Cheltenham Point to Point Meeting ?

T

Therightroad

At the Start
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Irish stamp used give very informative previews of this meeting , anyone out there with a few insights for tomorrow evening be great!
 
I will try and stick something up in a bit. Was planning on doing it yesterday but I had to do a preview for next Wednesdays meeting and there were 127 entries to go through....took me 5.5 hours!
 
OK...just having a look through. But please remember it’s quite hard to analyse horses you don’t see from day to day. I know the West Country horses well and some of the Welsh as well as those from the Midlands. Anywhere else, I’m no more knowledgeable than anyone else. My biggest issue is that many of these horses struggle over regulation fences as do some of the riders so any that have ridden a fair bit under Rules do have an advantage. Similarly those horses that have been in training prior to the Pointing careers should be considered.

That said, it does look like Bradley Gibbs could be in for a good night but his horses are priced accordingly as expected after the March result. He knows what he’s doing!

4.50 2m.
A very short trip for many as virtually all have been running over 3m. Fier Jaguen was hailed as the second coming but unseated at Aintree. His Jumping was a little right handed at Chepstow last year but he still nearly won. He should be as good as his odds suggest. Envious Editor went close in this last year so the trip is not an issue whereas Caryto des Brosses I think needs further. My eye is slightly caught by Precious Bounty at a decent ew price. Tom Ellis is an excellent trainer and he wouldn’t be sticking this in for the day out.

5.20 3m2 Intermediate (think Novices)
This is a tough one as it’s full of improving horses. The two are the top of the market deserve to be there. I saw the Shoddytradesman (TST) win his last two and while the first was impressive, he only just scrambled home from a fast finishing Pyleigh Court last time. So you’d have to give her a squeak at a decent ew price. But TST is a lean type and Bradley may have felt he needed a break hence the gap since his last run. I know he blew us away at Chipley which is a stiff course...my bookie tells me he won’t get the trip here but I’m not convinced he won’t. All is True is from the Ellis yard and he too would be of interest. As I said, it’s tricky!

6.00
Marcle Ridge won last time but had obviously had a problem as he was off a long time so that could put me off. Trio for Rio won this the last two years but I think Fairly Famous is the one here if he takes to the fences. He’s only 6 but he’s impressed so far and he’s part of the Tom and Gina show.

6.35
Well you probably can’t oppose Premier Magic here judged on his last visit and it would be decent compensation for Bradley denied a run at Punchestown. Dandy Dan has won here and needs this quicker ground. Myth Buster too will find this ground better than March and expect Lily Bradstock to do her usual and go off in front, “catch me if you can”.....it often works!

7.10 Mares
Highway Jewel won this last year and holds Singapore Saga on point form so again she looks the obvious choice. Singapore Saga tends to get away with making mistakes including around Exeter and she’s a very capable mare but this course may be a different proposition. Sine Nomine would be third best for me.

7.45 4m
Law of Gold has plenty of experience of Rules courses including round here but I’m leaning towards old Shantou Flyer. Olive Nicholls has improved dramatically since last year and she gave him a great ride at the Festival to take third. Just Your Type stays all day and he may be the value here as well as having James King in the saddle.

8.17
My beloved Paloma Blue has been transformed since he’s gone Pointing and loves his hunting too. Initially they thought he was a bit of a dog but he’s just thrived and he was a pretty classy in his youth including a 6th in the Arkle and only beaten 3 lengths in the Supreme! He’s been pushed out to 11s but I shall still be backing him! Magic Saint is obvious and also has Cheltenham form likewise Not That Fuisse. Fix It All has won two hunter chases at Ludlow but I don’t think he’s good enough.

So fingers crossed a couple may come in.
 
When I said he jumped right...didn’t think it would be that bad! I managed to get a little on when he was briefly odds against so that’s one in the pot.
 
Just remembered that Lift Me Up is owned by Gerri Horner, formerly Ginger Spice and I know it’s very well thought of at home. It won its Hunter Chase at Newbury well. But as I said it’s a tricky race!
 
Gutted about Theshoddytradesman especially as he’d beaten this one last time, but clearly gone very wrong. Quintin was stuffed in a fairly ordinary HC at Exeter last time and his point wins were nothing special but Cheltenham clearly brought out the best in him whereas Lift Me Up struggled. Ah well.
 
Grey said:
Two out of three so far, nice going
Click to expand...
I did have a little ew on Pyleigh Court. I used to work for the trainer (he’s the one I reported for SH). This horse was a nut job as a youngster and was sent to Chris Barber who painstakingly got the horse in the right headspace only for the guy to remove him literally a week before his next run and he went and won. He then claimed all the credit for the win. Chris was fuming and rightly so. If it hadn’t been for him and his team, they would never have got him on a racecourse.
 
You have no idea! I am still shaking! I backed him several times today both each way and win.

I actually couldn’t believe it when the tosses on the tv was dismissing him...this horse was 152 rated not so long ago and has just thrived with Josh. Also lovely surprise to see him riding. I saw him just after Aintree when Paloma won and he was unable to ride as he’d got mullered when he came off Sixteen Letters. He was very sore that day but delighted for him that he was on board today. It just shows you that class should never be dismissed. The horse is actually owned by Simon Clare who is Ladbrokes PR guy which was why I was a bit concerned to see him drift!
 
I’m just about to go through it as I’m going tomorrow as a friend runs a really nice horse called Wolf Walker.

