Cheltenham returns!

In today’s blog:-
Review of yesterday’s horseracing
Today’s Horseracing

Review of yesterday’s horseracing
The best of the jump racing took place at Punchestown in Ireland yesterday, and LOOSEN MY LOAD won a facile victory that proved nothing much more than he can jump a fence and he’s better than average. He is going to have to show a lot more to be a genuine “Arkle” contender.
As for SIZING EUROPE, well – he was weak in the betting before the race suggesting he was not as forward in his work as necessary to win this. The race winner, China Rock, had no fitness doubts (having won a race 12-days earlier) nor stamina doubts having run well over 3-mile before. Personally, I would like to see this exercise brought to a quick conclusion and SIZING EUROPE trained for the 2-mile Champion Chase as my opinion is that - this season - the division is wide open.

Today’s Horseracing
The first day of the October jump meeting at Cheltenham is eagerly anticipated.
It may be that today’s action is a bit below what we might want to experience, but it’ll be decent racing all the same. There is also a good flat meeting at Newmarket, and tho’ I am now concentrating on the jump racing, I do think that Dettori on VESUVE could be hard to beat in the 3:30, as that man does like to be on a horse that can dominate the pace of a race.
At Cheltenham, there is a runner from my horse alert list – MONT PRESENT in the 3-mile chase at 5:05. If you read my write-up on the horse (see adjacent pages) then you will know that I don’t think the horse stays 3-mile and is best at upto 21f. So, I’m not recommending a wager but he could be an eachway possibility. The winner of this amateur riders race is normally a market leader and I reckon the winner will come from one of the three recent LTO winners; KING ROONAH, ROYAL KICKS or MAD JACK DUNCAN.
For me, the highlight of the meeting is the 3-mile class 2 handicap chase at 3:55. I reckon the fav, Meanus Dandy, only just gets 3-mile. Qulinton is also unproven at this trip. If we knew Calgary Bay was in the mood to race, then he’d be the selection – but we don’t. Midnight Chase shapes as tho’ he’ll stay 3-mile (he only beat 3 others LTO at Hexham, so I’d overlook that), and his full brothers stayed 3-mile, so he’s on the short-list. If Double Dizzy had already had a run this season then he’d be top of my list, as his run here on 1st Jan was a cracker. Diablo is another doubtful stayer and his OR130 rating looks 14lb too high to me. Lead On is another uproven at the trip, as is Victor Daly. Lacdoudal last won in April 2006, tho’ he does stay this trip (and more) and he will not fall – he’s almost a place banker. That leaves just OUZBECK who I believe is a class above these and even with top-weight of 11:12 could get the better of them. Emma Lavelle has revitalised the horse as a chaser, who would probably have been 3rd to Imperial Commander in the Paddy Power but for falling at the last fence when running off OR153 (he’s on OR149 today).

Selection:
Cheltenham 3:55 OUZBECK, ½pt eachway @ 9/1 (5th odds available generally)

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