2015 Cheltenham Festival Preview Night Reports

[mayo]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Cheltenham Festival Preview Video from <a href="https://twitter.com/TG4TV">@TG4TV</a> with <a href="https://twitter.com/donnmcclean">@donnmcclean</a> Michael O&#39;Leary Noel Meade and more

<a href="http://t.co/qP7nUV3aoV">http://t.co/qP7nUV3aoV</a></p>&mdash; Fat Jockey (@FatJockeyTips) <a href="https://twitter.com/FatJockeyTips/status/574328805470273536">March 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[mayo]

Coral streaming theirs tonight

Nick Luck (Channel 4 & Racing UK), Graham Cunningham (Channel 4 & Racing UK), Mark ‘The Couch’ Winstanley (Racing pundit) and Coral’s own Simon Clare will provide expert tips and insight on all 27 races from this year’s Cheltenham festival.

As if that wasn’t enough, Coral will also be offering viewers a number of exclusive, time-limited, enhanced prices on some of the most fancied Cheltenham contenders throughout the webcast.

Centaur tonight too ?

[Hoof]

#racehour preview tonight on Twitter from 8.

Betted 6-8

Coral 7-9.

[Old Vic]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>20 minutes until our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoralPreview?src=hash">#CoralPreview</a>. Send in your questions/opinion to our panel using <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoralPreview?src=hash">#CoralPreview</a>.
LIVE at 7pm:
<a href="http://t.co/8TWBo7YrW8">http://t.co/8TWBo7YrW8</a></p>&mdash; Coral (@Coral) <a href="https://twitter.com/Coral/status/574640468803383296">March 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[Old Vic]

A few bits from the Centaur via OLBG. Any more elsewhere ?



Right we are almost ready to start. Panel live at Cheltenham consists of AP, PHobbs, Jessica Lambe, Mark Howard and Hayley O'Connor.
.@PJHobbs1 fancies Jollyallan and AP also thinks his mount will appreciate better ground and go well
Panel don't see any shocks then in Supreme, between front three in market.

Now on to The Arkle Chase.

Mark Howard suggests Josses Hill as a good each way bet in the Arkle. He's the second most talented horse in the race.

Now onto the Champion Hurdle and AP thinks the race is more open than the odds of Faugheen would suggest.
Mark Howard goes for Faugheen "can't find any faults in him". AP says the race could become very tactical.
Interesting from AP "faugheen has won over 3m and The New One 2m 5f so a tactical race may not suit"

All the panel think Annie Power is a certainty in the @OLBG mares race then they move on to the Neptune

AP was very impressed with Nichols Canyon last time, but it's one of the most open races of the Festival.

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[Old Vic]

Ok more from https://twitter.com/keejayOV

McCoy on stage talking about his retirement decision.
Lot of what he's saying is similar to what he said on 5 Live. And we now start!
Hayley starts eight he Supreme. Says "Douvan the only horse they agree is banker material in Ireland." Enchanted to 9/4.
Hobbs thinks that Jollyallan might be the best horse of the English and could be some each/way value.
Mark Howard keeps is simple and says that Douvan will win - or that one of the seven Mullins horses would win if not!
McCoy thinks Jollyallan has a big chance and says that he just got tired in the ground at Sandown. Predictably also impressed by Qewy.
McCoy would be surprised if Douvan is beaten if he's "as good as his reputation." Mark Howard now taking about John Ferguson's improvement..
Experienced.

Onto the Arkle. McCoy "doesn't think UDS went that fast for a tearaway at Leopardstown." Would be his ride if he could pinch anyone else's.
McCoy thinks drop back to 2 will suit Alvisio Ville and wouldn't be surprised if he ends up wanting a trip. Mullins bringing him up for...
Regarding Josses Hill, McCoy thinks "he's had too much time to think in jumping. Sgt Reckless might want flatter tracks."
Hobbs runs Dunraven Storm who has waited for better ground. Says "this will be a proper war of attrition."
Jess reports that everyone who's taken on UDS is in awe. Ruby says that his front running style makes life very simple.
Mark is asked if stats like Mullins' 0/11 record in Arkle will sway him. He says that that's not the key issue and would be more concerned..
Regarding no front runner winning since Analogs Daughter, and also - going back to the Supreme - second season fav's having a poor record.
He is more concerned with the ground, pre parade, and other factors. He's taking Josses Hill each/way for reasons McCoy gave.
Hayley says that if she couldn't get fired for taking 4/5 UDS she would. I didn't get that either.

