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Quiscover Fontaine is a NR in the Irish National unfortunately but I’m confident my second choice can go close. Ninetieth Minute was injured for a year before returning to be 2nd to Shot From The Hip at Fairyhouse in January. He then ran third behind Gates Of Rome and Shinrock Paddy, before hacking up back at Fairyhouse last time out. He’ll handle any ground and the step up in trip should suit. His chase rating is 10lbs lower than his hurdles mark and I think he’s almost certainly well handicapped. His lack of chase experience may count against him but I think he’s worth a bet. He has been given too runs around the course this year and Tom Taaffe has had this in mind for a while.
Irish Grand National
Ninetieth Minute
€10 e/w @ 12/1 (Boylseports, 1/4 odds, 1-2-3-4-5)+ €282.22
"thehorsesmouth" wrote: Bradley has his first run since the Foxhunters over 3m 4f at Haydock today. The step up in trip will help no end, he was only getting going towards the finish at Cheltenham. It doesn’t look the strongest race and he should be thereabouts.
4.40 Haydock
Bradley
€5 e/w @ 5/1 (Totesport)+ €302.22
Bradley won well at an SP of 11/4, step up in trip looked to suit perfectly. Be interesting to see what the handicapper does with him now.
+ €40
+ €322.22
Had €5 e/w on Lyreen Legend @ 5/1 with William Hill last night. With Ipsos Du Berlais being a non runner a Rule 4 deduction will apply. He mayhave a penalty for winning a Grade 2 but he’s the best horse in the field and improving all the time. I thikn he’ll make a very smart staying chaser in time, although PP only offered me 20/1 for the RSA
. The ground is a concern but whatever beats him will know they’ve had a race.In the 3 mile novice handicap hurdle one horse stands out at the prices: Bullock Harbour. I also think stablemate Jetson will be thereabouts but I don’t think there’ll be much between them. Robbie Power rides Bullock Harbour, although that does not necessarily mean he is the first choice. With 7 lbs claimed off Jetson he is only 1 lb higher than when winning at Leopardstown over Christmas. He should be competitive, but his price reflects this. Bullock Harbour is proven on good ground, and I think the step up in trip will suit.
2.55 Fairyhouse
Lyreen Legend
€5 e/w @ 5/1 (William Hill)3.25 Fairyhouse
Bullock Harbour
€5 e/w @ 25/1+ €302.22
Lyreen Legend 3rd, he’ll make a nice chaser next season.
Call The Police disappointed me, thought he would have finished closer. Now a believer in Flemenstar though, what a performance! Now there’s a horse that will put it up to Sir Des Champs.
Cheltenham Gold Cup 2013
Flemenstar
€10 win @ 14/1 (William Hill)+ €302.22
I think the Champion Point to Point Bumper tomorrow will be every bit as much a procession as it was last year. The horse who shall do so is TEELIN STAR. He has won two points by half the track on each occasion and is held in the highest regard. Coleman Sweeney, who rode Denman to victory in a p2p, has said that this horse could be the best he’s ever ridden. I think we’ll see another Simonsig performance from this fella tomorrow, and I also think he’ll go off around 1/2.
4.10 Fairyhouse
Teelin Star
€50 win @ Even Money (Paddy Power)+ €252.22
This Teelin Star has a bit of a reputatiuon THM. I had a small bet myself, so let’s see what it’s made of. Do you think Flemenstar will stick it to SDS ? I know that after yesterdays race they said they wouldn’t want the ground any faster. So the question is, how would yesterdays ground have compared to the Cheltenham ground ?
I’ve loved Sir des Champs since his first hurdle run here in Ireland. Everything about him screams champion imo. But this Flemenstar sure does frighten me!
He’s a bit like the equivalent of Frankel to SDC’s Sea The Stars. He pulverizes his opponents but SDC seems to have any amount in hand over his rivals. SDC would still be my main fancy for the Gold Cup, but I think Flemenstar is a big contender. The ground yesterday was quicker than Cheltenham apparently. I can’t remember what trainer was interviewed but that’s what he said anyway, could have been Charlie Swan talking about Make A Track. Of course, the ground had got a little bit softer by the Thursday of the Festival.Teelin Star ran an stinker in the bumper. When the field closed on him he went out like a light and there was definitely something amiss. Ninetieth Minute a faller, was still going okay but was too far out to tell if he would have been involved in the finish.
What A Friend will go very closely to another Aintree Bowl imo. He won two years ago and is still only a 9yo. He should be fresher than most of these if he’s over his Cheltenham fall, and the prospect of soft ground wouldn’t bother him. The field could well cut up, with Alberta’s Run a likely runner in the Melling Chase, and a chance that Riverside Theatre will run in the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown. If the ground is soft, then it must be more likely Medermit will also go for the Melling.
Aintree Bowl
What A Friend
€10 e/w @ 14/1 (Totesport)+ €232.22
I’ve loved Sir des Champs since his first hurdle run here in Ireland. Everything about him screams champion imo. But this Flemenstar sure does frighten me!
