Naps Table Update
Winners today from Rob J Sir Argus 11/4, and Alan Aliomanna 5/4. And from Wednesday a 12/1 placed horse Prince Of Harts for Leo. Well played, gentlemen.
I've set up three more threads in the Cheltenham forum, though you can continue to post here daily if you prefer.
Only three entries (including me) so far for the festival naps comp. I'm sure we'll get more in the coming days. Details here
I'm looking forward to seeing (and backing) Aloneamongmillions tomorrow at Gowran (4.55). He was my antepost bet for last year's Cheltenhm Festival hunter chase but he he didn't run. (I switched to Billaway and that didn't go so well either.) Anyway Sam Curling's horse is back now, trying to regain the race he won in 2020. Among his rivals is last year's winner Solomn Grundy who still remains useful in this grade despite his 12 years. Aloneamongmillions (still only nine) came back with a bang in January winning a Turtulla PTP in style, and if you could get the 9/2 they have him in the bookies' tissue I would snatch their hands off. At the moment they're going 5/4 each of two. Oh well.
Longshanks, Exeter 4.05 wins at 2-1 for nap.
Morfee 4.05
It's good to see Peter Atkinson back in the winner's enclosure again. At Newcastle Fingal's Hill was strongly backed (7/1 to 5/2) to beat the favourite Choral Work and duly obliged, the drop back to 2m suiting him very well. He made a winning debut in a Catterick bumper when he short-headed a Henderson hotpot. Peter's flagship horse, that splendid mare Irish Roe, is on the side lines at the moment,. She's now 11 and unlikely to go to the paddocks as a commercial mare due to her poor conformation, which was how Peter managed to pick her up so cheaply (2000 euro) when she failed the vet at the sales. His wife Lucinda trains and rides eventers and she did the schooling on the mare. Their yard on the Atkinsons' Northallerton pig farm has no gallops so they have to box their horses over to Middleham to work. Like Irish Roe, Fingal's Hill enjoys good ground and with his handy mark could win a handicap or two this spring.
Glorious Charmer in the 18:15 at Wolverhampton. Price drifting as I write.
Out the Glen won at 5/2
Longshanks, Exeter 4.05 for a turn of luck...
It's raining in Cheltenham today and will again to a lesser extent on Sunday, but it's hard to know whether there will be anything like enough to suit the soft-ground horses. The drier it is the better it will suit Jonbon in the Supreme.
The older I get, the more cynical I am. I thought Huflower was overpriced last night so stuck a few quid on. Non runner. Its almost like the bookies knew. OK I haven't lost but the prices on other horses would be a shade short. My other from the tracker was Operation Manna which is drifting a bit, but I'll plump for another barge mimic
Nap 1455 Ex Limetree Boy
Universal Secret 2.20 Exeter
Goobinator 4.15N
Billingsley Nap (15:15)
Joe, unbelievably I managed to tip a winner yesterday, Wetanwindy won at 13/2. Unfortunately I suggested each way which takes a bit of the gloss off!
Today my burden falls on Mahanakhon Power in the 15.05 at Newcastle.
Nap 1.45 Exeter - Flemenstide
I've got 2 tracker horses in this race; the one above & Earth Lord. I flicked a coin to decide; Earth Lord heads & Flemenstide tails. It can up Earth Lord but becuase I don't I do superstition I'm backing Flemenstide.
Out the Glen - 13.00 Leicester
Dr kananga 1.15.
One which a dear friend has runs tomorrow in a small field, as he did last time, first time out over fences, and surprised everyone coming home 1st @ 20/1!
Nelson River runs in the 1405 @ Leicester and is my NAP. Currently 5/4 - skinny enough, but it looks to be a two horse race. Not for competition purposes, but I think a RF is probably the best way to have a bet on this race.
Thoughts from said friend; "Two are running for 3rd and 4th place money as well out of the HC. The Nicholls horse has some reasonable form, but all depends on if he can give us 9lb and a beating. Look forward to finding out!".
I'm in terrible form (which bodes well for me, as I've had similar awful runs prior to Cheltenham, and then had my best years!), and I hope I haven't jinxed Nelson!
Good luck all. 5 more sleeps 😃
Trelawne 13:45 Exe Nap