Tag: Don Cossack

Punchestown Festival – Wednesday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The National Hunt festival at Punchestown continues on Wednesday with three Grade 1 events on another top quality card.

The 4.55 race is a novice hurdle over three miles with the Willie Mullins-trained Shaneshill stepping up in trip from two and a half. He had enough speed to chase home the impressive Douvan in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival and that horse underlined the form with a dominant display here on Tuesday.

Shaneshill was barely out of a hack canter to win at Fairyhouse last time out and he races as though the trip will suit him. The Albert Bartlett looked like a real slog at Prestbury Park and third home No More Heroes represents the form here. I just wonder if that hard race may have taken its toll while Mullins also saddles festival winner Killultagh Vic under Paul Townend. Thistlecrack is over from the UK after winning gamely at Aintree but Shaneshill may have too much class for him.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup form comes under scrutiny in the Punchestown equivalent at 5.30. I tipped Djakadam at 16-1 for Cheltenham and he ran a mighty race in second, not quite having enough to peg back all-the-way winner Coneygree. He had previously sluiced through the mud to win at Gowran Park and any further rain will help his prospects here.

Road To Riches was not far behind him at Cheltenham and is entitled to respect, as is easy Liverpool winner Don Cossack. He won by an impressive 26 lengths at Aintree but the race was marred by the fatal fall of Balder Succes. Ballynagour stuck to his guns when closing to within a head of Silviniaco Conti at Aintree but this is a more testing track and his best form is at two and a half miles.

The third and final Grade 1 of the day is the Champion Bumper at 6.05. Several of these ran in the Cheltenham bumper with Modus faring best in second. That was a tremendous run but I am convinced that Supasundae will be better if he can be restrained in the early stages. He eventually finished sixth after being up with the pace for a long way and could be a decent bet in a tricky contest. As usual, Willie Mullins is mob-handed with five runners with Bellshill probably his best chance.

Shaneshill 4.55 @@7-4 William Hill

Djakadam 5.30 @11-4 William Hill

Supasundae 6.05 @12-1 Ladbrokes

Grand National Blog – Shutthefrontdoor 8-1 top price

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Day 2 of Aintree was safely negotiated with a small profit courtesy of Theinval (tipped at 11-1) and Saphir Du Rheu (7-4). Hopes of a third winner bit the dust when Alpha Des Obeaux (18-1) crashed at the final flight in the 4.40 race.

The feature race was the Melling Chase at 3.25 but it turned into a procession as Don Cossack stormed clear to win by 26 lengths from Cue Card and Johns Spirit. AP has now collected a major prize on the first two days but the one he really wants is the National itself at 4.15 on Saturday.

The Bookmakers are bracing themselves for a predicted flood of sentimental support for McCoy on Saturday. Various figures have been floated between £30million and £50million, should Shutthefrontdoor give McCoy the fairytale send-off to his career. On Friday evening, some bookmakers had eased the favourite out to 8-1 but I would expect his SP to be closer to 5-1.

It was slightly worrying to see the general mayhem in the Topham Chase with only ten of the thirty runners completing the course. I am not sure whether the quick ground has anything to do with it but I am not yet aware of any fatalities. Bless The Wings made a mistake at the eighth fence which knocked him out of contention but that was a rare setback in a terrific week for Gordon Elliott. Hopefully his good fortune will continue with our 33-1 ante-post tip on Cause Of Causes.

Paul Nicholls will also be feeling full of confidence about his four runners after Saphir Du Rheu finally got his act together over fences. The talented grey was runner-up in the World Hurdle last time out but Nicholls has always believed that he has the potential to win a Gold Cup. He should be an exciting prospect to look forward to next season when he takes on the Mullins battalions.

Carlito Brigante was a late withdrawal from the National due to lameness, unfortunately just too late for a reserve to take his place. 9am was the official deadline and you have to wonder whether this could be extended next year.

The bookmakers are rolling out the Grand National offers but here is our ante-post book and the current best prices available.

Shutthefrontdoor 20-1 Best price now 8-1 Ladbrokes

Monbeg Dude 33-1 Best price now 50-1 Bet365

Spring Heeled 33-1 Best price now 25-1 William Hill

Cause Of Causes 33-1 Best price now 20-1 William Hill

Ryanair Chase Preview

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With reigning champion Dynaste and 2013 winner Cue Card both injured, there will be a new name on the roll of honour for the Ryanair Chase next week.

The two and a half mile race was added to the Cheltenham festival programme in 2005 to provide a viable alternative for horses that were not suited to the Champion Chase or Gold Cup distances. The favourite is Don Cossack who has won his last four races for Gordon Elliott including the Punchestown Chase in December. He had four and a half lengths to spare over Boston Bob that day but fell at the corresponding meeting in the RSA Chase.

Alan King has been bullish about the chances of Balder Succes since he beat Ma Filleule at Ascot. He had originally been regarded as a Champion Chase prospect but King has switched him up in trip with excellent results. The big worry for his supporters is his appalling record at Cheltenham having failed to complete in all three previous visits.

Nicky Henderson does not appear to have such a strong hand at the festival this year, although he would probably settle for Sprinter Sacre winning. He is confident that this is the race for Ma Filleule and the grey mare should give her supporters a good run for her money. Having won the Topham at Aintree, I just wonder if she will find this a bit sharp.

Quicker ground would bring Johns Spirit into contention. He was a fine second to Caid Du Berlais in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and ran well for a long way in the King George. He has won three times here in big handicaps, all on good or good to soft ground.

The absence of the previous two winners has persuaded John Hanlon to divert Hidden Cyclone from the Champion Chase. The ten-year-old seems equally effective over two and two and a half miles and was only beaten by Dynaste here a year ago. His jumping has not always been the best but he looks a lively contender in a wide open race.

It looks worth opposing the favourites here with a couple of sporting each-way bets on Johns Spirit and Hidden Cyclone.

Johns Spirit @9-1 William Hill

Hidden Cyclone @10-1 William Hill

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3 (Non-runner – no bet)