Onto the Champion.
McCoy has this as a 4 runner race and is happy with Jezki. Hobbs likes The New One. Mark "can't find any flaws" regarding Faugheen.
AP doesn't know what Kitten Rock's plan is but doesn't expect it to be a trouble regarding pace with three or four potential front runners.
Jessica gives Hurricane Fly a chance. (Basic questioning). Word from yard is that he's still bouncing out of races, loving beating horses.
Hayley says that there's been fair money for Jezki. Asks how quick they'll go to AP who points out that main players would like a good pace.

Mares Hurdle is one question: Can Annie be beaten? Only Hayley O'Connor says yes.

Now onto Neptune. Jessica is given the task of sorting out Mullins 11' in the race; Says Nichols Canyon, Outlander, and possibly TUM will go
AP happy with Parlour Games and says he's improved a lot. Says that if Mullins didn't have Douvan Nichols would go there and that would....
Suit more. Thinks Windsor Park has a good chance. Mark Howard wishes that Ordo Ab Chao would go for the Coral Cup and thinks he'll struggle
Loads of question marks over these for him. Not much from Hobbs. Hayley thinks Nichols will be favourite but has seen shrewd money coming...
For Outlander and that the same is true of Windsor Park. Outlander can challenge for favouritism.
Panel Selections: Jess: Outlander. AP: Parlour Games. Hobbs: Nichols Canyon.

Onto the RSA: AP thinks if Coneygree runs he'll take all the beating. Hobbs then asked about If In Doubt's jumping. Lots of joking...
Between him and AP! Hobbs says that it's a hot RSA with market leaders all strong. Thinks Coneygree goes for the Gold Cup.
Jess notes the route taken over hurdles with Don Poli - just like Sir Des Champs. Says Noel Meade very sweet on Very Wood.
Selections: Jess and Mark like Don Poli. Hobbs goes for Coneygree, and if not, Kings Palace. AP likes Coneygree.

Onto the Champion Chase. Hobbs says bleeding a concern for Sprinter. Thinks that they were ballsy to run SDG at Chepstow, but with that....
Behind him, that he can win again. AP now.
"If you'd told me last year that I'd be riding Mr Mole I might have retired."
Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably The lesson is never try.
"He's had a heart transplant, mind transplant, leg transplant... I'm not sure that he's Mr Mole any more!"
"Sprinter ran a lot better than I thought he'd have run at Ascot. But I can't have him after the bleed."
"I was very impressed with Sire De Grugy at Chepstow." Rounds off by saying that CF "was a runaway in the KG."
Mark Howard is very keen on Sire De Grugy and readily preferred him to Sprinter. But he thinks that CF has been ignored as the Chelt horse.
Selections: AP, Hobbs - SDG. Mark, Jess: Champagne. Interval!





For @8Palfrey8: The JLT is the race Colour Squadron was just always going to go for. Was 154 before Haydock but if at best, can run well.
Jessica: Vautour's debut win over fences was breathtaking. Much better in himself now. Mark: Whole race revolves around Vautour.
Not much in way of selections there, nobody really took on Vautour.

Ryanair now. Jess waxes about Don Cossack, who's taken a lot of time to get right as he's so tall. Hidden Cyclone now settled better..,
And is a bigger threat because of it. Mark says field size could be a problem for Balder Success and likes Ma Filleule to turn around the...
....Form here. AP doesn't know who he rides as Uixandre may run. Hobbs points out that Wishfull Thinking is too big a price for top rated.
Mark and AP go for Ma Filleule, Jess Hidden Cyclone. Hayley's got lots of money for Ma Filleule in a competitive book.

