14/03/19 My Cheltenham Selections

1:30
What a competitive race tot start the day. For me DEFI DU SEUIL 11/4  will be hard to beat, i think the form of his last win holds firm and will Lostintranslation will find it hard to beat him again, but in such a tough race sometimes its worth looking for a nice ew, and that comes in the form of VOIX DU REVE 11/1. Yes his fall last time was a worry but he has had 2 races in Grade 1's where he has been beaten well by La Richebourg, he was no match for him, yet him and Us And Them have been closly matched, with a neck in it once, and then when Voix Du Reve fell at the last, there was nothing between them again. Us And Them came 2nd in the Arkle on Tuesday. For me that form would give him big claims here and 11/1 i cannot ignore that ew.

2:10
Tough race and there are a few i like, but i have gone for 2 SAMBURU SHUJAA 11/1 & BOYHOOD 22/1. Think this is perfect ground for Ssamburu Shujaa, and i had backed him on his last win and was very impressed, he won well and looked like there was more in the locker, since stepping up in trip he is 2, 1, 1. the ground is perfect and i think he has a big chance. Boyhood will also like the going, and i think his last run was pretty solid effort, and he is on the same mark for this. And it was a messy race, with one horse constantly leaning on him in the last couple of furlongs, plus he didnt get a clear run. And that would be my worry, he likes to come from the back and its a lot of horses he needs to pass. Shanburu Shujaa likes to lead and they need to get past him.

2:50
I am a big MONALEE 9/2 fan, i think Monalee will probably be seen this time next year in the Gold Cup. he has plenty of stamina but speed as well. He was 2nd to Kemboy over 3 miles in December and came home ahead of Road To Respect, on ground that probably didnt suit as well, i think he prefers it softer. As i speak Road To Respect has gone to favouritism, and i fancied him ew for the Gold Cup. I think Monalee has the beating of him though on softer ground.If Monalee does run well, and Road to Respect then you have to be looking to Kemboy for the Gold Cup tomorrow.

3:30
Im on Faugheen at 8/1 for i would be very happy for a place. But a horse that seems to be completely ignored is TOP NOTCH 14/1 i cannot understand why he is this price. He was 3rd in the JLT Hurdle at Ascot, and that was after a break, he has always needed a run after a break. he was beaten by Race fit Paisley Park and race fit West Approach. Assuming he is now fully fit, then he will give PP a big race.

4:10
There are 2 i like in this JANKIA 9/2 who was beaten a head by Siruh Du Lac last time out, and had to give him 19lb, today its only 15lb, so you would assume that Janika can reverse the form here. Plus he has had to adjust over here, because french hurdles are different to english hurdles and can take some adjusting too, and he has done well over them. I think he will go well. EAMON AN CNOIC 10/1 came 5th here in November. Then he had a wind op and won off the back of that, there could be more improvement, but certainly has ew claims

4:50
EPATANTE 9/4 is a horse i have had on my radar for a while, i backed her on debut. She is a hard puller and you think that she has used up all she has and still goes on to win. The hood hopefully will help her settle and she will be hard to beat. Posh Trish will be her main danger

5:30
MEASUREOFMYDREAMS 4/1 i backed at 13/2. he needed his last run after nearly 2 years off the track and he ran well. Jamie Codd rides and he has dropped right down in the handicap.