I agree with you about the Arkle - pretty poor to only have 5 runners - the soft ground though makes it more interesting with Saint Calvados now a real danger to FOOTPAD.
Disappointed to see north hill Harvey's defection in the arkle but other than that on day one I m pretty happy...13 in the Champion hurdle..some years we ve barely had 8. Although with the ground as it is and at best if its soft heavy in places tomorrow will there be some late withdrawals? I m not sure with this ground whether there will be more shocks or whether as we ve been running on this sort of ground for months now it will transpire from recent form...
The only danger to BUVEUR D'AIR is whether Faugheen is any better with cheekpieces. Will still stick with the former though along with Footpad in the Arkke. I think Getabird will get turned over by KALASHNIKOV in the Supreme, whilst in the Mares I think APPLE'S JADE is probably the banker of the week.
I agree with you to a degree on the champion hurdle but i m not so sure its a formality...anything can happen and probably more so on heavy ground...he could fall or another horse could fall in front of him...
Big price speculative e/w L15 1.30 (Jimmy) Summerville Boy 10/1 Ground to his liking, beat Kalashnikov lto. If I hear myself saying “cum on Jimmy Summerville” I will punch myself! 2.50 Knight of Noir 25/1 See Sir Barney’s thread 3.30 Elgin 20/1 Been supplemented, won on soft here in Nov 5.30 Mister Whitaker 10/1 I would to see Mick Channon do his Windmill in the winners enclosure. Good luck to you all. Let’s have a profitable Cheltenham fellas
CheltenhamRacecourseVerified account@CheltenhamRaces 3h3 hours ago Going Update after 10mm of rain overnight. Chase/Hurdle: HEAVY, SOFT IN PLACES Cross-country: SOFT, HEAVY IN PLACES
Can I throw in my perennial festival moan? Betting shops where you have to explain to the sraff that The Arkle is the name of the race
My mate who is down in Cheltenham right now has just texted me to say Altior is lame... Anyone else picked up on this news...???
Taken advantage of the money back as free bet offers available. Supreme Getabird 7/4 (Skybet ) Mengli Khan 12/1 (coral) First Flow 10/1 (betway) Close Bros Barney Dwan 8/1 (betway)
Alex Hammond's day 1 Tips Getabird Footpad Vintage Clouds e/w Buveur D'Air Apples Jade Rathvinden LiveLoveLaugh/Ballyhill https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/alex-hammond:-jade-the-banker/144430
Have done 2 e/w patents at Cheltenham for tomorrow - modest stakes, because I do want to last the week out 1:30 - Kalshnikov 2:50 - Gold Present 3:30 - My Tent or Yours 4:10 - La Bague Au Roi 4:50 - No Comment 5:30 - Divine Spear Good luck all tomorrow