Saturday's Day 2 Cheltenham Open Selections & Updates - 12 November

I was pleased with Friday's profitable start to the Cheltenham Open Meeting - long may it continue (or at least for the final 2 days!).
Cue Card was disappointing but unlike some, I'm not writing him off as a chaser this soon - he had jumped perfectly well until the middle of the three jumps (the water jump) on the back straight where he seemed to jink to his left just the tiniest degree on landing but then launched himself too early at the following ditch and deposited Joe on the turf.  He'll be fine after a confidence building hurdles race I'm sure.  Got to had it to Grands Cru and David Pipe though, that was a mighty impressive chase debut around Cheltenham and even Martin Pipe has said he thought it was brave to send him to Cheltenham for his first chase.

I figure that if everyone clicked an advert  when they followed me on a winning tip
then I might soon be able to afford enough Cafédirect  Macchu Pichu to see me through the entire jumps season..... !

Slightly new system - notes below for those who are interested or who have time.....

	Cheltenham	First Choice	Danger
1	13:10	Secret  Edge 3rd	Hinterland 1st
2	13:55	Promising Anshan F	Carruthers 3rd
3	14:35	Wishfull Thinking UP	Mon Parrain UP
4	15:10	Pettifour 2nd	Oscargo 3rd
5	15:40	St Killian’s Run UP	Cape Dutch  2nd
6	16:10	Saint Are UP	Viking Blond UP

Notes:

1/                Secret Edge penalty not a bother, he would have won more easily LTO if not short of room and he has the stamina for the hill.  I always worry about young French horses (Hinterland) having their first run in this country! 

2/                Promising Anshan should suit the extra distance, jumps very well and has Ruby up for the first time.  Decent 3^rd in graded race on seasonal debut should have him primed for this.

3/                Wishfull Thinking runs well fresh from a break.  Dickie Johnson has ridden 10 times – 6 wins, 2nds. No 5yo has won for past 10 years (Mon Parrain)

4/                Pettifour has been away from the track for a long long time (last seen chasing) but stable in fine form and can have one back fresh as a daisy – if he is then he’s better than these.  Oscargo could be anything but more than likely will be very very good!

5/                Edgardo Sol is the horse that Ruby received a much publicised ban for at Aintree which begs the question, will he be able to finish as well without that drive – he’s also high in the weights which is a worry at this track and he’s never been as good over hurdles as over recent fences.  St Killian’s Run looks well treated, stable in good form and the hill won’t be a problem.

6/                Saint Are showed well enough at his first attempt at big stick and seasonal debut at Aintree LTO.  No reason that he can’t improve on that.  Join Together after his fall LTO is a risk as his confidence could be dented and/or he’s just not that good a jumper. Viking Blond is being aimed at the Welsh Grand National – he won well LTO but hard to tell what he beat!

Non Cheltenham selection(s):

	Wetherby	First Choice	Danger
1	13:10	Classical Mist UP	Doynasaur (6.13) 1st

Those last two Cheltenham races (both Nicholls/Ruby winners) were frustrating but not as frustrating as the 4th race - just a head away from a +13 profit for the day but heyho, never mind!  
-7.27 on win only stakes today and onwards and upwards for tomorrow!

Does anyone remember this from the Festival a couple of years ago (see how many of the faces you can put a name to then try not to hum the tune for the rest of the day!):

Watch right to the end when Ruby consoles Sam after the 2009 Gold Cup - awwww!