There is NH at Market Rasen and Taunton today, AW at Wolverhampton. There isn't a great deal to attack punting wise but a reasonably competitive 16 runner handicap that closes the Card at Taunton has caught Robin;s eye and we have a couple of "Pointer" Races. There are better punting options later in the week, providing the incoming snow and rain doesn't have too great an impact.

 

Following the tips and analysis and a few Trackers (if you don't have them in your preference mail they will be in Members Paddock 15 minutes after this mail is sent, we'll have the first of a 2 part look back at the weekend in Ireland.

DUBLIN FESTIVAL Report - Part 1

 

Lets focus first on the pair of Tip Races on Saturday and Sunday.

 

On Saturday we were very close to putting up MAXXUM as we indicated in the write up; a horse who had gone a bit stale but who had been a very short priced favourite for the same race last season, very much one that got away and would have transformed an otherwise poor weekend. No doubt though the very fine run again for GOATH CHUIL who has been an excellent spot for us and who only found the winner too good. I don't see it as a Cheltenham horse to be honest and I don't think Ted Walsh would want to run it there with an inflated mark. One of the big Irish races in April or even Aintree may suit this warrior. 

 

On Sunday JAMES DE BERLAIS ran well enough but the De Bromhead horse frankly routed the field and sadly our chips were largely burnt following carnage at the first fence which took out the majority of our chances. They do seem to really attack the start of races far more in Ireland in these big fields and an aspect that we will look at time and time again at CHELTENHAM is the big advantage that gives Irish horses in the handicaps there. The fact that they tend to run truly run races all the time in decent double figure competitive fields whilst the UK horses are often running in falsely run races with smaller fields is an aspect I don't think many have really cottoned on to. 

 

There is a notion that sometimes UK horses arrive at Cheltenham tired from 5-6 runs but in reality I think they are undercooked in terms of peak fitness against the Irish horses who may only have had 3 runs but they have been full choke out runs and put that last 2-3 % of fitness on them that is crucial in the final analysis.

 

Was there anything we spotted in our tip races that we think really can be followed early into Cheltenham with an ante post bet?. I'll point out 3-4 handicappers tomorrow that have caught my eye (and Sean / Michaels) who will line up for ante post only when No Run / No bet comes in and your money is redeemable!

 

More tomorrow