Post by Old Timer on Mar 11, 2020 12:36:20 GMT
Talk about lucky, nut it is the easiest handicap at the meeting. Now, from the sublime to the ridiculous let’s try the hardest, the Coral Cup.
Cheltenham 14.50 Gr 3 Hcap Hurdle 564 (144.2) 21f sf/hv -26 Run (25 at best)
Last year –
Canardier 8-11-3 (145) (150.4)
Been trying out his chasing skills without much success but reverts to hurdling; finished 5th in the race last year off only 4lbs lower mark; speculate jab at picking his right one out of 7!
Plus: class (F); going (F); distance (W); course (W);
Minus: 74-day break; up 2lbs (OR); return from chasing:
Verdict: purely speculative but never know which with Mullins!
Alfa Mix 5-11-0 (142) (134.4)
18 Jan HHd (295/129.5) 20f sf Nav 6/1 11-0 1/25l 2/12 off 136 – 120.4
settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, closer 4 out, closed up behind leaders 3 out, 2nd travelling well before 2 out, slight mistake 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well without reaching winner run-in
Just the 6 races over hurdles win in at Navan in December and runner-up there again to Kilfenora (+10); likely still improving and not without a chance today.
Plus: going (W); distance (W); form run lto; up 6lbs (OR);
Minus: class (?); course (?); 53-day break; up class;
Verdict: improving juvenile and not without chance of further improvement.
Honest Vic 7-10-12 (140) (134.7)
26 Dec Cl 3 HHd (130/130.9) 21f sf Kemp 10/1 11-9 2.75l 1/16 off 132 – 118.7
chased leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, led before 2 out, stayed on well from last
Another lower weighted sort who has been put away for this after a noticeable Cl 3win at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Plus: going (W); distance (W); course (F); form run lto; down 11 lbs (wt);
Minus: class (?); up 6lbs (OR); 76-day break; up 2 classes;
Verdict: is Vic honest, would be the question, but may be worth a try.
Burrows Edge 7-10-12 (140) (133.3)
11 Jan List HHd (256/129.5) 21f gd/sf Kemp 5/1 11-4 9l 1/13 off 132 – 117.3
held up in last pair, still plenty to do when taken to wide outside before 2 out, closed to track leaders 2 out, over 2 lengths 3rd and staying on when left in clear lead at the last
Made amends for falling on his return by taking the Lanzarote in similar style; he was, however, staying on well; still improving and will appreciate the strong pace; seemingly Henderson’s second string but might be stronger.
Plus: going (W); distance (W); form run lto; down 6lbs (wt);
Minus: class (?); course (?); up 8lbs (OR); 60-day break; up class;
Verdict: improving sort and possibly might be the better of Henderson’s pair.
A race I rarely have got right as it seems to go to the unlikely ones, certainly not the favourite which hasn’t won in a dozen years. As 10 of the last 12 winners were priced at 12/1 or more, I think we can start looking at some of the longer priced ones. Who knows . after yesterday we might get lucky! For the winner though, I’ve got to go with a short priced one, Canardier who has done with chasing and returns to hurdles with only 4lbs more than last year when he finished 5th. An improver I think might go well is Alfa Mix and he could well chase him home. To make up the frame I’m prepared to have a small each way on both Honest Vic and Borrows Edge in case the longer ones repeat.
Cheltenham 14.50 Gr 3 Hcap Hurdle 564 (144.2) 21f sf/hv -26 Run (25 at best)
Last year –
Canardier 8-11-3 (145) (150.4)
Been trying out his chasing skills without much success but reverts to hurdling; finished 5th in the race last year off only 4lbs lower mark; speculate jab at picking his right one out of 7!
Plus: class (F); going (F); distance (W); course (W);
Minus: 74-day break; up 2lbs (OR); return from chasing:
Verdict: purely speculative but never know which with Mullins!
Alfa Mix 5-11-0 (142) (134.4)
18 Jan HHd (295/129.5) 20f sf Nav 6/1 11-0 1/25l 2/12 off 136 – 120.4
settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, closer 4 out, closed up behind leaders 3 out, 2nd travelling well before 2 out, slight mistake 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well without reaching winner run-in
Just the 6 races over hurdles win in at Navan in December and runner-up there again to Kilfenora (+10); likely still improving and not without a chance today.
Plus: going (W); distance (W); form run lto; up 6lbs (OR);
Minus: class (?); course (?); 53-day break; up class;
Verdict: improving juvenile and not without chance of further improvement.
Honest Vic 7-10-12 (140) (134.7)
26 Dec Cl 3 HHd (130/130.9) 21f sf Kemp 10/1 11-9 2.75l 1/16 off 132 – 118.7
chased leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, led before 2 out, stayed on well from last
Another lower weighted sort who has been put away for this after a noticeable Cl 3win at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Plus: going (W); distance (W); course (F); form run lto; down 11 lbs (wt);
Minus: class (?); up 6lbs (OR); 76-day break; up 2 classes;
Verdict: is Vic honest, would be the question, but may be worth a try.
Burrows Edge 7-10-12 (140) (133.3)
11 Jan List HHd (256/129.5) 21f gd/sf Kemp 5/1 11-4 9l 1/13 off 132 – 117.3
held up in last pair, still plenty to do when taken to wide outside before 2 out, closed to track leaders 2 out, over 2 lengths 3rd and staying on when left in clear lead at the last
Made amends for falling on his return by taking the Lanzarote in similar style; he was, however, staying on well; still improving and will appreciate the strong pace; seemingly Henderson’s second string but might be stronger.
Plus: going (W); distance (W); form run lto; down 6lbs (wt);
Minus: class (?); course (?); up 8lbs (OR); 60-day break; up class;
Verdict: improving sort and possibly might be the better of Henderson’s pair.
A race I rarely have got right as it seems to go to the unlikely ones, certainly not the favourite which hasn’t won in a dozen years. As 10 of the last 12 winners were priced at 12/1 or more, I think we can start looking at some of the longer priced ones. Who knows . after yesterday we might get lucky! For the winner though, I’ve got to go with a short priced one, Canardier who has done with chasing and returns to hurdles with only 4lbs more than last year when he finished 5th. An improver I think might go well is Alfa Mix and he could well chase him home. To make up the frame I’m prepared to have a small each way on both Honest Vic and Borrows Edge in case the longer ones repeat.
