Naps Table Update
Three winners on day 2: David Facile Vega 15/8, Stonor L'Homme Presse 9/4, and Pebbles with a brilliant EW on Global Citizen 28/1. Well done, all.
If I've left anyone out, I apologise; please leave a message on this thread and I'll update.
Awful day for me with the defeat of Ahoy Senor and Shishkin. I will now give up the Queen Mother Champion Chase as an ante post target; it's become something of a jinx race for me having backed Defi Du Seuil at 20s only to see him run miserably at long odds, and Shishkin at good odds alongside 7/1 the double for the 2021 Arkle and today. Ahoy Senor disappointed too for all he ran a mighty race. He jumped two poorly and the rest too well, clearing them by a foot or two, burning energy accordingly. L'Homme Press is a cracking horse, though and I'm delighted to see Charlie Deutsch success continue.
Onwards and upwards. Today's nap is in The Stayers and is between Royal Kahala who'll love the ground and trip, and Song For Someone. The latter has become quirky but I've no doubt whatever that he is good enough to win this, and also that he's been crying out for a step up in trip (constantly gets outpaced these days at shorter). Still, there's a danger at the start where he can be reluctant, so I won’t be backing him until he has jumped off. Royal Kahala is an improving mare - the only one in the race - and gets that valuable 7lbs too. She will go very close and might just win. But Song For Someone should not be 50/1 on talent, though on quirks he's probably entitled to be. Anyway, value-wise the nap has to be Song For Someone, who will also handle the ground fine. Good luck.
My fabled punter friend, the sage of Irish horses, had empty pockets today. None of his selections was placed.
However, my old neighbour who is in his 80s phoned up mid afternoon to tell me he'd cashed in a £1 ew Lucky 15 for £1250. He'd got Third Wind and Coole Cody at 20s. However, he had also bet the same horses in an SP £1 ew Lucky 15, so he could not cash that out. He would not tell me what the later selections were as he is superstitious about it. But I guess he would have got at least £600 back on that one, too. He said he'd phone to let me know, but I have not heard, so they probably did not win.
We have to encourage one another, I think.
Luke wins for nap at 8 to 13. Was odds against earlier. Oh well
Third wind, hangs on grimly to land the nap. I backed the 3rd ew as well.
Ballyandy EW 2.10
Nap Royal Kahala
Luke at Hexham 15.45 for todays nap.
Not managing to get a place never mind a winner aside, the most disappointing thing for me yesterday was the crowd booing the returning Delta work. I don't think the ITV hyperboler helps.
Hopefully Bob O brings home the antipost bacon today.
14.10 C - Sassy Yet Classy
I'm off for a routine colonoscopy in a few minutes. Pretty much my bets also make me feel I've been violated. At least I won't be betting.
Mighty Blue each way in the 16:50 at Cheltenham
Champ - 15.30 Cheltenham (nap)
EW If the Cap Fits 2.10
Say Goodbye 4.50 Cheltenham
Todays nap is Nakadam 3.05 Hexham,well done yesterdays winners,that was a great nap Pebbles.
Yesterday was a very odd day. I was so looking forward to the battle of Bravemansgame and L’Homme Presse. Nicholls was right to pull BMG and I guess Nicky wished he had done the same with Shishkin.
The watering saga is confusing to say the least. The first reaction was stupidity on the part of the Clerk, but it depends on which forecasts one follows. That said this focus on horses being jarred up on firm ground is becoming a nonsense, particularly when one sees several horses slipping on landing and going down.
On to the racing today which is relatively underwhelming, but a great example of why the NHF should not go to 5 days.
For the nap, I’ll go off track with the Donnelly’s Hors Piste in the Novices Hurdle.
Commiserations, Joe. I don't think you should abandon your long range bets, however. If you had managed to read some of my scribblings here, you would have seen that someone you know who is a fine judge of (Irish) horses managed to pull off a massive antepost coup on Stattler. Yesterday, as Shakespeare wrote, " The times were out of joint" and you should not be deterred.
I was pleased to see your longer comment about Song for Someone and Royal Kahala today in the tradition of the old Steeplechasing blog. What would you have entitled the piece, I wonder, perhaps "Someone will sing sweetly in the Stayers".
I backed it last year, but it was a non-runner, I think, so I shall do so again.
Alaphillipe 2.10C.
Hopefully the horses won't need a snorkel mast and arm bands today!
Today's nap is dinoblue (4:50)
Third Wind. Ew nap. 2.10.
Nap 5.30 Cheltenham - Mister Fogpatches
Uhm....Altruism and all that.
I did Ahoy Senor e.w.at 25/1
at the advice of Tangovictorindia for my Father's Birthdays present on the 30/12/21.
10 Euros equals 30 Euros for being placed and I don't think Tangovictorindia should reprimand himself.