The weekend was dominated by the 3 day Cheltenham ‘November’ meeting.
Whilst there were plenty of good horses on show, the races themselves, left a bit to be desired - at least from a betting perspective.
Across the 3 days, there were a number of small field contests - and also a number of very large field races, with little form on offer.
Neither type is particularly good for betting - so I ended up with just the 4 Best bets across the weekend - and a few for the Matrix…
Friday
There were only a couple of races that really lent themselves to betting on Friday - and as I couldn’t find a strong fancy at a reasonable price, in either one, there were no Best bets…
In the first of the races, I could have been tempted by either Magic Saint or Editeur de Gite - at a price - but at the time I issue, the odds weren’t there for either of them.
Magic Saint had drifted to a suitable price, by the off - and Editeur de Gite was very close.
In the race itself, Editeur de Gite made all and bravely held on - whilst Magic Saint jumped poorly and finished well beaten.
Magic Saint had previously been a very consistent horse - so with a few pounds off his rating, he may well be able to bounce back.
The other race of potential interest, was the cross country chase.
I liked Balco des Flos in it - but was concerned about the weight he had to carry.
As a consequence, I opted to just cover him in the Matrix - along with Plan of Attack and Potters Corner.
All 3 ran quite well - with Balco des Flos trading odds on, when seemingly cantering round the home turn.
However, he didn’t get home; whilst Potters Corner couldn’t quicken when the pace did - and Plan of Attacks jumping let him down.
It was a little disappointing, if not a complete surprise.
In the opener on the card, I covered Skatman and Enemenemynemo for the Matrix - and they both ran OK - but were not good enough to lay down a challenge when it mattered.
It was a similar story in the last, where I covered Belgoprince and Sashenko for the Matrix.
Again, both ran reasonable races - but were out of contention jumping the last.
On the other 2 races on the card: Gin on Lime managed to win the novice chase - despite appearing to fall at the second last !
Somehow Rachael Blackmore managed to stay on board - and then cajoled the horse over the final fence.
Harry Skelton didn’t do quite so well on My Drogo.
He fell, and Skelton jumped ship (as most jockeys do, when that happens !)
The novice hurdle was won by Irish raider, Blazing Khal - but it was a pretty forgettable race.
As in truth was the day - from a punting perspective, at least…
Saturday
The races on Saturday had a better shape to them - and I was able to find a couple of Best bets.
The first of them was Milansford - and I was pretty keen on him in the amateur riders race.
He ticked a lot of boxes - as a potentially improving horse, who liked to front run - and who would be race fit.
He struck me as a decent bet at around 11/1 - I was therefore very perturbed to watch his price drift markedly, close to the off.
Late drifts are rarely a good sign - and this one had red flashing lights all over it !
I think I saw him touch 28 at one point on BF - before settling at a BSP of 24.
That was a ridiculous price, if everything was right with him - but clearly everything wasn’t right - and somebody knew.
Despite travelling OK, just behind the leaders, his IR price never went below 18.
He stayed in touch until the fifth last - and then stopped as if shot.
A post race veterinary examination, revealed nothing - but it all left a sour taste…
I covered Two Taffs for the Matrix in the same race - and he ran much better.
He was still in touch until the third last - but then weakened out of things (as I feared he might).
The second Best bet on the day, was Optimised Prime in the long distance hurdle.
He was quite risky, because he was making his seasonal debut and stepping up in trip.
However, I felt his price justified a risk - and was pleased to see him backed, prior to the off.
However, he was too free in the race - and was a spent force before the home turn.
It was always a risk - but one I felt was justified.
I also saved on Onagatheringstorm for the Matrix - and he ran well.
In fact he had every chance jumping the last, but the classier Sporting John, outstayed him up the hill…
The only other bets on the day, were for the Matrix, in the Paddy Power Gold cup.
The race struck me as a particularly strong renewal - and I struggled to separate the first 4 in the betting.
I split stakes across them - and also covered the outsider, Deyran de Carjac.
