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SDG in the Queen Mother CC for me. He has looked very good this term but I’m not sure he is suited to the course.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Agree with SDG especially with confidence sky high from the Hendo yard.
I will opt for Briars Hill despite the money coming for him and his course form
SDG has improved massively since November which IMO would negate any supposed dislike to the course. He won well round Chepstow first time up – an undulating left hand course. He’s firmly on my radar.
My lay is Al Ferof.
Has run well below par last twice. Yes, there were trip excuses, but in the KG he just plodded round – didnt look a non – stayer, just looked to have lost his zip. He had a hard race in gluepot conditions at Newbury and looked kn*ckered.
He just doesn’t look to have come back quite the same horse this season. Therefore heading the Ryanaur market just doesn’t make sense to me. Easy lay !!In the Shloer SDG gave 10 lbs when 3 1/4 lengths second to Kid Cassidy on good ground. Had he won by 7 lengths off levels would there be a story? Judged by my own eyes and Racing Post Standard Times SDG chased a fast pace that day. Jamie arguably guilty of going for home too soon with AP (who’d been dropped out off a strong pace) found SDG coming back to him. So not only does the Moore’s marauder come out by far the best horse at the weights – considering the pace he’s value for an even better performance.
Also, in November 2012 SDG finished runner up to Captain Conan at Cheltenham in a novice chase off levels. Looking at how he beat that horse at Sandown this season you might think SDG was below form at Cheltenham. But in the Novice Chase it was Henderson’s horse that started 11/10 fav and SDG (7/2) actually improved his form to get within 2 lengths… Also improving since.
Value Is EverythingFor me, at today’s prices and expected going it would be a choice between:
Dodging Bullits – Arkle
Ballycasey – RSA
Taquin De Seuil – JLT
Al Ferof – RyanairValue Is Everything
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How come you don’t like Dodging Bullets Ginge? Haven’t yet made a bet on the Arkle but Dodging Bullets would probably be my first choice if I did!
Not something I do but here’s a bundle:-
Quevega – not that impressive last year and very unlikely to improve on that performance this year.
Foxrock – backed it but the combination of his deliberate jumping and Katie Walsh could see it playing catch-up from an early stage.
Shutthefrontdoor (National Hunt Chase) – doubtful stayer and likely not good enough even if he does.
Pendra – another doubtful stayer and jumping not that fluent either.
Willie Mullins Bumper Runners – it has been a very poor year where very little has excited and his horses would clearly be bigger prices if trained elsewhere.
Fingal Bay – another I can see struggling to get home, only just lasted on comeback and doubtful there will be much improvement, priced up on his old potential which may never be realised.
Dynaste – off the back of a shocking performance, couldn’t do it last year and increasingly looks a bit soft.
Regal Encore – shocking prices on what he has actually achieved, yes he got beat by a decent horse but that horse was running over a trip well short of his best.
Kings Palace – visually impressive but the actual form has looked increasingly dubious.
Next Sensation – easy wins leading small fields but came unstuck in most competitive race and this will be a totally different ball game.
How come you don’t like Dodging Bullets Ginge? Haven’t yet made a bet on the Arkle but Dodging Bullets would probably be my first choice if I did!
Dodging Bullets quickly made up in to a good novice hurdler Ben, before not going on once I’d backed him for the Supreme. Temperament seemed to deteriorate before rekindled by fences/op. On his toes at Newbury and did not find as much as looked likely at one stage. IMO May well turn out to be best in small field slowly run races, not an Arkle. Suspect Dodging Bullets has already found his level (which is just below top class) over fences. Some rivals are already better and some contenders are imo capable of improving past him.
Not saying Dodging Bullets won’t win Ben, just I’d want double the current price of 6/1 to back him.
Value Is EverythingNot something I do but here’s a bundle:-
Quevega – not that impressive last year and very unlikely to improve on that performance this year.
Foxrock – backed it but the combination of his deliberate jumping and Katie Walsh could see it playing catch-up from an early stage.
Shutthefrontdoor (National Hunt Chase) – doubtful stayer and likely not good enough even if he does.
Pendra – another doubtful stayer and jumping not that fluent either.
Willie Mullins Bumper Runners – it has been a very poor year where very little has excited and his horses would clearly be bigger prices if trained elsewhere.
Fingal Bay – another I can see struggling to get home, only just lasted on comeback and doubtful there will be much improvement, priced up on his old potential which may never be realised.
Dynaste – off the back of a shocking performance, couldn’t do it last year and increasingly looks a bit soft.
Regal Encore – shocking prices on what he has actually achieved, yes he got beat by a decent horse but that horse was running over a trip well short of his best.
Kings Palace – visually impressive but the actual form has looked increasingly dubious.
Next Sensation – easy wins leading small fields but came unstuck in most competitive race and this will be a totally different ball game.
Agree with a lot of these, especially Kings Palace who hasn’t been tested yet. Only one I think will run really well is Shutthefrontdoor, reminds me a little of Don’t Push It and think he will stay the 4 miles – his second to Le Bec in November is decent form.
I know putting up a 6/1 lay is like tipping a 1/6 shot but I’m with Ginger in that Dodging Bullets should be twice the price he is.
I’d also add Kings Palace at 3/1, think there’s is enough against him with Briar Hill in opposition and his running style likely to suit the main opposition. Tim Scu will need to give a perfect ride which I also think won’t happen.
Has to be Annie Power all day long for the World Hurdle. She could be the next best thing since Sprinter Sacre, but really, what justifies her price at the head of the market for the world hurdle?
Surely, the horse that has won it four times and going for a fifth should head the market? I laugh when people make these grade 1 races two horse affairs. Look at the betting. If it’s just a race between BB and AP, how come the rest of the field aren’t at least 10/1 chances? It’s a grade 1 with grade 1 horses, and it really wouldn’t surprise me if neither of the big two won the race. But at the prices, Annie Power is the absolute lay of the meeting. Apart from Zarkandar.. (who will be a different proposition on faster ground) what has she beat? If Doyly Carte beats Quevega on day 1, I could be eating my words!!Plenty for me are terrible value.
Supreme – Irving
Arkle – Dodging Bullets
Champion Hurdle – Hurricane Fly
Ryanair – Al Ferof
BetVictor QMCC – Sire De GrugyIrving is the lay of the festival. Flat bred, German bred, yet to go left-handed over hurdles. No chance.
Hurricane Fly for me. OK he’s beaten Our Conor and Jezki around Leopardstown but I think he will have trouble fending off the 4 youngsters up the Cheltenham hill next week.
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