TRIUMPH HURDLE
I’m happy to accept SOLO deserves to be jolly off the
back of that Adonis win. He was a bit keen himself so off a fast lead he’ll be
better I’d think and that race will have left little to no mark as was the manner
in which he won. Took the prelims in his stride so looks well rounded. GOSHEN is a horse I just can’t seem to get excited about him regardless
of how many times he wins. Can’t argue with the manner in which he’s been
improving though but jumping leaves plenty to be desired
ALLMANKIND is a head-strong horse but having seen him at home
he’s the polar opposite. Despite the trends I like the fact that he’s been kept
fresh for this (play to his strength) and I still watch his Chepstow effort
back and can’t believe where he found the last two furlongs worth of second
wind from. Course winner too despite it coming on the old course. Not sure ASPIRE TOWER was winning when he fell the last day but no doubt he’s a nice horse, another with his quirks and leads the Irish challenge and should be well suited to running off a lead
A WAVE OF THE SEA looks a bit of a fiddly ride (tried in cheekpieces once) and vibes are that he’s not quite Triumph standard but weight now ruined for Boodles. That said, he won the Spring Juvenile and this race looks open enough despite looking a potentially very classy renewal. BURNING VICTORY won a Grade 3 for Willie Mullins at the
weekend. Beat a 40/1 poke but he was an 80’s horse on the flat making his
hurdle bow too. Not a great deal to work with but she looks
interesting at least although her price is drying up
I'll start this one off with one I give a chance to at a price, YOU RAISED ME UP who appears to be in here off a workable mark. He ran well at Leopardstown without the hood, which remains off here, so I think he'll be on the premises again. ADJALI has been working the house down apparently and he's always threatened to be an above average horse so fresh from a wind op he's on the shortlist. THATSY is a very nice type and you don't have to go back far to see solid form in maiden hurdles. Two quiet enough runs in handicaps since mean his mark of 139 could under estimate him.
CIEL DU NEIGE looked a nice one to follow for the season and was in my 20 horses to follow. Ticks a few boxes for this race and arguably was a bit unfortunate in second in the Betfair Hurdle when race tactics didn't suit. Willie Mullins runs a few but BUILDMEUPBUTTERCUP keeps being supported and letting those supporters down so could upset a few if he comes in. ARAMON has been OK this season but is another who looks potentially well treated. SAINT ROI has expressed mixed vibes and doesn't have a great deal of experience but I think he's off a dangerous weight here.
Selection - THATSY
Lively Outsider - YOU RAISED ME UP
ALBERT BARTLETT
A race I do alright in over the years but more so than some
races at The Festival it does feel much easier to leave this race as late as
possible. Even last year RHINESTONE was kicking on in the parade ring.
As it
stands I think THYME HILL screams out as the class horse of the race but how
often do we see the class horse beat!? Suppose we might be due one. MONKFISH
looks worth his place in the market, LATEST EXHIBITION was one of two put up by
against ANDY DUFRESNE when beat him and at that point he was 50/1 for this
race. Further he goes the better and his latest win is the strongest form for
me coming into this. HARRY SENIOR I didn’t think wanted a trip but he clearly
does after that Trials day win and given he’s quick at 2m (which is a trait I
look for in this race) I think he’s got a huge chance. RAMSES doesn’t do it for
me, he was weighted to win round here over hurdles earlier in the season. FURY ROAD was maybe exposed as
not top Grade the last day, but ground might have been quick enough for him (I
know all bumper form on similar ground) but it’s important to remember he was
sent off fav and he was one of my long range punts for this race
JANIDIL was a bigger price when I first started to mention him but the reason he is interesting is his form is all at 2m
and Willie Mullins mentioned he would like him to go here but will have to see
how JP wants to play out his handicappers. I like speed in an Albert Bartlett type and I think he's got a chance. KILTEALY BRIGGS at a wild price
shouldn’t be discounted in a bigger field and he’s one with pace and stamina to
my eye, another who is a big shorter but still around 33/1 is THE CASHEL MAN. Not beaten far by THYME HILL in the Challow so price looks wrong
Selection - JANIDIL
Lively Outsiders - THE CASHEL MAN & KILTEALY BRIGGS
GOLD CUP
Wide open race again but it’s not for lack of quality. AL
BOUM PHOTO could easily win this again. I thought he was good on his comeback
run and that form has been franked since. Could well be a very different race
this year in terms of tactics so he’ll have to prove himself on that front if
something does go off a good gallop. SANTINI has always looked a Gold Cup horse
so no surprise to see him short off the back of that Cotswold Chase win. DELTA
WORK was big last season so I’d be keen to see how he looks now but solid form
the last two runs. LOSTINTRANSLATION probably would prefer it on the best side
of soft so keep an eye on that and the Tizzards haven't been in any sort of form so far this week.
CLAN DES OBEAUX was so good in King George
again but a few under performed so I can’t trust it although I wouldn’t be too
worried about him round here despite having recorded lower ratings at the
track. PRESENTING PERCY was FAV last year and has actually had prep runs so I
expect him to be supported. MONALEE would ruin me if he was capable of winning
a Gold Cup having said for his whole career he barely wants 3m. REAL STEEL has proven to date he's better right handed. Hard to forgive that, but I think his form warrants him to be of slight interest at a huge price although I appreciate this is a Gold Cup
Selection - AL BOUM PHOTO
Lively Outsider - REAL STEEL
FOXHUNTERS
The head of the market looks to be about right and it's going to be an exciting race. I think MINELLA ROCCO, BILLAWAY & STAKER WALLACE could have the race between them. It doesn't always play out that class wins this but MINELLA ROCCO has top notch festival form including a 4 miler victory and a Gold Cup second and it wasn't long ago he was head of the weights for the National so deserves to go off fav. DYLROW is interesting a big price given he beat BILLAWAY in a point but that was over shorter so the trip is a concern
Selection - MINELLA ROCCO
Lively Outsider - DYLROW
GRAND ANNUAL
Like the previous race you can see why the front of the market has formed like it has and of the single digit runners I favour CHOSEN MATE. He won nicely the last day and I think there's a good bit more to come. LISP was put up a long time ago by Jamie Wrenn so we're still hoping for a good run while GRAENETEEN has been well touted for this race but I don't think he deserves to be this short (Got that wrong with SIMPLY THE BETTS didn't I!)
US AND THEM needs to put some seriously poor runs behind him, but with support he reeks of a plot while TWO TAFFS surely wants further but if that's been the issue all along then he's potentially thrown in back at 2m. JAN MAAT is a horse who has been kept back for this I think and he could be a handicap blot off 142 BUT he probably wanted the ground to be quicker
Selection - CHOSEN MATE
Lively Outsider - JAN MAAT
MARTIN PIPE
Another race where longer range plans have been slightly predictable so both COLUMN OF FIRE & FRONT VIEW are now plenty short enough. Again I appreciate the on the day punters so I must add they both have chances for sure. FIVE O'CLOCK could have run creditably in the Ballymore albeit way off the winner so here off 145 looks a very attractive mark and while FRONT VIEW heads the market, this lad beat him well. That said, FRONT VIEW was happy to be short of room and wasn't given a hard time. ESCARIA TEN gets in after Elliott pulled one out so that could be a tip in itself while if the ground does dry up for this race then INDEFATIGABLE'S price at 40/1 will look huge, given she was beaten by DAME DE COMPAGNIE who has come out and won this week herself.
Selection - FIVE O'CLOCK
Lively Outsider - INDEFATABLE
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