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8-1 is always pushing it for an each way price but that is what I’ll do with my old sparring partner Blaklion
Nigel Twiston-Davies trains the winner. I struggled with this one for a while but decided on Blaklion at 7/1
VIRILIO looks outstanding value at 20/1. I’m expecting him to win but have backed Ew just in case. Amazing price.
I would have backed Shantou Flyer EW if still with Rebecca Curtis but not too sure about new trainer and can’t pick anything for a win-only bet so will sit it out. But will cheer on Blaklion- such a game wee article
Very much a race to savor. I can’t separate either of the favourites, so it’s a small each way on Village Vic at 20/1 just for fun. I’ve long suspected he needed a trip and could go close.
Just going to sit back and enjoy this one. No need to make any real investment to enjoy what should be a fantastic race I wish I was seeing in person!
Said on the radio that horses that have left her have been doing really well.
Not the ones Hobson has, with the exception of Petitville. He hasn’t shone with horses from other trainers either- look at poor Alamein finishing down the field in a seller yesterday wearing a visor (why?) and leg bandages on the back (double why?) The horse’ll be wrecked soon, if the bad fall he had in Ireland hasn’t wrecked him already. As regards the rest of the Curtis horses- reckon she had a virus or something in the yard last year that the horses are over now, with nice handicap marks so the good trainers have capitalised on that. A good few of them won for her first time out last season- including Shantou Flyer in a decent race at Cheltenham at 20s and Irish Cavalier in the Charlie Hall at 16s- before her season went to pot.
I can’t possibly let him go without covering him Peter, at the very least in a forecast. He’s a real favourite, who I worry may be “gone”, but I’ll have to be with him in some shape or form.
Cue Card for me. Won two G1s last season on softer ground, including when smashing Coneygree. I don’t buy into that Punchestown Gold Cup form, so the 6lb swing between the two doesn’t bother me because I think Cue Card is just that much better. According to Colin Tizzard he’s much more forward now than last year, so he shouldn’t need the run to come on from.
I don’t buy into the Betfair chase form…getting 6lb, Nico up…not conceding fitness advantage…not bottomless ground…not Haydock…it’s Coneygree’s to lose…looking forward to a ride out to Wetherby tomorrow, should be a great day! Proper racing back…
Can’t believe Coneygree is actually running; will believe it when I see it. Cracking card! We usually watch the races on the screen by the paddock [the trainers tend to watch from there, too]. Say hello if you see a couple of people wearing Newcastle United hats!
Hate to say this as he’s one of my favourite horses of recent years, but I want to be against Cue Card in the Charlie Hall. His price makes the race for me, thought about just laying Cue Card. Not at his best first time out in this last year and even the previous year (when successful) nowhere near the form he produced to win the Betfair second time up. If winning any Grade 1 race this term I think it’ll be the latter race again. Now 11 and if still up to the same level of form probably takes a run to get him fit… and that’s even with Tizzard keeping him on the go through the Summer. All this talk about fewer races is nonsense, he’s a horse that thrives on racing and standing in his box doesn’t stop aging.
Coneygree should be spot on, got ready for an early season race in Ireland but did not take part. Although injury prone these days has a really good record fresh. Close third to Sizing John in Punchestown Gold Cup in April suggests he’s as good as ever. There are other front runners in the field though which is a bit of a negative. Justifiably favourite and a much better chance than anything else, just a little too short to make him my main bet.
Bristol De Mai has a chance at his best, but that’s possibly when racing from the front. Unlikely to get it with Coneygree, Village Vic and Double Shuffle in the field. I prefer stable companion Blaklion, who would’ve gone close in the Grand National but for pulling too hard. Before that a good second off a mark of 152 in Haydock’s Grand National Trial. That run should not be under-estimated, some 18 lengths clear of the third. Now 6 lbs better off with winner Vieux Lion Rouge for 3 1/4 lengths, so holds him on a strict line of form. That said, the Pipe horse has a particularly good record (seems to find more than he does at other times) when fresh and is 25/1 !!! Twiston-Davis stable is in good form. Blaklion will need a test of stamina at this trip, but should get it here with so many prominent racers.
Similar story with Definitely Red‘s stamina too. Improved performance when 14 lengths clear in Grimthorpe off 149, gives him a chance here. Pulled up when hampered in Grand National afterwards. Won first time up last year so should be fit.
Double Shuffle ran well enough at Chepstow on reappearance, but in truth doesn’t look up to this class and may be at his very best right-handed.
Shantou Flyer won a good Cheltenham handicap on first day of the year on first start for Rebecca Curtis. Now has first run for Richard Hobson. Asking a lot in this grade. 15 lengths to make up on Cue Card from Ascot Chase and only 2 lbs better off.
Village Vic is normally a bold jumping front runner and Cheltenham specialist. May not get his own way here, not sure to stay under these conditions and fall last time might not have done his confidence any good.
Vigilio was 18+ lengths behind Might Bite and Whisper before winning an Aintree handicap in May. Doesn’t look up to this class. This might be a prep race for handicaps.
3:15 Wetherby:
36 points @ 10/1 Blaklion (min 8/1)
30 points @ 8/1 Definitely Red (min 15/2)
21 points @ 25/1 Vieux Lion Rouge (min 20/1)
saver:
40 points @ 9/4 Coneygree (min 2/1)Value Is Everything
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