Nothing Gained 6

[Venture to Cognac]

Don’t know if he’ll go Moe, but I’ve a real soft spot for him.

He surely can’t figure here, but we should get a run for our money if he goes.

[moehat]

Interesting that your Midnight horses didn’t PU at the weekend. At least it means that they felt it was race fitness and obviously wanted him to complete. And a 15 [16?] year old won yesterday…

[Venture to Cognac]

Yeah, 15yo Moe, stablemate of Midnight Mustang, both ran crackers.

Hopefully more to come from Shades Of Midnight, but a definite worry was the support for Seeyouatmidnight, which wasn’t backed up.

[moehat]

Well Emma let me down today, albeit finishing 3rd so I broke even at 5’s. Mind you, it was a hurdle and she’s better in chases. A win would have covered my Cheltenham bets, though [all £2.50 of them!].
Interesting to hear Tony Mullins wax lyrical about Rachel Blackmore on the Cheltenham preview last night.He reckons she’ll be champion jockey. Bet the Mullins clan would give their eye teeth to have her riding for them. I used to follow her when she rode for Shark. Hope I don’t miss out when Emma wins a big one somewhere. Remember years ago a northern friend telling us how good Lucy Alexander was but she seems happy to stick with her dad’s horses, and seems relatively unheard of darn south. I went through my ante posts last night and don’t seem to have too many NR’s; the most notable one, however, being Native River for the GC at 16’s, but I’ve got Santini at 9’s [albeit not being all that keen on him; supposedly they’re going to put cheekpieces on him] and BDM at 33’s. They said on the preview last night that Apples Jade might run in the stayers in blinkers so I had an ew at 25/1.A Plus Tard seems to be everyones banker; Tony Mullins said he saw him work the other day and he was very impressed with his work and the horse himself who exuded class. Having missed the festival I was planning to go to the Midlands National for the first time in years, but I am freaking out a bit about the virus and therefore plan to go into hibernation mode and just listen to W Hill racing radio! Stay safe!! [ps Tony Mullins was really really funny; I bet that family have some great parties! ]

[moehat]

By the way, what’s happened to Rob North?

[Venture to Cognac]

He’s still here Moe, posted on Ten To Follow the other day.

Yeah, watched that Preview, very good, and enjoyed listening to Mullins, though I thought Declan Rix was very poor.

Lucy f’cking really well, and standard of her dads Horses is improving.

Yeah, I think A Plus Tard has a massive chance, and I think it’s between him and Frodon. Looking forward to that clash.

I’ll be staying safe Moe. I’ll be out on the Wednesday as usual for a few drinks, but the rest of the time I’ll be watching from the comfort of my own home.

[Venture to Cognac]

Good to have a bet free Saturday with nothing really appealing anywhere, but with the big week ahead, maybe no a bad thing. A few catching the eye Sunday though, and I’ll have a go.

Big race of the day is The Leinster National, and I’ll be cheering on old favourite General Principle. Ran a cracker last time, clearly on a good mark, and with Gavin Brouder using his claim, plenty to like. Bonbon Au Miel will be saver.

Also at Naas is Snugsborough Benny, and though the old “chucked in on his Hurdle mark” is an approach that would drive you nuts, in this case, I think it’s worth considering. Mister Eddman as a saver.

Also back over Hurdles is Mercian Prince, and he looks to big, and I can’t leave him alone at the price. He’s got to get it together at some point, and this looks an ideal opportunity. I’ve taken 11’s, but hoping to beat that.

Le Reve looks a crazy price at Warwick, I can’t get that romp of his at Lingfield last season out of my head here, and I genuinely think he can do a repeat here in this company. I’ve went win only, but I’ll also cover him five places.

General Principle 16’s EW
Snugsborough Benny 7’s
Mercian Prince 11’s
Le Reve 20’s

Savers, Bonbon Au Miel, Mister Eddman

[Venture to Cognac]

Big day’s here, and looking forward to it.

Probably my most sensible Antepost approach ever, and I’m well ahead with little stress before a balls kicked.

A lot of that is down to my lay in a December on Champagne Classic, it was a crazy big bet, and in a moment of common sense, I got out of it to a good tune. Great result for a fragile horse. Annamix In The Arkle another good result.

A lot of it also down to not doing my own “book” on The Gold Cup, and bar a few quid on Jett at 1000’s, it was good to not to do it, and I didn’t miss it. I doubt I’ll do one again.

I also got out of all my Novice Hurdle Anteposts ahead, though much less returns, as they were all much smaller bets, so I’m going into The Bovice Hurdles afresh, which brings up the opener………

Supreme
Having put up Abacadabras and Shishkin as two of my Novices To Follow at the start of the season, when they were 25’s and 33’s, it goes without saying that I’ve called myself a few names over it…….not got a penny on them.

