Githyanki
Group 1 winner
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2016 4:16 pm Posts: 2297
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Cheltenham Trainers Preview
Supreme Novices
Looks The Part
Does not really look the part, though oddly is the only one of my 2m hurdlers to hold his trial spot as a 9yo for next season. On on her day she is as good, if not better than anything else I have and could be due a big race, but there will be others with stronger claims.
Arkle Novices
The Monster
One mis jump aside she has hardly put a foot wrong, and holds her place as a 9yo for next year so Arkle and Queen Mother double in mind. Is the one horse in whom I have the most faith right now, if she gets it right she will be very difficult to beat, will relish the test of the hill.
Words That Hurt
Early season form has fallen away and she is getting caught more often than not now, this is also a staying test and she is not know to last beyond two miles so the hill will really test her. Will probably set the pace and is here instead of the Grand Annual to take the front running burden from the Monster.
Champion Hurdle
Dominatrix
Single G1 winner of the 'Fighting Fifth' but she has 4 seconds to her name and is my best performing 2m hurdler right now, she is not without a chance in what will be her only season but others are preferred.
Mares Hurdle
Lana Del Rey
3 wins now up to G2 and has performed well on Good to Heavy ground, run style and race pace is important as she likes to do her best work late, 2m hurdle speed but I have no doubts about her staying power either. Good chance if form holds, no longer holds a place at trial.
Close Brothers
All Looks Good
It has not really has it, which is a little disappointing as he trials well. Should be reasonably well weighted with this, and since I trial only on Cheltenham this may be his time to shine, but the evidence is not compelling.
Neptune Novice Hurdle
Reap What You Sow
3 time league winner with 2 G2's to her name, at her best when she is restained early, but needs to be pushing herself into contention from the second half of the race. Has also fallen off the trial sheets so this is her main chance for glory. Should not be discounted in this hotly contested division.
Sins Of The Angels
2 wins but nothing at group level, though her second in the G1 Challows marks her quality, still likely the lesser of my two in this. Needs to do make her move really early to have any chance. Others are preferred.
RSA
When the Demon Comes
Has been in outstanding form of late with 4 wins in his last 5 races and the other result was a 2nd, and if you ingore the hurdle blip the rest of his form is a 1st and a 2nd. Has been targeting this all season and I have very high hopes. Needs to do it from the front as he lacks top end speed, and will need to push them hard from 8f, if he does that he will stay on pace all day. Very good chance.
Hope Springs Eternal
Only a single novice chase to her name, but has been consistently in the money. The stamina test here will suit as she really needs 3.2m+, and does like cheltenham. Will be in the mix but I would not back her over her stablemate.
Coral Cup
Angel On My Sholuder
Could well go off at top weight, will certainly be carrying a heavy burden and that will diminish his chances considerably. The Aintree hurdle is really the race for him. Could be in the mix but I expect he will fall away in the closing stages.
Archangel
Trialed as a hurdler but has wins now over both codes and I did not see any chase potential at trial. This is still what I think he is made for, but again I expect he will be weighted out of any serious chance. Could be in the money.
Queen Mother
Words To The Wise
4 wins including a G1, though the Monster has her number at trial. Out and out front runner and she will will also like the hill as she more than stays 2 miles. Was run down in the Tingle Creek so is not invincible and she has been about my worst jumper with two falls. If she jumps soundly they will have to catch her, and she won't go down without a fight.
Rumbas Last Dance
2 wins up to G3 but has, as trial form dictated, been in the shadow of her stablemate all season. Also likes to front run, but without the same gusto as Words to the Wise, and stays to 2.2m so the stamina test here will suit. I expect her to be in the money, but Words To The Wise is my pick.
Golden Millers
The Machine
Has had a few odd races after his debute win where he has not run as expected, needs to have a little restraint early on and take the race on just after halfway. Has every chance in my opinion but this will be a hotly contested affair and there are others with strong claims and more form to back it up. Chances if he gets it right.