And I got this one right, with Midnight Shadow gamely holding off the late challenges of Protektorat and Lalor.
A 1,2,3 for the Matrix !
I thought the winner did it very well - and was value for much more than the winning margin (he stumbled after the last - and then idled up the run in).
He’s been entered for the King George -and whilst that might seem a bit fanciful, he’s a classy young horse, who travels and stays.
I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see him run well…
In the other races on Saturdays card:
Knight Salute was quite an impressive winner of the juvenile hurdle, staying on strongly up the hill.
I very much doubt it’s Triumph hurdle form - but it was a good effort non-the-less.
Third Time Lucki tanked his way through the novice chase - but looked a little vulnerable up the hill.
Fortunately for him, there was nothing good enough to take advantage - but that won’t be the case as he moves up in grade.
A strong intermediate hurdle was won in good style, by Growel Road.
I was half tempted by him - but was also half tempted by a few others in the race !
They all ran fair races - and I suspect the form of the race will work out well.
Finally, the bumper was won by the Fergal O’Brien trained Bonttay.
She didn’t appear to have an outstanding chance - but was backed in to a barely believable 2/1 at the off.
She looked beaten on the run in, when her stablemate challenged - but Paddy put his head down and galvanised the mare.
She dug deep, and the pair came home in front…
Sunday
The card for the final day of the meeting, was dominated by small fields - with 4 of the 6 races attracting 5 or less runners.
Despite that, I managed to find a couple of Best bets - but alas, their jumping let them down…
The first was Undersupervision in the opening novice chase.
He had run in a similar race at the October meeting and put in a really proficient fencing display, on his chasing debut.
However, that wasn’t the case this time.
He was much too high at the first fence - and it was a similar story at the second.
He then fell at the third - and that was that !
It’s a hard one to explain - but I guess they aren’t machines…
Slightly frustratingly the 2 horses who he had form with, went on to fight out the finish.
I’m pretty sure he would have been in the mix, if he has stood up.
However, the fences are there to be jumped - and he didn’t manage to do that.
The Mighty Don was the other Best bet on the day - in the following handicap chase.
I did think he had a good chance - though I felt the market at the off, had over-stated that chance, as he was returned the 5/2 favourite.
Ofcourse, that doesn’t stop them from winning - but being unable to jump the fences, tends to..!
He managed to leave his rear hooves in the water jump, first time round - and nearly dislodged jockey Niall Houlihan.
To his credit, he managed to stay on board - and got the horse back into the race.
Approaching the third last, he began to get outpaced - and his chance looked slim.
However, he’s a dour stayer - and up the straight, he started to roll…
A good jump at the second last saw him close the gap on the leaders - however, he then made a mistake at the final fence - and that was that.
He stormed up the hill - and at the line, was only a length behind Yala Enki - but it was all too late.
There can be little doubt that if he had jumped cleanly, he would have won - but he didn’t and he paid the price.
Frustrating…
The only other bets on the day, were for the Matrix in the Greatwood.
The race looked nearly impossible to me - but as I couldn’t see any stand out candidates, I felt it was worth taking a chance on a few at decent prices, and hoping I hit on the right one.
And I did !
Whilst the 4 other selections showed little, West Cork tanked through the race for the Skeltons - and then stormed up the hill.
It’s not the first time Dan has pulled off such a feat - aiming a horse at a big 2 mile handicap and pulling it off - but it was still a very impressive piece of training…
He also did well to get Nube Negra spot on for his seasonal debut -and he took apart a strong field in the Schloer chase.
It was a very taking performance - and Shishkin will need to be as good as he looked last season, if he’s going to fend him off, come March.
The final 2 races of the meeting saw a win for I Like to Move it in the novice hurdle and Timeforatune in the bumper.
Both won nicely, without looking like they will set the world on fire….
And so ended the first proper weekend of the TVB season.
There was no joy with the Best bets - but a couple of good winners for the Matrix, meant that it finished the weekend in profit.
Hopefully next weekend, will provide me with some decent opportunities to get the Best bets moving in the right direction…
TVB
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