The Novice Tipster

  Coral Cup 1st Kateira 6/1 - 50 1st The Yellow Clay 15/2 - 50 2nd Intense Approach 50/1 - 35   Quick write up again. The first 2 here as you can see are clear of the others! Kateira ticks a lot of boxes, she will like the ground the trip. The biggest question mark is the track, in theory she should like it, but she has never been on a track as testing as this.  The Yellow Clay has placed over C&D when 2nd in the Turners last year, obviously that was a Grade 1. This is the easiest race he has competed in, for a long time. He is definitely a Grade horse in handicap company. With the cheekpieces applied id be very interested in him. He does have top weight here, but his jockey claims 5lb which helps. Ground and trip are fine. Dont discount him or Gordon Elliott.  Intense Approach another Irish contender at big odds and is a reserve so possibly wont run. Ground, trip and track shouldnt be an issue. He would be interesting if running.  I think The Yellow Clay an...

  Grand Annual  1st Vanderpoel 7/1 - 70 2nd Calico 16/1 - 65 3rd Jazzy Matty 8/1 - 60 3rd Ryans Rocket 8/1 - 60   Vanderpoael was impressive in this. Ground and trip is perfect, he has never been to Cheltenham, there is one slight worry in that, he has raced 4 times right handed and won 4 times. He has never won left handed only placed and that did happen on a track similar to Cheltenham. He has claims Calico always runs well at Cheltenham, the ground and distance will be fine. Big negative is he is very highly handicapped.  Jazzy Matty won this last year, and is 8lb higher now. Its a bit to ask, he still ticks the boxes though. Ryans Rocket, i thought would be higher, he is a reserve and he will need some to drop out. He will love the trip and going. He has come 6th out of 7 at Cheltenham before. Its only one run so im inclined to not be too concerned. My Selection: Vanderpoal 7/1    

  Cheltenham (g-s)   1:20 Ratings : No Drama This End Going : Fortune Timmy Speed :Skylight Hustle  Selection :No Drama This End 11/4   2:00 Ratings : Thomas Mor Going : Thomas Mor Speed :Wendigo  Selection :Thomas Mor 66/1   2:40 Ratings : Intense Approach Going : Jingko Blue Speed :Give It To Me Oj Selection :Give It To Me Oj 33/1   3:20 Ratings : Stumptown Going : Fakir D’oudairies Speed :Pied Piper Selection :Pied Piper 22/1   4:00 Ratings : L’eau Du Sud Going : Saint Segal Speed :Irish Panther  Selection :L'eau Du Sud 9/2   4:40 Ratings : Vanderpoel Going : Ryans Rocket Speed :Rubaud  Selection :Vanderpoel 15/2   5:20 Ratings : Chicker Going : Bass Hunter Speed :Bass Hunter  Selection :Bass Hunter 9/1

  Mine Today None   Close Qualifiers  2.00 Cheltenham Kopek Des Bordes 6/4  4.00 Cheltenham Lossiemouth 15/8 5.20 Cheltenham Wade Out 7/1   Test   None  

  4:40 The Plate  1st Booster Bob 12/1 - 50 1st Riskintheground 33/1 - 50 2nd No Questions Asked 12/1 -45 3rd Western Zephyr 50/1 - 40   A few negatives here, i just wanted to point them out - Jungle Boogie ran 3 times at Cheltenham and not very well, but still scored 30 in this. Boombawn and Jipcot have question marks over their Cheltenham form. Booster Bob will love the trip and ground, he was 5th here last time out but im inclined to forgive that due to the soft ground, he will appreciate this ground much better.  Riskintheground is highly handicapped, the ground will suit though and he has won at Cheltenham, i would prefer even dryer ground for him though.  No Questions Asked has a few question marks, didnt run well over hurdles here, and seems to do much better right handed. Ground and distance is fine Western Zephyr is a massive price, he was once quite classy but has dropped a little. he was once 2nd in the Arkle, if he recaptures that form then he has cl...

  3:20 Ultima  1st Myretown 9/1 - 75 2nd Blaze The Way 16/1 - 65 3rd Hyland 10/1 - 55 4th Leave Of Absence 18/1 - 45    Won't go into these systems in detail because of lack of time.  Myrtetown has won this race last year off 127, and is now off 142. He has it all to do, however he has won here, the ground and trip is fine. I thought Blaze The Way was going to top this, but just got pipped. Also, a C&D winner, back in December, he ticks the boxes, up 6lb for that win.  Hyland has headgear applied for the first time, which is interesting. He has won at Cheltenham 3 times once over C&D, he will enjoy the ground and won't mind it drying out.  He ticks a lot of boxes Leave Of Absence also has positives, C&D winner, pulled up at Cheltenham on softer ground, he will prefer the drying ground so it's a plus. Distance is fine to. Negatives are Search For Glory, Blow Your Wad and Knight Allen, who haven't run well at Cheltenham before.  I actual...