Ryanair
Floats Like A Sommerfly
Stable Star and with 6 wins and 2 seconds he is probabaly one of my best horses in the league. If he gets another win he will stand alone on 7. Has one G1 to his name, 1 G2 and 3 G3's but not had it all his own way since the up load window and there are a few who will challenge him. I do not worry about his staying ability but does not have much in the way of a turn of foot so needs to grind them into submission. Off the trial sheets now, though has breed most of the replacements. Will be there at the end if jumping holds.
In The Nick of Time
Played second fiddle to her stablemate above, and has not really delivered in the league, 2 wins one a G2H. Will be suited by the stamina test but I cannot like her more than Sommerfly on league form regardless of the fact she trials as well if not better. Should be there for some money.
Stayers Hurdle
Full Court Press
2 wins and 3 seconds marks him as my best 3m hurdler on league form, and only narrowly missed out on the Cleeve which is a good indicator for this, at his best when he applies a little early restraint and challenges from around the half way mark. Will need to break them in the later part of the race and make them earn it. But there are a host of good horses in this division so he will still need to find another level today.
The White Witch
This entry could be madness since it comes at the expense of G1 winnner 'Tigris of Gaul', but the ground is more in her favour and I still cannot ignore repeated trial form that tells me she is my best 3m hurdler who has gone on to breed better whilst still holding her place for next year. Recent form as been as good as ever and includes a G2 win, her only one of the season. I still prefer her stable mate above, but she could be ready to show her best side.
Troll House Mares
The Big Easy
Another example of my sub par 2m hurdlers, and whilst she has been consistent she has only found the winners enclosure once, and that on the Week 1 maidens. I expect her to be in the money though I also expect her to find at least 2 that have her measure.
Kim Muir
Great White Hope
Week 1 maiden win, but largely down hill from there, hangs about on the trial sheets as a 9yo but at 3.4m, and his form does not encourage a shot at the Gold Cup. Slow starts and getting bogged down in the rear have hurt him since his is better when he holds just of pace. Will need to monitor his weight as we may yet switch, but I think he may have enough to play with too make this his best shot, but I will not be betting on him. Entry TBC.
Triumph
Coffee And Cigarettes
The flat horse experiement has not gone too badly with a 2nd and 3rd at G2 level, but I fancy there are others here who still have his number. The extra furlong will help to a degree as will the run in, but I would not be going beyond EW money if I were a betting man.
County Hurdle
Bride Of Doom
Not won a race all season, but has had a G1 2nd, which is why she is rated out still. Probably too heavy and will likely make the switch to the Champion instead, where I doubt her prospects are much better.
Albert Bartlett
Return Of The Royal
Three wins up to G2 but recent form has not been great, will benefit from the likely fast pace of his stablemate as he does not have raw top end speed, though his acceleration through the gears is awesome. Will need to sit off the pace and punch out from about 6f from home, if he can do that and if he can steal a march on his rivals, I fancy he will stay on up the hill, if not then he will have no chance.
Gloria
Not lived up to her trial form over 3m hurdlers, and I do not really fancy her to do much more than set the race up for her stablemate. Will front run and if she remains true to form give way about 5f from home.
Gold Cup
Test Of Faith
Dispite his 160 rating has never won a race, sodding GI 'sodding' Joe. 4 2nds and a bunch of other places, but he remains my best 3m horse, and that is still so when he is 9yo. Speaks more to me not being able to breed 3m horses than it does his talent. The ground is a positive though, as will the slightly longer trip, but you can make a far stronger case for others.
Nickerbocker Glory
No wins to his name, but a few decent places. Needs 3.4m to 3.6m so even with the hill this is less than suitable, but he is too highly rated to go anywhere else. Will drop out if I swith Great White Hope and maybe go to the Glenfarcas. Could be in the top 6.
LVR Cup
The National Awaits
Not had a suitable race since week 3, so will enjoy going back over the correct distance, already too heavy for the National I fear so this is the best logical option. If he takes it on from about the 8f mark, after sitting quitely mid race then he could be a major player today. Chances
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