2015 Cheltenham Festival Preview Night Reports

[TimRiggins]

Always love reading the preview nights and respect the Couch and his views. I remember when he napped Salubrious a couple of years ago and I reckon I was the only one jumping around like a loon on the course having got 25/1.

Agreed, Bobsworth.

I first saw the Couch at the Betfair preview in 2013, and I thought he was a great on that panel.

I'd only been watching racing for about a year, so didn't have a clue who he was, but some of his one-liners were hilarious.

Obviously not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but adds a little bit of humour to proceedings.


Thanks very much to the guys who are taking the time to post these up.

[loveracing]

Today was the first day I decided to open this forum and read these preview reports.

Top marks to all the guys keeping us up to date with them all.

[Lester]

There is a preview in Ratoath GAA Club tonight if you spot anyone tweeting let us know.

[andrisiggy]

I am off to the warwick one on Thursday. Not sure if I will try and tweet updates or take notes and post them later but I will update somehow..

[Lester]

I am off to the warwick one on Thursday. Not sure if I will try and tweet updates or take notes and post them later but I will update somehow..

Cheers

[Since 1986]

Grateful thanks to all the posters. There are some gems amongst the dross - it's really a case of interpretation.
Re The Couch - he's about as funny as toothache I wish he'd stick to his knitting as he's actually worth listening to
for his opinions.

[Old Vic]

Welcome to the board Since 1986.

[theporge]

Heading to preview night at Quinlans bar, Watercourse Rd, Cork tonight, will post up details in the morning.

[waywardlad]

Grateful thanks to all the posters. There are some gems amongst the dross - it's really a case of interpretation.
Re The Couch - he's about as funny as toothache I wish he'd stick to his knitting as he's actually worth listening to
for his opinions.

He's the double of Harry Findlay, obnoxious, fat, arrogant cockney. Sadly, there's plenty of them to be seen in and around Cheltenham in festival week.

[mayo]

Heading to preview night at Quinlans bar, Watercourse Rd, Cork tonight, will post up details in the morning.

excellent

[Lester]

Bangor on Dee Preview

Tweeting live is David Parry (who once ran a very good forum)

https://twitter.com/DavidParryRacin

Bangor on Dee #CheltenhamPreviewNight .tweets to follow.

Panel
Paul Jones,
D McCain,
John Morris,
stewart Makin ,
Andy Holding

supreme nov h;
PJ " not a favs race, Douvan too short, l'ami serge tolworth form holds up. E/w.
"SM likes l'ami serge
Don McCain "willies horses ahead of GB horses". Likes Douvan.
John Morris likes him too but likes Tell us More at a big price each way.
Doesn't like jolly Alan's jumping.
Andy Holding positive on Douvan. Top drawer . Cut above rest.
consensus is that Douvan and l'ami serge are well ahead of the rest.

Arkle Chase
McCain...will be exciting! Un de sceaux not great jumper & to do it from front is hard.Dodging bullets
don McCain likes vibrato du voltat.
Andy holding confirms UDS times are electric. Not a 4/6 bet tho.
Andy Holding likes vibrato du voltat, relishes a battle and race could be set up 4 him but UDS electric
john Morris likes Sergeant Reckless. Class,knight can prepare one,great jumping at uttoxeter, plot job?
Josses Hill jumping prob better at speed according to don McCain.
Machin thinks Josses a "guesser". UDS
S Machin worried about Henderson chase form. No strength in depth.
P Jones ...no horse made all in arkle
Arkle chase ....since anaglogs!
Paul Jones...UDS wins. Clarcam comes second.
Andy H thinks UDS would be fav for QM

champion Hurdle .
FAUGHEEN WINS...BUT WHAT DO EXPERTS THINK!
S Machin loves Faugheen. The new one too many corrections at haydock. Faugheen wins. Jezki close.
Don McCain; The New One Haydock run should have been better. Jezki can't beat the aged fly.Faugheen
Paul Jones. Jezki will beat the new one(outpaced). Faugheen too short.The fly too old. Jezki each way
Andy Holding. Hugely impressed by Faugheen. The new one gone backward in terms of jumping and clock.
Andy holding. Faugheen awesome. Closest thing to istabraq he's seen. Jezki each way.
John Morris; the new one not a champion hurdler.Faugheen will win.He's a machine. Arctic fire each way
champion hurdle discussion at bangor has lost its way as audience join in!. "Pint of lager please".
....consensus that as good as the fly has been, he can't win another champ hurdle


Neptune hdle.
Paul Jones keen on Windsor park at 11s to reverse form with nicholls canyon.Machin tentatively with WP
John Morris respects nicholls canyon. Done nothing wrong. Apart from fall!
likes beast of burden but don McCain thinks he needs 3 miles.
Andy H " Nichols canyon jumps .tough and classy.Worthy fav. Callow hurdle times/ form strong so parlour games warrants attention BUT...stats of challow hurdle winners are poor. 0/14.
Paul Jones not so perturbed by stat as parlour games is ex flat

