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Live Cheltenham Blog: World Hurdle day with Geoffrey Riddle
/ Geoffrey Riddle / 18 March 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet
It's been advantage layers so far with a string of good things going down at Prestbury Park. But day three of the Festival brings two warm favourites and one, Big Buck's, that is red-hot. Geoffrey Riddle is on hand to bring you all the track talk and betting chat on World Hurdle day. Get in touch at: theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com
5.05pm:
The clouds darken and begin to weep. I don't know who they are crying for. It's been a great day for everyone. Punters have hit back with Big Buck's and it wasn't as if Ballabriggs was unconsidered. One more day. one last chance to get our noses ahead. See you back here tomorrow at 11am for the titanic clash between Kauto Star and Denman in the Gold Cup.
5pm:
Ballabriggs put in a huge performance there, so much so that Ballabriggs is taking in water lie an elephant. He's downed a bucket of water in the blink of an eye. I bet those Guinness drinkers outside the press tent wish they could consume so quickly.
Donald McCain's top-weight looked to have flown, having fought off the persistent challenge of Khachaturian. His in-running price plummeted but as he got over the last fence, jockey Richard Harding failed to power his mount up the hill. The pair looked completely legless, punch-drunk, and the crowd gave out an audible gasp. It really looked as if Ballabriggs was going to get reeled in by the mercurial Faasel. And punters thought so too. I saw trade at [2.5] in the final 100 yards or so. Tremendous stuff.
McCain, who sent out Peddlers Cross to win the Neptune Investments Hurdle on Wednesday saluted his gutsy winner. "He's a horse to die for, a real battler," said the son of Grand National-winning trainer Ginger MCain. "He's an absolute monster, he a huge horse. I'm delighted for Mr Hemmings [the owner]. I see him as a Topham horse."
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir result:
1: Ballabriggs
2: Faasel
3: Gallant Nuit
4: Maa Yahaab
5: Khachaturian
4.35pm
There's a group of seven guys outside the press centre who have been on it all afternoon. they've had a great time. I have counted, without any particular attention, that they have drunk at least eight Guinness. Or is it Guinnesses, or even, Guinnae? Anyway they are appalling singers and they are butchering one of my favourite songs. They're truly awful.
4.30pm
This meeting has been all about me hitting the bar. I've lost count of how many bridesmaids I've picked up. It's quite frustrating. Sunnyhillboy was never good enough though, but I'm sticking with the Jonjo O'Neill team and I've backed Isn't That Lucky. It's what I need, luck, but if you trawl through the horse's form, it's very good. He finished second here in the Jewson last year, which, as highlighted by Ben, was a very good race.
He's got the best amateur jockey in Sam Waley-Cohen, who rode Long Run yesterday in the RSA chase, and for those who bet in-running, he is often ridden patiently, which means he's an in-running play. He'll trade at big odds.
Byrne Group Plate - Pipe's stike again
1: Great Endeavour
2: Sunnyhillboy
3: From Dawn To Dusk
4: Mr McGoldrick
Great Endeavour makes it a double for the Pipe team this afternoon with a commanding win for owner David Johnson - his third of the meeting. Great Endeavour met most of the stats trends in that he was a lightly-weighted chaser with few encounters with the handicapper, but he still went off an unconsidered 18-1 shot. The mount of the superb Danny Cook was matched at an in-running high of [34.0], and he held off the challenge of Sunnhillboy quite easily. And to think, it was Martin Pipe who trained Dark Stranger for me all those years ago. Why didn't I back that?
A word must be said for the 13-year-old Mr McGoldrick, last year's winner. He put in a sensational leap just before coming down the hill, and he stayed on really well. Heartning.
3.50pm
Made in Taipan, the mount of Davy Russell, loves it at Navan, a left-handed undulating track, where he has won twice and been the bridesmaid once from three starts. He ran the newly-crowned Champion Chaser Big Zeb to half a length there in November, and was fourth in the Arkle last year. He prepped for this with a fine fourth to Tranquil Sea last time out at Leopardstown. He's probably not ideally suited by this going, but that form really stands out, doesn't it?
