Events / Geoffrey Riddle / 13 November 2009 / 1 Comments Free £25 Bet View Market

The three-day Cheltenham Open meeting, starting today, kickstarts the jumps season proper. "The Riddler" is once again in the hot seat at Prestbury Park, bringing you all the up-to-date news, quotes from connections and market moves from the track. E-mail him your questions and tips to: theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com

4.30pm:
The course is covered in darkness and rain. Welcome to National Hunt racing everybody. I'll see you all tomorrow at 11am for the Paddy Power Gold Cup card. Don't over do it on Friday the 13th. There, I didn't mention it until the last post...Good night.

4.05pm result:
1: Weird Al
2: Knockara Beau
So close. So, so close. Weird Al just held off the unwanted attentions of Knockara Beau there. I say unwanted, but I'd imagine there were several more willing the eventual runner-up to nose ahead than those who wanted the 12-1 shot to win. Apologies for that display of partisanship. Layers of Ashkazar got it spot on., too. Well done.

The undoubted highlight today for me was Garde Champetre's fluid victory in the Cross Country Chase, and I'm not just talking from my wallet. As far as the Cheltenham Festival is concerned though, Loosen My Load's victory in the Sharp Novices Hurdle could be significant, according to the gelding's owner, Alan Potts. The Henry de Bromhead-trained five-year-old held off the challenge of Champion Bumper runner-up, Some Present, to win by half a length. "I think this horse could be as good as Sizing Europe," said Potts, comparing the winner to the 2007 Greatwood Hurdle victor, who is also trained by De Bromhead. "At this stage of his career, he is probably better than Europe," Potts added.

The best price with the high street bookies about Loosen My Load for the Supreme Novices here is 25-1. After his commanding display ahead of Some Present, the Irish gelding is [30.0] for the race on Betfair. Dunguib, who smashed all and sundry, including Some Present, in the Bumper at the Festival is the favourite at [3.55].

De Bromhead confirmed that the Supreme Novices was the intended Festival target for his son of Dushyantor. "We are thinking about coming back here for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, but we plan on giving him a break in the meantime," said the trainer.

That would suggest that Loosen My Loads price is unlikely to change much in the near future, and it may be worth waiting until nearer the time of his next outing if you fancy him for the Festival. De Bromhead reckoned that the Supreme Novices would be perfect for his charge. "You would have thought that he would improve in a faster-run race," he added, but he sounded a caution note about the Festival going for those who do fancy him for Supreme Novices' glory. "Our horse loved this ground - it was a bit lively when he ran at Tipperary and Andrew [Lynch, the jockey] felt there was too much jar so didn't kill him."

3.50pm
The rain is steadily getting heavier, and more persistent.

I'm with David Pipe in the next. I still don't understand why Ashkazar is a drifter. He goes on the ground, he gets the trip, and according to his trainer, who the blog collared earlier, he has schooled well. He beat the Champion Hurdler in February in the Kingwell Hurdle. I know this is a chase, but what is there not to like?

I know Knockara Beau is supposed to be the best thing since the wheel, but the two races he has won this season were six and seven runner affairs - ie: not competitive. As I also liked the chances of Little Josh, from the Twiston-Davies yard, I'm taking on the favourite. I can lay at [1.91] a place!

3.35pm result:
1: Lord Ragnar
2: Attorney General
3: Fredo
4: Regal Approach
Favourite backers get stung as the 11-1 Lord Ragnar beats 33-1 shot Attorney General. A few lucky punters got [21.0] on Betfair, but most of the traffic was at around [18.0].

3.20pm
Nigel Twiston-Davies loves the Open meeting. It is easy to see why, too. He is the most successful trainer at the Open meeting, and his Razor Royale was his 21st winner here during the month of November since 1990. It's no surprise that his Ballyfitz is vying for favouritism for tomorrow's big race, the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Twiston-Davies said: "It's great to win here. This is where we want to win and we have more runners here than anywhere else - this is where we want to be."

