A good range of Sunday winners, from 10/1 to 1/4 - well done. If I've left anyone out, I apologise; please leave a message on this thread and I'll update.
Given the very wise heads here, I wonder if you can help me with science of the annual New Course V Old Course trope: I can't recall a Cheltenham passing without every expert and pro warning that the New Course is a deeper stamina challenge due to its galloping nature and fewer obstacles toward the end. I was never any good at the sciences, but just from personal experience, this makes no sense to me. I'd much rather run straight and in a consistent rhythm than have to adjust speed and stride to jump, especially when that jump is very likely to cost me momentum, and as soon as I land and organise myself, I must start rebuilding that momentum and balance and rhythm. How can it require less stamina to do all that than to run straight on a flat surface?
People with the memory of elephants might recall me writing up Flying Fortune before she made her debut at Ludlow on 6 January. She caught my eye that day mainly because she is a daughter of that lovely mare Turbo Linn who was a bumper star for Alan Swinbank before going on to achieve great things on the Flat. FF was a bit undercooked at Ludlow, running third behind a shock 40/1 horse of Grace Harris's who since was beaten out of sight in a moderate race at Ayr. Meanwhile she ran a decent 4th at Market Rasen in - appropriately enough - the Swinbank Memorial bumper in which Queens Gamble was surprisingly beaten. Anyway, losses were retrieved today and she can go on from here. Knowing Peter Bowen he will try to win a Listed bumper with her now before going hurdling.
Killaloan wins at 11/10
Karakoram 2.15 Taunton won SP 15/2.
Ramo wins at 7/4.
Come on John. Wolverhampton 5.30.
Killaloan taunton 4pm
Frenchy du Large 15:25 Taunton Nap
Le patron 3.00P
Plumpton 3.35 – Ramo
I’m with John987 re: the tightness of the Old Course. That bend into the straight has thrown many an animal over to the stands rail, especially in the RSA/Browns Advisory. On the New Course over 3m2f they get seem to get racing around a furlong further out than in the Ultima and RSA. I can’t see that it makes that much difference, but I do reckon Dysart Dynamo will be favoured by the Old Course in the Arkle. He went like the clappers down the Leopardstown back straight and apart from the long home straight first time around he will be on the turn for most of the Arkle.
Galice Macalo - 15.15 Strtford
Must have seen something in Nickelforce on his only run to date to add him to my tracker.
Runs at Taunton 13:40 each way nap. I'll put 5 cents each way on him.
It's breakfast time ,belting down and blowing a gale across Salisbury Plain, quick butchers at the G reveals yet another inane offering from Wood. Here's the paragraph that got me and the lads/girls in the canteen going.
The basic truth that racing over jumps is more dangerous for the participants, both equine and human, than it is on the Flat is one point that cannot be ignored. The British Horseracing Authority has invested significant amounts of time, effort and cash into efforts to reduce the fatal injury rate in National Hunt racing over the past 15 years, with considerable success. Nonetheless, the likelihood remains that at least one or two of around 400 horses that will go to the track this week will not return to their stable that evening, because the element of risk involved when horses are racing at 30 miles per hour or more can never be eliminated entirely. If you believe that humans should not use animals for entertainment, under any circumstances, then the Cheltenham Festival will never be your thing.
Just can't help himself can he ,especially the last few lines ,just has to bring in something to draw in the anti mob. For a bloke whose wages are paid for writing about the sport he's to keen to always push the negatives.
Maybe time spent on the formbook rather than writing this crap and less relying on Timeform might help his abject tipping as well.
Taunton 3.25 Diablo de Rouhet e/w
Didn't expect to be getting involved with todays racing but the ol tracker has thrown up quite a number.
Nap Taunton 1635 Doyannie
given a big hike for the last win but is in great form so prob deserved it. Just hope it comes down the hcp as quickly when the losses start.
Karakoram 2.15 Taunton is the nap ,well done yesterdays winners with top marks to Leo. I think most of us would have been pleased to see Volcano win his race for the 3rd time despite being hassled for the lead,it's races like that that makes jump racing special.I hope you had a good bet David.
Hey Joe, will there be a separate Cheltenham Comp this year - or just daily Naps as usual?