As it is, I still like the pair of them, but I also like half of them here, and I nearly went without a bet, and was just going to enjoy it.

In the end I went with Captain Guiness at 14’s, 100% based on his Navan win.

Captain Guiness 14’s

Arkle
Always one of my least favourite races of the week, and this years line up looks average.

Having said that, I do think that Notebook could turn out to be decent, but I’ve went with Put The Kettle On. She acts round here, and gets the allowance, and 16’s looks fair.

Put The Kettle On 16’s

Ultima
Now we’re talking, what a bloody strong field, a cracker of a renewal.

No Comment was my Nap Of The Season in The Kim Muir, but although not as big a fancy here, he still gets the nod. He was a huge bet for me in The Kim Muir, and thankfully I’ll be getting that back, and I’ll divert a fair few quid of it here.

The type of race where I’ll usually have 2 or 3, but it’s such a strong line up I’m struggling.

I’ve whittled it down to…..

Discorama
The Conditional
Mister Malarky
Townshend
Who Dares Wins
Cogry
Mulcahys Hill

…so I might just go with the one.

No Comment 14’s

Champion Hurdle
Another race I’m ahead in thanks to nabbing Honeysuckle at 50’s, and also same price Fusil Raffles (he was laid a lot lower than current price).

I put Sharjah up early doors at 33’s more than once. Did I bet him. No FFS

Had some fun playing about with this race, and left with this lot…..

Fusil Raffles 50’s
Ballyandy 33’s EW
Gumball 710’s
Le Patriote 500’s

Northern Trust Novices

All about Galvin here for me. Been following him since Day One. I’m sure a lot of Elliot’s weren’t 100% last year, including this boy, and he did well to finish sixth in The Ballymore. He looks to have been campaigned with this in mind.

I’ll definitely have another here, but still wading through them.

Galvin 12’s NRNB
Galvin 20’s

National Hunt Chase
One of my biggest betting races of the year, and one of my favourites, and as mentioned, it paid off nicely in unusual circumstances.

This has been the best Novice Chase at The Festival for years now, but after a slightly below par race last year, this years is an absolute shocker. Awful.

Carefully Selected looks the only one to have a crack at the big prizes next year, but at a bigger price, I’ve went with Forza Milan, who’s got bits and bobs that would give him a chance.

Forza Milan 16’s

[greenasgrass]

Good luck this week especially with Galvin since you spotted him from the start. You’re right about the Ultima, it’s shaping to be a great race.

[Venture to Cognac]

Cheers Grass, and you too.

Yeah, it’s a ridiculously good race The Ultima, it and The Champion Hurdle are belters.

I’d bloody love Galvin to win, he looked very good from the off, but as happy as I am with 20’s, and 12’s, I wish it had been bigger, but I suppose it’s swings and roundabouts with the ones that haven’t made it here.

[Venture to Cognac]

Really happy with today.

The highlight was obviously Put The Kettle On, but I also had a fair run in play with Galvin and Le Patriote, so all good, and throwing in the decent Antepost profit on Champion Hurdle, Arkle, and NH Chase, it was a good day indeed.

Only one loser that hurt and that was No Comment. He was a fairly big loser, and the only crumb of comfort I can take from it is that he somehow walked away from it.

[Venture to Cognac]

On to Day 2, by a country mile, the weakest of the four days, but still loads to enjoy. Really looking forward to a day in the pub watching it.

Ballymore
Scraped ahead in this Race Antepost, but certainly not to the same extent as Day One, with much smaller bets. Made s profit on Andy Dufresne, but was mostly wiped out by Midnight Run.

I badly want Envoi Allen to be as good as I hope he can be, while I think that Sporting John could be a big star next year. Throw in Lonhgouse Poet, who I think holds a strong EW chance, then I think I’ll sit this out and enjoy.

RSA
Losing race for me Antepost, so I’ll enjoy this without a bet too. For the record, I think Minella Indo wins it, but I’ll be cheering on Aye Right for Lemons68 and Greenasgrass.

Coral Cup
Definitely having a bet here, but real quandary.

I have Thosedaysaregone who I’ve followed from Day One, while Stratum looks a snip.

I just have to bet Bachasson based on his comeback, and also Burrows Edge, who I believe was in the process of getting a shrewd ride in The Lanzarote before it was handed on a plate to him. Looking at his mark, I reckon they still got away with it.

I’ve also got my notebook horse to contend with, Top Moon, while Black Tears is really interesting.

Minefield, but I’ll go with…..

Bachasson
Burrows Edge
Thosedaysaregone

Champion Chase
Real shame that Altior is out, as for the first time I can remember, this had the potential to be race of the meeting.