RSA.
Where's does Don Poli run?Andy h thinks he's best staying nov chaser in ire...Topaz form really good. Cruised also likes Southfield theatre on his wincanton form but he was beaten nto. Good jumper. Needs fast gr.
Andy h..kings palace good jumper but can't fancy him after last year.
Don McCain...coneygree shd run in this
don mc mighty impressed with kings place. Pipe has trained him for one day. Better ground will suit him.
RSA john Morris...coneygree great chance, must run in this and not GC. Don poli has winning festival firm. Kings p..
...jumping a worry. Interesting race this. Coneygree for john Morris. Paul Jones don poli stats...
....not run since Xmas, too few runs etc. kings palace not impressed paul Jones. Anti British novices. Don poli.
Jones will back valseur lido in whichever race he turns up in.

champion chase.
Champagne fever. Job done. Pint please! Oh hang on, there's some proper pundits here
Machin...dodging bullets not a bet. SDG impressed in hcap last week. More so than sprinter has been.
Machin not a fan of Champ fever.
P Jones got it between SDG and fever. Sprinter disappointing.
McCain...big hole in sprinter. Finished after winning at three festivals. Big fan of SDG...horse and trainer
John Morris likes the chance of big priced Hidden Cyclone.
Andy Holding excited by hidden cyclone
Andy holding BIG on hidden cyclone in champ chase at 14s. Get on. If he wins get 5% to Andy and 5% to me. Cheers.
Interesting thoughts from Don McCain re restricted handicaps...rules good horses out from competing
break time.

Thursday and Friday to come. In more important news, the hotpot was good but there's no bloody raffle. Poor show

JLT nov chase.
P Jones doesn't like ptit zig off back off a fall. Apache stronghold based on flogas form.
Machin thinks splash of ginge overpriced.
John Morris Vautour all season long.
Andy h likes gitane du ber if runs
Andy Holding has Apache stronghold and valseur lido ahead, well ahead, of others. Probably Apache the one on grd
Andy h has Irish novice form way ahead. McCain no view.

Ryanair.
Machin thinks Don Cossack could/ should win. Why not? Fair price.
Paul Jones; johns spirit may even turn up in champ chase! Very much behind Don Cossack in this....along wit
Ryanair ....Module each way huge price.
Don McCain asked g Elliot for tips for chelt and he gave two...not Don Coss
John Morris and Andy h both love Don Cossack chances too.
The two tips from G Elliot were in bumper/pipe
GElliot likes jet stream jack in bumper and Mullins un atout in the martin pipe.

Back to Ryanair ...Andy holding very keen on ballynagour at a big price

World Hurdle.
Andy holding thinks Annie power will go mares route."Open"world hurdle ( poor in my view!). Monksland.
monks land a big price at 16s for Andy holding. Jetson another one at a big price.
John Morris fancies.zarkander. Also likes Cole Hardern ( who McCain thinks has had a wind op since autumn) .
McCain...rock on ruby a more natural stayer than speed king.
Machin thinks Saphir du rheu could improve
Machin has a value bet in un temps pour tout. J
ones likes zarkander...french champ hurdle form etc

triumph hurdle
paul Jones doesn't like peace and co cos of size...big horses in chelt fest hurdles not good
ones likes the "proper juvenile, super fast jumping" Top Notch. Professional and extra distance will suit.
Machin...peace & co has earplugs which suggests temp may not be great .Too short.Top Notch
McCain thinks peace and co a machine but temperament? Therefore hargam. Both beat dons horse which he rates
John Morris impressed by Beltor. Also likes Dicosimo...experienced, good jumper, quickens well.
Andy holding likes petite Parisienne on speed figures. Peace and co too short. Hargam good chance.
Andy holding,...hargam times great. Tough. Jumps well. Better ground a plus. Has run around track.

Albert Bartlett .
Andy h...black Hercules impressed but off a long time. Out and out stayer.Keep eye on fine article
Andy h suggests keeping an eye on Roi de francs wherever he runs
Paul Jones fancies value at risk as does Machin.Trip will suit 12s.
McCain beast of burden should run

Gold Cup.
I think Silviniaco Conti but what about these guys?
Machin; Silvi may not get up hill so take chance with djakadam. Year too soon? Maybe.The giant bolster e/w
Paul Jones...6yo stat against djakadam. Fell last year at chelt. Jones: Boston Bob...spring horse, step up unless ground fast it's many clouds .
McCain. Many Clouds impressive but says McCoy really likes Holywell.
John Morris likes Holywell if McCoy on
Morris; Road to riches big improver. Consistent. Good prep. Many Clouds chance hampered by sherwood form
track the worry for silvi.
Holding likes road to riches but not quite gold cup standard.
Holding likes cheltenham specialist Holywell. Has beaten Don Cossack and many clouds...he's a proper horse
Holding; Holywell win win if he's in touch 3 out.
Bobs Worth? Absolutely written off by the panel.