I had hoped Macklin was going to run too but he got an over reach so missed work. It’s a big shame that Famous Clermont goes to Punchestown for the Champion Hunter there but as long as he clicks with James King he has big chance (Biddick normally rides and it will have been very difficult for him to get off FC, but he has Wolf Walker and Regatta de Blanc in the Mares and that will have swayed him as both have huge chances)

Back in a bit.
 
I'm there tomorrow and working through the card, but I'm not at final selections yet and I may be partially swayed by the markets if there is any good each way value when the markets go up. I'll post my shortlist now though as I'll probably forget to post:

4.35 Fie Jaguen
5.10 Wolf Walker / Latenightrumble
5.45 Jetaway Joey / Polish
6.20 Premier Magic / Fairly Famous
6.55 Regatta de Blanc / Glancing Glory - (need to re-look at Dul Ar Aghaidh)
7.30 Law Of Gold / Gabriot - (need to look at Master Templer and Cheltneham de Vaige)
8.05 Go In Chez / Rebel Dawn Rising / Cat Tiger

I think Wolf Walker has a very good chance Jinny. I have the Ellis horse as the danger. I also like Regatta de Blanc as you'll see above, again with the Ellis horse the danger.
 
Think your list is looking pretty sound, Paul.
Biggest thing to remember is that for some horses (and riders), Jumping round Cheltenham is a big ask and they won’t have tackled fences as big most point course fences are a lot less imposing). So any horse with NH experience does have an advantage for me. That said there are some very sound jumpers here and I wouldn’t rule a horse out just because it hasn’t run on a Rules course.

4.35 Fier Jaguen was a cert last year and did it despite jumping violently to the right. His jumping is much straighter this year and at odds on, bookies aren’t taking any chances. Caryto des Brosses is consistent but held by the fav. A decent ew price is A Jet of Our Own whose trainer, Nickie Shepherd is pretty damn good.

5.10 Best race of the night for me. Wolf Walker is owned by friend and he’s seriously impressed this season with three wins around Larkhill. He’s only five and a few people have told the owner he’s going too early but I said “what does Will think?” To which he replied, Will thinks he’s ready. The fav, Iskander Pecos has winning Rules form last twice. But he got beaten easily at Badbury Rings in November by Another Furlough who’s better value and I think it’s just down to trainers (Hannah Roache is basically JJ O’Shea in disguise). I think Another Furlough is value so long as he doesn’t pitch at a downhill fence and come down which he did at Cotley last year behind Paloma Blue (he wouldn’t have beaten him) but I’m keeping everything crossed for Wolf Walker.

5.45 Yippee Ki Yay (yes you need to add the “motherf*cker” after saying it a la Die Hard!) another from Mrs Shepherd, jumped poorly last time but I’d put that down to the Exeter bog that day as he was fine the time before and he impressed me when he won at my local point in January. Jetaway Joey has had one run after over a year off which usually indicates to me it’s had a leg. Comes from the all conquering Ellis/Andrews team so he’s a danger. I know little of Jeux d’Eau other than that he beat a decent type last time. Polish is trained by Fergal O’Brien who’s horses are in better form than when he last ran.

6.20 Premier Magic ran like a drain at the Festival but I think Bradley’s horses were a bit out of form mid season compared to normal. Fairly Famous sluiced in last year but hated the ground at Wetherby in Feb. Could be an interesting match. Deise Aba had class under Rules including a fair run in the Kim Muir and he was second in a X country here. I really liked Mr & Mrs Ginger Red Spice Bulls horse Lift Me Up last year but it bombed out here. Two runs this year including an easy win over Caryto des Brosses last time. Quintins Man...never wins when I think he will and always does when I don’t....one of those!

6.55 Regatta de Blanc I just love. A lot of people were shocked that she lost her unbeaten record at Newbury but she was beaten by Secret Investor who himself is some Newbury specialist (he beat Clan des Obeaux and was second to Native River there!) so it was a pretty good run imo. I’d be disappointed if she doesn’t win and Biddick has chosen to come here to ride her (who he also trains) and Wolf Walker rather than go to Punchestown to ride Famous Clermont, his Aintree Foxhunters winner...that’s got to tell you something?

7.30 Law of Gold probably deserves to be fav on his win in this here last year and he’s guaranteed to stay. I do like Master Templar who won well at Cotley last time and I wouldn’t write off Coup de Pinceau who won this two years ago before Syd Hosie did a bit of rules racing with him. Now trained by jockey George Hiscock, he took down Dr Rhythm over 3m4 the time before last and needs an extreme trip to be seen at his best. He’s value ew for me. D’Jango too should see the trip out.

8.05 This is probably between Go On Chez and Rebel Dawn Rising. Esports de Guye beat Famous Clermont at Wincanton but yards horses were quiet at that time so I wouldn’t take as literally. He had fair form with Venetia but presumably had issues when moved to Nicholls as he bled last time for him. Not the biggest fan of his jockey either but he could win just based on class.

That’s me lot! This is only a rough guide than bona fide winners! :cheerleader:
 
Thanks JinnyJ, might see you and Paul there later.

Not sure why the COC felt the need to put 10mm on the course last Friday either, when it's been wetter than an Otters pocket since.
 
That’s what they do at Cheltenham- they water. Regardless of the forecast. ( I’ve still not forgiven them 🤣🤣)

Have a great time all you who are going - I used to love this meeting, miss it now school gets in the way, I can’t argue that it’s maths any more!
 
Going is now Soft. There will be more non runners. Not like this weather wasn’t forecast last week and the night before last was biblical.
 
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