Sam, his son, guided Razor Royale to win the meeting's curtain-raiser, and Twiston-Davies revealed that he had to apply pressure on his 17-year-old to ride his horse. "My boy gets over-excited about everything," said the Grand-National-winning trainer. "He was offered rides from a lot of the top trainers today, but I had to step in and say, 'No, you will ride mine.' I was right and I would have got into a lot of shit if I hadn't been."

Twiston-Davies believes that it was his son's relationship with the horse that was the secret to the 23-length success. "Sam knows Razor well," he continued. "He schools him and rides him at home. When these young jockeys get to know these horses they are probably get on better than some of the more experienced riders."

Twiston-Davies was still in a bullish mood regarding the chances of Ballyfitz in tomorrow's Paddy Power Gold Cup. The trainer delivered an upbeat report on his charge in Wednesday, which sparked a gamble that now sees the horse as short as 6-1.
"If all the forecast rain arrives, Ballyfitz has a superb chance. Don't forget Knowhere though! He has done it all before, but isn't treated well by the handicapper."

3pm result:
1: Garde Champetre
2: Heads On the Ground
3: Sizing Australia
Come on. Own up. Who allowed that to be traded at [5.0]? I said lay Garde Champetre pre-race, and then back it again in-running, but I was content to get out at [2.0], and [3.0]. Congratulations/commiserations for those who got involved at the higher level. It was too easy.

2.45pm
Enda Bolger has farmed Cross Country races recently to such an extent you would have thought the Common Agricultural Policy might pay him subsidies to not race. Garde Champetre's win at Punchestown in April was the 12th time Bolger had trained the winner of the La Touche Cup - he's that good. Garde is small - barely 15 hands, but he has humped big weights around before. Layers make him [1.75], which looks value considering this is probably no more than a matchbet between him and Silver Birch.

The last time Garde and Silver Birch clashed was at Punchestown when the comparatively small field meant that they went no pace. Subsequently therefore, virtually all 12 had a good a chance as any four flights from home, so it might be worth laying Garde pre-race and then backing it in-running to cruise close home.

2.25pm result:
1: French Opera
2: Nikola
Barry Geraghty gallops to the finish line to defy all layers who jumped on the statistical bandwagon. concerning favourites. Given that the winner has never won on soft, and that the third home, Consigliere, loves soft, suggests that the going is not as soft as some might think. Most of the amateur jockeys who rode in the first suggested that the going was on the soft side. Winning jockey Sam Twiston-Davies reckoned it was "on the soft side of good to soft," for instance.

2.15pm
Song of Songs beat Deep Purple, the Charlie Hall winner, at the backend of last term. And although he was bitterly disappointing next time out in the Grade 1 Maghull at the Grand National meeting, there were good excuses for the way he crumpled three from home. The mount of AP McCoy had to wait for all and sundry at the start that day, and then stumbled badly as the field turned for home.

His trainer James Fanshawe reckons that this will be a confidence booster, but surely it's only a confidence booster if he wins? The fact that he has raced four times left-handed and only made a place surely doesn't bode too well.

For those who don't read the Racing Post, Pricewise has tipped Consigliere for this next race, but that horse also has his detractors. Tom writes: "If you look at Consigliere's wins, most of them have been in extremely small fields. The biggest field he has won in is six runners."
On the plus side, Consigliere has won twice first time out.

2.10pm
The Paddy Power Handicap Chase, up next, is not a great race for favourites. Only one jolly has obliged in the last decade, and five of them were place lays, too. Stats bettors will be getting their teeth stuck into French Opera then, who has only won one chase in five such starts. The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding trades at [3.65] right now.

1.50pm result:
1: Loosen My Load
2: Some Present
3: Secret Dancer
Loosen My Load draws a roar from the Irish contingent as he gallops to an impressive victory in the Novices' Hurdle. He was out in front for a long time, and wasn't really challenged until inside the final furlong by Some Present. Even though he was pestered near the finish by the favourite, he powered all the way to the line and always held the runner-up.

Layers never really feared the challenge of Some Present, and as he loomed to make his challenge he was traded at [1.6].

Secret Dancer showed a willing attitude and a good turn of foot to take third at a big place price.

