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Cheltenham 2023 Ante Post Bets

Discussion in 'Horse Racing' started by OddDog, Oct 2, 2022.

  1. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    Well someone had to start the thread ;)

    First ante post selection for me is yesterday's Gowran Park winner Banbridge at 20/1 for the Turners Novice Chase. The 2021 Martin Pipe winner jumped very accurately on his chase debut and went readily away from a more experienced rival in a good time (nearly 4s quicker than standard). Having clearly failed to stay 3 miles in the Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree I feel sure the Turners will be his Cheltenham target and Joseph will be plotting a route there avoiding the worst of winter ground.
     
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  2. Ste D

    Ste D Well-Known Member

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    Always nice to see this thread!! I decided to get on earlier this season.These are my bets so far, some were placed in March
    Jonbon Arkle 10s
    Jet Powered Supreme Novices 20s
    The Nice Guy RSA 10s
    Gailard Du Mensil National Chase 10s
    Chapeau De Soleil Bumper 20s
    Better Days Ahead Bumper 16s
    Gala Marceau Triumph Hurdle 25s
     
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  3. Tamerlo

    Tamerlo Well-Known Member

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    A good tentative selection, Oddy.
    Banbridge impressed with his jumping on his debut, but is he sure to go for the Turners? I hope so.
    The horse I’m most interested in for an ante-post dabble is Charlie Byrne’s stayer, Blazing Khal.
    His trainer stated that, following his setback, he’s 100% fit but will be kept for this forthcoming season.
    He impressed me with his abundant stamina in his two Cheltenham wins.
    Although Flooring Porter gave the best exhibition of jumping at the whole festival when winning this year’s Stayer’s Hurdle, Blazing Khal wouldn’t need to progress much more to throw down a serious challenge.
    I’ve taken your tip, Oddy, and backed both Banbridge and Blazing Khal , both at 20/1.<ok>
     
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  4. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    Blazing Khal did look very good last season Tam and, assuming he comes out and wins well on seasonal debut, his odds will collapse <ok>
     
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  5. Sir Barney Chuckles

    Sir Barney Chuckles Who Dares Wins

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    I loved Blazing Khal, last term, and felt it such a shame that injury intervened and he was forced to miss the Festival. Actually said after he won his Grade 2 at Cheltenham, last December, that in my entire life I'd never seen a staying novice hurdler storm up the hill in the impressive manner that Blazing Khal did that day. Fab-u-luss.

    Has he actually been confirmed as remaining over hurdles this season though??? The last comment I saw from Mr Byrnes was that a decision hadn't yet been made as to whether it was hurdles or fences for 2022/23.

    Do think though that whichever route they take Blazing Khal is destined for the very top.
     
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  6. Pilgrim

    Pilgrim Well-Known Member

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  7. Sir Barney Chuckles

    Sir Barney Chuckles Who Dares Wins

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    I mentioned The Gunner Yeats earlier in the week as he is the horse who beat Not Long Left (has now turned up at Mister Christian's together with a price tag of €200,000) in an Irish Point. As the former cost (shrewd connections) €310,000 think he has to be kept an eye on.

    An Tobar is another with seemingly a huge reputation.
     
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  8. Sir Barney Chuckles

    Sir Barney Chuckles Who Dares Wins

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    #8
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  9. Pilgrim

    Pilgrim Well-Known Member

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    GORDON ELLIOTT

    Absolute Notions

    He looked very smart when he won the Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown in April. He's got strong, he's schooling well and you'll see him in a maiden hurdle soon.

    American Mike
    I'm convinced he's very good and I definitely haven't lost any faith in him. He goes to Down Royal for a maiden hurdle early next month. I'd say 2m4f is probably his optimum trip. He scoped dirty after his run at Punchestown, so you can put a line through that. We know he's better than that. We think the world of him. He's pure quality.

    Amir Kabir
    He's a good horse, maybe a very good one. He gave himself a cut when he clattered into the second-last at Listowel but he'll be fine. He could be one we take over to the November meeting at Cheltenham. He's a slick jumper and very progressive. He deserves to step into Graded races now.

