Ante-Post

  Apologies for this weird looking entry. I have a new computer and paint isn't working the way it did on the old one. I've had to insert the screenshot below direct from my Tablet and it's effected the text. 

 The last week or so have been notable for the bold, front running displays put in by Champagne  Fever at Clonmel and King's Palace at Cheltenham on Saturday. Naturally down the line bigger tests await but for now I'm very happy with the positions I have on them for the Festival in March.

My local track stages it's best card of the season on Saturday and I took some 5/1 about Silviniaco Conti yesterday afternoon for the Betfair Chase. He was beaten by Cue Card in the race last year but his trainer getting a run into him beforehand this time around could be crucial, especially as Cue Card is coming back from injury and there has to be a slight doubt he'll be quite as good as he was. He drifted to 5s after that run in the Charlie Hall but I didn't see his relatively poor effort as a negative at all. Silviniaco Conti is a Grade 1 chaser and it pays to ignore the runs of high class animals (on the flat and the jumps) in races below the top level. I call this theory the Sky Lantern/Hot Snap reversal.

The following week the Hennessy takes place at Newbury and I've always been a big fan of Fingal Bay and have no hesitancy taking 10/1 about him for the big race. His chasing career was curtailed after a disastrous outing at Exeter almost two years back but he's a horse who needs a stamina test and a left handed track and Newbury should be perfect for him. He'll be off around 155 for the race and it bares pointing out that the last time he went left handed in a chase he was attempting to give Dynaste 4lbs in the 2012 renewal of the race Champagne West won on Friday. A difficult task.

Betfair Chase:

Silviniaco Conti £20w @ 5/1

Hennessy Gold Cup:

Fingal Bay £15w @ 10/1

Arkle Chase:

Josses Hill £35w @ 106/10

RSA Chase:

King's Palace £15w @ 20/1

Queen Mother:

Simonsig £10w @ 14/1

Gold Cup:

Champagne Fever £10w @ 20/1

Taquin Du Seuil £15w @ 26/1