1.40pm
Last night, favourite Some Present was priced up at 2-1 by a high street layer, but the price evaporated almost immediately. We are at [2.68] for this race on Betfair. I can't believe that the horse has its detractors. The Champion Bumper in which he finished second at the Festival has thrown up 11 subsequent winners. Okay, he might not jump the best, but his form warrants the price. He can hit a flat spot in his races though, so perhaps those who want to play fastest finger first should consider laying him pore-race at [2.68], with a view to backing him in-running at a bigger price.

Those who took Mordin's advice and backed Tito Bustillo will be buoyed by the knowledge that trainer Paul Nicholls has an excellent record in this contest. From eight runners in the last decade, he has had two wins and three places. Perhaps the place price appeals at [2.26].

1.30pm
It often pays to have experience in the Novices' Hurdle, up next at 1.50pm. Nick Mordin, The Weekender's stats geek says: "Fourteen times from 15 this race has gone to a horse that had won at least twice and took a British NH race last time, or earned its biggest NH rating in one of its last two starts, but never earned a rating of 135 plus."

To give you time to get your head around all of that, Mordin tipped Tito Bustillo on that basis, but doesn't that also bring in Secret Dancer?

Secret Dancer's saddle slipped last time when over-turning hot favourite High Gales, a horse that subsequently racked up a three-timer and now has a RPR of 131, which is not far off some previous winners of this contest in the last decade.

Secret Dancer is a most unsound creature, with bad knees, but he beat High Gales by nine lengths. Is he value at [19.0]? For an outsider, he has been more than nibbled at, and traded this morning at as high as [40.0]. He's now [19.0] and was heavily backed last time, including by his owner, John Spence.

1.15pm result:
1: Razor Royale
2: The Sawyer
3: Mister Apple's
You forget the wonderful views that are afforded to spectators here at Cheltenham. Quite simply, there isn't a better place to actually watch racing as it happens. The crowd are appreciative, too, and as 17-year-old Sam Twiston-Davies sauntered home on Razor Royale the stands erupted into applause.

It was a tremendous victory for the layers, because the heavily-backed favourite, My Lord Oscar was never in it, and didn't even trade much below the price it went off at. Was it the going after all? Freeze Up didn't lead, but he was up with the pace and traded at as low as [4.0] in-running.

1.10pm:
My Lord Oscar has been heavily backed when it matters most. Most of the trade on each race happens in the 15-minute lead-up to each contest. Money has certainly spoken in this instance. The favourite is now as short as [5.7].

Looking at the race, I think Freeze Up looks the perfect back-to-lay vehicle. He is one of three regular front-runners, the other two being The Sawyer and Strawberry. But trainer Nicky Henderson was content to allow his jockey Mr Ben Brisbourne to settle behind, if one of the others went off. An uncontested lead is on the offering perhaps...

1pm
William, the accountant, wins the cyber prize. I've just got into my e-mail. If I had taken the e-mails in there as read, then I would have broken the recent record for the biggest lottery pay out. Why do people send these type of e-mails? Are there people out there stupid enough to hand over their bank details?

Anyway, William was the first to name the four horses who won here last year and went on to win at the Festival. American Trilogy, Garde Champetre, Andytown and Imperial Commander, for those who didn't know.

William also went so far as to put up Hoopy in the first. He writes, no doubt from some cosy office space in London: "Hoopy won this race last year, and only has six chase starts under his belt. I know he has gone up in the weights, but Gordon Elliott [his trainer], reckons he has got stronger."

William. I'm posting this at 1pm. You sent your e-mail at 12.47pm. I hope you take that time off your lunch break...

12.45pm
The first race looms. Out Of The Black and Rakalackey have been pulled due to the prevailing softish conditions. My Lord Oscar is joint-favourite with Freeze Up on course, but Betfair layers make My Lord Oscar their clear pick at [6.8]. Enda Bolger, trainer of the exchange favourite, however, brought his eight-year-old to Cheltenham specifically with good ground in mind. He hasn't got it. Why has the horse been so well backed then?