    Ash Tree Meadow
    He'll go to Cheltenham for a novice chase at the weekend and that will be his last run until the spring. We're going to give him a break and bring him back for a nice handicap chase. He's taken really well to fences. There's a big one in him.

    Battleoverdoyen
    He's already run well in a couple of decent races this season. He'll give his owners plenty of fun and is likely to end up in the Grand National.

    Better Days Ahead
    A really nice horse. He won his only point for Warren Ewing and came to us with a big reputation. He's ready to start off in a bumper and we're looking forward to him.

    Conflated
    We're going to bring him to Down Royal for the Ladbrokes Champion Chase along with Galvin. He's probably better going left-handed but he did win a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse going right-handed and it's probably time we gave him a shot at it. He's a fair horse and I'm absolutely delighted with him right now – he's flying. The way he ran at Aintree would make you wonder whether we should have run him in the Gold Cup rather than the Ryanair at Cheltenham. The Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup will be on his radar after Down Royal.

    Death Duty
    It was great to see him getting his head back in front in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown and I thought he was the best-handicapped horse I had going to Cheltenham. He ran well enough in the Ultima but came down early in the Grand National. I'd imagine he'll end up back at Aintree.

    Deeply Superficial
    A smashing mare. All of her work has been very good. We're waiting on a bit of softer ground to start her off. The form of her point win at Lingstown has been franked by the runner-up a few times since. We like what we see from her at home.

    Delta Work

    He'll have four runs this season. We want to get more experience into him over the cross-country course at Cheltenham, so he'll run in the handicap there next month. He could get beaten there as he'll have top weight but it's vital we get more experience into him. He'll go for the Boyne Hurdle that Tiger Roll always used to run in at Navan after that, then on to the cross-country at the festival before the Grand National.

    Demandrivingdouvan
    The form of the Punchestown bumper he was second in has been franked a few times since and I thought he was unlucky there too. I don't think it was Jamie's [Codd] finest hour. He's getting very strong and I think he's going to win a lot of races.

    Eric Bloodaxe
    We'll probably send him over fences. He did well for Joseph [O'Brien] and won plenty of races. He looks a stayer and should do well chasing.

    Escaria Ten
    He ran better than his finishing position suggests in the Grand National. He was only ninth in the end but was bang there in between three and two out. We'll be aiming him at some of the big staying handicap chases.

    Farclas
    The Grand National will be his ultimate aim and we'll work back from there. He was fifth in it in 2021 and I'm keen for him to have another crack at it.

    Fil Dor
    We're sending him straight over fences as we feel the four-year-old allowance will be a very useful tool. He'll be dangerous. You'd have to be excited about him going chasing given the way he used to jump hurdles. He's a talented horse.

    Found A Fifty
    You'd have to like what you saw from him when he won his sole point for Mark Fahey at Boulta last November. He's showing us nice things at home.

    Frontal Assault
    I'd imagine we'll head for something like the Troytown. The Munster National at Limerick might be a bit sharp for him but Navan could suit. I thought he'd need the run at Galway but I'd say the race fell apart. I was pleased with what he did, though. He was very good.

    Fury Road
    He goes to Down Royal for the Grade 2 chase for second-season novices. He's best fresh and when he's good he can look very good. He was brilliant the day he beat Run Wild Fred at Leopardstown over Christmas.

    Galvin
    All roads lead to Down Royal for the Ladbrokes Champion Chase. That will be his Gold Cup. He probably doesn't get the credit he deserves; we're lucky to have him. Davy [Russell] felt he'd never jumped as well as he did at Punchestown last week. Fitness-wise, he's probably a little behind where he was last year and he'll come on from the run, but it was a nice performance, a great starting point, and I was delighted with him. He had to give Run Wild Fred a lot of weight but good horses can do that and he's a very good one.

    Gerri Colombe
    He's going to make a top novice chaser. He's probably going to need soft ground but you'd have to be excited about seeing what he can do over fences. He's one we like a lot.

