Cheltenham Preview Nights

Has anyone been to them?

If so is it to get info and insight or just for the banter?

I can't imagine Ferdy et al being overly forthcoming with their plots. Seems like a waste of money if that's the aim.

Schedule of Festival preview Nights

 

I thought last years posts by the people who went to them were really good and i hope that if any of the forumites go to again that they could post the best bits of these Preview Nights...

Its now begins the official countdown to the start of Cheltenham when we start getting these Preview nights... Even if George has been counting down since last March...

 

I go to one every year in dublin and its normally a very good line up.most of it is info you all ready have heard but there is always one or two golden nuggets in there.avoid davy russel like the plague,total spoofer

 

I think they're great and can be useful. You can pick up little bits and bobs, it's almost the throw away comments from trainers which are great. Last year, for example, I like Cinders & Ashes form on heavy. McCain says at one of these nights that he'll improve for good ground so bam I backed him. Always good craic, not been to one for a while mind.

Here's a good list

http://www.fatjockey.com/forum/showthread.php?1211-2013-Cheltenham-Festival-Preview-Night-Reports

 

And the report from the first one (hope they don't mind me posting it here)

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bitchy
Junior Member
Join Date
Feb 2013
Posts
5
firstly i want to say this is not my work but i have been given permission to share it with others



Cheltenham previews start with a bang



THERE was certainly an enthusiastic, if not youthful, attendance at the first of this year’s Cheltenham preview nights in the Goat Grill on Wednesday night. And those who made the trip weren’t disappointed with what they got in return.

Held in aid of the Injured Jockey’s Fund and run by the UCD Racing Society, Patrick Mullins spearheaded a sought-after panel, which also consisted of Grand National winning jockey Daryl Jacob, At The Races showman Kevin O’Ryan, Nicky Henderson, albeit by telephone, and Paddy Power Bookmakers.

MC duties were carried out by StarBets.ie’s own Gary O’Brien, who, as always, kept the show on the road with a constant flow all night. And he certainly didn’t let the panel members off lightly with regular insightful questions. Mullins and Jacob were put on the spot more than once.

Proceedings kicked off with Hurricane Fly dominating the Champion Hurdle chat and it finished with Patrick Mullins convincing everybody, including himself, that the nine-year-old will regain his crown. “There’s been so much bull said about Hurricane Fly. He wasn’t himself last year. Dad was never happy with him and you could see that he was never at his best. He’s back to himself this year and he’ll win. He’s the best there’s been since Istabraq.” enthused Mullins junior on the Closutton stable star.

Hurricane Fly will bid to become the first horse in 38 years to regain the Champion Hurdle crown. It was hard for any of Mullins’ fellow panel members to disagree with that!

My Tent Or Yours, described by Nicky Henderson as ’99 per cent sure to run in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle’, was friendless by all the present panel members. Jezki received a much more favourable mention while Mullins described Paddy Power’s quote of 16/1 about Champagne Fever as ‘an insult’. Henderson also described Chatterbox as an unlikely runner in any of the Cheltenham novice races on the basis that they’re ‘coming a year too soon.’

Simonsig got the all round vote in the Arkle Trophy, with even Mullins casting doubts over the jumping of Arvika Ligeonniere. Kevin O’Ryan did give Overturn a chance of beating the talented grey however. Few suggested that Pont Alexandre wouldn’t win the Neptune Investments Novices’ Hurdle, who is the ‘best horse in the race’ according to Ireland’s leading amateur jockey. The panel were split however on whether Dynaste would make up for Grands Crus’ disappointment in the RSA Chase. Mullins was none the wiser as to whether Boston Bob or Back In Focus would represent the Wylie’s colours in that race.

It was agreed all round that this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup was ‘the best renewal in some time’ with Bobs Worth, Sir Des Champs and First Lieutenant all getting very favourable mentions. Mullins did stress the fact that Sir Des Champs’ season has been geared around this race. Kevin O’Ryan was in full agreement.

Other horses to get positive mentions on the night were Our Conor, including from Nicky Henderson, who declined in putting up Rolling Star as his Charity Bet after seeing Dessie Hughes’ juvenile win three days earlier at Leopardstown. Daryl Jacob nominated both Sam Winner (Pertemps) and Wonderful Charm (Coral Cup) as his two to keep an eye on in the handicaps while Rocky Creek, his likely ride in the RSA Chase, also had the Wexford native glowing.

When it came to the Champion Bumper talk however, Patrick was the only man to listen to here. “At the moment, we’re planning to run Union Dues, Clondaw Court and Sizing Tennessee. I won’t know which one I’ll be riding until closer to the race but it’s a case of deciding between a two mile hurdler in Union Dues or a three mile chaser in Clondaw Court.” explained Patrick.

Just minutes later, Mullins gave a much bigger indication of his likely Cheltenham mount when selecting the latter as his charity bet. So the perfect way to sign off and that was enough to send everybody home happy. Isn’t that the general consensus after the bumper?

