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With the recent arrival of both Paul Ferguson and Marks Howard’s books, the jump season is well and truly upon us. And with Sizing Europe’s tremendous win last weekend, and a very tasty Intermediate Chase this Friday at Newton Abbot I thought it time for me to try and make some cold, hard cash.
With not much decent fair until Friday, the first bets in this thread will be for Cheltenham. I know it’s miles away, but i can’t help myself throwing a few darts. There’s nothing like sitting on fancy prices come the second week in March and constantly refreshing Betfair to make sure horses are going for the right race or don’t miss the gig completely.
£10 e/w – Miles To Memphis – 33/1 – Supreme Novice Hurdle. As mentioned in another thread, winner of a top bumper at Ayr. Alan King likes to target a decent one at this race, and he’s had a few near misses over the years.
£20 w – Hargam – 20/1 – Triumph Hurdle. Yes, yes, I know. Picking the Triumph Winner is impossible usually before Christmas, but this French import has got a massive reputation. Bought by McManus, trained by NJH, and with impressive form on the level. If he wins a couple in the autumn, I can see him trading around 5/1 come the turn of the year. I can then lay a little off if needs be.
-£40
Nice to see you back on here Mr Blunkett and the best of good luck with the thread. I see the greedy Yorkies put another championship in the cabinet.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Thank you gentlemen. My man Adam Lyth has finally fulfilled his potential. Sadly, for about the first time in four years he went unbacked as top run scorer.
Good luck all.
Bet365 have priced up the Intermediate Chase tomorrow at Newton Abbot. It’s a trap py event, but I can’t resist a punt on Double Ross. I’ve taken the 5/1 with 365.
Looking down the field, I don’t think that Taquin will be fully wound up – he surely has bigger fish to fry later on in the season, although his class may see him go close. Colour Squadron is a third season novice(I didn’t think they existed!), and I don’t think he has the heart for a battle. Wonderful Charm’s form tailed off in the spring, and again I don’t think he’ll be 100% ready – he’s supposed to be heading for Ireland in the next few weeks. This surely is a prep. That leaves Black Thunder, who I think might be rapped for toe a little bit and will surely not want to blow a decent looking handicap mark when upped to three miles.
Hopefully, Double Ross bounces off in front and can lead them a merry dance. I like front runners in a small field, and Twister usually has his pretty straight first time up.
£20 Double Ross @ 5/1.
-£60
At least he got up ok, although I was a little disappointed in the performance.
Late one today, but Emerging Talent in the 2.35 at Chepstow rates a confident bet. I buy all these 40 horses to follow books, so I may as well follow them, and this is the first horse out from the Ferguson one.
£10 Emerging Talent, 2.35 Chepstow, @5/4.
-£70
Huge run from Emerging Talent there, Blunkett. Sad that he just blew up and couldn’t land it for you.
The Nicholls horses are usually half-cooked at this meeting, so that was a big eye-catcher. He pulled and reefed for about 2m of the 2m 4f, but still travelled well right up to the final flight.
Shelford had 10 runs of racing experience on his side and it showed. Emerging Talent must go into the horse tracker after that – looks like a
BIG
improver as he grows up and gets fitter.
Yeah, just failed through lack of fitness. One to follow though definitely.
One bet today, Rock The Kasbah in the bumper at Ffos. Finished second behind Simon Squirrel LTO who has since been bought by Graham Wylie and is with Paul Nicholls now. Should be able to win today before progressing over hurdles.
£20 at 7/4.
-£90
Emerging Talent definitely looks a big eye catcher. He was an impressive winner of a decent Naas bumper last season and it look like that was no fluke. His jumping can improve and if he learns to settle better he could be very good.
Won well.
That means that Simon Squirrel is some too, as it beat Rock The Kasbah without too much fuss LTO.
-£35
Today’s bet is Goodwood Mirage in the 2.55 at Wetherby. Ran in some decent novice hurdles last season, and is still reasonably well handicapped. I suppose it all depends on whether connections are ‘trying’ like they did with Taquin last Friday. Either way, there’s enough juice in the price.
£10 Goodwood Mirage @ 9/2.