    Hollow Games
    I think he'll be a better chaser than he was a hurdler. He finished off well in the Martin Pipe and has some good form to his name over hurdles. I think he can better that over fences, though. He'll probably start off in a 2m4f beginners' chase somewhere.

    I Am Fortunata
    Jumping might settle this guy down. He won his bumper impressively first time out at Thurles and had a good run in a winners' bumper at Fairyhouse after that. He's been schooling well and is ready to start back.

    Imagine
    Jamie Codd is a big fan of this chap. He won his bumper easily enough at Punchestown in February and might go for the winners' bumper at Down Royal.

    Irish Point
    He had some smart form in France and won a Grade 1 bumper there on his most recent start last November. We're looking forward to seeing him over hurdles and he'll be out soon in a maiden. He could be nice.

    King Of Kingsfield
    He came recommended and looked very impressive when he won his point at Portrush by a long way for Paddy Turley. He seems to be showing us all the right signs at home and we're looking forward to starting him off in a bumper in the coming weeks.

    Mighty Potter
    This fella is a proper horse. He's schooling lovely and looks to me like he's strengthened up an awful lot over the summer. He'll go to Down Royal for a beginners' chase early next month. He always jumped hurdles like he wanted a fence – he probably didn't have enough respect for them but when he met one right he floated over them. He's going to be versatile with regard to trip. He's not slow by any stretch of the imagination but he'd have a great cruising speed for two and a half miles.

    Minella Crooner
    It was a shame he missed the Albert Bartlett as I thought he had a massive chance in it. You can safely put a line through his run at Punchestown; it was at the end of the season and that wasn't the real Minella Crooner. He won his sole point and we always thought he would make a nice chaser. He's a smart stayer.

    Mount Ida
    She'll start back at Clonmel next month in the Listed mares' chase she won last year. She was only getting going when she clipped heels and came down in the Irish National. There's a big one in her. She's better going right-handed but she won a Kim Muir around Cheltenham.

    Old Victoria
    A really nice filly we got from France. I'd say she's smart and she'll go down the juvenile hurdle road. She looks exciting.

    Pied Piper

    We're going to keep him over hurdles this season. He'll go to Cheltenham for the four-year-old hurdle this week and then might come back to Down Royal a fortnight later to run in the WKD Hurdle. He's a strong traveller and a slick jumper. He ran some race at Royal Ascot in the Ascot Stakes but was just too keen. There's a big race on the Flat in him.

    Queens Brook
    Given the preparation she had going into the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham, she ran some race to finish second. We're going to aim her at that race again and, if we get a clear run into it with her, she'll take some stopping.

    Riviere D'Etel
    She'll be aimed at all the mares' chases. She's still only five and she's got much stronger since she ran at Fairyhouse. She ran a lot better than her finishing position gives her credit for in the Arkle – she just did too much too soon. She'll win plenty of races this season.

    Run Wild Fred
    I was delighted with his run behind Galvin at Punchestown. He had fallen in the English and Irish Nationals, so a clear round was crucial. He could pick up another big pot this season. All he does is jump and gallop. When he gets into a rhythm, he can be a hard horse to catch.

    Saint Felicien
    The season didn't end the way we thought it might in the Coral Cup. Forget that run, he's a really nice horse who has schooled well over fences and has the makings of a really smart novice chaser.

    Samcro
    He's a real favourite around here. I know he's not the horse he was, but he was in some nick at home before he won on Sunday back in a point-to-point. I've never seen him looking so well and knew he'd run well. The hunters' chase route might really suit him and get his confidence back.

    Sire Du Berlais
    He was brilliant at Aintree. He and Flooring Porter pulled miles clear of everything else that day. Things just didn't happen for him on tacky ground in the Pertemps Final. He's been some horse for us over the years. He owes us nothing and age doesn't seem to be catching up with him. We'll aim high again this season.

    Teahupoo
    We've decided to keep him over hurdles this season. He'd always worked like a nice horse so, when he won his first three races last season, we decided to let him have a crack at the Champion Hurdle, but he was well beaten. The one thing we did learn last season is that the more cut there is in the ground the better he is, so we'll be waiting for soft ground for him and won't be running him on a lively surface this year. He's got plenty of class.