He’s a bit like the equivalent of Frankel to SDC’s Sea The Stars. He pulverizes his opponents but SDC seems to have any amount in hand over his rivals. SDC would still be my main fancy for the Gold Cup, but I think Flemenstar is a big contender. The ground yesterday was quicker than Cheltenham apparently. I can’t remember what trainer was interviewed but that’s what he said anyway, could have been Charlie Swan talking about Make A Track. Of course, the ground had got a little bit softer by the Thursday of the Festival.I dont believe for one minute the ground was genuinely Good at Fairyhouse yesterday tommy,this
Flemenstar
will find things a bit too quick at Cheltenham,could be a Ryanair sort though!
I wouldn’t worry about him finding things too quick to be honest Gord. I see no reason why those who said the ground was quicker than at Cheltenham would make it up! I haven’t seen any times but the horse does everything effortlessly. Not a chance things will happen too quick over 3 and a quarter miles imo. I reckon Sir Des Champs could be the only horse with he speed to go with him.
"thehorsesmouth" wrote: Askanna runs today in a Grade 3 mare’s novice chase in Limerick at 3.55. It’s obvious that they thought this a better opportunity for her, and her less able stablemate Our Victoria finished 4th in the Cheltenham race. She’s up against a good mare in Knockfierna but in receipt of 8lbs she has to have a chance.
€5 e/w Askanna @ 16/1 (Boylesports)
€10 e/w Askanna without Knockfierna @ 7/1 (Ladbrokes)After running a stinker this day I didn’t have the faith to back her again before she showed some improved form. That’ll learn me…
Had a good day at the office yesterday although was unable to get my bets on here.
Today I’m backing Quiscover Fontaine in the National. Fancied him for the Irish GN and think 66/1 us huge here.
Also have a treble on Sprinter Sacre, Simonsig and Thousand Stars. Thousand Stars was unlucky here last year imo and has beaten Oscar Whisky the two other times they have met.
€5 e/w Quiscover Fontaine @ 66/1 (Boyles)
€10 treble Sprinter Sacre, Simonsig and Thousand Stars (Boyles)Fancy Portrait King strongly for the Scottish National today. Was on Fruity O’Rooney at 33/1 for Cheltenham but he’s since gone up again in the weights and I feel he might find a couple too good over thsi sort of trip. Portrait King is a dour stayer who travels well in his races, he’s up 9lbs since his last run but that won’t be enough to stop him
.Portrait King
€10 e/w @ 9/1 (Paddy Power 1/4, 1-2-3-4-5)Last year I had a really successful double at Punchestown with Big Zeb and Quito De La Roque. This year I plan on putting horses from the same two races together but unfortunately they’re nowhere near the prices. At the end of last season I reckoned Sir Des Champs would be the best of the Gigginstown novices and he’s gone a long way to confirming that belief. The defection of First Lieutenant paves the way for another win on Tuesday, the opposition is not up to much with the possible exception of Mossey Joe. Big Zeb has looked on the downgrade this season and Sizing Europe probably wouldn’t have to be at his best to win this. If the ground gets really soft I’d expect Realt Dubh to place. The combined odds for these two is not upto much but with Hurricane Fly thrown in it works out as 5/2 with Boylesports. The Fly was disappointing at Cheltenham but given I believe he was below par he still ran a good race.
Sizing Europe
Sir Des Champs
Hurricane Fly€20 win treble @ combined odds of 5/2 (Boylesports)
I’m a huge fan of Sir Des Champs as msot on here know but I can’t back him at today’s price. However, Mossey Joe appeals at 5/1 without the fav. He looked to have the world at his feet before injury struck but if he retains most of his ability I think he can chase home Sir Des Champs today. He can tend to be a bit free but his potential is unquestionable. He could still be anything and I’m willign to take a chance on him today.
6.40 Punchestown, without Sir Des Champs
€20 win Mossey Joe @ 5/2 (Boylesports)In the Champion Chase, Sizing Europe should prove hard to beat. It saddens me to say that Big Zeb looks a shadow of the horse he once was and the application of furries may tell its own story. Realt Dubh ran a nice race on comeback in the Queen Mother, he couldn’t go the pace in the middle of the race but they won’t be going that quick here and he won’t be far away. I’m aftertiming in a way here because I took prices on him last night and he has shortened since. Considering my liking for the horse I’m a bit mad I didn’t take 16/1 3 places e/w last week.
5.30 Punchestown
€10 e/w Realt Dubh @ 10/1 (Boylesports)5.30 Punchestown, without Sizing Europe
€10 e/w Realt Dubh @ 3/1 (Boylesports)Just backed Trifolium for the Arkle. I’ve outlined my reasons in the Arkle thread but basically I’m backing him because A) apart from Simonsig nothing else stands out, B) He’ll make a far better chaser than a hurlder imo, C) Would have been closer in the Supreme had he not slipped, D) We know from that run that he handles the track and good ground. I think he’ll give Simonsig plenty to think about.
Arkle 2013
€5 e/w Trifolium @ 25/1 (Boylesports)
. The ground is a concern but whatever beats him will know they’ve had a race.
He’s a bit like the equivalent of Frankel to SDC’s Sea The Stars. He pulverizes his opponents but SDC seems to have any amount in hand over his rivals. SDC would still be my main fancy for the Gold Cup, but I think Flemenstar is a big contender. The ground yesterday was quicker than Cheltenham apparently. I can’t remember what trainer was interviewed but that’s what he said anyway, could have been Charlie Swan talking about Make A Track. Of course, the ground had got a little bit softer by the Thursday of the Festival.
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