/ Geoffrey Riddle / 30 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

Geoffrey Riddle is our man at Cheltenham today, which only just goes ahead after passing a 10am inspection. Tune in for all the paddock action and betting fluctuations and e-mail him any thoughts or questions on: theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com

4.20pm result:
1: Arctic Magic
2: Aather
3: Aachen
4: Tender Falcon
In sticky ground, the joint bottom-weight obliges. In fact Aather was only carrying 10st 5lbs, which shows how hard work it has been for the jockeys this afternoon. It may have been hard for them, but for us it has been relatively plain sailing. Nicky Watts gave us Hey Big Spender, Captain Wessex gave us the attractively priced Tidal Bay and I helped out the layers. You win some and you lose some in life, but today we head out into the night on an upward curve. Feels good, doesn't it? See you next weekend at Sandown Park.

3.40pm
1: Tidal Bay
2: Time For Rupert
3: Katchit
Tidal Bay bounces back to form with a devastating win over three miles for his first victory since November 2008. He loves it here, and this latest victory at Prestbury Park is his fourth from eight appearances. He has three placings, to boot.

Trainer Howard Johnson was ecstatic in the winners' enclosure afterwards. He said: "He wouldn't want this ground, and I had entered him in the Argento. But I took him out of the race at five minutes to twelve and saved myself £500, which always helps. I called up Graham Wylie after that and said, 'I'm going for the hurdle race'."

Johnson admitted that reverting Tidal Bay back to hurdles wasn't totally his own idea. "His skin looks good, and he's well," the Geordie continued. "I schooled him over hurdles the other day - I couldn't be bothered to clear the snow off the fences - and he jumped the hurdles beautifully. He'll be seven to ten pounds better on better ground."

Full marks to Captain Wessex of the Western Daily Press for alerting us to Tidal Bay's chances, he was pretty strong about his chances earlier in the day.

3.25pm
With all these favourites getting chinned, I'm going in once again in opposing the wonderfully gutsy Lie Forrit. Call me a self-flagellator. Campbell Gilles can't claim his 3lbs because it is a Graded race and he'll need it to beat this lot.

Mr Thiller bombed out here last time on New Year's Day, but that three runner race was extremely tactical. Katchit challenged him for the lead. I'd buckle as well if I had to take Katchit on. The 2008 Champion Hurdle winner is probably one of the most genuine horses in training. Mr Thriller's form in beating Starluck looks a lot better, since that horse ran so well in the Christmas Hurdle, too. I wouldn't rule out Fair Along, nor Lough Derg or even Time For Rupert, who should really be a similar price as Lie Forrit - but bigger. Basically, I think Lie Forrit is too short. It's because the layers know Willie Amos's gelding is so popular and that they can get away with making him that price, and still get trade. Mugs.

3.10pm result:
1: Restless Harry
2: General Miller
3: Royal Charm
Paul Nicholls didn't quite have it in him to follow up his extraordinary training performance with Taranis by winning this with Royal Charm.

I fancied General Miller for this, purely because I thought he would improve, but I think it is fair to say he had his chance and didn't take it. Or was simply outpointed by Restless Harry.

The high street layers are always keen to get a spot of publicity, and Hills were the first to chalk up a price for Paul Nicholls to emulate Dickenson's incredible feat of saddling the first five home in 1983. Hills go 33-1 that Nicholls can fill the first five places in the Gold Cup, and just 10-1 he scoops the first four. With Denman and Kauto Star in the mix, there will be many who will consider the 5-1 about him saddling the first three a gift.

2.35pm - Argento chase result:
1: Taranis
2: Carruthers
3: Joe Lively
Time: 6.49.6 (Standard time: 6.20.0)
What an incredible training performance that was by Paul Nicholls. Taranis hadn't seen a racecourse for 766 days, and yet bounded up the hill past the well-fancied Carruthers as if it was a workout at Ditcheat. Given that the Argento Chase is over 3m1½f, it is no surprise that Nicholls immediately nominated the 2007 Ryanair Chase winner for the Gold Cup.

"I'm astounded to be honest with you," said Nicholls afterwards. "I knew that if he got to the top of the hill he would make it - if they are huffing and puffing at the top, you've got no chance. He only came back to us in July. He's done canters and canters up our hill. I'm amazed."

Taranis has been slashed for the Gold Cup after accounting for Carruthers and Joe Lively, and is now trading at around 25-1 for that race. He is 12-1 from 33-1 in the market without the big two. On Betfair you can get [38.0] for the Gold Cup, although there is more money at [36.0].

Michael Dickinson trained the first five home in the 1983 Gold Cup, and Nicholls potentially could have a crack at that record as he currently has six entered in the Festival showpiece. "I'm not aiming to replicate that feat," the champion trainer said modestly. "I do have Kauto Star, Denman, Trickie Trickster and My Will in the race, and now Taranis. So I suppose it is possible." Nicholls also has What A Friend in the Gold Cup.

