Cheltenham Festival 2023 – Day 1
Well, we made, it Merry Christmas, sorry, Happy Festival, welcome to the very best time of year. I will post my selections on the blog this week and at the end, explain the reason for my absence and where you will find my selections moving forward and for the rest of the season and beyond.
13:30 – Supreme Novices Hurdle
I am against Facile Vega, anyone who watched the race, knows why, visually it was appalling, if it wins at the prices (2/1) so be it, you have to be on the inside or a true-believer to back it in my opinion and I am sadly none of those things.
I was very sweet on Marine Nationale for weeks, the turning weather however has made me change my mind, it is simply too soft, Mick Fitzgerald after walking the course indicated it was very much winter/soft racing ground, another downpour today ensures it is very much, Soft, if not worse.
Our selection will be Il Etait Temps, plenty to like, victorious last time out and can handle the going, it’s Sire, Jukebox Jury has a 20% strike rate on the ground.
We will also back Tahmuras for Paul Nicholls, who is the best of the British selections.
Il Etait Temps 9/2 2pt ew
Tahmuras 11/1 0.5PT ew
14:10 – Arkle
NO BET
El Fabiolo wins in what should be a fantastic race.
14:50 – Ultima Handicap
Monbeg Genius looks like one Jonjo O’Neill has had earmarked for this for a while, proven over distance and on the going, up in class and therefore down in weight , going for the 4 timer and nigh on a stone and a half lighter than when first seen this season. Plenty to like, the market has cottoned on but it should very much be in the mix.
Threeunderthrufive enjoys the heavier ground will stay the distance and is too big a price, worth a small play with the weather turning, as with our first selection, he is out of Shantou who has a decent strike rate to note on Soft/Heavy.
We will also back Cloudy Glen for Venetia Williams, who if anyone can get a tune out of softening ground, it should be her.
Monbeg Genius 9/1 1pt ew
Threeunderthrufive 20/1 0.5PT ew
Cloudy Glen 20/1 0.5PT ew
15:30 – Champion Chase
Enjoy the race, Constitution Hill could be anything.
16:10 -Mares Hurdle
Plenty to like at the top of the market, but the price of Marie’s Rock has gone, in what looks one of the deepest races of the day, it will be interesting to see how Honeysuckle bounces back, despite being deprived the chance of defending her crown, in the Champion Hurdle.
The eye however is drawn to Harry Fry’s, Love Envoi, who will like the ground and is a big player in this race at a nice each-way price.
Love Envoi 9/1 1.5PT ew
16:50 – Boodles Juvenile Hurdle
Perseus Way ticks all the boxes and promises to give the Moore family an elusive winner over hurdles at the Course, we will also back the Gordon Elliot trained Ludus at a much bigger price for smaller connections, who has the right profile for a race of this type.
Perseus Way 12/1 1pt ew
Ludus 33/1 1pt ew
17:30
Mahler Mission , keen on this one at the prices, despite the fav, potentially being one for the future and beyond.
Mahler Mission 7/1 1pt ew
Multiples
El Fabio & Love Envoi Double 1.5pt ew 18/1
El Fabio & Gaillard Du Mensil (1730) – 3pt ew double 3.75/1
Tote selections/ Perm
Perm
1330
Il Etait Temps
Tahmuras
Marine Nationale
1410
Jonbon
El Fabiolo
1450
Monbeg Genius
Threeunderthrufive
Cloudy Glen
1610
Marie’s Rock
Love Envoi
1650
Perseus Way
Tekao
Ludus
1730
Gaillard Du Mensil
Mahler Mission
MULTIPLES
Multiples
El Fabiolo 1410 tomorrow
Impaire Et passe 1330 weds
Gerri colombe 1410 weds
Blazing Hal 1610 Thursday
Three card Brag 1450 Friday
300/1
Multiples
El Fabiolo 1410 tomorrow
Impaire Et passe 1330 weds
Gerri colombe 1410 weds
Three card Brag 1450 Friday
75/1
Impaire Et passe 1330 weds
Gerri colombe 1410 weds
7/1 2pt ew
Horse Racing Selections 