"Did you know that Chapoturgeon's time when winning the Jewson last year was quicker than Imperial Commander's winning time in the Ryanair?" writes in a remarkably well-informed Ben from Harrogate. "He was slammed for that run, but hasn't won since, which means he hasn't gone up the ratings, but his run behind Poquelin now looks much better."
Take note folks.
3.45pm
I'm taking my Big Buck's money and I'm re-investing it immediately. I think Atouchbetweenacara and Sunnyhillboy still represent value in the next race, the Bryne Group Plate. Andy Stewart, owner of Big Buck's was keen to highlight the chances of Marty's Mission in the winners' enclosure. He's fancied his horse for this race for ages apparently.
Stewart reckoned that Big Buck's was the best thing since, er ... Inglis Drever. "That must be Big Buck's bets career run," said Stewart. "I think that is the most impressive performance that I have seen since Inglis Drever," he continued. I was kind of hoping that Stewart was going to dazzle the crowd with some ancient horse from the 1950s or something, much like Edward O'Grady did earlier.
It's begun to rain, which is amazing when you consider that at early this morning clerk of the course Simon Claisse predicted that it would start to rain at 4pm.
3.40pm
"Absolutely incredible," screeches Jonathan, who wants to know where he can get his money on for a third World Hurdle for Big Buck's. The big two on the high street make him 6-4, but that will not be there for long as most other firms are either 5-4 or Evens.
2.33pm
It was all so easy, and as Big Buck's ranged up alongside the toiling Time For Rupert, Ruby Walsh had a little look behind him. There was nothing going nearly as well, and the Festival's most prolific jockey kept his mount on a tight rein before the final flight. Big Buck's popped it well, and then left Time For Rupert for dead, powering up the hill to a massive roar from the crowd. The fiddlers started playing almost immediately and the smile is back on some people's faces. The layers are in front, the backers have something to toast. Isn't Cheltenham a wonderful place?
World Hurdle result - The jolly obliges!
1: Big Buck's
2: Time For Rupert
3: Powerstation
Faith is something that you need to keep hold of. And all those punters who stuck with the favourite were richly rewarded with a commanding performance. The layers who had the temerity to go Evens just before the race were absolutely slammed as £165k was matched at that price and there was just over £87k matched at [2.02]. The on-course layer Chronicle also laid £50k in the ring. Finally. The fightback begins.
3.15pm
I'm not usually into promotion on here but there is a Lady Riders Charity Race on at 5.15pm after the Kim Muir. The Ladies Charity Sweepstake is going to be contested by lady riders only, and is run in aid of Cancer Research.
The 12 lady riders have raised a total of £60,000, but the biggest travesty is that despite a plug on page 68 of the RP, only £20 has been donated at the time of writing on the Justgiving page. Unbelievable. It just shows how badly things are going for punters at the moment, with the defeats of Alfie Sherrin and Poquelin the latest in the graveyard for favourites. Perhaps the layers need to start donating?
3.10pm
Look lively favourite backers. Big Bucks is trading at Evens!
3pm
Another thing in favour of Big Buck's - does there need to be anything else? - is that the last ten winners were hold up horses. No horse has led and won since Cyborgo in 1996, and only Limestone Lad has held on for a place for the front-runners since since then.
As a result, my hopes that War Of Attrition would roll back the years seem dashed. War Of Attrition's last four hurdle runs include two-front running victories, a defeat by Powerstation and a narrow second to Brave Inca in the 2004 running of the Supreme Novices Hurdle!
The former Gold Cup winner skipped a chance at the Grand National for this, and once again, he could be worth trading as a back-to-lay. He's likely to front-run and is a huge price at [36.0].
2.55pm
Timeform rate Big Bucks a better hurdler than Inglis Drever, the former dual winner. He's only seven, so should improve, which has indeed occurred. Paul Nicholls has said that Big Bucks has improved physically since last year's win, but as everyone and his dog seems to want to point out, he may have regressed mentally. Can the other jockeys get Big Bucks into the lead earlier than he wants?
