Ante-Post

    The Betfair Hurdle headlines Saturday's card at Newbury and I've been eyeing up Amore Alato at big prices ever since the market went up. Truth be told he was very disappointing last time out but wasn't allowed to stride out in front and the pace setters couldn't be pegged back. This race is one of the hottest handicap hurdles of the year with a roll of honour featuring some top class animals and so I was just as interested in the place element of the prices I was looking at but Nick is jocking up Lizzie Kelly who rides the horse for the first time so the 7lb claim is huge, it gives the horse an effective mark of 133 which is very juicy.

    Looking to Cheltenham I have topped up on King's Palace and added Champagne Fever for the Queen Mother. Initially I was against the horse running over two miles and looking down the page one can see I've backed him for the Ryanair and Gold Cup also (face/palm insert here) but the Champion Chase looks pretty winnable this season with the front three in the market all worth taking on at their respective odds. I've sort of changed my mind on him a little bit as I held the view at one time that if he couldn't beat Western Warhorse in the Arkle why would he win a Queen Mother, but he is much more experienced now and I keep coming back to Finian's Rainbow when contemplating the race. I backed that horse in his Arkle where he finished pretty legless behind Captain Chris before going onto win the 2m Championship the following year. That twelve months worth of experience and toughing up could be just what Champagne Fever needs and I feel being let loose after a headstrong run at Kempton will be huge for him. It goes without saying that he loves the track and his Festival record (two wins and a second) is a nice tick in the plus column.




Betfair Hurdle:
Amore Alato £10ew @ 33/1

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Arkle Chase:
Josses Hill £50w @ 11/1

Champion Hurdle:
Jezki £15w @ 13/2 and £20ew @ 11/2 NRNB

Neptune Novices' Hurdle:
Shaneshill £10w @ 14/1

Queen Mother:
Uxizandre £15ew @ 16/1 NRNB
Champagne Fever £15w @ 86/10

RSA Chase:
King's Palace £70w @ 89/10

Ryanair Chase:
Uxizandre £12w @ 16/1
Champagne Fever £10w @ 12/1
Cue Card £20w @ 8/1

World Hurdle:
More of That £30w @ 47/10

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle:
Tea For Two £10w @ 25/1
Value At Risk £15w @ 14/1

Gold Cup:
Boston Bob £10ew @ 20/1 NRNB
Champagne Fever £25w @ 17/1
Taquin Du Seuil £15w @ 26/1

To Win at the Festival:
Cue Card £10 @ 16/1

Doubles:
Tea For Two(Lanzarote)(won)/King's Palace(RSA) £10w @ 6/1 & 5/1

Jezki(Champion Hurdle)/Champagne West(RSA) £10ew @ 6/1 & 16/1

£15 lost on Non-Runner(s)