BetVictor Gold Cup 2016

im on SIZING PLATINUM EW AT 16/1. SIZING GRANITE EW AT 20/1. AND BOUVEREUIL WIN AT 12/1

Sizing Granite E/w @ 25’s 5 Places.

Looked to be a leading Novice in 2014-15 but never really ran well last season for De Bromhead.

Now in the care of Tizzard hopefully he can maybe start making up for lost time.

Good luck everyone

Bouvreuil seems to have been aimed at this and on his festival run should go well in a race where it’s hard to find much seemingly well handicapped. Taquin De Seuil is being well supported but I don’t see him suited in a big field, in his 5 chase wins he’s only defeated 26 opponents in total and is 3ib higher for his defeat of Niceonefrankie at Warwick. Annacotty, Art Maresque, Sizing Granite and Village Vic look to have it all to do off marks in the mid 150’s. Double Shuffle doesn’t seem weighted to win either and Tenor Nivernais is 18ib above his last winning mark. Aso, Sizing Platinum and Vintage Vinnie seem up against it. Thomas Crapper is weighted to go close on best form but I don’t think we’ve seen that since the 2015 festival and the form of Potters Cross’s has taken a few knocks. As De Mee rightly dropped 6ib for his lackluster efforts at the spring festivals and only had to run to his revised mark to prevail at odds on at Fontwell with the runner up losing by further next time out. A strong traveler who doesn’t seem to find a whole lot under pressure. Stilletto is oposable of a stiff mark given what he’s actually achieved. Frodon although full of potential has faced a mere 9 rivals in his 3 chase starts/victories and was disappointing on both his previous visits to Cheltenham although over hurdles. It’s hard to get a grip on just how good he is but in my opinion he will need to improve on everything we’ve seen so far. More Of That is a horse who doesn’t need to improve but rather get back to his best. A chase rating of 154 is well within his capabilities as is this trip round a course he’s performed well at under both codes. I wouldn’t put anyone off backing him as he is the most likely winner but I feel there’s value to be found in both Bouvreuil and Buywise who seems a solid each-way bet given SkyBet & BetVictor are offering first 6 places. Evan William’s horses are running well and he’s weighted to finish in front of Annacotty. Lastly, top weight Ballynagour seems overpriced at 40/1 given he runs well fresh, the stable is in form and he runs of the same mark that saw him finish 2nd in the Summer Plate.

Bouvreuil 14/1 win
Buywise 16/1 each-way
Ballynagour 40/1 each-way

Saver on More of That 5/1

I backed More Of That ante-post for the RSA and now given the same mark as RSA winner who finished 8 1/2 lengths in front of him. However, MOT finished with blood in nostrils that day and undoubtedly well handicapped on hurdles form. Stable are out of form which is a big negative; on the other hand Jonjo seems unusually bullish which suggests he’s going really well at home. Trouble is it wouldn’t take much to be going a lot better than ill horses. I’ve made him just a saver this time.

MOT’s stable-mate Taquin De Suil ran well enough over hurdles on reappearance to suggest is still capable. Not sure many of these could get within 13 lengths of Vautour (Ryanair) at level weights either. Good record around here, twice winner as a novice including of 12 runner 2014 JLT. However, will need to be at least as good as ever at a time Jonjo’s horses have been running poorly.

Frodon is only 4 years old, chase career only two months old and beaten fields of 5, 4 and 3. However, he’s so far jumped particularly well. Am also a great fan of Shantou Village who Frodon had beat when that one fell at the last at Wincanton. Could make in to a top novice this season. Those three runs were on a soundish surface, but has hurdles form on soft ground. I’d like to see an inexperienced chaser who’s not used to big fields go around the outer – not amongst horses. Harry Cobden is as good as most experienced jockeys, well worth 3 lbs claim. 8/1 worth taking imo.

Stable companion As De Mee is interesting, won maiden chase at Fontwell first time up this season. However, doesn’t have a good win to run ratio and I wonder how much he’ll find in a competitive affair.

Double Shuffle is one I like. Ran at least as well as ever to get within a head of Art Mauresque at Chepstow on reappearance. On a 5 lbs higher mark but Stable are in excellent form now and this 6 year old can improve for the added test of stamina this race should bring. Hopefully his jumping will stand the test, it did when 3rd in the novice handicap here at the Festival. Only 2 lbs better off for 4 1/2 lengths with 2nd Bouvreuil, but has probably improved since. Nicholls horse might not be the most reliale, loomed up that day but winner Ballyalton found more. Art Mauresque needs the rain to stay away.

