as always, Happy Punting!
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