The big race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival tomorrow is the Grade 1 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30pm). This will decide which horse in Britain and Ireland is the best chaser over a distance of two miles.
The first three home in the Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase, run at Cheltenham in January,reoppose each other tomorrow. Editeur du Gite caused something of an upset that day, winning from Edwardstone and Energumene.
Yet, I can’t believe the Willie Mullins horse, Energumene, was at his best on that occasion and I’d fancy him to win tomorrow if he shows his best form. However, especially as there are four other runners with chances, odds of around 7/4 are easy to resist. Instead, I am happy just to watch an enjoy an intriguing contest.
The biggest disappointment for me about tomorrow’s racing is that Saint Segal has not made the “cut” for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (4.50pm). He was one of my biggest fancies for the week but the wager was struck Non Runner No bet (NRNB) and so all stakes are returned.
Furthermore, after all the rain of the last week, connections have decided to run ELIXIR DE NUTZ in tomorrow’s Grand Annual (4.50pm) rather than the Magners Plate Handicap Chase on day three over a longer distance. I had put him up as a bet for the latter race, but also NRNB, so once again there is no financial pain.
I had initially worried that the two mile trip of the Grand Annual would be an insufficient stamina test for Joe Tizzard’s horse, Elixir de Nutz. However, on testing ground I am happy to back the improving chaser each way at 14-1 for the Grand Annual with Bet Victor paying five places.
In the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (1.30pm), it would not surprise me if the Willie Mullins second string, Gaelic Warrior, beat both his more fancied stablemate Impaire Et Passe and Paul Nicholls’ Hermes Allen. However, I am not confident enough to put down my hard earned on this race.
In the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (2.10pm), the British horse Thyme Hill could outclass his rivals at a nice price but his past jumping frailties mean that, once again, I won’t be backing him to land the spoils.
I have already put up Camprond each way at 20-1 NRNB for the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (2.50pm) and he is now less than half that price. The downside is that he is a much better horse on good ground and so the rain of the past week has tempered my enthusiasm for his chances. The less rain, the better his chances between now and the off.
I think Delta Work is the right market leader for the Glenfarclas-sponsored Cross Country Chase (4.10pm) but odds of little better than evens make no appeal in a 16-horse race run over 3 miles 6 furlongs.
It’s a similar story in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.30pm) in which the favourite, A Dream to Share, has solid form but the odds of 4-1 or shorter in a 24-runner race are too short to warrant a bet.
The results on day one were generally disappointing for a four point loss on the day. However, all is not lost and there is still plenty of racing to come. I will be back on Spectator Life late tomorrow to offer my thoughts on day three.
Pending bets:
1 point each way Camprond at 20-1 NRNB for the Coral Cup, paying 1/5th odds, five places.
1 point each way Elixir de Nutz at 14-1 for the Grand Annual Chase, paying 1/5 odds, five places.
1 point each way French Dynamite at 14-1 NRNB for the Ryanair Chase, paying 1/5th odds, three places.
1 point each way Gin Coco at 14-1 NRNB for the County Hurdle, paying 1/5 odds, five places.
1 point each way Hewick at 20-1 NRNB for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, three places.
1 point each way Royal Pagaille at 50-1 NRNB for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, three places.
1 point each way Might I at 10-1 NRNB for the Martin Pipe Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, five places.
1 point each way The Galloping Bear at 14-1 for the Midlands Grand National, paying ¼ odds, four places.
1 point each way Notachance at 33-1 for the Midlands Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, fiveplaces.
1 point each way Corach Rambler at 20-1 in the Aintree Grand National, paying ¼ odds, four places.
1 point each way Lifetime Ambition at 33-1 in the Aintree Grand National, paying 1/5 odds, five places.
1 point each way Any Second Now at 20-1 in the Aintree Grand National, paying 1/5 odds, five places.
Settled:
1 point each way Hill Sixteen in the Becher Chase at 11-1, paying 1/5 odds, six places. Unplaced (7th). – 2 points.
2 points win Annsam at 8-1 for the Howden Silver Cup. Cancelled meeting. Stake returned.
1 point each way Eldorado Allen at 20-1 in the King George VI Chase, paying 1/5 odds, 3 places.Unplaced (4th). – 2 points.
1 point each way The Big Breakaway in 20-1 for the Welsh Grand National at 20-1, paying 1/5 odds, five places. 2nd. + 3 points.
1 point each way The Big Dog at 12-1 in the Welsh Grand National, paying ¼ odds, four places. 3rd. + 2 points.
1 point each way Grumpy Charley at 12-1 in the Newbury 2.25pm paying 1/5 odds, five places. 1st + 16.4 points.
2 points win Midnight River at 5-1 for the Cheltenham 1.55pm, with Skybet. 1st. + 10 points.
1 point each way Coconut Splash at 12-1 in the Cheltenham 1.55 on Sunday, with William Hill, paying 1/5 odds, six places. Unplaced (P). – 2 points.
1 point each way Sir Ivan at 20-1 in the Sandown 3pm tomorrow, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Lord du Mesnil at 8-1 in the Warwick 3pm race, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Dubrovnik Harry at 8-1 in the Kempton 2.40pm race, paying 1/5th odds, 7 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Mister Coffey at 15/2 for the Doncaster 3.15pm, 1/5 odds, five places. Non Runner. Stake returned.
1 point each way Back On The Lash at 7/1 for the Cheltenham 12.40pm, 1/5 odds, five places. 1st. + 8.4 points
1 point each way Empire Steel at 12-1 in the Sandown 3.30pm, paying 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each Small Present at 25-1 for the Grand National Trial (Haydock 2.40pm) paying 1/4 odds, four places. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Homme Public at 9-1 for Ascot 3pm, paying 1/5 odds, four places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Party Business at 20-1 NRNB for the Pertemps Network Hurdle Final, paying 1/5 odds, five places. Non Runner. Stake returned.
1 point each way Benson at 16-1 in the MorebattleHurdle, paying 1/5th odds, five places. 1st. + 19.2 points.
1 point each way Monviel at 17/2 for the Imperial Cup, paying 1/5th odds, six places. 5th. + 0.5 points.
1 point each way Saint Segal at 20-1 NRNB for the Grand Annual, paying 1/5th odds, five places. Non Runner. Stake Returned.
1 point each way Elixir de Nutz at 20-1 NRNB for the Plate Handicap Chase, paying 1/5 odds, five places. Non Runner. Stake Returned.
1 point each way Doctor Bravo at 22-1 for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, paying 1/5 odds, four places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Nassalam at 20-1 NRNB for the Ultima Handicap Chases, paying 1/5th odds, five places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way I Like To Move It at 20-1 for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, 1/5 odds, three places.Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Metamorpheus at 16-1 NRNB for the Boodles Juveniles Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Mister Coffey at 25-1 for the National Hunt Chase, paying 1/5th odds, three places. 3rd. + 4 points.
2022-3 jumps season, running total + 37.5 points.
My gambling record for the seven years: I have made a profit in 13 of the past 14 seasons to recommended bets. To a 1 point level stake over this period, the profit of has been just over 469 points. All bets are either 1 point each way or 2 points win (a “point” is your chosen regular stake).
Comments