"the rest"-
Andy holding..nov hcap chase form suggests generous ransom. Per temps hurdle? mydor if he gets in
handicaps. Holding....mildmay of flete hollow penny. Pile on the pressure in bumper.
handicaps. Paul Jones. The x country a poor race this year. Sires Collonges. In the ultima hcap chase ned stark
handicaps etc. McCain starchitect only fancy at chelt.
handicaps. Morris: see the world in the bumper and salsify in hunter chase

naps time.
Holding best bet each way hidden cyclone 14s. Nap is Don Poli.
John Morris: nap Don Cossack. E/w salsify
naps. McCain , the young master in four miler and jet stream Jack in bumper.
Machin, naps Faugheen and Don cossack
best bets for paul Jones is ned stark in 3m hcap chase
that's yer lot!!!!

[Lester]

Barry Geraghty was in @boylestudio today

This seems as good a place as any

Barry Geraghty has arrived! Get your questions into the studio here by using the #AskBarry!
Barry Geraghty on L'ami Serge's chance in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle: "He will have a live chance and I'm expecting a big run."
Barry Geraghty on Un De Sceaux: "He's a worthy favourite for the Arkle but he's very easily wound up and Cheltenham is a different animal."
Barry Geraghty: "Last year's Champion Hurdle was the best I have ridden in, in a very long time. I think it was a very good race."
Barry Geraghty: "If Annie Power turned up in any way near her best she'd have no problem winning the WH let alone the Mares' Hurdle."
Geraghty:"NCanyon is definitely not head and shoulders above anything in the Neptune. Parlour Games would give him plenty to think about."
Geraghty:"Sprinter is my best ride of the week.Spoke with Nicky this morning and he's delighted. We are very excited - couldn't be happier."
Geraghty: "Moscow Flyer, Big Zeb and Kicking King were all great horses but Sprinter Sacre is definitely the best I've ever ridden."
Geraghty: "I think Sire De Grugy will find it difficult because it will be his third run in the space of a month. He might pay the price."
Geraghty: "I don't think Champagne Fever's form is strong enough. His latest form would look like he'd be more suited to the Ryanair Chase."
Geraghty: Wait For Me ran very well at Ascot last week. I rode in it and I think he's a horse worth siding with for the Champion Bumper."
Geraghty: "Neil Mulholland has booked me for The Young Master for the RSA and he has a great chance."
Geraghty:"I've been very impressed with Rock On Ruby so far this season - if I am going to win the WH, he'll be the last horse I will pass."
Geraghty: "I'm very sweet on Ma Filleule in the Ryanair Chase."
Geraghty: "I think Peace And Co is the real deal. I'm very, very sweet on him. He's got gears -best horse in the race" #TriumphHurdle
Geraghty: "I think the novice hurdle races at #Cheltenham this year are wide open and could be open to a surprise or two."
Geraghty: "The dark horse for the Gold Cup is Djakadam. He's way too big a price for me and I think he has a massive chance."
Geraghty: "Bobs Worth is probably a bit of a forgotten horse. I think he has a great shout in regaining his Gold Cup crowd."

[andrisiggy]

Previews are coming thick and fast now! - i love reading through them trying to work out which advice seems the most trustworthy. often the throw away comments seem to be the most informative.

If i get a signal at warwick i will try and tweet through @andrisiggporson but if not, my preview notes will be posted up Friday night

[theporge]

Preview night @Quinlansbar Blackpool, Cork

Guest : Davy Russell (DR), Noel Hayes The Tote (NH), Phillip Enright (PE), Jonathan Burke , Patrick Mulcahy Ladbrokes (PM)

Supreme Novices :

(DR) Douvan never tested in grade company, Sizing John biggest threat.

(PE) Paddy Power money back special is enough. If Tell Us More wasn't beaten lot would be lot would be a lot shorter.

(JB) Sizing is fresh and raring to go.

Arkle :

(DR) Before they pulled UDS out of the hurdle race last year Davy was telling everyone to back it for next year's Arkle!!

(NH) josses Hill EW

(PE) If it jumps the ambulance won't keep up to Un De Sceaux

(JB) Smashing EW - definitely goes there

Champion Hurdle :

(JB) Takes on Faugheen. The New One has the form this year.

(DR) Nothing to choose between The New One, Faugheen and Jezki but edges towards Jezki

(PE) Faugheen will never have had to jump at this pace re Our Conor last year


Mares Hurdle :

host Emmet Kennedy heard from Rich Ricci that Annie Power WONT run here

(JB) If its soft Bitofapuzzle EW

(DR) Without Annie power its a tough race maybe Jennies Jewel EW

Neptune Hurdle :

(PE) liked Parlour Games

(JB) A big Outlander fan, but likes Beast Of Burden EW @ 25/1


RSA Chase :

(DR) If Conegree's trainer runs him in the Gold Cup, then he should have his licence taking away!!!!

