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Apart from Grade 1 horse Empire Of Dirt, last year’s renewal wasn’t great. There is potentially much more strength in depth this time.
Diamond King holds very solid claims at the top of the market. Generally a good jumper and most effective on a sound surface, he’s only 1lb higher than when winning last year’s Coral Cup. He shaped well behind Coney Island on soft early in the season and has reportedly had the magic wind op.
Starchitect is generally second in the betting. I’m inclined to take him on though. David Pipe (who isn’t having a good season) was one of the few trainers unable to deliver on the “leaves Donald McCain, goes to ANYONE ELSE” system that produced such a glut of high-profile winners last year. He couldn’t win a big handicap hurdle with this horse. Unsurprisingly for a son of Sea The Stars, Starchitect has looked far from natural over fences so far and arrives on a career-high mark. One to oppose.
I’ve been following Sizing Codelco all season and he is my main bet in the race. I took 33/1 as soon as the race went up. I think that’s my best ante-post coup of the meeting. I’m a Top Notch fanboy so I rate his Ascot performance highly. He then travelled beautifully and put in his best round of jumping when failing to stay an extended 3m at Cheltenham. A mark of 140 probably underestimates him by 15lbs.
Bouvreuil looks ungenuine, Baron Alco needs a big career-best, King’s Odyssey doesn’t get his ground.
Tango De Juilley has good place claims but faces a stronger race than he did last year. Venetia does love this race but I think Venetia’s her #1 could be Burtons Well. He should just squeeze in at the bottom of the weights and will probably have Charlie Deutsch claiming 3lbs. He’s lightly-raced and unexposed, but has two particularly interesting pieces of form. He did well to hold second when bidding to make all against a 123-rated Waiting Patiently at Sedgefield and Pistol Park has done plenty for his Uttoxeter win too. He had a sighter over the fences in January and has a pedigree that gives me hope that he’s not just a soft ground grinder. 20/1 is already fair but I think he might get a little bigger with a few 5 places concessions sure to be offered on the day. I think I’ll hold off a bit longer with him.
I’ve backed both Diamond King (at 25s!) and Kings Odyssey for this. I wouldn’t be so sure that Kings Odyssey is purely a soft/heavy ground horse. Trainer is inconsistent – he says that he’s a proper winter ground horse but also been recorded as saying that he goes on good or good/soft. I’m no expert at all on horse action but I don’t think he necessarily has a soft/heavy ground action either. Hopefully we will find out Thursday.
Great work with 25s Battle Group, best of luck with that. I know plenty of good judges, including Tom Segal, are all over King’s Odyssey so you’re in good company there.
Now that Thomas Crapper has got in and only carries a penalty he is unopposable and may win by 10 lengths. Has backed up good runs, especially in the spring, and has plenty of form relevant to conditions and class. No point in backing anything else unless you knew he wouldn’t run like at Newbury – but lots of stable confidence (and first time blinkers) attached to Sizing Codelco.
This will probably be 1st Diamond King, 2nd Tango De Juillet, but I’d love it to be the other way around.
Great price with DK
Played Bouvreuill and Road to Respect both to win at 11/1 and 14/1
Gone in with Un Ace @ 33’s to win
Cheekpieces first time and dropped quite a bit down the weights. A return to this trip and ground should suit.Had some success with KB horses in the past and be interesting to see any cash come for this one.
Gone in with Un Ace @ 33’s to win
Cheekpieces first time and dropped quite a bit down the weights. A return to this trip and ground should suit.Had some success with KB horses in the past and be interesting to see any cash come for this one.
In complete agreement. I thought his last run at Cheltenham went well. I really like this hores
Love this race, but my record in it is horrendous, and have to go back to 2003, when Young Spartacus won. I’m not 100% on this, but I’m pretty sure I’ve not even had one placed since either, which is ridiculous, I should really leave it alone. I won’t leave it alone though, and got to have a go.
I like the front 3 in the betting, particularly my old friend Thomas Crapper, who I’ve bet many a time. I’m not betting him at that price though, and I will be delighted to see him win, if I, inevitably, don’t find the winner myself.
I’ve went for 3 in this.
Village Vic – He’s won me plenty in the past, and although I’d rather have seen him in The Ryanair, he must surely have a chance of making the frame here. Village Vic at 16’s with 6 places looks fair. My only concern would be the run from Garde La Victoire in The Champion Chase, that was woeful.
Katachenko – Has Spring Festival form, and the distance looks perfect for him. Again 6 places, and happy with 40-1.
Pinkie Brown – Been off for a while, but he did catch my eye last year, albeit not with a prize like this in mind. I like the trainer/jockey combo though, and willing to find out at 100-1 if he has any sort of a chance. 100-1 win, and ew 6 places 66’s.
A lot of old favourites in this, including Henryville who has form with The Tourard Man from a couple of years back. Bouvreuil and Tango de Juilley as well. A spellchecker race this; wouldn’t want to be a commentator. Cold March my best bet though [c’mon Liam…]
I do wish the British handicapper would give the Irish a chance in these handicaps. :lol:
Value Is EverythingGreat price with DK
Played Bouvreuill and Road to Respect both to win at 11/1 and 14/1
Got 16/1 RTR in the end BOG
Had bouuvreuill in 3rd too but win only
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