2.52pm
"I feel like crying," says Tony McCoy, as he snakes his way through the crowd on Albertas Run. "It's not because I've won this for the first time, but because I'm really sore. I got a real kicking when I fell in the first race."
I know how you feel Tony. I've had a real kicking so far. Deep Purple traded at as short as [5.2], but being so sure he was going to win, I went out to watch the action on course.
Ryanair Chase result - previous course form strikes again
1: Albertas Run
2: Poquelin
3: J'y Vole
A thoroughy taking performance by the former RSA winner. Tony McCoy drove Albertas run into the lead early on, and once he had burnt off the string challenge of Deep Purple, he flew for home on the turn. Although Poquelin came round the bend to challenge, he was never close to landing a blow. To think, I thought that Albertas Run was a sure thing at Ascot last time. Hrumpf.
2.35pm
More Emails. Despite the success of the Irish yesterday, Fred from Worksop cannot have the Dessie Hughes runner Schindlers Hunt: "Schindler's Hunt has been beaten in his last 12 attempts in Grade 1 company. He's got no chance." Well done Fred. I'll kick the Irish horse while he's down. I've just been to the parade ring. He's not the biggest looking sort, either.
Voy Por Ustedes was odds-on for last year's race, and considering his form at Prestbury Park reads 11222, he may be of appeal to some in the place market at a skinny-looking [3.8]. And trainer Alan King reckons VPU is in great heart.
"He isn't as sharp as he once was," said the master of Barbury Castle. "We saw that in the Game Spirit Chase last time, but I needed to get the run into him. Two and a half miles on decent ground is probably what he wants and I haven't given up faith in him."
I must say that Voy Por Ustedes looked an absolute picture when I saw him in the pre-parade ring earlier. I'm not sure this is a good thing, nor even something that one wants in the racehorse, but he looked intelligent, too. You know that look that some people just have? He carried himself like a real champion, which of course, he was.
2.30pm
I really do think that Deep Purple is the forgotten horse of the race. Although Peterborough Chase winners don't have the best record, finishing 53566 in this so far, it is not necessarily the win part I'm interested in anyway. At [19.0] there could be significant mileage in trading him as an each-way back-to-lay vehicle and picking up the place part of the bet if he cannot hold on from the fancied late finishers like Poquelin and Tranquil Sea.
Barbers Shop has been in the wilderness really since his excellent Paddy Power Gold Cup run behind Imperial Commander in 2008. He gave last year's Ryanair winner 3lbs that day, which confirms that over the right trip, he's right up there. He's never been out of the frame over 2m5f, winning five, and finishing second four times over this trip. For my mind, his efforts have been pretty average this season, running over three miles, but Derek points out in his short e-mail: "Do you think that Henderson has been running Barber's Shop over three miles to get him fit and his stamina better?" It's an interesting point.
2.25pm
Touching scenes in the winners' enclosure. Buena Vista was left to the current owner, Matt Archer, by Jean Boradhurst, the larger than life racegoer known so well for her bright red lipstick. She died several years ago, and Archer was in tears in the ring immediately after Hadden Frost guided the nine-year-old across the line. "She'll be looking down on us all today," winning trainer David Pipe comforted him touchingly, just before Tommo came and ruined it all by collaring Pipe for an interview on Channel 4.
Pertemps Final result - Second time lucky
1: Buena Vista
2: Prince Erik
3: Chamirey
4: Cross Kennon
Runner-up last year, Buena Vista went one better this time under an enterprising ride by Hadden Frost. Twelve months ago, Buena Vista came down the hill quite well, and Frost used that to his advantage this time around. More prominent than usual, Frost didn't panic when he found himself several lengths ahead. When asked what was going through is mind coming down the hill, Frost replied: "I shouldn't be out in front this early!".
1.50pm
I cannot believe for a minute how badly Nicanor ran in the Jewson there.. He was never in it. I didn't even get a run, and he was pulled up pretty early on. There must have been something wrong with him. There's going to be something wrong with me soon as well if my luck continues like this.
