Cheltenham Thursday Thread

[Old Vic]

Cheltenham Thursday thread - links to races below

Yankee discussion first below ..general discussion after

Champion Hurdle Day	Champion Chase Day	World Hurdle Day	Gold Cup Day
Supreme Novice	Neptune IM	JLT Novices Chase	Triumph Hurdle
Arkle Trophy Chase	RSA Chase	Pertemps Final	County Hurdle
Festival Chase	Coral Cup	Ryanair Chase	Albert Bartlett Hurdle
Champion Hurdle	Champion Chase	World Hurdle	Gold Cup News
Mares Hurdle	Cross Country	Festival Plate	Foxhunter Chase News and Tips
NH Chase	Fred Winter	Kim Muir	Martin Pipe Hurdle
Novices Handicap	Champion Bumper		Grand Annual

Lessey has been entrusted with the day 3 pick

Post your suggestions and make it difficult for him.

[loveracing]

To whom this may concern,

Day 3 Suggestion.

Race: Ryanair
Selection: Ballynagour
Odds: 25/1 (23/02/15)

FJ Spotlight: (Tipped up before Pricewise)
Bolted up in last years Festival Plate (John's Spirit was 15L back in 4th). In 2013 he was the stables big gamble and backed off the board into 7/2fav for the same race but did not live up to expectations, but made amends the following year in clear cut style. Had a similar prep last year where he pulled up in a single prep run in November, though this time was the Hennesey so they must have some belief in the horse. Pipe is the master of getting his horses ready after a lay off and with Dynaste out I think he will have Ballynagour fit and ready for this race. The negative is that he will be going off level weights. General 25/1 ap or 16/1 NRNB could well be the stables big gamble.

[MrMcGoldrick]

I have to stick to my original thinking for my Thursday selection

Rock on Ruby World hurdle

This horse is pure class, and the last time out cruised around in front, at a decent enough pace, pulled away from a good field with a flick of the reigns, that was only 3 furlongs short of the WH trip and he looked good value for much further. He has excellent Cheltenham form in his cv and travels very well but has a good finishing kick, good ground obviously a plus, with doubts about everything else I think he's a solid option, at around 8/1

[Old Vic]

Happy to pick it up if needs be

Lessey - thanks. Its all yours

[Lessey]

No worries, happy to help.

Will be really interesting to see what people suggest

[mayo]

I'd be happy enough with Smashing

Edeymi in Pertemps as an alternative.

[Karanja Kid]

Apache Stronghold in JLT though only 6-1 now. Carberry and Meade see it as their best chance at the Festival and possibly GC next year.
Rock on Ruby at 8-1 slightly better value and great chance. Fry and Fehily confident it stays, ground important but Claisse mentioned today that week of Festival current forecast warm weather which could mean ROR gets perfect ground by Thursday. Cheltenham hurdles form make it an each way must.

[Mytentoryours]

Valseur Lido JLT. A terrific jumper and an end to end gallop should see him in a much better light than when runner up in the Flogas. Gitane Du Berlais and Vautour will go a good gallop.

[loveracing]

Love it guys. Plenty of suggestions coming in now, keep it up!

Maybe if have enough variety in the suggestions that we can pick an e/w and win Yankee.

[Lessey]

So, for Thursday so far we have:

Ballynagour in the Ryanair
Rock on Ruby in the World Hurdle x2
Smashing in the JLT - seems to be headed to the Arkle unfortunately so he's out
Edeymi in the Pertemps
Apache Stronghold - good bet but too short for e/w purposes here
Vasleur Lido in the JLT - unsure on his definite destination so may have to rule him out

Currently Rock on Ruby is leading votes wise in this thread and I certainly wouldn't mind suggesting him but the rumor mill is suggesting Annie is coming to the World Hurdle party as well which will make life harder. Its a shame smashing is headed to the Arkle as he seemed to be a good priced outsider and forum favorite.

Has anyone else got any suggestions, or support for those already suggest otherwise it's a very short list

[loveracing]

So, for Thursday so far we have:

Ballynagour in the Ryanair
Rock on Ruby in the World Hurdle x2
Smashing in the JLT - seems to be headed to the Arkle unfortunately so he's out
Edeymi in the Pertemps
Apache Stronghold - good bet but too short for e/w purposes here
Vasleur Lido in the JLT - unsure on his definite destination so may have to rule him out

Currently Rock on Ruby is leading votes wise in this thread and I certainly wouldn't mind suggesting him but the rumor mill is suggesting Annie is coming to the World Hurdle party as well which will make life harder. Its a shame smashing is headed to the Arkle as he seemed to be a good priced outsider and forum favorite.

Has anyone else got any suggestions, or support for those already suggest otherwise it's a very short list

Even though AS is not 8/1+, I think is a solid bet.

I did fancy Dawalan 14/1 NRNB for Pertemps, but not sure about his 11st 10lbs.

[Mytentoryours]

If Valseur doesn't make the cut on account of his uncertain target, Un Temp Pour Tout for me. He is fine on any ground and his run in the Cleeve was a cracker considering it was his first of the season. He looks to have plenty of improvement in him at this trip.

[loveracing]

If Valseur doesn't make the cut on account of his uncertain target, Un Temp Pour Tout for me. He is fine on any ground and his run in the Cleeve was a cracker considering it was his first of the season. He looks to have plenty of improvement in him at this trip.

I think UTPT is a good e/w. I have actually backed him and Blue Fashion for this race.

This is not my day to judge the suggestions, but do we have the same feelings for ROR without NF on board?

[MrMcGoldrick]

I think UTPT is a good e/w. I have actually backed him and Blue Fashion for this race.

This is not my day to judge the suggestions, but do we have the same feelings for ROR without NF on board?

I don't think the ride's decided yet LR, does look like it will be Zarkandar for Noel though. If they get someone with a similar style I think ROR still has a massive chance in the WH, I just think he's the best horse in the race.

[loveracing]

I don't think the ride's decided yet LR, does look like it will be Zarkandar for Noel though. If they get someone with a similar style I think ROR still has a massive chance in the WH, I just think he's the best horse in the race.

Fehily confirms Zarkandar mount

Noel Fehily has confirmed that his Ladbrokes World Hurdle ride will be Zarkandar rather than the horse he has won a Champion Hurdle on, Rock On Ruby.

Fehily is contracted to ride for Zarkandar's owner, Chris Giles, and while that means he is on the Gold Cup favourite Silviniaco Conti, he has to give up the mount on his favourite horse.

Speaking to Betfred TV, Fehily said: "I will be riding Zarkandar, I'm contracted to the owners.

"Obviously it's something I hoped wouldn't happen, that the two would clash, but they are going to clash and I'm having to ride Zarkandar because of my commitment to the owners.

"It's not a bad dilemma to be in as they are two very good horses, hopefully Zarkandar can go and win.

Profiles Zarkandar
"It's something I haven't been looking forward to as I love Rock On Ruby and he's done wonders for my career and he's going in the form of his life. He has a massive chance, but I also think Zarkandar has a massive chance.

"They have the same rating, they've raced four times and it's two each, there's nothing between them."