(Ruby Walsh is confident unbeaten Annie Power can continue her impressive success at Cheltenham today)
Three big talking points
1. Can Geraghty triumph for third time in the Novices’ Chase?
PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
(Irish jockey Barry Geraghty has already won twice at this year’s festival and 30 times in total)
The Novices’ Chase, which gets underway at 1.30pm today, is undoubtedly one of the most difficult races to call with a number of strong contenders. Paul Nicholls’ Wonderful Charm and Willie Mullins’ Felix Yonger are unsurprisingly among the favourites, as is Jonjo O’Neill’s Taquin Du Seuil.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Barry Geraghty is looking to claim a win for the third day in succession with Oscar Whisky, after previous triumphs on Jezki and O’Faolains Boy in the Champion Hurdle and RSA Chase respectively.
Following Wednesday’s developments, Geraghty now has more wins (30) at the festival than anyone apart from Ruby Walsh (41).
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2. Benefficient and Dynaste set to go head to head again in Ryanair Chase
PA Archive / Press Association Images
PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
(Benefficient ridden by Irish jockey Bryan Cooper triumphed at last year’s festival)
It’s no surprise to see Benefficient and Dynaste listed as the favourites in this year’s Ryanair Chase (2.40pm).
The two came first and second respectively a year ago in Jewson Novices’ Chase, and Benefficient’s victory was somewhat of an upset on that occasion, having been priced at 20/1 .
But don’t be surprised if Tony Martin’s eight-year-old emulates his previous success this time around, particularly given his trainer’s recent suggestion that the ground will suit the Irish gelding.
Dynaste, meanwhile, has not been in action since putting in a disappointing performance in the King George VI Chase on St Stephen’s Day, and so his rival appears to have the edge going into this encounter.
Moreover, Paul Nicholls’ Al Ferof, who’s ridden by Daryl Jacob, is arguably the most likely to trouble the aforementioned duo, and represents a tempting alternative gamble at 4/1.
3. Will Annie Power live up to expectations in Ladbrokes World Hurdle?
If races were decided on paper, then Willie Mullins’ Annie Power would be the clear winner in this one, with odds of 7/4 at the time of writing.
The favourites have performed relatively well so far this year, with Sire De Grugy and Faugheen coming out on top yesterday, and the undefeated mare, with a phenomenal ten wins from ten outings, is strongly positioned to continue that trend. Nevertheless, there are doubts over whether the Irish horse has the stamina to prevail today, despite jockey Ruby Walsh trying to allay these concerns in the build-up to the event.
If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, More Of That (10/1) and the four-time champion between 2009 and 2012 Big Buck’s (3/1) are all surely worth a punt with Quevega unlikely to run after winning a record sixth straight Mares’ Hurdle on Tuesday.
Watch all the action unfold from 3.20pm in what looks set to be an enthralling race.
Nap of the Day
Most people are seeing the Ladbrokes World Hurdle as a straight showdown between Annie Power and Big Buck’s, but horse racing is rarely so simple. Rule The World may be an outsider, but Mouse Morris’ horse appears to be priced invitingly at 9/1 (at the time of writing).
An each-way fancy
PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
(Taquin Du Seuil, pictured above with trainer Jonjo O’Neil and stable lass Kate, has decent odds this year)
The Novices’ Chase looks like anyone’s race, though Oscar Whisky (6/1) and Taquin Du Seuil (8/1) are two of the genuinely strong contenders and consequently would be well worth an each-way bet.
Accumulator
A treble on Taquin Du Seuil, Al Ferof and Big Buck’s is a somewhat daring but hardly unreasonable bet.
Lets hope the poor horses dont suffer to much today from the whip, and get over the fences as big as my garden shed without getting killed like poor Our Conor RIP
Our Conor was the 21st horse to die in UK/IRE this year. Since then, 2 more have died at Cheltenham a day later, Stack The Deck, fractured knee and Akdam, broken foreleg. Sud Pacifique died a day before in Segfefield.
Since 2007, 51 horses have died at Cheltenham.
The horses are treated very well it’s there job to race. Are u so patronising when u see a traveler kid with a horse or do u look the other way.look at all the horses starving abandoned in fields Wake up girl!
Those horse are well treated racing is there job. Are u as condensing when u see a traveller kid mistreating a horse,I bet u just look away. Save your pity for the starving abandoned horses that are all over the country. Wake up girl!!!
Those horses are well treated,racing is there job.are u as condescending to a traveller kid with a horse,bet u look the other way. Save your pity for the starving abandoned horses that are all over the country. Wake up girl!
At Fishers Cross is worth an E/W bet at 9/1 the horse is back improving, does the distance and finished a couple of lengths ahead of Big Bucks in their last meeting together
Annie Power is all the rage in the World Hurdle and she will justify her tag as the warm favourite today with a domineering display. Getting 7lb from her rivals, she looks sure to produce a performance right into the mid-170s and – to all intents and purposes – it looks unlikely any of the contenders are capable of reaching that level. She has showed no signs whatsoever of stopping thus far and I can’t see her stopping today.
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And take Frances with you!!!
Have never done well on the Thursday of Cheltenham, A small lucky 15 is all I’m doing today.
R
I like Spring Heeled in the 4:40 @16/1
Lets hope the poor horses dont suffer to much today from the whip, and get over the fences as big as my garden shed without getting killed like poor Our Conor RIP
Ironic surname
Our Conor was the 21st horse to die in UK/IRE this year. Since then, 2 more have died at Cheltenham a day later, Stack The Deck, fractured knee and Akdam, broken foreleg. Sud Pacifique died a day before in Segfefield.
Since 2007, 51 horses have died at Cheltenham.
How many cows/sheep/chickens/pigs have died this year ?
Not sure – watch and count yourself here …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOOiixz2zFE
Barry if you use a whip on a cow ship,pig you would be done for cruelty by the guards so why do you still beat and abuse horses.
I don’t use a whip or beat anyone. The horses involved are treated better than most humans in society. Enjoy your boiled egg in the morning .
The horses are treated very well it’s there job to race. Are u so patronising when u see a traveler kid with a horse or do u look the other way.look at all the horses starving abandoned in fields Wake up girl!
Those horse are well treated racing is there job. Are u as condensing when u see a traveller kid mistreating a horse,I bet u just look away. Save your pity for the starving abandoned horses that are all over the country. Wake up girl!!!
Those horses are well treated,racing is there job.are u as condescending to a traveller kid with a horse,bet u look the other way. Save your pity for the starving abandoned horses that are all over the country. Wake up girl!
You have a very small garden shed!
At Fishers Cross is worth an E/W bet at 9/1 the horse is back improving, does the distance and finished a couple of lengths ahead of Big Bucks in their last meeting together
Annie Power is all the rage in the World Hurdle and she will justify her tag as the warm favourite today with a domineering display. Getting 7lb from her rivals, she looks sure to produce a performance right into the mid-170s and – to all intents and purposes – it looks unlikely any of the contenders are capable of reaching that level. She has showed no signs whatsoever of stopping thus far and I can’t see her stopping today.
Good start !
242/1 are current odds on that treble!
A 10k treble.. Moreover you’d win 3k if it came off.. Can you explain how it goes from 10 to 3 Paul?
When did €10.00 become 10k? I’ve loads of tenners does that mean I’m rich?