Welcome back fellow followers, it's been just under a month since I properly updated my blogg and boy have we got an interesting weekend. At Kelso we see if Ballabriggs is on course for another grand national triumph and with all roads leading to Cheltenham the Newbury card looks an interesting mix of races for trainers who will be looking to be bang on form for festival winners.
The news regarding Kauto Star has been one of huge disappointment, after an amazing comeback season in which his victory in the King George and the Betfair just showed what a classy individual is still is and it would be such a shame not to see him line up at Cheltenham. Finally, for the festival I will be opening a YouTube account under the same name as this blogg which will see me present to the camera my tips throughout the Cheltenham festival. This will be up and running within the next week.
On with the cards...
Newbury 3m 110y Handicap Hurdle
The ground today undoubtedly will be on the good side at Newbury and I think some horses maybe found out by the pace and speed of these races today. It's also an interesting start to proceedings with many in this race looking to show progression and on the upgrade. The handicapper looks to of been a little tough on South O the Border who would of had a chance in my opinion if he hadn't been at the top of the weights. My selection is a huge price in my opinion and I don't believe the trip to be too much out of her reach which is the only negative I can find about her. LOVE OF TARA is my pick at a very nice eac way price, Timmy Murphy is on board, possibly my favourite jockey in the jumps sphere, he has a great relationship with this horse who has been moved up into class 1 races but found that a little tough. Looking back into those races LOVE OF TARA still jumped well, travelled well but was not quite up to that level. Back in this class against these horses has every chance at a tasty 20/1.
3.10 Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
Anything could potentially win this and it depends what you opinion is on races won, distances, ground and trainer form could be a big variable here. I like the look of FINE PARCHMENT here. The positives simply outweigh anything else in this race. FINE PARCHMENT is off a featherweight, I'm not concerned by the claiming jockey as he has a promising start to his career but it's all about the horse. FINE PARCHMENT won this race 12 months ago and looks like he could quite easily repeat that victory. That's not all though, I'm a bit of a dreamer at times, more than often in fact and I couldn't leave out DAVES DREAM who I have tipped before but without luck. However, Nicky Henderson thinks a lot of these horse, in his last race at Sandown he was pulling, throwing his head around, slow over the jumps and looked like he hated every minute of it. So what's the point? Well, being a Cheltenham winner he does have class without question and has looked dangerous in the past without quite landing the winning blow but I'm convinced that Barry Geraghty will get this horse motoring today at a nice each way squeak.
3.45 Handicap Hurdle 2m
Via Gallili won this 12 months ago for the Moore team and I think they have every chance once again even if ORZARE is carrying top weight. When you look at the trainers current form, the yards current strike rate is pretty good having six winners in the last fourteen days suggest a yard in good order. ORZARE ran a blinder the time before last at Ascot, the quality of that race looks strong as Smad Place will be lining up at Cheltenham and I believe will have a great shout in the triumph if he goes for it. Josh Moore takes off a valuable 5lbs and the horse will like this better ground. A solid run is expected.
KELSO
3.35 2m 2f Kelso Hurdle
An interesting hurdle race in which CAPTAIN CONAN is strongly fancied. The Nicky Henderson trained gelding looks the quality pick. This horse found the task difficult in grade 1 company last time out but looked a quick, nimbleand speedy jumper in its 2nd start at Sandown winning the Tolworth Hurdle which was a much competitive race than this one. AP takes the ride and I have no concern that this horse will love the ground, trip and with the champ on board I can't see it being beaten.
4.10 2m 6f Premier Chase
Smalll field but with strength in the quality of these horses. A year ago Ballabriggs came a close runner up in this race on his way to win the Grand National. Donald McCain is a fantastic trainer who I admire greatly and it seems he has chosen the same route for BALLABRIGGS this year. With the current ground conditions and the form the McCain team are in then I only see BALLYBRIGGS taking this prize this year. He hasn't been seen since his Aintree victory but with the other two main protagonists liking softer ground I believe the trip will suit a front running performance from this excellent horse.
