CHELTENHAM Handicaps-

 

We attacked 9 Handicaps last week.

 

We managed to find Chianti Chiasco at 6/1 SP, Langer Dan at 13/2 SP, Shakem Up'Arry at 8/1 SP and Better Days Ahead at 5/1 SP.

 

Amongst the notable places / enhanced places were Git Maker 28/1; Shanbally Kid 12/1 ; Black Bamboo 14/1; Ndawi 12/1 ; Where It All Began 8/1 , Path D'Oroux 10/1; Magical Zoe 8/1 ; Liberty Hunter 6/1 - the likes of Harsh 40/1 SP amongst the £1 mentions has not been included.

 

We'll have final figures to SP and Advised and also to Industry Standard and advised enhanced places in a final tally up after we look at the non handicaps tomorrow.

 

Whilst 4 of 9 winners is not shabby, there was a lack of a big priced belter, although with the exception of the Nicholls winner on Thursday, there weren't too many surprises. The obvious compromise and negative was the number of selections and whilst we always see big Meeting analysis as "informative" rather than "prescriptive" , it's an area that we will be really tidying up and simplifying in the NEW FLAT season changes to come in early April. We'll explain more at the time but there will be FEWER tips but for those that like more detail, so score ratings too that may identify different avenues to the actual tips.

 

What did enthuse us too were the Ante Post attempts; and a horse like LANGER DAN who we must have referred to (and tipped) every time it ran with something more stronger than just a subliminal ("wait for Cheltenham") , with more time and more focus, we want to start to identify that type sooner and be more alert to when the "non runner / no bet" offers appear.

 

We have always been handicapped, if you'll excuse the pun, in this scenario though by the fact that both Jon and I are very infrequent bettors, so we'll look to bring in some betting expertise to help us, and if there is anyone out there with a flair for ante-post betting who can take our suggestions and make a valid case for them in a written way for us to pass on to Members, please let us know.

 

It wasn't a great Cheltenham in terms of the Handicaps therefore for us, but whilst we've had a lot better, we could have had a lot worse and in reality the issue is not the horses picked but the quantity of horses picked, a recurring theme, that we will make a full and final attempt to resolve in April...

 

Tomorrow we'll look at the non handicaps.