2.05pm result:
1: The Sawyer
2: Private Be
3: Mister McGoldrick
Time: 5.37.20
Leo, you were extremely lucky there I'd say. If jockey Nathan Sweeney hadn't coaxed that little bit more out of The Sawyer, you were blown. Private Be stuck to his guns under Richard Johnson and recorded his fifth place in eleven runnings at Prestbury Park. He was matched in-running at as short as [1.65].

Carruthers has five wins and a second when racing in small fields of seven runners or fewer. It is likely that this is due to him being a front-runner, which would allow him to dominate. But keeping up a relentless gallop against Ollie Magern, Joe Lively and Ichidaly Rock, who all like to be up there with the pace, might be beyond him. What's more, this race is for outsiders, for those who like meaningless stats, with no favourite obliging in the last decade.

As for Taranis, remember him? He's been off the track for 766 days. Christ, Barack Obama wasn't even the Democratic candidate for the presidency back then.

1.55pm:
The Betfair Trophy (2.05pm) looks a fiercely competitive contest, with six horses trading at single-figure prices. It is a layers paradise there, particularly the place market. But which one to bin?

Leo has written in. "Look at Private Be's course record. He's raced here 10 times and never won. He's got to be the lay of the race, especially at [9.4]." If you look at Private Be's stats over this trip, he's never won over it either Leo, in 11 starts.

One to have on board is probably Perce Rock. The Irish raider was
7-1 second-favourite for the Freddie Williams Festival Plate in March, but unseated Tony McCoy at the fourth-last fence when badly hampered. He made up for that at Fairyhouse on his last start of the season when winning a 50k handicap. Trainer Tommy Stack gave him a little pipe opener in November, and he should be ready. He looks reasonably priced at [3.55] for a place.

1.30pm result:
1: Hey Big Spender
2: Edgbriar
3: Midnight Chase
Time: 5.39.2 (Standard time: 5m 7sec)
Hey Big Spender has certainly improved after his Newbury win, and it sets up a bold bid for Inchidaly Rock in the Argento Chase. Inchidaly Rock has thrashed Hey Big Spender twice this season, the last time by nine lengths.
Well done to Nick Watts of the Racing Post for flagging up the Tizzard runner. It certainly bodes well for Joe Lively's chances in the Argento Chase, too.

1.20pm
I've dealt with the main jockey changes, but needless to say that there are around a dozen more. It's like a musical chairs here. Just make sure before you have a bet, check who is riding you trusty steed. It could be anyone.

Baccalaureate earned quotes of 25-1 with the high street layers for the Triumph hurdle back here in seven weeks time. George Primarolo of Totesport said; "You never know with these four-year-olds. They improve at different rates throughout the season. Pistolet Noir was second favourite for the Triumph, and his conqueror is now 25-1." God only knows if that is a good price, or not.

Pistolet Noir is out to [30.0] for the Triumph Hurdle on Betfair after that, and the internet bods at the nerve centre of Betfair have already put Baccalaureate up, so get trading.

12.55pm result:
1:Baccalaureate
2:Pistolet Noir
3: Reaction
Time: 4.26.2
Well blow me away completely! What a result! 100-1 about Baccalaureat! Forget that, because those mugs who took the SP on course could have got around [510.0] on Betfair. Some lucky small staker got £1 on at [960.0]. There was £2,315 matched on Baccalaureate at over 100-1 on the exchange, so there are some very happy people out there. As with everything is this world, for every happy person out there, there must be some people gnashing their teeth, too.

The front three finished very tired coming up the hill. Despite the beautiful weather here, the going must have taken a lot out of them. The time was 32.2secs outside standard, which tells its own story to those time boffins. It's slooooow out there.

12.55pm
In further jockey movements, Wayne Hutchinson now takes the ride on Katchit in the Cleeve Hurdle (3.40pm). I'm quite pleased at that really. You see I've opposed Lie Forrit in that race. And this is not meant as a slight to Jimmy McCarthy, who was previously on board Katchit, but the poor lad hasn't had a winner at Prestbury Park for 1903 days. That's a hell of a bad run, and what's more, he hasn't had a winner in Britain for almost two months, or 47 rides. Katchit was his only ride here today. Aw, my heart goes out to him.

12.50pm
Francois Doumen, that snappily-dressed genius of a Frenchman is here in person. It bodes well for the chances of his Good Lord in the first race here on the card, but more importantly for Doctor Pat in the next race. Timeform rate Good Lord their clear-best in the 12.55pm, mind you.