There's all sorts of things going on here, that I can't really keep up. The legend that is Monty Roberts was showing everyone in the paddock how to become famous by inventing a rug. I'm being facetious, but don't underestimate the brilliance of simple inventions. Consider the person who invented that extruded plastic stick that picks up balls that have been in a dog's mouth. I bet they are a millionaire now.

There's just been a camel race on course as well. Yes, a camel race. Absolutely ridiculous. It's raining, it's cold, and everyone is wearing tweed. How much further from their comfort zone do you want the poor animals to be? Besides, Ahmed Ajtebi isn't here. I mention the UAE rider because every time anyone mentions his name, he's known as "former camel rider." What about the Breeders' Cup winning jockey from now on?

12.30pm
Countryside day brings out the best in the mustard cords and tweed brigade. There's hundreds of them here today, although the red cord seems to be vying for favouritism.

Trainer David Pipe is not beguiled by such sartorial charms and has gone for a simple blue Mackintosh. Perhaps he's borrowed it off Aidan O'Brien. Pipe was mystified why Ashkazar was on the drift in the Novices' Chase at 4.05pm. "I've no idea why he's drifting," said Pipe, after a lengthy chat with jockey Tom Scudamore, who rides Consigliere in the 2.25pm. "He's been jumping well at home," Pipe added.

11.50am
On the way from the railway station I saw that the classical composer Gustav Holst was born in Cheltenham. I thought he was a Scandi. Anyway, there is a classical music theme running through today's card. Radtsky March in the 1.15pm. French Opera in the 2.25pm. Rimsky in the 3pm. Holtz wrote Planets, and within that is a remarkable piece of music called Mars, which fully realises the position that we are all in at the track here. The calm before the storm. The clouds are getting darker. The rain is beginning to get heavier. HERE IT COMES. Listen!

11.45am
Oooh, that Claisse is good isn't he? It's just started to drizzle now, 15 minutes before he forecast rain. You've got to give these clerks of the course credit, if nothing else to earn the right to lambast them when they get it wrong.

Is there anyone else out there who feels that the Irish raider Loosen My Load has an inappropriate name? How on earth did they get that past the naming Nazis at Wetherbys? Anyway, Henry de Bromhead's five year-old has been well supported for the 1.50pm with the high street bookies. He's a big mover on Betfair, too. He traded at [6.0] and is now as short as [4.5]. Others to have been well backed are Consigliere in the 2.25pm, who was put up by the great Seagull in his Pricewise column. There is a Rule 4 in that race, but that can't totally take all credit for the gelding's price falling so dramatically through the floor. Over half the trade on Betfair has been for David Pipe's charge, and with four wins from five starts on Soft, he may well come in further.

Layers have been out to get Pipe's other fancied horse, Ashkazar in the lucky last. The Kingwell hurdle winner was 7-4 with Paddy Power this morning, but is now 9-4 with that firm. The five-year-old is as big as [3.6] on Betfair.

11.25am
It's good to be back team. Welcome to Cheltenham. Brazil's glamour tie with England in Qatar may have all the gloss and sheen that football can possibly come up with, but the soul of sport this weekend lies firmly here in this small corner of Gloucestershire.

The headquarters of the National Hunt game will showcase three days of high-class sporting action, and don't forget that last year's Open meeting threw up four Festival winners. What were they? - answers on an e-mail to theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com. First prize will be something I can pick up at the enormous trade stands that are pitched outside.

The sky has been weeping these past few days, so the chances of French Opera and Safari Journey in the 2.25pm have lessened according to their trainers. It's no surprise to see Beggars Cap and Beherayn scratched.

As far as the forecasters are concerned, it seems that the score is clerk of the course Simon Claisse 1 v MET Office 0. It's so hard to win away isn't it? Yesterday the Met office suggested that there would be 50mph gusts of wind and that Prestbury Park would receive 25-40mm of rain.

Although it rained yesterday - 29mm to be precise - it is simply overcast here now with no wind as I write. Claisse reckons that 25mm will be the upper limit if it does rain this afternoon. He said: "We are expecting rain to begin at Midday and continue through the afternoon, evening and early hours of the morning. There could be up to 25mm.

"My sense is that it won't take much more rain on the current ground to turn the going to Soft."

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