Review of the day

I was very hopeful this morning, that todays tips would do better than had been the case on the first couple of days of the festival – and thankfully that’s how it worked out…

It’s never easy at Cheltenham: the best horses come to the fore – and nowadays, most people know which ones the best horses are.

Consequently, securing a bit of ‘value’ on anything with a chance, is very hard…

To be honest, I wasn’t sure I’d secured any value about Shattered Love.

She was a 10/1 shot when I tipped her on Monday – and it was more in the hope that she might run a decent race, rather than with great confidence.

In fact, if I’m honest, I felt more positive about Dounikos for the same connections, yesterday.

That was until I saw the market support for her…

In complete contest to Dounikos - who drifted like a barge – Shattered Love was backed as if defeat was out of the question.

Frankly, her SP of 4/1 was ridiculous – I wouldn’t have considered her at that price.

But, as is so often the case – even at Cheltenham – the market was spot on.

She jumped and travelled – and never really looked in any danger.

It’s an exaggeration to say she hacked up – but she won very easily…

Frodon was the next tip to run – but the market wasn’t as keen on him !

Again it was right – as he struggled against graded opponents.

The race was won by Balco des Flos.

The thinking was that he wouldn’t handle the soft ground.

However, the market disagreed…

Enough said !

The big race of the day, was the Stayers hurdle.

It looked a hugely competitive race – and I had great expectations of it being a tremendous contest.

However, it ended up a bit of a disappointment.

There was surprisingly little pace on early – and rounding the home turn, most of the field still had a chance.

Basically, a 3 mile race became a 3 furlong sprint !

Maybe not too surprisingly, that suited ex flat horse Penhill, best – whilst both Yanworth and Lil Rockerfeller struggled to find a turn of foot.

Colins Sister also struggled when the pace quickened – but she stayed on mightily to grab fourth place on the line.

Hopefully one or two of you backed her to do just that…

The next tip was Kings Odyysey – and I’m not sure I’ve ever derived as much pleasure from the run of a loser !

Obviously, that wouldn’t have been the case if I’d not tipped him each way – but I had – and he battled on tenaciously for a thoroughly deserved third place.

Unsurprisingly, the race was won by one of the unexposed horse: The Storyteller.

The final 2 tips on the day, competed in the final race on the card.

Both travelled OK for a while: but then Wild West Wind hit a fence and unshipped his jockey.

Band of Blood hung in there for a while longer – but was a beaten horse, turning in…

At least the race wasn’t won by Mall Dini or Squouateur – though they did finish second and third !

In the other 2 races on the card: then despite not having a strong view on the Pertemps final, I actually read it quite well !

The race was won by Delta Work, with Glenloe second.

They were 2 of the horses which I suggested had been layed out for the race.

One of the suggested outsiders, Connetable managed to finish third: whilst even Wait for Me rewarded in running players, by trading quite short.

Finally, in the mares novice hurdle, Laurina hacked up.

Marias Benefit should have finished second but she was out on her feet up the run in, having been harried in the lead, throughout.

That enabled Cap Soleil to nab the runners up spot on the line.

There are non events – and then there was that particular event !!

TVB.