Big debate as to whether Don Poli runs in this or the 4 miler.

(JB) Coneygree jumps and gallops.

(PE) Likes Kings Palace and The Young Master EW

Champion Chase

So the whole debate around this race was based on a trip to Crumlins Children hospital Dublin, where Davey said that Barry Geraghty told everyone and anyone there that Sprinter Sacre would NOT be beaten. Russell said it wouldn't be Geraghty's form to be spouting off like that…

I asked (JB) would my favourite horse, Sizing Europe, be showing up he said he wasn't sure.

Bumper :

Lots of negatives re Pylononthepressure on account of its Sire…

Johnnie Burke was pushed about his potential mount Super Sunday, an ex Balding flat horse, and he said he was bred to win a derby and could win!!!

The rest of the panel fell in behind Moon Racer


JLT Chase :

(DR) Nothing there of the calibre of Vautour

Everone else agreed it was a match between Vautour and Apache Stronghold.. Story is that Noel Meade is vey happy with the weight Apache has.

Ryaniar Chase :
(DR) Don Cossack finally the horse he thought it would be. Johns Spirit for value.

(PE) Cue Card tailor made for it.

(NH) NAPPED Taquin De Seuil as a Jonjo plot job. Jonjo said today he may go in a handicap!! If thats the case and Jonjo's willing to let him lumber top weight then Johns Spirit is a MONSTER!!


World Hurdle :

(DR) Annie Power and Lt Colonel have similar ways to get her (i.e. can't jump a fence etc)

If you want to buy money this year according to Davy lay Zarkandar!!!!!!

(PE) Questioned Davy with regards to his mount Jetson that was only beaten 1/2l by Lt Colonel!!

(JB) Rock on Ruby class horse with course form!!

Triumph Hurdle :

(DR) Spend quality time with the misses when this race is on!!!

(NH) Irish horse a poor lot

(JB) fancies Golden Doyan EW


Albert Bartlett

(DR) like No More Heroes

We were then introduced to the owner of Value at Risk whose living the dream as a small owner with a live horse at Cheltenham. He said to back it for the RSA next year!! but that the horse is screaming for 3 miles. Has a racecourse gallop on Monday.

(PE) Said Adrian Heskin is very sweet on Montello Tower

Gold Cup :

The panel to a man tipped Lord Windermere and likewise bismarcked Holywell.
They also agreed that Silviniaco Conti would start vomiting when he saw the hill ahead of it!!!!


Handicap tips:

(DR) Taquin De Seuil

(NH) Edeymi in Pertemps

(PE) Clondaw Kaempfer Coral Cup

(JB) Pink Coat County Hurdle

Patrick Mulcahy from Ladborkes gave 2 in the Foxhunters Carrinstown Boy (16/1) & Seventh Sign (12/1) A Maguire horse.


Charity Bets

(JB) Super Sunday (bumper)

(PE) The job is Right (NH chase)

(NH) Roi De Franc (Martin Pipe)

(DR) No More Heroes (Neptune or Albert Bartlett)

Great night, plenty of autograph and picture opportunities afterwards.

[Lester]

Great report The Porge.

Annie Power story is HUGE.

Good insight into de Bromhead team. Smashing to the Arkle is news to the board. I thik he has been put in lots of accas for the JLT.

Couple of bits from Emmett

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>&quot;You're very harsh on some of these sires Davy, could your dad ride horses?&quot; - Enright

Davy laughs, has no comeback
<a href="https://twitter.com/QuinlansBar">@QuinlansBar</a> erupts! ��</p>&mdash; Emmet Kennedy (@Emmet_Kennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/Emmet_Kennedy/status/570906959735607296">February 26, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Emmett also saying Annie may run in the World Hurdle


The Sprinter news will be met will probably be met with continuing disbelief,

Elsewhere

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/FatJockeyTips">@FatJockeyTips</a> At Kildare preview, Elliott says Don Cossack will win &amp; Don Poli will go to 4 miler because Willie always gets what he wants.</p>&mdash; Dublin Journos GS (@DublinJournosGS) <a href="https://twitter.com/DublinJournosGS/status/570721799278870529">February 25, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyG88">@JonnyG88</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FatJockeyTips">@FatJockeyTips</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/gelliott_racing">@gelliott_racing</a> He said Hostile Fire has a very good ew chance.</p>&mdash; Dublin Journos GS (@DublinJournosGS) <a href="https://twitter.com/DublinJournosGS/status/570735437372907520">February 26, 2015</a></blockquote>
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