13:30 TRIUMPH HURDLE
The triumph is a funny kind of race - in my opinion it is a race for poor flat horses, but it a Cheltenham race so a bet will have to be done! A horse who may just be too hot for all of these is Sadlers Risk.The horse has done nothing wrong - slamming his rivals at Kempton and running well behind Baby Mix, giving that rival 3 lbs and should come on for the extra distance, a big run is expected. Phillip Hobbs stable have started to improve a lot of late and the horse will be ready for this.
Another classy horse to consider at a price is Hisabaat - who won so well last time out.
Richard "Dickie" Johnson is a tremendous jockey, and should get his first festival winner here.
Verdict: 2 pt win Sadlers Risk 13/2
1 Pt e/w Hisabaat
14:05 VINCENT O'BRIEN COUNTY HURDLE
This is a great race and really nearly every horse could win this but a horse who may just be improving and has been trained just for this is Moon Dice.
He won a hot Galway Plate well, as well as running a blinder behind Brampour in December a repeat of either run will put him very close here. He is incredibley interesting considering how well he goes fresh and the fact that the shrewd Pat Flynn put him away just for this!
Tom Doyle is a fantastic jockey and will go close here.
Verdict: 2 pt E/W Moon Dice 11/1
1 pt E/W Dee ee williams 50/1
14:40 ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES' HURDLE
This is a cracking Renewal of this race and whilst a few here are in rude form, a horse who stands out and is the only grade one winner here is Boston Bob.The horse is expected to hose up here, with Willie Mullins and his stable expecting massive things, and despite Hurricane Fly flopping I just cannot look past him on his previous form and the fact that he has been swerved for this - having had other engagements. At a bigger price Sea Of thunder is worth an each way punt.
Ruby was seen to his brilliant best yesterday on big Bucks and can be collecting again today.
Verdict: 3 pt win Boston Bob 6/4
Gold Cup Friday March 16th
The
race everyone has been looking forward to is just around the corner, it
is the story we in sport have become so used to - The old hero against
the young pretender , Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal etc and so on. But
this year we wait , fretting,praying and hoping our hero Kauto Star gets
there - and the signs are looking good.
Even if Kauto gets there though how will be able to fend off the younger Long Run over a longer distance?
It really is a tough question as both flourish where the other one crumbles. Long run has the better legs and will stay further - but Long run is prone to a mistake (or 4) whereas Kauto is not and it is beautifully poised for a titanic clash.
However I think they might attack each other from a long way out and may just leave it open to someone else to pick up the pieces - as how will Kauto react if Long run attacks him a mile out and how will long runs jumping hold up? Between the two I think Kauto will prevail as without Denman in the race Kauto can dictate things.
If as I predict someone else does come out of the reckoning - who?
Weird
Al is an anomoly and could well be good enough but is hard to trust, as
is Diamond Harry and both will probably be hunting for prize money ,
along with the irrepressible Midnight Chase. I think though a horse who
may just be slipping under the radar and who I believe is good enough is
Burton Port.He was fantastic against Long run on his last run - first run for 417 days and ran Long Run so close - and despite the fact he received 10 lbs that day, he could easily improve for that outing another 10lbs he needs on the ratings.
Lets not forget his bare form, he has beaten Long Run around cheltenham before, staying on for a good 2nd in the Ryanair chase in 2009 and only for injuries I feel he would have been on the Gold Cup scene a lot faster. His second behind Diamond Harry in the Hennessy in 2010 is another example where he stayed on and was just held - the distance in the Gold Cup will be right up his alley.
Verdict 2 Pts Each Way Burton Port
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