The greatest show on turf Cheltenham 2020 thread

Had Easyland/Aramax double 
had Dame De Compaigne to win outright and also had Queens Brook ew so I’ve had a good day.

Looking at tomorrow and I’ve got a few doubles and Faugheen in the first race, money back if he comes 2nd 3rd 4th or 5th.

Drew a blank today , but only had small stakes & still massively up from yesterday so no harm done.

Will be backing a couple with more confidence tomorrow.  My day 3 selections are:

1:30 Itchy Feet (Bet of the day)
Samcro (Smaller stakes saver)

3:30 Apples Jade

4:10 Simply The Betts 
La Bague Au Roi

Grr. Bad couple of days in terms of my fancies on the day/night before, but we go again.

1.30 - Money's already come in for Mister Fisher (9/2 from 5s), who I really think has loads of potential. Is very lightly raced and won over C&D in December, and seems to appreciate the longer trip. I'm a fan of loads of horses in this from a racing standpoint, but it's a tricky one in which to pick a tip. At each-way odds, Melon loves the Festival; Annie Mc could be anything; Bapaume has had a bizarre career (4th in the Stayer's last year and now over fences but also not really working?); Reserve Tank might need better ground... maybe Midnight Shadow can run well at 22/1? Either him, Reserve Tank or Annie Mc but no real idea if that works out especially as the top four in the market all look so strong.

2.10 - Ah man, stick a pin in the race card and pick what you like. Olly Murphy has said his best chance this week is Skandiburg (10/1 or so) and I'd be inclined to take him at face value. He doesn't often mince his words. I also really like Tout Est Permis (20/1) for this as well: there is a write-up here that I'd posted privately to my mate Charlie and he then stuck on the forum! Might hit the crossbar again but with loads of places on offer, have a go. Rapper at 25s looks like he could go well especially tied in with Skandiburg, and of those at the skinnier odds, Relegate would be my preference. (Top six in the market all look about right.)

2.50 - Not a fan of the sponsor of this race but that's by the by. I think people are going to overlook the consistently crossbar-hitting Min (5/2) here, without necessarily noting that a lot of his best wins come at this trip. That's not to say A Plus Tard isn't a good horse: he's class. We have no idea what the form could have been as Chacun Pour Soi didn't run, but even so. With eight runners this is a dream for each-way thievery and I have a sneaky suspicion that Aso runs a big race again at 25/1 with this race always being the target (even if he's not had the season go quite to plan thus far). I have to mention Frodon is obviously a decent call with Bryony on board and this coming off the back of a win going right-handed at Kempton. Should be a good contest!

3.30 - Paisley Park will hopefully win and confirm his position as best in class. In bold as he's a component of my antepost book, but the odds are prohibitive. Unimaginatively, the places will probably be between the top five in the market, so while Ronald Pump at 20s looks intriguing, I'd want to go with the 75% strike rate of Emitom (10/1) each way. Needed the run on New Year's Day but then won emphatically LTO and should fill a place. Summerville Boy would be next for me. At huge odds, and given we're at Cheltenham, maybe Tobefair could be worth a poke at 66/1!

4.10 - Well, I'm one for stats and trends in the Brown, and no Venetia Williams runners therefore puts me at a bit of a loss. If only Cepage stayed here! I'm a big fan of La Bague Au Roi (10/1 or so) as last year's campaign has some really REALLY strong form you cannot ignore, even if this year she's not been as good. I'm going to look down the prices too though and be pleasantly surprised to find Snow Falcon (28/1) at big odds: trip is fine; class at his best; rider won a handicap recently; and SF himself has won in a big field handicap before. If I'm feeling flush then Happy Diva at 22s gets added despite the weight (is just so consistent), and one might also consider Spiritofthegames but 12s seems a tad too short for an always solid place horse.

4.50 - This is a race I really don't care about. The classic proposition is to follow Willie Mullins, and I am informed from a friend that Concertista (4/1) is the pick of the bunch and should run a lot better than those form figures suggest. Fair enough. That said... if Willie tells me it's raining, I'll be looking outside. In this case, not outside the stables, but outside Concertista's horse box to Dolcita who has not run much at all and at 9/1, seems a good prospect. But whatever. Not a race I have a vested interest in.

5.30 - Maaaaannnnn. A doozy to end the day. Top of the market is Champagne Platinum where Derek O'Connor is on board, so for good reason then. But 9/2 is miles too skinny to contemplate. I'm going to trust the RP and Militarian (40/1) looks very intriguing at massive odds. Has had a wind op, steps back up in trip, and always runs with credit. Another thing worth noting is that Gigginstown tend to target their handicaps quite well and their sole runner is Milan Native (11/1), so I'd be tempted here. May even have a third choice given how many runners/places are offered, and that would be Cloth Cap (20/1) who can run well fresh like in the Scottish National last year. Fitzhenry, Plan of Attack both have good runs in them... there's loads of choice here. Again, throw a dart at it.

In the Kim Muir, 2 that most appeal e/w to me:

• The Kings Writ (40/1) - should relish the test (first time beyond 25f; win or placed and staying on 4 from 4 at 24-25f), related to Ballabriggs
• Bob Mahler (20/1) - winner over (today's new) course & dist, staying pedigree and 3 from 3 win or placed at 26f+, 1st time blinkers

May add a third later. Need a team for this one  

That said, I realise I've mentioned about half the field in each of the three handicaps today! But it's more food for thought than any sort of tip of course, caveat emptor, whatever whatever

PeanutsMolloy said:

In the Kim Muir, 2 that most appeal e/w to me:

• The Kings Writ (40/1) - should relish the test (first time beyond 25f; win or placed and staying on 4 from 4 at 24-25f), related to Ballabriggs
• Bob Mahler (20/1) - winner over (today's new) course & dist, staying pedigree and 3 from 3 win or placed at 26f+, 1st time blinkers

May add a third later. Need a team for this one  

Following you @PaddyP17 with Cloth Cap to complete my team (slow off the mark on this fella and 16s best price now). As you say, fine 3rd at Ayr only 4L behind Takingrisks, who's gone on and won well again off 8lb higher. This lad's only 3lbs higher mark, off which he's run creditably since. Stamina abundant in his pedigree - related to Amberleigh House and Niche Market.
Good luck all.
 

PaddyP17 said:

4.10 - Brown Plate again - worth noting Gigginstown only send one runner and that's Death Duty who lurks around 22/1 at the minute. Their handicap record is pretty good, so it's interesting to see him go there.

Bit of a sprint for me but I fancy this fella too e/w (market support for him for the Red Mills last time but probably needed a couple of spins after a lengthy spell on the sidelines) - a relative to one that I once owned. It's apparent that Giggingstown bought considerably more wisely  

PeanutsMolloy said:

PaddyP17 said:

4.10 - Brown Plate again - worth noting Gigginstown only send one runner and that's Death Duty who lurks around 22/1 at the minute. Their handicap record is pretty good, so it's interesting to see him go there.

Bit of a sprint for me but I fancy this fella too e/w (market support for him for the Red Mills last time but probably needed a couple of spins after a lengthy spell on the sidelines) - a relative to one that I once owned. It's apparent that Giggingstown bought considerably more wisely  

Death Duty owes me from the Festival two years ago? Lumped on for the Albert Bartlett (?) after Elliott talked him up at the Betfair Preview night

My (also very unscientific) bets today are Guitar Pete and Yukon Lil, neither have a chance but I like the names:-). 

Wow what a race that was

Callumcafc said:

Mister Fisher & Samcro.

I'll take that!

I thought Samcro was fantastic there, great to see it back. 

great finish, had Samcro so a good start to the day