I think Defi lands it, but I’m hoping beyond hope that either of my two 50-1 shots, Chacun Pour Sois, or Dynamite Dollars can do it for me. I laid a bit of the 50’s off on Chacun, but not too big a dent in it, and I’m comfortably ahead in this.

Cross Country
I hope Tiger wins, I won’t go on about him again here.

Had a few quid on Neverushacon as well 16’s to 20’s.

Boodles
I really like Recent Revelations here, and he’s a fairly big bet at the 25’s, one of the bigger ones this week.

Bumper
Not a big fan of the race, and it looks like Appreciate It has it to lose.

I’ll probably have a bet, and torn between outsiders, The Glancing Queen, Darling Daughter, and Let Me Entertain U. I’ll bet two of them.

Coral Cup
Bachasson, Burrows Edge, Thosedaysaregone
Bumper
The Glancing Queen, Darling Daughter, Let Me Entertain You
20p Combination Exactas and Trifectas

-£142.19

[jackh1092]

Lovely day 1 for you Bobby.

Tough day today again and ruined by Chacun missing the biggie!

Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!

[Venture to Cognac]

Thanks Jack, Day One always tough, so delighted with the early profit, and after Kettle, and the early lays, cashouts, I’ll be ahead for the week.

Yeah, shame about Chacun, and I was relieved to have laid off a bit of it earlier in the season.

Nothing much to report from yesterday.

EW returns from Bachasson and Recent Revelations, though both should arguably have been closer, while I should’ve laid Thosedaysaregone, but I missed it.

Highlight was obviously Dynamite Dollars at the 50’s EW, especially as I didn’t have to lay him at all. Delighted.

Neverushacon and The Glancing Queen were the main disappointments, but another day ahead, so not complaining.

[Venture to Cognac]

On to Day 3, without doubt the best of The Festival, something for everyone.

Running out of time to do write up, I’ll add as day goes on.

Bets (or going to be bet) so far….

Marsh
Midnight Shadow 20’s EW 4 Places

Pertemps
Dream Berry 16’s
Kansas City Chief EW 7 Places
The Storyteller 12’s

Ryanair
Frodon
Shattered Love

Stayers
Tobefair 200’s
Tobefair 66’s EW NRNB
Tobefair 50’s EW 4 Places

Brown Advisory Plate
Livelovelaugh EW
Snow Falcon 40’s EW 6 Places
Spiritofthegames 16’s

Mares Novice
Colreevy 7’s
Midnights Gift EW

Kim Muir
Cloth Cap 33’s EW 5 Places NRNB
Deise Aba 9’s
Go Another One or The Young Master

[Venture to Cognac]

As much as I love Day Three, it didn’t love me too much.

Literally nothing to put a smile on my face other than The Pertemps. The Storyteller was my biggest Antepost this week to make it, and I got it all back and more. Then my old pal Kansas City Chief finally delivered at the 66’s.

I got out of Colreevy before the race for a free race as well.

One of my favourite races of the week, so to come out of it well ahead was great.

No concerns about the other losers, as most of them were average to small amounts. Unfortunately that’s not the case with The Kim Muir, and with it being my biggest betting race of the week, it turned what was a very acceptable one, into a complete loser. First losing Kim Muir I can remember.

[Venture to Cognac]

Day Four, and always a very tough day…..

Triumph
Straightforward for me and I’ve went with A Wave Of The Sea. I’m hoping he can build on last run, which I thought was very underrated.

A Wave Of The Sea 16’s

County
No point deliberating in this for too long. Fantastic race, but very tough, and I’ve landed on this trip…..

Moon Over Germany 28’s
Scaramanga EW
You Raised Me Up

Albert Bartlett
Already ahead on this, same as The Ballymore, up from Andy Dufresne, down with Midnight Run.

Janidil is a long term hope of mine, and I think he could be decent, while Redford Road has been my idea of the winner of this for some time.

I’ll probably have a small amount for fun on House Island, as he has scraps of form to interest me.

Janidil
Redford Road EW
House Island

Gold Cup
I’m on Delta Work at 25’s Antepost, so that’ll do for me.

Delta Work 25’s

Foxhunter
No string view, and I’ll stick with long term hope Top Wood.

Top Wood EW

Grand Annual
Had small loser already Brelan D’As.

No big shock here for the half dozen of you who read my waffle, and I’ll be with my old pal Winter Escape. Been putting him up too long here, seems like years, and hopefully he can be on a going day. The move to Haslam raises concerns, but he’s worth sticking with.

I’m undecided with the backup trio.

Winter Escape 40’s EW 5 Places
Theinval, Marracudja, or Eclair De Beaufeu

Martin Pipe
I want to back Ilikedwayurthinkin, and he’ll be saver material, but I’ll stick with long term hope Column Of Fire

Great White Shark for a back up.

Ilikedwayurthinkin
Column of Fire
Great White Shark EW

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