PADDY POWER CHARITY BETS
Daryl Jacob – Sam Winner (Pertemps, 6-1 with Paddy Power)
Patrick Mullins – Clondaw Court (Champion Bumper, 9-1 with Paddy Power)
Gary O’Brien – Salsify (Christie’s Foxhunters, 4-1 with Paddy Power)
Charlie Chawke – Champagne Fever (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, 16-1 with Paddy Power)
Kevin O’Ryan – Sir Des Champs (Cheltenham Gold Cup, 7-2 with Paddy Power)

 

Nice one George...

 

Yep me too Oddy.

 

From the fatjockey.com website again, hope they don't mind we are all racing fans afterall. Exeter:

Philip Hobbs: Cheltenian may go to Aintree instead of Cheltenham
•My Tent or Yours to hammer the bookmakers in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
•Nicholls needs to see ***o jump well at Sandown tomorrow before he makes a decision about the Festival
•David Pipe and Phillip Hobbs agree that Overturn will win the Arkle. Paul Binfield reckons Arvika Ligeonniere will win.
•Paul Nicholls says there's nothing between Hurricane Fly, Zarkandar, Rock on Ruby and Grandouet for the Champion Hurdle.
•Paul Nicholls says there doesn't appear to be any pace in the Champion Hurdle and jocs will have to ride accordingly
•Pont Alexandre is the Irish banker of the meeting and is reckoned to be a monster says Paddy Power's Paul Binfield
•Feltham Chase winners get beaten in the RSA, says the panel - Hadrians Approach is a market mover
•Paul Nicholls "Sprinter Sacre is unbeatable. We're just looking for crumbs."
•With the Champion Chase likely to cut up, the Ryanair Chase will be the race of the season, says Paul Binfield.
•Wonderful Charm is fav for Coral Cup. Paul Nicholls says he's only had one run and he's in the dark about him.
•Menorah will run in the Ryanair. Hobbs is very happy with him. It will be his 4th Festival.
•Oscar Whiskey gets the verdict in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
•Paul Nicholls says Far West is by far the best juvenile he has in training and will go well in the Triumph.
•Alan King says its a poor race! Nicholls is taking A King to task and says the Triumph is a decent race. Paul Binfield is relieved Nicholls agrees with him.
•Woodford County has a squeak in the Albert Bartlett and he's for sale says Philip Hobbs. He runs at Exeter Tuesday week.
•Paul Nicholls says Bobs Worth is the one to beat in the Gold Cup. Pipe agrees but says The Giant Bolster also has a chance too.
•Paul Binfield says Captain Chris is in form of life and is a huge price at 20-1 for the Gold Cup
•Paul Nicholl's Charity bet is £100 ew on Dodging Bullets in the Supreme'
•Philip Hobbs goes with Overturn in the Arkle
•David Pipe goes with Cue Card in Ryanair
•Andrew King's charity bet is £200 on Colour Squadron for Centenary Novice
•Tanya Stevenson's charity bet is Our Mick for the JLT

 

LOL oddy at least you're consistent

 

I probably should know this but who is Paul Binfield?

 

You should because it says in one of the bullet points!

 

Haha oh dear. Not very smooth. Shame, I was hoping he was more connected than that, and that he was talking from seeing Captain Chris working...

 

see post below

 

Ok, ok

2 better versions of Exeter and Warwick can be found here. These are fantastic.

http://www.digital-forums.com/showthread.php/928575-cheltenham-festival-preview-nights

 

Im going to Catterick (work depending) on Friday and Wetherby on Monday the 4th, been a couple of nights and i like them, dont expect to come back with the "This time next month we' ll be millionaires Rodders" attitude but they are informative. After all its only there thoughts, i normally find that the jockeys who are waiting for Rides give the best talks as they are wanting rides if and body cant make it, Brian Hughes was very good last year at Richmond.

In all they are a good night out good, craic and most raise money for Injured Jockeys or Welfare funds my advice

Stay Frosty and get your self to one if you can

 

The thing that caught my eye, away from all the tips, info ect was this point from Andrew Tinkler

AT:There is much argument in the yard who is the better horse, Sprinter Sacre or Simonsig, but I think Simonsig is better. But can you back at odds-on in the Arkle? They would never work together though or blink and you would miss it. I rode in the race Overturn won at Musselburgh and he’s so quick. Captain Conan will run in the Jewson.

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What sort of unspeakable freak is Simonsig?

 

Thanks for posting these up George, I love them. If you don't look at them as being goldmines of massively privileged information but merely as an appetiser for the feast of racing they work a treat! I love hearing pundits views on horses they think can't win rather than those they think will win. There's usually enough bits of tasty information in them to attend one if you can.

 

I'm going to the one at Wetherby a week today, if I remember I'll do my best to take down anything interesting and provide a bit of a write-up after