2000 Guineas

Cannot wait for this race on Saturday. There are so many possibilities in the season ahead and I think this renewal is a cracker.

On Awzaan ante-post for reasons i've already posted and his price has remained around 10/1 and I have topped up. I also think Elusive Pimpernel is a cracking each way bet. He was most eye-catching in the Craven Stakes and and think he can get a lot closer to the favourite on more suitable ground. That said I also believe he'll find it tough to win given the way he tends to get outpaced and can see him running on as they enter the dip and easily getting placed

Awzaan £45win @ 10/1 lost

Elusive Pimpernel £20ew @ 6/1 lost

(-£165)

Newbury - Greenham Day

Good card at Newbury today with a couple of interesting classic trials and a hot looking handicap. In the latter i'm siding with the Stoute trained Desert Creek who disappointed twice at Ascot last year after looking one to follow in a big handicap at Haydock last May. In that race he took the lead over 2f out and held on to win by a length and a quarter. Animals who hold off so many challengers are definately worth following and the fact that he's trained by a man who is a master of older horses and is around 12/1 makes up for the Ascot runs. He's drawn a bit wide so i've gone for a little in the place market as well

In the Greenham the price disparity between Arcano and Canford Cliffs is too great and is based on a lot of hype.

Desert Creek £25win £15pl @ 12/1 Lost

Arcano £40win @ 31/10 Lost

(-£80)

Guineas Ante-Post

As we approach the end of the Jump season thoughts turn towards the flat and I have a couple of ante-post bets in the book already.

2000

Here i'm very keen to take on the hot favourite St Nicholas Abbey. As a potential star over middle distances I feel he's gonna really struggle to beat specialist milers on fast ground. Yes he was very impressive winning the RP Trophy at Doncaster last Autumn, but that was on softer ground than he'll encounter in this race and the horses he beat that day were either middle distance types or just outclassed. Of his opponents there are a couple i'm not keen on based on them being trained by men i'm not keen on backing (Arcano and Canford Cliffs) and a couple who's odds are really short based on form (Inler and the Stoute animal with one run to his name). So that leaves Middle Park winner Awzaan who is trained by the excellent Mark Johnston. Middle Park winners have a poor record in the Guineas but this horse is bred to relish a mile and at 10/1 I make him a decent bet.

Awzaan £25w @ 10/1

1000

Special Duty ticks all the right boxes for this race and I backed her at 5s in November. She was beaten in her trial the other day and is actually a bigger price now than she was then but I remain confident. Her trainer's last winner of the 1000, Hatoof, was also beaten in her first outing of her 3yo campaign

Special Duty £40w @ 5/1

Grand National

For this race rather than having £20/25 on two or three runners I like to pick five or six and have less on. This year i've gone for five in the win market and had an each way as well.

5x £12 win singles on:
Big Fella Thanks @ 11/1
The Package @ 16/1
Mon Mome @ 17/1
State of Play @ 25/1
Tricky Trickster @ 25/1

Maljimar £6ew @ 42/1

Aintree - Day 1

I'll be in attendance tomorrow and there are a couple of really good races to get stuck into.

In the 4yo Hurdle i'm hoping to get a nice price about Mo Voici who swerved the Festival in the hope of getting softer ground here. The going is listed as g/s, good in places which is a bit off putting but Barizan and Sanctuaire running may mean he is relatively ignored in the betting. I'll be backing him on course

In the Totesport Bowl Imperial Commander is trading at evens on the machine and he has to be taken on given his profile. I really fancy Nacarat for this and will cover with What a Friend. The former ran ok in the Melling Chase last year so doesn't mind the course but needs to improve on that effort to win this. I'm hoping the step up in trip will see that improvement materialise.

Nacarat £40w @ 5/1

What a Friend £20w @ 100/30

Cheltenham Festival - Day 4

Here we go then, Denman vs Kauto round 3.

I'm a massive Denman fan and I have to stay loyal to him today. He's out to 5/1 on Betfair and that is too big. His Hennessy win was pretty amazing off 174 and I just hope his fall at Newbury hasn't left any scars. I think the big meeting's wake him up however and I remain hopeful. The drying ground is only an issue in that a more severe test is more in his favour than Kauto Star's but he does act on a fast surface. Kauto Star is the best National Hunt horse to have run for forty years but it's always been my opinion that he is vulnerable at Cheltenham when they go a decent clip. In 2008 he made mistakes on the first circuit before Denman put it too him and in 2006 he actually fell in the two mile Champion Chase when favourite. He's certainly not as much of a cert as Big Bucks was yesterday. I've also backed Cooldine at 14s as a fast run race on this decent ground will suit.

Gold Cup

Denman £60win @ 9/2

Cooldine £20win @ 14/1

Cheltenham Festival - Day 3

Strange day yesterday, I was certain I had the RSA covered but got blown out of the water. However, all my each ways were placed and I actually finished in front on the day.

I've already tucked into the World Hurdle and the Ryanair ante-post but all my selections are still at backable prices.

In the Ryanair I like Tranquil Sea. He won the Paddy Power at Cheltenham in November but for some reason the horse he beat that day Poquelin has always been shorter in the betting. I put that down to Paul Nicholls being the trainer. This has been a race that for awhile i've been totally against a number of the runners. Barber's Shop, Voy Por Ustedes and Schinder's Hunt are animals I couldn't really have at any price. One in double figures I do like is Planet of Sound. Third in the Arkle last year he ran a really eye-catching second giving weight to Albertas Run when stepped up in trip in November and I thought then that he'd be a Ryanair horse. Unfortunately he is a horse that makes the odd mistake and indeed he fell when favourite for a race last month. From a talent point of view he's with the best in this and for me his error prown profile is factored in his price.