Can’t be with a Venittia Williams horses this early in the season, Aso and Tenor Nivernais seem up against it. Tenor Nivernais is sure to be up with the pace, looks too exposed to stay there. Rightly an outsider. Aso won a 4 runner novice at Newton Abbott on final start last season. Needs to brush up his jumping for a test like this though…

If Buywise ever does the same, he’d capture a big one. Has had so many chances. Needs a strongly run race at this trip to have them coming back to him. Jockey has found it difficult to judge the pace. Now 9 years old and seemingly his merit is exposed – unlikely to improve.

Trainer Johnny Farrelly is going really well at the moment which is a good sign for Stilletto‘s chances. However, will Farrelly be able to get as much out of this horse as Paul Nicholls and Philip Hobbs? Not always the best of jumpers for Ditcheat, 11/2 fav for the 2m5f handicap at the Festival in March, got no further than the third, also fell at Wincanton. But stands a good chance on best of his form.

Village Vic improved to win four on the bounce last season, including two big Cheltenham handicaps. Then came 9th in the Ryanair (outclassed) and 13th in Topham (unable to lead/race prominently). Isn’t especially well treated now, but if able to get a good early position (Vintage Vinnie only other proper front runner) it’s possible could resume progression. Can be difficult to pass. Around 20/1 worth taking.

Two Sizing’s have gone to in form Colin Tizzard. Sizing Granite was 33/1 for the Champion Chase and lost all chance at the first. Also 7 lengths 2nd, giving 2 lbs to winner Top Gamble in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse final start for Colm Murphy at around the minimum trip. Yet to race at this trip, but his new trainer enstils stamina in to most of his horses. Tizzards bought Fox Norton after Sizing Platinum chased him home by 11 lengths on debut for the yard, off a mark 2 lbs lower than here – himself 9 lengths clear of the third. I’d prefur Platinum over Granite.

Rebecca Curtis is still going great guns and I’ve followed VTC in and backed both her representitives at massive prices. Punters don’t like backing horses out of the handicap and often go off bigger than they should. Didn’t stop Potters Cross when 3 lbs out at Chepstow last time, in a 16 runner handicap. 4lbs out this time, but I like improving horses from in form yards. This might be a little on the short side for him, hopefully there’ll be enough rain to make it a test. Vintage Vinnie also imo worth taking a chance on. Had been wearing a hood until three starts ago, two wins and a good third – ran well behind good novices Vigilio and Brother Tedd last time. Taking a bit of a chance on the ground, but he is 40+/1. If they let him loose on the lead – who knows?

Last year’s winner Annacotty is 9 lbs higher now, has won since – off a mark of 151, but 156 looks too high.

Thomas Crapper doesn’t win often enough, first time cheek pieces working the oracle at Newbury 6 starts back, looks increasingly temperamental and first time tongue tie now tried.

Ten year old Ballynagour has some soft ground form, seems much more consistent on good these days. Even a return to his best shouldn’t be enough off top weight. Ran well when 2nd off this mark in Summer Plate last time, but was 8 lengths behind the winner and probably more progressive types in this race.

Backed As De Mee last week but wouldn’t do so at today’s price where Village Vic at 18/1 looks good value. Ryanair run wasn’t that bad considering he took on Vautour for so long and suspect that told on him at Aintree so happy to mark him up a wee bit against his Ryanair finishing position and discount Aintree.

Potters Cross jumped really well at Chepstow until going right a bit at the last two. Travelled superbly throughout though it looked a slowish pace so today’s helter skelter and a potential upfront battle with Village Vic might find him out. But he’s worth chancing for a small saver on Betfair at 34.

Good luck all

Tom Segal said he likes to see a horse that’s had a run, but if you go through the last few winners of this then most of them hadn’t had a run that season. Class horses kept back for the bigger races?

Gutted for VV and connections after a fabulous run. What a difference it makes on a good jumper, saving so much energy and forcing others into errors.

Well done TDS supporters – been a hard horse to keep faith with

Ouch, Bobby! Such a wonderful ride form Johnson switching him off between fences and on at the approach. What a ride and what a run from the front carrying 11.10 in that ground, especially when he’s far from the biggest horse in training.

WD everyone, maybe next year for Buywise