Good Luck if your having a punt!
The news regarding Kauto Star has been one of huge disappointment, after an amazing comeback season in which his victory in the King George and the Betfair just showed what a classy individual is still is and it would be such a shame not to see him line up at Cheltenham. Finally, for the festival I will be opening a YouTube account under the same name as this blogg which will see me present to the camera my tips throughout the Cheltenham festival. This will be up and running within the next week.
On with the cards...
Newbury 3m 110y Handicap Hurdle
The ground today undoubtedly will be on the good side at Newbury and I think some horses maybe found out by the pace and speed of these races today. It's also an interesting start to proceedings with many in this race looking to show progression and on the upgrade. The handicapper looks to of been a little tough on South O the Border who would of had a chance in my opinion if he hadn't been at the top of the weights. My selection is a huge price in my opinion and I don't believe the trip to be too much out of her reach which is the only negative I can find about her. LOVE OF TARA is my pick at a very nice eac way price, Timmy Murphy is on board, possibly my favourite jockey in the jumps sphere, he has a great relationship with this horse who has been moved up into class 1 races but found that a little tough. Looking back into those races LOVE OF TARA still jumped well, travelled well but was not quite up to that level. Back in this class against these horses has every chance at a tasty 20/1.
3.10 Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
Anything could potentially win this and it depends what you opinion is on races won, distances, ground and trainer form could be a big variable here. I like the look of FINE PARCHMENT here. The positives simply outweigh anything else in this race. FINE PARCHMENT is off a featherweight, I'm not concerned by the claiming jockey as he has a promising start to his career but it's all about the horse. FINE PARCHMENT won this race 12 months ago and looks like he could quite easily repeat that victory. That's not all though, I'm a bit of a dreamer at times, more than often in fact and I couldn't leave out DAVES DREAM who I have tipped before but without luck. However, Nicky Henderson thinks a lot of these horse, in his last race at Sandown he was pulling, throwing his head around, slow over the jumps and looked like he hated every minute of it. So what's the point? Well, being a Cheltenham winner he does have class without question and has looked dangerous in the past without quite landing the winning blow but I'm convinced that Barry Geraghty will get this horse motoring today at a nice each way squeak.
3.45 Handicap Hurdle 2m
Via Gallili won this 12 months ago for the Moore team and I think they have every chance once again even if ORZARE is carrying top weight. When you look at the trainers current form, the yards current strike rate is pretty good having six winners in the last fourteen days suggest a yard in good order. ORZARE ran a blinder the time before last at Ascot, the quality of that race looks strong as Smad Place will be lining up at Cheltenham and I believe will have a great shout in the triumph if he goes for it. Josh Moore takes off a valuable 5lbs and the horse will like this better ground. A solid run is expected.
KELSO
3.35 2m 2f Kelso Hurdle
An interesting hurdle race in which CAPTAIN CONAN is strongly fancied. The Nicky Henderson trained gelding looks the quality pick. This horse found the task difficult in grade 1 company last time out but looked a quick, nimbleand speedy jumper in its 2nd start at Sandown winning the Tolworth Hurdle which was a much competitive race than this one. AP takes the ride and I have no concern that this horse will love the ground, trip and with the champ on board I can't see it being beaten.
4.10 2m 6f Premier Chase
Smalll field but with strength in the quality of these horses. A year ago Ballabriggs came a close runner up in this race on his way to win the Grand National. Donald McCain is a fantastic trainer who I admire greatly and it seems he has chosen the same route for BALLABRIGGS this year. With the current ground conditions and the form the McCain team are in then I only see BALLYBRIGGS taking this prize this year. He hasn't been seen since his Aintree victory but with the other two main protagonists liking softer ground I believe the trip will suit a front running performance from this excellent horse.
Good Luck if your having a punt!
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