Onto the World Hurdle. Hayley likes Jetson to run a big race. Hints at something spectacular being done on the day for the race by Lads.
Mark Howard is a big fan of Un Temps Pour Tout and sees improvement. McCoy says that Zarkandar isn't necessarily that strong a stayer...
AP thinks that Lieutenant Colonel and Saphir De Rheu might be best stayer. Hobbs thinks Zarkandar is the bet of the meeting.
Jess points out Monksland as being overlooked. Lieutenant the best of the Irish.

Triumph now. Peace and Co will definitely go off favourite says Hayley, but she likes Beltor. Phillip records some tales of Robert...
Stevens, who he had under his wing for two years. Panel note flat track questions RE Beltor. Mark likes Hargam most of the Henderson....
Trio, if the ground is good. AP obviously likes him.

Hobbs runs Golden Doyen in the Fred Winter because he thinks others have improved past him. He likes Hargam.
Jess doesn't see the Irish winning it.

Albert Bartlett. Jess is very excited about No More Heroes. Hayley likes Blaklion a lot. Alan asks Mark about Value at Risk. Mark says...
He'll excel as a chaser, but thinks that he's vulnerable to pace on good ground and that the Irish have a very strong hand. Blaklion.....
Blaklion the best of the home brigade but likes Martello Tower who's unbeaten over three miles. Hobbs likes Black Hercules.

Gold Cup time now! Hayley and Mike Dillion impressed by Djakadam who the Ricci's also love. Mark was impressed at Gowran too and....
While he needs to improve, would be going with him. Hobbs would be inclined to think the English have the advantage and that Conti will win
Hobbs says that he's been better for cheek pieces and that he was infront too soon last year. McCoy repeats Noel Meade's quip: "There's a"
"good or bad jump between then." He'd ride Silvi if he has the chance."
Jess likes Djakadam, and Mark likes him and Boston Bob.

Phillip's best chance of the meeting in handicaps "might be Duke of Lucca in the Cross Country:"

AP doesn't know most of his rides next week!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en-gb"><p>Picks of the week! <a href="http://t.co/TSSQ7am9xk">pic.twitter.com/TSSQ7am9xk</a></p>&mdash; Keejay (@keejayOV) <a href="https://twitter.com/keejayOV/status/574680072847781889">March 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[Lester]

Queen Mother Champion Chase sponsors Betway will reunite former Channel 4 Racing faces John Francome, Alastair Down and Mike Cattermole for a special two-hour Cheltenham Festival Preview show, which will be broadcast on Monday 9 March to both Sky and Freeview TV viewers in the build-up to next week's action.

The two-hour broadcast will run from 8pm-10pm on both Sky (channel 212) and Freeview (channel 244) on Monday 9 March, where Francome, Down and Cattermole will share their tips for next week's four days of racing from Prestbury Park that takes place between 10-13 March.

The former Channel 4 Racing stars will be joined in the studio by Betway’s Alan Alger, who will also review the firm’s latest odds and special promotions for the week.

Alger said: “It’s fantastic to welcome back three of racing’s most loved broadcasters and I’m delighted to join them for what will be an enjoyable and informative evening of racing talk and debate.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to point punters in the direction of a few winners and we’ll certainly enjoy a few laughs and memories from the panel along the way.”

<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QTLpAMid0e0H1WVeBfDMF1wpssziDvK_0d540DWecSk/embed?start=true&loop=true&delayms=3000" frameborder="0" width="720" height="434" allowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true"></iframe>

[loveracing]

Day 1 feature race Stan James Champion Hurdle @TanyaStevenson1 says watch the Willie Mullins trio maybe a 1 2 3? #CheltenhamFestival

Thats worth a punt!

1. Faugheen 2.Fly 3.AF
1. Faugheen 2.AF 3.Fly

Did anyone follow? Paid out 86x.