In the World Hurdle i really cannot oppose Big Bucks. He's the most solid of all Nicholls hot pots this year. But in the market without him I really like Karabak. In his last three starts he has finished second to Big Bucks, Zaynar over a trip that suited the Henderson animal more and the top class Mikael D'Haguenet in the Baring Bingham at last year's festival. It takes a really top notch animal to beat him and for me after Big Bucks there isn't much worthwhile opposition in the race

Day 3 Bets:

Ryanair

Tranquil Sea £30win @ 11/2

Planet of Sound £15ew @ 12/1

World Hurdle

Karabak £30win @ 100/30 (without Big Buck's)

Mikael D'Haguenet

Mikael D'Haguenet

Cheltenham Festival - Day 2

Nick Williams is the up and coming trainer in NH racing and I decided to follow his stable last year. He hasn't had a Festival winner as yet but Reve De Silvola and James De Vassy should both go well at big prices for him tomorrow. The former can be a dodgy jumper but he ran really well in a very hot Triumph Hurdle last year and he's a daft price (14s) especially as one of his victims in his last win is trading at half his price. James De Vassy runs in the big Handicap Hurdle and he has good form with Kyhber Kim who was second in the Champion Hurdle.
I'm against Diamond Harry (Nick's best horse) in the RSA however. This is because I am in a fantastic position in this race having taken a chance on Long Run at 6/1 (when there was a debate as to whether or not he'd go for this or the Arkle) and then topping up when he was a confirmed runner. Punchestowns I initially backed at 12s when he was found lame the other morning as he seemed the only danger to my selection and I have backed him since as well.
Looking at the market now my two selections are so much shorter than the prices I have that it might pay to have a little on Diamond Harry as extra cover. Like yesterday i'm gonna include him in a small double.
Wednesday's biggest race is the Queen Mother Champion Chase and i'm solidly with Kalahari King in this. A fast ground horse who ran really well in the Arkle last year I think he is well capable of shaking up the hot favourite and should be guaranteed to reach the frame. And each way selection to nothing imo.

Day 2 Bets:

Baring Bingham Novice Hurdle

Reve De Sivola £15e/w @ 14/1

RSA Chase

Long Run £30win @ 47/10

Punchestowns £30win @ 53/10

Diamond Harry and Master Minded (Champion Chase) £20win Double @ Betfair SP

Queen Mother Champion Chase

Kalahari King £15e/w @ 11/2

Coral Cup

James De Vassy £15e/w @ 20/1

Cheltenham Festival - Day 1

At last we're here. I have a number of bets today most of which were placed awhile ago.

In the Arkle I first backed Sizing Europe for the race in September at 22/1 and I have been topping up on occasion ever since, the last bet being last night. He's the best jumper of fences in the field and still represents value at around 11/2. The favourite Captain Cee Bee is around 3s and that is a terrible price. He may have beaten my selection last time out when he was going

better but tipped up at the last if he'd stayed on his feet - but that is the question with that horse - he hits fences, and for me he either won't get round or will clout a few that will knock the wind out of him. I also think SE wasn't at his best last time out and is a horse that goes well fresh. The main danger is Somersby who did look terrific when he won his Novice Chase at Sandown. He warrants a cover bet so i've decided to stick him in a double with Dunguib, who looks rock solid in the opener

In the big handicap i'm with Casey Jones a classy irish chaser who ran ok in the RSA last year. He should run well.

The Champion Hurdle is a very open contest and the only angle I can and have gone with here is that the form of the 2009 renewal (the first three from that race all line-up today) has proven pretty worthless. So I cannot have Punjabi, Binocular or Celestial Halo. I backed Go Native a few months ago simply because he's won a couple of important trials and triumphed here in the Supreme last year. I think he's rock solid. My other bet is Zaynar. I was premature backing him awhile back at 7s as he is now 10s but I have topped up. Naturally the distance is a worry and i'm not too confident but his current drift is down to him working poorly last week. The same thing happened last year when he drifted for the Triumph but he still won that race. I can certainly see him reaching the frame.

Day 1 Bets:

ARKLE

Sizing Europe £40win @ 79/10

Dunguib (Supreme) and Somersby £20win double @ Betfair SP

WH Trophy

Casey Jones £10win @ 22/1 £15pl @ 5/1

Champion Hurdle

Hurricane Fly - Non-Runner

Go Native £25win @ 52/10

Zaynar £25win @ 88/10 £10pl @ 5/

Cheltenham - Ante-post

Not posted for awhile, reason being I simply haven't had a bet. After the new year I generally don't get involved until the Festival. It wasn't until the early 00s that I even bothered much with the Jumps but since going online in 2004 and actually visiting Cheltenham in 05 I have become more and more keen until i'd say it's as important to me as the Flat nowadays. Anyway, i've been having the odd bet on this year's races since September and my current list is:

Arkle
£20w Sizing Europe @ 10/1

Champion Hurdle
£20w Hurricane Fly NR
£20w Go Native @ 11/2
£20w Zaynar @ 86/10

Baring Bingham

£15TBP Reve De Sivola @ 11/4

RSA
£25w Long Run @ 48/10
£10w Punchestowns @ 92/10

Coral Cup
£15ew James De Vassy @ 20/1

Ryanair
£15ew Planet of Sound @ 14/1
£25w Tranquil Sea @ 11/2


World Hurdle
£20w Karabak (w/o Big Bucks) @ 32/10
£10w Karabak @ 95/10

Gold Cup
£40w Denman @ 7/2
£5w Aran Concerto NR
£20w Cooldine @ 145/10