I’m sitting here on tenterhooks, one television is tuned to ATR and the other to the news channels watching the storm moving across southern England and Wales.
I have also just seen photographs of damage caused to some the temporary stands at Cheltenham.
Why is it this storm has had all winter to wreak its havoc, yet it decides to turn up the very day before the greatest festival of the year?
Of course the local situation at Cheltenham is only part of the problem, horses have to get to the course and who would want to drive a horse box in these windy conditions?
Oh well, we shall have to assume everything will be OK.
The cards are now available for the first day and no great surprises.
For what it’s worth I have already put some each way money on last years winner Sublimity for the Champion Hurdle, however I will also be having an investment on Sizing Europe, who now looks like the probable winner.
The opening Supreme Novices’ looks like being a lottery and will probably be a “no bet” race.
The Arkle is another double bet race for me – the favourite Norland will have to have a really bad day at the office to lose, and he is a must bet proposition. However I want to play for the forecast and I will have some money on Irish Challenger Clopf.
In the William Hill Trophy I have always had a liking for David Pipe’s Abragante and will probably have a small investment on this enigmatic gelding. However a case could be made for most of the runners and it is not a race to be dogmatic about and there are question marks over most of the runners.
The Cross Country chase has long been an Irish benefit and I see nothing different this year. I had originally opted for the favourite Wonderkid, however I now have a leaning towards Garde Champetre from the yard of Enda Bolger who has a brilliant record in Cheltenham cross country races.
The racing ends with the Fred Winter and I have been keen on French trained Grand Schlem since an impressive second at Kempton. However the winner of the Sunderlands Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday, Ashkazar, has been entered and with a £50,000 bonus on offer he cannot be ignored.
I have also just seen photographs of damage caused to some the temporary stands at Cheltenham.
Why is it this storm has had all winter to wreak its havoc, yet it decides to turn up the very day before the greatest festival of the year?
Of course the local situation at Cheltenham is only part of the problem, horses have to get to the course and who would want to drive a horse box in these windy conditions?
Oh well, we shall have to assume everything will be OK.
The cards are now available for the first day and no great surprises.
For what it’s worth I have already put some each way money on last years winner Sublimity for the Champion Hurdle, however I will also be having an investment on Sizing Europe, who now looks like the probable winner.
The opening Supreme Novices’ looks like being a lottery and will probably be a “no bet” race.
The Arkle is another double bet race for me – the favourite Norland will have to have a really bad day at the office to lose, and he is a must bet proposition. However I want to play for the forecast and I will have some money on Irish Challenger Clopf.
In the William Hill Trophy I have always had a liking for David Pipe’s Abragante and will probably have a small investment on this enigmatic gelding. However a case could be made for most of the runners and it is not a race to be dogmatic about and there are question marks over most of the runners.
The Cross Country chase has long been an Irish benefit and I see nothing different this year. I had originally opted for the favourite Wonderkid, however I now have a leaning towards Garde Champetre from the yard of Enda Bolger who has a brilliant record in Cheltenham cross country races.
The racing ends with the Fred Winter and I have been keen on French trained Grand Schlem since an impressive second at Kempton. However the winner of the Sunderlands Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday, Ashkazar, has been entered and with a £50,000 bonus on offer he cannot be ignored.
No comments:
Post a Comment