1.45pm:
Ainama looks a plot horse from the Nicky Henderson yard. The six-year-old's best performance to date was to finish within a length and a quarter to the Bouggler in the Grade 2 Mersey Novices Hurdle over 2m4f at Aintree. You might have noticed that Copper Bleu, the winner of the Jewson just now, was second that day. Henderson has run him just once this season, over three miles here behind Lie Forrit, and it wasn't as if he was extended when finishing fifth. It all adds up wonderfully, but whether he is actually good enough, can stay the trip or is value remains to be seen. You couldn't rule him out with Henderson's record this week.
The biggest plot horse of the race though looks to be Prince Erik, from the Dermot Weld yard. The crucial difference to my mind between the two horses is that Prince Erik won his latest start.
That race last time at Leopardstown was just his second run over hurdles and he powered away from numerous good horses, one of which, Boulavogue, went down narrowly to Smokin Aces, who also lines up and has been heavily tipped. There must be a great deal of improvement to come there, and this stamina-packed, deep-girthed gelding really could have any amounts hidden away from the handicapper.
Time Electric finished closer to Lie Forritt than Ainama did on an earlier run here and realistically blew his chances at the final flight to finish three lengths adrift. What's interesting about his chances is that he looks the perfect back-to-lay vehicle as he is a prominent racer. There's mileage in his price, too, as he's [21.0].
Jewson Novices Handicap Chase result: Hobbs-Johnson again.
1: Copper Bleu
2: Other mix
3: the Midnight Club
4: China Rock
5: Seven Is My Number
Richard Johnson and Philip Hobbs teamed up with Menorah to take the first race of the Festival, and they kick off day three here with an impressive win in the Jewson. Copper Bleu was fourth in Go Native's Supreme Novices Hurdle, finishing behind Medermit and Somersby also. That really is a strong piece of form, eh? Perhaps he can progress as Somersby has done, and could be one for the Ryanair back here in 12 month's time.
Paddy Brennan looked to have put in a winning run on Othermix coming to the last, but punters didn't really believe it, and the runner-up was only matched at Evens in-running.
1.25pm
Rugby is well represented here today. Mike Tindall is here. Yep, England's centre for the Grand Slam showdown in Paris this weekend. Don't worry, I'll be watching that he doesn't have a cheeky Guinness. So is disgraced rugby coach Dean Richards, who looks to enjoying his time off. He's a bit bigger than I remember, although perhaps he's fallen on hard times. He was putting on a Placepot. And that was it.
1.15pm
Nicanor is set to carry my funds as I plot my comeback this afternoon. I think he is a massive price He's a multiple Grade 1 winner, which includes the Sun Alliance Hurdle here a few years ago. He's hit the bar several times this season on unsuitably soft ground, which is a good thing for a race like this because he was getting useful chasing experience without going up dramatically in the weights. Those races have worked out exceptionally well, and his second to An Cathoir Mor looks very good. He prefers better going and he was nibbled at with several high-street layers this morning.
China Rock is beginning to get warm in the paddock, and the Pricewise horse is sweating up a bit. It is not hot here, which suggests he's nervous. Perhaps it's the weight of expectation. Every other person I speak to seems to have backed him. In contrast, Hey Big Spender looks a complete machine. I know he's higher up the ratings than most winners of this, but he is pretty classy on his day.
12.55pm
Almost half an hour until the first race. Gosh, I'm excited. If one more person tells me that I need to back a horse that won last time out in the Pertemps at 2.05pm, I'll scream. Okay, nine of the last 14 winners came here having won their prep run. But that's five that didn't. And they were all massive prices. Creon (50-1), Kadoun (50-1), and Oscar Park (14-1) all won in the last six years with duck eggs next to their names. So if you like hitting the target more often than not, then take that stat on board. If you don't mind waiting for that big win, then don't worry about it. Let's face it, it's not as if there has been a deluge of well-fancied winners this week.
12.40pm
A know it is Ladies day, and women want to make an impression, but Camilla Henderson, trainer Nicky's daughter, is pushing things. She's got an alarmingly short skirt on. Perhaps she's trying to show off those toned legs that she's been training on for this afternoon's charity race day...
