Wednesday 17 March 2021

 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle


No bet here, but preference is for Bob Olinger over Bravemansgame. 

Gaillard Du Mesnil is a 5yo and they have a terrible record in this race. Bear Ghylls is a nice horse too, but no each way here.



Brown Advisory Novices' Chase


Another easy race. Monkfish should win.


Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle


Finally, a race to lose some money on.  Red horses here are those that didn't run in a hurdle last time and will be discounted regardless.

The pin came down on 4 horses, Grand Roi (11/2), however he's a little short, and we haven't seen a Gordon Elliott, sorry Sneezy Foster horse challenge the scorers yet. 

The other three are all Nicky Henderson trained and he has an excellent record in this race, saddling the last 2 winners.

 Janika has had just the one run this season, after a wind operation. He was well beaten that day, but will have needed the run. He was thumped by Craigneiche (15/2) and he also on the shortlist. Perfect on trends. Shame about the price as he was double that as well. 

The last one is Monte Cristo, another offering perfect trends.


BETS

Monte Cristo (12/1) - Bet365, Coral

Janika (33/1) - Bet365, Coral


Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase


Chacan Pour Soi should really be winning this one. He's perfect on the trends. People will talk about his lack of Cheltenham form, however Leopardstown is pretty testing at the finish and he handles that well. I don't really think anyone should be near him at the end. First Flow won't be liking the drying ground, so unfortunately he's passed over. One who will like the drying ground is Rouge Vif  and he is of each-way interest.


BET, if ground dries to good ground.

Rouge Vif (25/1) - Bet365, PP


Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase


This revolves around whether Easysland is in the same form as last year. His only run this  season was here when he failed to finish. I'm not taking that price about him. I think Tiger Roll is gone at the game now.  Some Neck is of each way interested, winning the handicap version at the course in December.

At the moment, there is no bet/ If Some Neck gets to 12/1 again, then that will be a bet.



Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase



This is now run on the Old Course on the Wednesday, having been shunted from being the get-out stakes on the friday and then the penultimate race for a couple of years. Trends may not quite have the same relevance on this speedier course.

Last year's winner, Chosen Mate, is the obvious place to start. He's a decent price here, though bigger yesterday. Still ticks plenty of the boxes too and should run well. 

6 of the last 10 winners had previously run in this race. The only other from last season is Us And Them this year. He's a little more exposed than your usual winner and his form figures of 08F7 don't inspire confidence either, but he's one to consider on this ground. 

Glen Forsa (u/r) and Bun Doran (2nd) ran in 2019.

2 winners had run in the County Hurdle. Again this may not have the relevence on the New Course, but for reference, they are Embittered (3rd) and Zanza (21st)

Second-season chasers have a good record in this (and many races at the festival). 2 who tick plenty of boxes are Moonlighter and On The Slopes. The latter ran in a Jumpers BUmper last time, which I don't like so is passed over for a bet.

As i suspect the ground will have dried out by this time, Moonlighter is the e/w pick with bits and pieces of form on better ground.


BET

Moonlighter (16/1) - general

Us And Them (14/1) - Bet365, WH




Weatherbys Champion Bumper


Looks a match between Kilcruit and Sir Gerhard. Preference is for the former, who looks the more typical Willie Mullins type. 

Mares with Graded/Listed form have to be respected and that throws Elle Est Belle and Grangee into the mix, and I will side with Grangee, trained by Mullins as a strong each way pick.


BET
Grangee (22/1) - Bet365, WH, PP


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