-£45
I feared the worst following the drift to 8/1 just before post time, but alas AP managed to negotiate his way home. Although I thought he’d dropped his hands at the last minute! Sadly, those nasty people at Coral have removed by BOG, so I had to settle for the 9/2, but a winner is a winner. I also think that Goodwood Mirage will go in again, and will definitely punt it next time out. Up in class and with a faster pace, it will improve more. Maybe in something like the Greatwood.
+£10
Today’s selection is Battle Born at Uttoxeter. A soft ground multiple bumper winner who ran well in the Big One at Aintree on the quickest ground he raced on to date. The only opposition today is a JP/AP best who pulls hard and is best on a sound surface. This rates a strong bet, and will hopefully win well. The yard is firing on all cylinders.
£30 Battle Born, 2.35 Uttoxeter @ 5/6.
-£20
I’m looking at compiling a Horses To Follow list as I go along too, and here is the start of it. It will be made up of horses I intend to back most of the season – granted suitable racing conditions.
Emerging Talent – P Nicholls
Rock The Kasbah – P Hobbs
Simon Squirrel – P Nicholls
Goodwood Mirage – J O’NeillA minor scare at the second last, but ultimately won well.
+£35
Cheltenham is back today, the home of racing! One bet for me, and it’s NTD’S Blaklion in the first. Double bumper winner, won well on hurdles debut, will hopefully go in again.
£15 Blaklion @ 2/1.
+£20
None runner.
£35.
Two lovely handicaps at Cheltenham today, and two bets. The first is Astracad, who loves it round there. Trip, ground ideal, the only worry is that he’s not won since Adam was a lad. Either way, there’s enough in the price to justify a bet.
Te second is Dursey Sound, staying on over shorter last time out, the step up in trip should suit. Top jockey is on board, win bet.
£10 Astracad, 2.35 Cheltenham @ 15/2.
£15 Dursey Sound, 3:45 Cheltenham @ 7/1.
+£10
Dursey Sound is a real rogue imo, Blunkett. He looked like he had turned a corner at Southwell then reverted back to type.
Any thoughts on Me And Ben in that race?
I’m annoyed.
I wrote a long post about Miles To Memphis and Deputy Dan. Can’t be bothered to write it again.
£15 e/w Deputy Dan RSA chase @ 33/1.
-£20.
In a rush, can’t do a full write up.
£10 Roberto Pegasus @ 4/1.
£30 Vieux Lion Rouge @ 8/1 (biggest bet of season so far)-£60.
It’s all going swimmingly well this!
-£100
Now the Paddy Power and Hennessy entries are out, it’s worth having a little poke. I would have been all over Pendra for this but alas he isn’t entered. In this race, it’s usually second season unexposed chasers who are the order of the day, with close attention usually paid to the novice handicap at the previous season’s Festival. With this in mind, the two obvious choices are Present View and Buywise. But I don’t like the price on Present View and Buywise might not even make it according to recent reports.
With this in mind, I’ll be having a few sheckels on Uxizandre with Hills who are still a stand out price (even though he ran in the other novice race at Cheltenham). With Oscar Whisky due to carry top weight, Uxizandre could end up off a nice weight and with McCoy in the plate I can see him going off fav. As stated elsewhere on this forum, he had a lovely pipe opener recently and will be ready to go on the day.
With regard to present view, if he is fav then Attaglance should be on the premises too. Another one who has had a recent outing, and probably should have won PV’s race in March. Should get decent ground and is another dart at a price.
£15 Uxiandre @ 14s
£7.50 e/w Attaglance @ 20s.Moving on to the Hennessy, I see it as a three horse race. The trouble is, all three ‘obvious’ selections are the three favs. Out of the three though, I’m siding with Djakadam. Connections really feel that he could be their Gold Cup horse and if he is that good, then he simply has to run well here.
As is customary, an tentative stab at a bigger price is Theatre Guide. Ran well in this last year, when he was held up as the Tizzards wouldn’t have been sure he stayed. Continued to improve throughout the season and ran well at Cheltenham in the new year. Was due to contest The Big One at the festival before injury, and so he still could be well handicapped.
£20 Djakadam @ 10s
£10 e/w Theatre Guide @ 33s.-£170
EDIT: Just noticed that Uxiz is rated higher than Oscar Whisky. Ah well, it sounded good when I typed it.
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