12.10pm
I've been trying to sift through the Bryne Group Plate (4pm). It's like trying to do a jigsaw puzzle upside down without being able to see the image. After my gut-wrenching loss on Master Minded yesterday, I'm clinging to the hope that the last time I had such a big bet on the Champion Chase was when I was a student. I had a large proportion of my student loan on Flagship Uberalles and was pretty despondent when he hit the final fence and was swamped by Direct Route and the eventual winner Edredon Bleu. Pretty much down to my last £20, I bought a round of drinks and a hot dog and placed my last tenner on Dark Stranger at 14-1. It won the Bryne Group Plate, or Mildmay Of Flete as it was called then. I then had a wedge on Joe Cullen, that won the Bumper at 14-1, too. It's that kind of fightback that I'm looking for over the next two days.
Anyway, in the Bryne Group Plate, I'm pretty sweet on Sunnyhillboy. According to Timeform Ratings there is a lot of improvement in him, and Tony McCoy did a good job on him last time when winning cosily by three-quarters of a length at Ludlow. He's still well handicapped according to his hurdles rating, too. He'll go in my placepot with Atouchbetweenacara at the very least.
11.40am
Tranquil Sea's joint-owner, Dermot Cox, seems to be camped permanently in one of the better restaurants in Winchcombe, where I'm staying. He's there late at night, he's there early in the morning. Perhaps he's staying there, or perhaps he is going at it hard. He certainly did last year when he won with Ninetieth Minute.
Anyway, I cannot understand why his big hope is not joint favourite with Poquelin. After all, Tranquil Sea hammered Poquelin here when the two clashed in November. Tranquil Sea's detractors suggest that the better going will help their champ, but Tranquil Sea's trainer, Edward O'Grady, is having none of it when it comes to rubbishing his horse's chances on good ground. O'Grady, who has saddled 18 Festival winners, pointed out that his horse has won a Grade 1 hurdle on good ground. What's more, he believes that the going is a lot slower than most people make out. "It looks a lot slower than it was for the first two days," he revealed just now. "It's not the ground for my boy that is the issue for me, but it may inconvenience some of the others, which always helps."
O'Grady also reckons that course form is everything. "There's no doubt that horses who run well here do so again - a horse like Willie Wumpkins comes to mind." Does it really Mr O'Grady? What, not a horse like Kauto Star, who has won two Gold Cups? Not Istabraq who won three Champion Hurdles or Best Mate, the triple Gold Cup winner? Nope, not for O'Grady. Like one of those quiz bods on Eggheads, O'Grady plucked out Willie Wumpkins, a horse who won the Pertemps Final in 1979, 80 and 81. Why Willie Wumpkins? Has Mr O'Grady got the Pertemps Final on the brain? He runs Rocco's Hall, who 'will run better on this going'. But if it is a repeat winner of the Pertemps that O'Grady is imagining, does he think that Kayf Aramis will follow up last year's win in the 2.05pm?
11.15am
It doesn't get any easier for punters here today after a string of heavily-fancied losers this week. One bookmaker was telling me that he had a turnover in excess of £2m here, which suggests at the percentages that he bet at, means he's had a rather good Festival so far.
There will be a mountain of expectation on the big two favourites; Poquelin in the Ryanair Chase at 2.40pm and Big Buck's in the World Hurdle at 3.20pm. Throw in the inevitable support for Alfie Sherrin for the Nicholls/Walsh combo in the Pertemps Final at 3.20pm and you've got another finely poised battle between the punters and layers today.
11am
Talking of the Going, isn't it amazing that in the 21st century we are still measuring the going conditions with a stick. Yep, a simple piece of wood, picked up somewhere in a wood, or copse. I've just seen Robert 'Choc' Thornton dig in an old stick into the ground. "The going is as described," he rekons. Really? I mean Christ, we've sent people to the moon...
10.50am
Good morning all and welcome to day three of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival. I've mellowed since the frustration of Master Minded's defeat yesterday and I have even arrived here with a smile on my face. It's Cheltenham after all. Where is there better in the world to be today?
Clerk of the course Simon Claisse has watered and with the racing transferred to the New Course today the common perception is that the going will ride much like it did on day one; Good, Good to Soft.
