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Not had a bet in this race yet I still can’t make my mind up if Death duty is a banker or not. The way Gordon Elliot has been so bullish about him you have to sit up and take notice. I’m little bit wary of favourites in this race tho there have been a few really good looking ones turned over but I spose if they are good enough they win.
I’m thinking of going with The worlds end he seems to have improved every race so far. Whenever anything has tried to engage in a battle with him he’s just found more and galloped to the line. I agree with hayper’s post a few days ago his run beating No Hasslehoff Last time out was impressive. I think he could be a solid e/w bet against the favourite.
Does anyone think there’s a chance Vroum Vroum turns up here Limini doesn’t go at all as she’s not had long enough between races and she does appear best fresh and he throws Let’s dance into the mares hurdle. This would leave Arlie beach to run in the mares novice. I know it’s unlikely but we all know Mullins does throw massive curve balls. Let’s dance is available at 8’s for the mares nrmb might be worth a small investment can’t really lose anything if she doesn’t turn and and if she did she’d be a lot shorter than 8-1 that’s for sure.
Yeah I’m aware that’s the plan Zarkava but until she actually runs in that race I’ll cling to a slight bit of hope like anyone else who had a bet on her would. Vautour was only ever going gold cup last year and we saw what happened with that.
Surely Ricci will want to have a runner here and the only option looks to be Vroum Vroum. There’s no chance she can win it if she runs like she did at Doncaster though. Would Willie put Yorkhill and her into the race? It’s doubtful I’d say but surely he will run one of them.
He may not be as popular a selection with the set back and the fact Buveur D’Air has been switched in but I still like Yanworth. I just hope he ends up here and as Jasolong has stated I wouldn’t mind a different jockey on board either. I don’t think he was given the best ride last year and Yorkhill was defiantly given a better ride so I think Yanworth would have been closer. I think Yorkhill is a bit quirky and definitely not unbeatable.
Still got an antepost ticket on
Apples Jade aswel so like BigG I’ll still cling to that little glimmer of hope on that one too
I was fairly impressed with Melon the other day he’s far too short now though, even if he is likely to have had more experience in schooling races. I’ve added Charli parcs @ 7’s Nrmb as my main bet, I think he’s better value at the moment. I’m just crossing my fingers he ends up here, he looks like he could be a machine but time will tell. I loved it last year when Altior left Min trailing in his wake and I’m hoping we get the same scenario here.
UKWIMH is looking pretty formidable now, I haven’t backed him but I’m leaning towards getting involved. He travels so well in his races and always seems to find what’s required to win without really having to dig deep so it’s tough to know exactly how much more there is to come.
Its a similar situation to Thistlecrack last year he’s turning up and winning these races fairly easily but there are still doubters out there. I think I may wait until the day now if I am going to back him, does anybody think he’ll be any shorter?
I have picked an outsider out who may not even run but I’ve had a few quid e/w on Shantou Village with William Hill at 50’s money back if he doesn’t go to Cheltenham at all or free bet if he runs in something else. He may well run in the RSA or JLT or even a handicap but if he was to revert back to hurdles and turn up here I think 50-1 is a decent price.
Indeed Zarkava seems Thistlecrack’s defeat has a few people willing to delve into the market with something at bigger prices to beat him. I have a little bit on Minella Rocco e/w @ 33’s along with a couple of admittedly now probably dead little e/w bets on More Of That and Vroum Vroum Mag. The way Minella Rocco finished in the four miler last year passing Native River along the way does read quite well if he can jump round soundly. We’ll know more about if his crashing fall last time out has affected his confidence next time out in the Irish gold cup.
To me Thistlecrack is still the most likely winner. I thought his jumping wasn’t great on Saturday specifically at a couple of key moments. He seemed to get caught behind on the back foot a little bit when he should have been coasting to the front to pour it on. I think if the ground is decent on gold cup day and he can jump a bit more fluently like he did in the King George, he’ll get to the front earlier and ease away from them. If I had to pick something to be running him down late on it would be Minella Rocco.
This race is so tough still not a proper standout this close to the festival. I was on Jenkins before the season kicked off at 16’s and he was looking good until last time out, it now appears there was a problem found afterwards which is a bit of a relief. It looks like it’s touch and go if he’ll make it or not but if he does and he can brush up on his jumping he has a serious engine and should be in the mix.
I’ve spotted one that I like as an outside shot with the race being so open although I don’t think he’s a certain runner, could be aimed at the Neptune. The horse is Ben Paulings High Bridge I threw a few quid at him on betfair @85’s win and @12’s place before he won on Thursday.
He was 6th in the champion bumper rite up there fighting it out before he seemed to go out like a light over the last 200 yards or so. He won his maiden hurdle comfortably on G/S ground at Newbury and put the race to bed quickly on Thursday at Catterick drawing clear of Top Tug by 9 lengths. Reading the comments I can find from Pauling he did suggest they will keep him to 2 miles for now but may consider stepping him up come March so it’s a bit of a gamble.
