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King John's Castle Scuppers Me Again
Not the most auspicious start to a Cheltenham Festival that I can remember ( at least on the betting front).
As regular readers will know, by far my largest antepost bet of the festival was on the mighty Peddlers Cross. I'd got the best of it - he went off at a fifth of the price I backed him at last year, he got to the track fit and fancied and he ran an exceptional race. The only problem being Hurricane Fly ran a better one. I have no complaints - the better horse won on the day and I'm only irritated by my stubborn belief that the Fly wouldn't act round Cheltenham. The flood of Irish money on the day told the story only too clearly. They knew and weren't afraid to back their convictions all the way down to 11/4. I'm sure there will be other days for Peddlers Cross if /when he tackles the bigger obstacles.
Again regular readers will know of my lack of fondness for King John's Castle after his refusal to race in the Grand National last year destroyed my carefully planned gamble on him at all prices from 200/1 down to 40/1. The less said of that the better. Yesterday my "bete noire" (or gris in this instance) reared his ugly head again by being withdrawn from the Cross Country Chase and leaving it as a 15 runner rather than 16 runner handicap. Had it remained a 16 runner handicap, our fun Placepot yesterday would have paid out on 2 lines giving us a nice profit. As it was, predictably, my selection Maljimar jumped the last at a canter looking all over the winner before tiring up the hill and being run out of third place on the line by the most agonising short head on the nod. By such margins a good day is turned into an unpleasant one.
On to Day 2 of the tipping competition. Day 1 got off to a flyer with 50 entrants going to post. Well done to Rugbymoon who has forged into an early lead with his astute selection of Al Ferof . There were some real hard luck stories amongst the selections with plenty of second places. I've posted the standings after the first day below and I will post up everybody's selections for today after 1pm.
As regular readers will know, by far my largest antepost bet of the festival was on the mighty Peddlers Cross. I'd got the best of it - he went off at a fifth of the price I backed him at last year, he got to the track fit and fancied and he ran an exceptional race. The only problem being Hurricane Fly ran a better one. I have no complaints - the better horse won on the day and I'm only irritated by my stubborn belief that the Fly wouldn't act round Cheltenham. The flood of Irish money on the day told the story only too clearly. They knew and weren't afraid to back their convictions all the way down to 11/4. I'm sure there will be other days for Peddlers Cross if /when he tackles the bigger obstacles.
Again regular readers will know of my lack of fondness for King John's Castle after his refusal to race in the Grand National last year destroyed my carefully planned gamble on him at all prices from 200/1 down to 40/1. The less said of that the better. Yesterday my "bete noire" (or gris in this instance) reared his ugly head again by being withdrawn from the Cross Country Chase and leaving it as a 15 runner rather than 16 runner handicap. Had it remained a 16 runner handicap, our fun Placepot yesterday would have paid out on 2 lines giving us a nice profit. As it was, predictably, my selection Maljimar jumped the last at a canter looking all over the winner before tiring up the hill and being run out of third place on the line by the most agonising short head on the nod. By such margins a good day is turned into an unpleasant one.
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On to Day 2 of the tipping competition. Day 1 got off to a flyer with 50 entrants going to post. Well done to Rugbymoon who has forged into an early lead with his astute selection of Al Ferof . There were some real hard luck stories amongst the selections with plenty of second places. I've posted the standings after the first day below and I will post up everybody's selections for today after 1pm.
| Rank | Points | Nickname | Tuesday |
| 1 | 10 | Rugbymoon | 1.30pm - Al Ferof |
| 2 | 6 | Fingerlickin | 2.05pm - Captain Chris |
| Joint - 3 | 5 | Smoggy | 2.40pm - Bensalem |
| Joint - 3 | 5 | Donno | 2.40pm - Bensalem |
| Joint - 5 | 2.75 | SallyL | 3.20pm - Hurricane Fly |
| Joint - 5 | 2.75 | Winfinder | 3.20pm - Hurricane Fly |
| 7 | 0.83 | Marvo | 4.40pm - Quevega |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Lobbydosser | 1.30pm - Sprinter Sacre |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Playingwithfire | 1.30pm - Spirit Son |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Arn07 | 1.30pm - Magens Star |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Peter the Punter | 2.05pm – Finians Rainbow |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Silver Fox (Martin) | 4.40pm – Stephanie Kate |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Pip | 1.30pm – Recession Proof |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Clm2908 | 1.30pm - Spirit Son |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Silver Fox (Fergal) | 2.40pm - Sunnyhillyboy |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Chimbu | 2.40pm - Slippers Percy |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Phoebeb | 4.00pm - Gullible Gordon |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Neilo69 | 2.40pm - Caroles Legacy |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Ged S | 5.15pm – Definity |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Juliejugs38 | 3.20pm – Dunguib |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Marbir | 2.40pm – The Rainbow Hunter |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | g.camplin | 3.20pm – Dunguib |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | UKBS | 2.05pm – Realt Dubh |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Trevs | 4.00pm - Freneys Well |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Cashelman | 3.20pm - Menorah |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Gavnic | 3.20pm – Peddlers Cross |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Mickediff | 2.40pm – Sunnyhillyboy |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Mikrik | 2.40pm – Adams Island |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Ged Mc | 2.05pm – Ghizao |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | General | 1.30pm - Spirit Son |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Misty1 | 2.40pm – Exmoor Ranger |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Slaithwaite58 | 1.30pm – Marsh Warbler |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Dumper | 3.20pm – Dunguib |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Pmillar | 3.20pm – Peddlers Cross |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Sibiznet | 5.15pm – Swing Bill |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Johnr85 | 5.15pm - Definity |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Crottly | 4.00pm - Maljimar |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | LiamD | 3.20pm - Peddlers Cross |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Marcus01 | 1.30pm - Hidden Universe |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Giggy | 1.30pm - Spirit Son |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Dave | 1.30pm - Gibb River |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Hopeless | 3:20pm - Peddlers Cross |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Foss | 4.40pm - Banjaxed Girl |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Billp | 2.40pm - Blazing Bailey |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | TJ | 3.20pm - Oscar Whisky |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Breenie | 4.00pm - Gullible Gordon |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Tootsie | 2.40pm - Carrick Mines |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Jonty | 5.15pm - Definity |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | David | 1.30pm - Spirit Son |
| Joint – 8 | 0 | Peterpickum | 5.15pm – Quantativeeasing |
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After yesterday's agonies I've had a look at the Placepot for todayand decided it looks way too difficult to have a stab at with the Coral Cup and the Fred Winter looking nigh on impossible! (Having said that, I've heard a very good word this morning for Leminence Grise in the Fred Winter at a big price). I will have another look tomorrow.
Whatever you're backing, have a great day!
Kieran
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