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Zarkava – Steeplechasing
Just an opinion I know, but I think Gauvain is a great price for this race. If it jumps better than last year, and to be fair, didn’t jump many too well, he still wasn’t too far away from leaders between the last two, where it probably blew up after hitting that many fences. His form with Somersby must give him a shout, especially if people think Somersby has a chance. At the prices, I’d rather be on Gauvain than Somersby. Albeit, trusting that it jumps better than it usually does, and that always helps when it comes to chasing!
Zarkava – Steeplechasing
Just an opinion I know, but I think Gauvain is a great price for this race. If it jumps better than last year, and to be fair, didn’t jump many too well, he still wasn’t too far away from leaders between the last two, where it probably blew up after hitting that many fences. His form with Somersby must give him a shout, especially if people think Somersby has a chance. At the prices, I’d rather be on Gauvain than Somersby. Albeit, trusting that it jumps better than it usually does, and that always helps when it comes to chasing!
Nick Williams has reported at the Exeter preview that Gauvain will go where he can best pick up some place prize money. The smaller field dictates the choice so more likely to go for Queen Mum chase.
Guys I was out last night ran into a real charachter called Taffy . He’s had several top class horses in his time and owns a bar in Bangkok where he proudly displays dozens of pics of the winners he’s had.
Most of his horses were with Denys Smith but his ex partner is a personal friend of old man Pipe and he reckons Great Endeavour will win/run in the Ryanair and the he’s only in the Byrne plate as it’s a drop in class and an option if the ground is worse than good..
Not my idea of the winner but that is what the man said and he was touting Junior last season weeks before the festival.
I don’t see that it matters as you can’t back him until you know what the ground will be like anyway and he’s unlikely be much shorter than he is now if he goes for the big one.
Zarkava – Steeplechasing
Just an opinion I know, but I think Gauvain is a great price for this race. If it jumps better than last year, and to be fair, didn’t jump many too well, he still wasn’t too far away from leaders between the last two, where it probably blew up after hitting that many fences. His form with Somersby must give him a shout, especially if people think Somersby has a chance. At the prices, I’d rather be on Gauvain than Somersby. Albeit, trusting that it jumps better than it usually does, and that always helps when it comes to chasing!
Nick Williams has reported at the Exeter preview that Gauvain will go where he can best pick up some place prize money. The smaller field dictates the choice so more likely to go for Queen Mum chase.
That surprises me. Fehily said after Huntingdon the horse would be taken of its feet in the QM and other races have shown that 2m is too sharp. More likely to end up on the floor in QM imo. He’d have a reasonable chance in Ryanair, I think, though Albertas looks excellent value to me now.
This race is certainly getting to be one of the most competitive at the festival!
Somersby an old favourite of mine has to go well and hits many trends but I feel it may be too competitive for him! A race to watch and enjoy i feel
Rubi Light twice the horse he was last season – only beat about 3 lengths then, bet of the week at the odds for me.
That’s what I’ve been thinking for several weeks but after watching a few re-runs of his races I’m worried by his jumping.
The way he gets his front legs over a fence doesn’t have the look of natural fencer to me but more of a worry is he way his head goes down as he lands over a fence. he wouldn’t want to do this too often at Cheltenham.
I’d be interested in any other opinions on his fencing as I’m loathe to write him off just yetHis jumping doesn’t concern me half as much as the quick conditions. I suppose one will effect the other, so if your worried about his jumping on his favoured soft surface, you ought to be very concerned on quick ground.
He may well place, but I can’t have him to win unless there is a downpour, which seems unlikely.Rubi Light twice the horse he was last season – only beat about 3 lengths then, bet of the week at the odds for me.
That’s what I’ve been thinking for several weeks but after watching a few re-runs of his races I’m worried by his jumping.
The way he gets his front legs over a fence doesn’t have the look of natural fencer to me but more of a worry is he way his head goes down as he lands over a fence. he wouldn’t want to do this too often at Cheltenham.
I’d be interested in any other opinions on his fencing as I’m loathe to write him off just yetCS – Keep the faith! He can hit the odd one, but I dont see any major concerns and he’ll gain ground at most fences as he did in this last year. In Andrew Lynch he’s got the perfect partner. This fella is one seriously under-rated jockey. I watched him in action on Flemenstar this afternoon and he presented the horse perfectly at every fence. Poetry in motion.
I’ll be doing a rain dance this week, but as long as it’s genuinely good ground I wont be looking to oppose him.This is the race of the week for me, 6 or 7 with realistic chances and all top class.
Somersby, although yet to win at Cheltenham, has the form to win and should stay the extra distance. Medermit while clearly talented is a nearly horse but should place. Capt Chris has questions to answer and IMO needs further, Albertas Run would be a hugely popular winner too. Don’t like the Irish challengers, they have found it tough this week.
Three that won’t be winning are Somersby, Medermit and Rubi Light.
…based on? Ground won’t be an issue for the first two….
Surely Henderson can’t have another winner? Not the track for RT probably, but wouldn’t put it past him having too much speed…
I’d love it if Little Josh won, rather all or nothing with him. GE should go well but yard not firing this week.
Great race in store!
a lot of horses rated within a few pounds of each other. the most open championship race at cheltenham I can remember.
can albertas do the treble? you’d have to think not, because this is the strongest renewal of the race in my opinion (at least in terms of depth) but its a dangerous horse to write off, as he’s just a hell of a hard horse to pass and just relishes the hill. has to be included in any equations anyway.
rubi light is perhaps the most consistent and most improved of all these, but as others have pointed out, he needs slower ground. he’s completely friendless in the market and I can’t see him winning now.
I can’t have somersby. yes the form was boosted today, but there’s just something about this horse I just don’t like. he nearly always seems to find one too good. he doesn’t really have a turn of foot anyway, and seems to struggle for a change of gears, particularly on quicker ground, when the pace quickens. he always seems to travel well and then belt a few.
the one I love at the prices is great endeavour. as theres plenty in this who like to be ridden up with the pace, I think this could be set up for a finisher. admittedly one of the things i noticed today when watching the racing is they often don’t get to the leaders on this ground, both the champion chase and the neptune being a good example, but I doubt they’ll be much between this field anyway.
great endeavour showed in the paddy power what a turn of foot he has on quick ground, and I can’t recall a more impressive performance all season by a 2 and half mile chaser. I think he’s one of the most improved horses in training and we know he goes well fresh.
Oddly, I don’t see it as an open race at all. Riverside Theatre looks to me to be head and shoulders above the rest and the bet of the meeting at 5/1.
Given the stable form, he could be 3s come the off.
Well, I’m crappo on the tipping front ATM but I really fancied Rubi Light for this.
Then the experts in the media kept saying he has to have softer ground.
Hmm, maybe he does, but I still think he could be good enough. He jumps very well IMHO and the distance will be perfect. Much improved beastie.
Hope it is the cracker it promises to be. There have been some boring finishes so far!
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