I’m hoping with the race looking so weak at the moment he may be tempted to keep him at 2 miles. I believe he mentioned the Dovcote as a possible step up in class for him.
I haven’t seen that interview Vautour Interesting though I wasn’t aware Ricci didn’t want to see them race. It’d certinly be a though decicision for Ruby if it did happen. I think your rite though if both make it and are fit they will run in different races.
Yes Charlie87 I was sure I heard them mention a possible step up in trip for Faugheen Too but the bookies seem to think not. If Annie does show up for the champion hurdle and you’ve taken the 4’s it’ll be a cracking price. I just can’t quite bring myself to drive in on either of them with single bets though so I’m going to stick with the champion hurdle mares double and hope I’ve got it rite.
I suppose with Faugheen out at such a big price for the stayers I could have a small bet on that doubled with Annie In the champion too. No doubt neither would make it for Cheltenham then
It’s all fun and games 
I get what your saying Charlie87 I agree Rich has a big soft spot for her and I’m sure he’d love her to reclaim the champion hurdle before being retired like his wife apparently wanted to do at the end of last season. I spose the fact that he managed to convince her to keep Annie in training one more year adds weight to the fact they will let her defend her title.
It’s just Willie I’m concerned about, Rich appeared to want to race Vautour against Djakadam in the Gold cup last year but ultimately Willie found a way to get him in the Ryanair (apparently hadn’t been sparkling at home) it certainly didn’t look like that on the track.
I just wonder might we get the line we wouldn’t want her going to a champion hurdle without a prep run so we’ll run in the mares race as it’s an easier assignment for her.
I suppose it’s anybody’s guess really, by the time we know who goes where the prices will be long gone unfortunately but we can take a stab and hope we get it rite I suppose. We may find out a little more if Faugheen shows up at the end of the month.
I’d love to see them take each other on it would be brilliant for the sport but again although I think Rich could maybe be talked into it I’m sure Willie and Ruby would be dead against it.
This race is so frustrating! I’ve personally backed Yanworth @ 16’s and I also backed Apples Jade @8’s back in October but it looks like that ones dead now. If neither of the Mullins big guns turn up I think Yanworth has a great chance but it’s a big if.
I wouldn’t trust Mullins as far as I could throw him and I’m a bit of a conspiracy theorist where he’s concerned.
I have a theory at the moment – I fully expect Faugheen to turn up, I think all these negative vibes and prices being pushed out will trick punters into backing something else before Nrmb comes in thinking they’ve got value. He’ll reappear run a blinder in a prep race then turn up at short odds on and stroll it with Annie Power Strolling the mares and then going on to Aintree to stroll that.
I could be way off the mark but like I say wouldn’t trust Mullins at all. Just look at the Vautour saga last year – adamant its gold cup or nothing, runs in the Ryanair wins doing handstands. Davey Russell said on one of the preview nights there’s no way that horse goes gold cup it’s Ryanair fill your wheelbarrows up and he was bang on.
Based on this theory I’m very tempted to have a Faugheen, Annie Power double for the two races. I love both the horses and think they are both in another league but just don’t trust Willie.
Thanks BigG listening to that interview Cheltenham is the plan so I may have myself a few quid. Douvan looks pretty untouchable but like you I like Traffic Fluide and don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet. He’ll definitely be my e/w play or my pick in the betting without Douvan if he gets there safe and sound.
Has anybody heard any news on Traffic Fluide? I was fairly interested in him in the without Douvan market but haven’t come across any real news on his wellbeing or target.
What a performance! I’m over the moon this horse really is a machine. He just had all the answers when Cue card tried to ask the questions of him. Roll on the gold cup the fences look the biggest danger just cannot see anything getting near him with a clear round. Let’s hope he gets there safe and sound. Well done all who were on.
Literally cannot wait for this race I was absolutely chuffed when I saw Thistlecrack was going to run, I absolutely love this horse. I’m not the biggest antepost punter but occasionally I get a bit of luck with it and I threw a few quid at Thistlecrack with betfair @14’s in October. Admittedly my bet is only very small stakes a few pounds e/w and a few straight win as it really was a gamble at that stage but I’m so glad to be getting a run for my money. I honestly think this horse is a machine and there will be no better way to prove it than beating the awesome Cue card. I love the fact that Collin Tizzard has allowed his best two horses to face off it’s brilliant for the game it’s just a shame we’ll never see that with some of the brilliant horses Willie Mullins has. I would love to think Thistlecrack could win this with ease but I’m sure it won’t be that straight forward. We may now get to see what he’s got in the locker in a battle which until this point is what we don’t know.
Gone for Coneygree not that I think cue cards run last time out was all that bad and he will no doubt come on from it. I think they will have Coneygree fit enough for this and with the ground coming in his favour I’m hoping he burns them all off from the front setting a proper gallop from the off.
