Ballymore (Previously Neptune) Novice Hurdle 2018

[Scooby91]

Fair play. Couldn't agree myself. Don't think CM handled the track at all last year and Id be avoiding him in any race. Just doesn't look up to Festival standard to my eyes.

I think he's probably a soft ground horse as well.

I'd agree mainly, I completely misread.

Cracking smart wins the bartlett imo. With or without ND

[Innoko]

On The Blind Side remains on course to put his unbeaten record on the line in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 14.

The Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old has not been sighted since winning a Grade Two at Sandown in December after he knocked a joint in the run-up to the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

Henderson said: "He is good. He has got to look out for this Samcro. We thought we were tootling quite nicely towards that race (Ballymore) but we have got a rather big brick wall there in front of us."

The Seven Barrows handler continued: "I was talking to Alan (Spence) in South Africa on Monday and he said they have got to worry about us as well as us worrying about them. On The Blind Side is a good horse, he really is, and he was impressive at Sandown.

"He had sore shins at Cheltenham the time before and he didn't come down the hill. That is why I stuck to two and a half (miles) and didn't get tempted to go to three.

"It looked for all the world that he wants three miles but he had sore shins and didn't want to come down the hill. When he hit the rising ground, he was off and and away. You go downhill on sore shins and it will hurt."

[Kevloaf]

Sky's special today is Samcro by 3L or more (NRNB) 2/1 for the Ballymore.... Hurdle wins have been by 15L, 12L and 5.5L (in a grade 1) .... one of the better specials I've seen them have.....

Personally don't like distance bets and wouldn't back it myself having already got a bigger price on him to win the race....

Also glad that OTBS will take him on. Better to see Samcro beat good horses than win none contests.

[Scooby91]

Western ryder is hopingb to get his ballymore aspirations back on track today. However 2 of the horses iv had an eye on for the martin pipe the clock is ticking and Mr one more are in opposition today, the latter finished behind last time but he's crying out for this step up in trip

[ComplyOrDie]

Looking at the exchanges now it seems the decision has been made for Samcro.

Swear he was above evens yesterday, now only 5/6 and hardly any money wanting to lay him further at anywhere near that price.

Can't seem to give Next Destination away for this race either at the moment.

[Innoko]

Looking at the exchanges now it seems the decision has been made for Samcro.

Swear he was above evens yesterday, now only 5/6 and hardly any money wanting to lay him further at anywhere near that price.

Can't seem to give Next Destination away for this race either at the moment.

Gordon Elliott is still favouring the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month for Samcro despite his impressive victory over two miles last Sunday.

The two-mile-five-furlong Ballymore had been viewed as his most likely destination, but he also holds entries in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle over three miles as well as the Supreme over two.

He impressed in winning the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown last weekend, extending his unbeaten run under Rules to six in the process, but Elliott is still favouring the Ballymore above his other Festival options.

"He's good. He'll go straight to Cheltenham now anyway," said Elliott. "Everybody probably knows that the Ballymore is where I'd say he's going to go at the moment. We'll let the horse do the talking and Cheltenham is the plan now."

Probably has something to do with it...

[Geordieboy83]

So as we stand it’s Samcro and OTBS Ballymore and ND going AB?

[Innoko]

So as we stand it’s Samcro and OTBS Ballymore and ND going AB?

With DDG going Ballymore also...

But thats just my GUESS! And others will differ!

[Istabraq]

Western Ryder heading here now...

[Innoko]

Can help yourself to 18.5 on exchanges for ND now...

And just matched at 42..

[Toffees]

Ok Corrall back to winning ways today. Likely to turn up here for JP. Still a bit off 33s around

[FaugheenTheMachine]

Eddie O’Leary today “Samcro runs in the Ballymore and that’s final”

[robith]

One thing you get with Giggins - even if you think their choice is wrong, they do tend to be quite bloody minded about sticking to it

[Middle_Of_March]

Eddie O’Leary today “Samcro runs in the Ballymore and that’s final”

[Innoko]

We all knew this though really, didn't we....