Pistolet Noir has shortened to [1.54]. but there is considerable opposition to him on course with punters backing George Nympton. All I have heard in the paddock over the last 15 minutes has been George Nympton this, and Nick Williams that. I can't have him myself. He looked an extremely awkward mover in the paddock, but whether [1.54] is value, I'm not convinced. I think he's priced spot on.

12.35pm
Seven Is My Number has been re-routed from Doncaster and is on his way here for the Betfair Trophy Chase at 2.05pm. He has been installed as the [5.4] favourite. Coming down from Donnie also is Barry Geraghty, who will now ride General Miller in the 3.10pm, jocking off 14-times champion jockey Tony McCoy.

Nick Watts, one of the ante-post tipsters at the Racing Post, has backed Hey Big Spender in the 1.30pm. "I know he's at the top of the handicap, but some of those at the bottom have got no chance." Watts clearly doesn't think that Plein Pouvoir has a chance, then.

Watts also was keen on the chances of Carruthers in the Argento Chase. I put to him that with Ollie Magern, Inchidaly Rock, and Joe Lively in the line-up, Carruthers is going to have real trouble in keeping his head in front, but Watts was unperturbed. He continued: "Mattie Batchelor went a bit crazy last time at Newbury. He forced the pace. I know he won, but I reckon this time he'll sit back behind the pace setters. It's not like he hasn't got time to get to the front, it's a three miler, after all."

12.05pm
The local rag down here, The Western Daily Press, has plumped for Tidal Bay in the Cleeve Hurdle. Their man, Captain Wessex, spoke to Howard Johnson and the trainer reckons that the switch back to hurdles could rejuvenate the multiple Grade 1 winner. You've got to be impressed by Tidal Bay's course record, which reads: three wins and three places from just seven runs.

Much as I love the gutsy Lie Forrit, I find it astounding that he is even favourite for this race. He's just a handicapper. Okay, a feisty, dour one, but a handicapper nonetheless. He's got to make massive strides to live with some of these and his jockey Campbell Gilles can't claim his 3lbs, either. Obviously it is not impossible for Lie Forrit to bridge the gap, but it is improbable.

11.55am
Oooh, who were the shrewdies who backed more than £4,500 of trade at over [1.7] on Pistolet Noir in the first? What a cracking trade you're all on there! Paul Nicholls' hotpot is down to [1.58] now, or around 4-7 in old money. On the way down here I thought it was about a 1-2 shot and had hoped to get on. Seriously, look at what Pistolet Noir is up against. Blazing Buck went down in a blaze of glory last time out on soft ground and shouldn't like similar conditions today. If you look at his run with Pistolet Noir in October, Blazing Buck is effectively 3lbs worse off for a neck because conditional jockey Paddy Merrigan can't claim his allowance in this Grade 2.

Trainer Nick Williams, who used to handle Pistolet Noir, would love his George Nympton to crash the party, but a line through Barizan suggests his right up against it. I can't see anything else troubling the jolly...

"You've lived a charmed life," exclaims Andrew from Scotland, in reference to my disgust at First Great Western's bacon butty. "You've never eaten anything more repellent than a railway breakfast bun? Where have you lived? What about brains? What about kidneys? What about liver?" It's a fair enough point, Andrew. But you really should have seen this butty. It was vile. The fat was elastic and slapped me on the face when I pulled a chunk off with my mouth. Bring back the old days I say - dining carriages all the way.

11.30am
Good morning everyone and welcome to Cheltenham trials day. They say trials day, but when you look at it in the cold light of day, this meeting pretty much highlights what won't win in seven weeks time. Last year four of the seven winners on this card made the frame at the Festival proper. Big Buck's was the only one of that quartet who actually won, sauntering home in the World Hurdle having picked up the Cleeve Hurdle here. If you look at the three main events this afternoon, the Finesse Hurdle (12.55pm), the Argento Chase (2.35pm), and the Cleeve Hurdle (2.40pm), only five horses from those three contests have gone on to score in March during the last decade. Trials indeed. Hrmph!

It's a beautiful day down here at Prestbury Park and clerk of the course Simon Claisse passed the course fit for racing just after 10am. When I woke up this morning at sparrow fart, I feared the worst as there was a light dusting of snow outside my London flat. Not here now though. The sun is high in the faded blue sky, and golden colours made the train journey down a pleasure. Who'd go by car?

Then again, if you went by car, you probably would have avoided the hideous excuse for a breakfast I encountered on the First Great Western train. 'Treat Yourself' ran the banner advert on FGW's Bacon Bap. 'Oooh' I thought, just the thing. Ha! What a complete disgrace. I don't think I've ever had the misfortune of eating anything more repellent than that sorry bit of fatty pork, squashed between a microwaved bun. What a shambles. And a poor pig died for that! On the plus side, there was a lot of it. Quantity, not quality. What a world we live in, eh?

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