Cheltenham 2019 Ante-Post bets

[Kevloaf]

Are Bet365 to make a big announcement today? (NRNB?)

Nothing yet.... that's what was anticipated

[Vautour]

Cheers Kev, thats what I thought. Have been continually checking at work today and wondered if I had got the day wrong!

[Jacob180]

Added 4 new selections:
Mister Malarky - NH Chase at 20s - Slow Horse Stays allday
Lough Derg Spirit - Close Bros at 20s - One to come out of the kempton christmas handicap chase
Road to Respect - GC at 14s - unlucky all year, feel cheltenham is his time.
Tiger Tap Tap - TH at 14s - unlucky behind sir erec all year, price should be shorter in relation to sir erec.

[ComplyOrDie]

Added 4 new selections:
Mister Malarky - NH Chase at 20s - Slow Horse Stays allday
Lough Derg Spirit - Close Bros at 20s - One to come out of the kempton christmas handicap chase
Road to Respect - GC at 14s - unlucky all year, feel cheltenham is his time.
Tiger Tap Tap - TH at 14s - unlucky behind sir erec all year, price should be shorter in relation to sir erec.

Like LDS for that, put him up a while back for it, connections seem hopeful too

It is one of only a couple of handicap races that Nicky seems to do 'OK' in too, which is a positive.

[monkfish]

Who are your big fancies from among the novice hurdle brigade?

Gordon Elliott I like a couple of our own horses – Battleoverdoyen, who won a Grade 1 at Naas last month and who goes for the Ballymore, and Commander Of Fleet, who won a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last week. He goes for the Albert Bartlett.

Paul Nicholls Battleoverdoyen of Gordon Elliott’s has caught my eye. Getaway Trump is definitely one we’ve not seen the best of yet and he’ll hopefully end up at Cheltenham in March; the same goes for Kapcorse, who’s lightly raced and has a big future, along with Quel Destin in the Triumph.

James Bowen We obviously haven’t seen a horse who has stood out except for Champ, who has been great so far this season. Mister Fisher, who I rode at Haydock, would look to go to the Supreme with a chance and is still improving.

Matt Williams I’m not giving up on Vision D’Honneur just yet. He ran a fair race when beaten by Klassical Dream at Leopardstown and under very different conditions in the Supreme he’d do for me at a price. Battleoverdoyen in the Ballymore. Relegate jumps like she needs more practice but the Albert Bartlett trip should help and I have her down as good bet material if she lines up for it.

Paul Kealy I’ve backed Al Dancer for the Supreme. He looked fast to me when winning at Cheltenham and I hope they get the Betfair Hurdle on soon enough. One horse I’ve become interested in at a big price wherever he ends up is Sams Profile. Given the mistakes he made he did really well to be beaten under three lengths by Battleoverdoyen last time and if he brushes up his jumping he’ll be a factor.

Padraig Hassett Apart from the Triumph, the other three novice hurdles look very open. Mister Fisher and Commander Of Fleet are two horses I like.



And which novice chasers do you expect to see challenging for honours?
Gordon Elliott If the ground is on the good side on the first day then I think Le Richebourg will be difficult to beat in the Arkle, and I think we have a big chance with Delta Work in the RSA. Defi Du Seuil looks good for the JLT.

Paul Nicholls Topofthegame has always been a horse I love. His second behind La Bague Au Roi reads very well now following her Grade 1 victory at Leopardstown this month, and I cannot wait to see him in the RSA Chase.

James Bowen I think we have seen some good novice chasers this season and I’m looking forward to seeing them clash at Cheltenham.

Matt Williams I’ll back Defi Du Seuil if he runs in the Arkle but he’s favourite for the JLT, and I don’t like him nearly as much for that. Santini for the RSA; forget his run at Kempton, where I thought Nico de Boinville half looked after him on a track he didn’t enjoy.

Paul Kealy I genuinely think Topofthegame should be joint-favourite for the RSA. He was in front of Santini when he probably should have won the Kauto Star and nearly won the Coral Cup off a mark 11lb higher than Delta Work won the Pertemps. I’ve still got high hopes for Lalor in the Racing Post Arkle, but you have to fear Le Richebourg.

Padraig Hassett Ok Corral was very good at Warwick and will be very difficult to beat in the four-miler. Cilaos Emery was very good at Gowran and might fit the bill in the Arkle, while Delta Work has done everything right all year and should be favourite for the RSA.

[monkfish]

If you could have only one festival bet, what would it be and why?

Gordon Elliott We’ve won the last two runnings of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle and I think Dallas Des Pictons, who won at Leopardstown recently, will have a big chance of making it three in a row for the yard.

Paul Nicholls Give Me A Copper in the Ultima Handicap Chase on the first day. He ran a beautiful comeback race at Sandown in the Masters Handicap Chase the other day, when I knew I had left loads to work on. This is a high-class horse and I’m really looking forward to him.

James Bowen If I had the chance to ride any horse at the festival it would definitely be Altior – he is just incredible.

Matt Williams Ok Corral stands out a mile in the National Hunt Chase, if he takes that route. Derek O’Connor is a brilliant jockey and is worth weight in a race like this. I like the fact he got a taster on him at Warwick last month, when he oozed class in a warm race. It all seems too obvious though!

Paul Kealy Give Me A Copper in the Ultima on Tuesday. His jumping was sensational for one so inexperienced at Sandown after a long break, and if he comes on as much for it as Paul Nicholls thinks he will (he drifted from 7-1 to 14-1 on the day) he is surely going to be well handicapped.

Padraig Hassett Riders Onthe Storm in the novice handicap. He’s made for the race.

[Kevloaf]

Thanks monkfish

[Can't Catch Me]

I've been umming and aahing about Dallas des Pictons for a while, but have well and truly missed the boat now.

Obviously you'd be daft to ignore comments like that from Gordon, but 7-1 seems very short. Will it be much shorter on the day?

[archie]

We haven't even had the entries yet, never mind the weights.

[Humble Pie]

I've been umming and aahing about Dallas des Pictons for a while, but have well and truly missed the boat now.

Obviously you'd be daft to ignore comments like that from Gordon, but 7-1 seems very short. Will it be much shorter on the day?

I’m on the quayside as well but heed Archie’s wise words

[Can't Catch Me]

We haven't even had the entries yet, never mind the weights.

Indeed. But if Gordon thinks this is the best handicapped horse in his yard, in a race he's recently done so well in, then I'd always sit up and listen to such comments.

[Muswell]

I would be cautious at such pronouncements by any one never mind a shrewdie like Gordon at this stage as Archie highlights

[Humble Pie]

I would be cautious at such pronouncements by any one never mind a shrewdie like Gordon at this stage as Archie highlights

Couldn’t agree more

[Can't Catch Me]

I always find GE quite frank and honest with his Cheltenham comments tbh. If you look back, he's nearly always given his winners very positive mentions in the lead up to the Festival.

The handicapper wont be changing his mark based on trainer comments.

[archie]

Indeed. But if Gordon thinks this is the best handicapped horse in his yard, in a race he's recently done so well in, then I'd always sit up and listen to such comments.

The quote doesn't say it's the best handicapped horse in the yard. As it's gone up by 7lb in Ireland for the last win (by a neck), it would be surprising if it was especially with the extra 5lb that he'll likely get in the UK.

I always find GE quite frank and honest with his Cheltenham comments tbh. If you look back, he's nearly always given his winners very positive mentions in the lead up to the Festival.

The handicapper wont be changing his mark based on trainer comments.

He gives very positive mentions to nearly all his horses - unless he's hiding a handicap nugget.