    The Storyteller
    He's been a stable star over the years – everyone loves him around here. He pulled up lame at Listowel last year and missed the rest of the season but he's back in training now and seems to be in very good form. He'll go point-to-pointing and we'll try to qualify him for the hunter chase at Cheltenham. He's back working well and about a fortnight away from a run.

    Three Stripe Life
    He's a very exciting horse to be going novice chasing with. We'll probably start him off over two miles but he'll step up in trip after that and I'd say two and a half is his trip. He's a Grade 1 winner already but I always thought he had the makings of a better chaser than hurdler. He'll be out soon and we're looking forward to it.

    Zanahiyr
    We've decided to keep him over hurdles and step him up in trip. He'll start back in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan next month and we think he might develop into a Stayers' Hurdle contender. That looks the most open of all the divisions. He's got some very smart form over shorter and has plenty of class. All he does is gallop and jump. It'll be interesting to see how he gets on over further.

    Two for the tracker

    You'd have to love the way Absolute Notions won the Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown with some good horses in behind him and you'd be hoping he could turn out to be top class.

    I know it's early in the season but I wouldn't put anyone off having a few quid on Queens Brook for the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham. That's her ultimate aim and if we get a clean run with her she'll take some beating in it.
     
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  10. Tamerlo

    Tamerlo Well-Known Member

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    Barney, I certainly hope he stays over hurdles, and not just for the sake of my ante-post bet.
    Strangely, staying hurdlers don’t have much success when trying their hand at the larger obstacles.
    Apart from Bob’s Worth who went on to win the Gold Cup and Brown Lad all those years ago, I’m struggling to think of another in the past.
    Perhaps you can jog my memory.
    Maybe it’s because they need more tactical speed over fences than the stamina sapping test of three mile hurdles. Not to mention jumping fences poses different tests than skipping over hurdles.
     
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  11. hawkeye

    hawkeye Well-Known Member

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    Minella Indo for sure and monkfish to a certain extent
     
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  12. Tamerlo

    Tamerlo Well-Known Member

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    OK, point taken, but I’m sure not many historically make it to the top.
     
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  13. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    I‘m sure Brindisi Breeze would have added to that list - proper horse he was <rose>
     
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  14. Pilgrim

    Pilgrim Well-Known Member

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  15. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    #15
  16. Sir Barney Chuckles

    Sir Barney Chuckles Who Dares Wins

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    As well as the 2 mentioned by Hawkeye can I also flag up Thistlecrack and, of course, the legendary Santini. The latter named now retired from the sport incidentally. Goes out a Grade 1 winner with a most impressive CV. The feeling persists though that, maybe, this record should have been even better...

    While on the Kelvin-Hughes' can I just make a point which had me hollering at ITV Racing at the weekend. They did a short piece on Dan Skelton, re 2022/23, and mentioned his main hopes. My Drogo being one who they claimed Dan hoped to have back on course by 'springtime'. However, the fact is that My Drogo has been at Polly Gundry's for at least 6 months. Look the Skelton's probably will get the horse back but as can be testified once they arrive at Mrs Gundry's they don't always go back!!!
     
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  17. Sir Barney Chuckles

    Sir Barney Chuckles Who Dares Wins

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    The 2 that I made positive notes about are at very different ranges of the old age spectrum. The 11YO gelding, The Storyteller, and the 3YO filly, Old Victoria. The former would be hugely exciting re the hunter chase division whilst the latter sounds hugely exciting - plus her dam is a sister to Sire du Berlais (Grade 1 winner).
     
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  18. Pilgrim

    Pilgrim Well-Known Member

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    The Nice Guy out of the season.
     
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  19. Pilgrim

    Pilgrim Well-Known Member

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    Some of them undoubtedly run and jump better than some of the horses I'll be betting on for the Festival.

     
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  20. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    Not specifically Cheltenham ante post but: just 6 entries for the Betfair Chase. Truly lamentable.
     
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