All out to win

I good day out at Cheltenham yesterday, but of course It could have been better.

The bookies won the battle yesterday but I will win the war.

Bank = £7,575

13:30 Cheltenham Major Malarkey £250 win 25/1

Trainer seems to have got this one right over fences now, travelled well when winning comfortably off the back of a break at Chepstow last November. That wasn’t a particularly strong race but what caught my eye the most was his impressive jumping. Forgiven for next run at Bangor put in a solid effort to finish 3rd, was under a penalty and turned out too quickly. Finished 1st in a competitive race over 3 miles at Newbury last Dec, again travelled and jumped well, put in a gutsy effort at the last and shaped like a stayer (which he is bred too be). Forgiven for his last run when pulled up at Haydock as was clearly unsuited by the testing conditions that day. A nice type and will appreciate the firmer ground here today, useful amateur jockey, is another plus.

Race comment:tracked leaders until unseated rider 3rd

14:05 Cheltenham Oscars well £400 win 4/1

Very impressive when winning lto beating useful types including Zaidpour. Should go a decent gallop in this which for me will only help the selection as I think he’ll find a lot of these out up the hill. The big question is whether he’ll cope with the quicker ground but looking at his action suggest to me he should. Very nice sort who looks to be improving and I’ll take him to put in a bold run today.

Race comment: raced keenly, held up mid-division on inside, headway 3 out, led going well approaching next, narrow advantage when blundered badly and headed last, not recover and no impression flat**4th

16:00 Cheltenham Tiger O’Toole £200 e/w 25/1

Improving son of Kings Theatre (Decent sire record at this track 15 winners from 89 runners) Good ground is key to this horse, gets that today and will appreciate the strong pace if covered up. Was impressed by his run when winning at Ascot lto, ran on strongly reeling in Lough derg to beat some useful types, the way he dealt with the run in that day suggests to me he’ll cope with the hill and the step up in trip today.
Good e/w claims.

Race comment:always behind, outpaced when blundered 3 out**20th

19:50 Kempton Sunset Kitty £400 win 9/4

Improving sort, caught the eye when she won well lto at Wolves despite having a bit to do on the turn, Lightly raced, should cope with the smaller field and 7f looks to be her trip, trainer tends to target these sorts at this time of year, the rest are all exposed, and for me this one looks well handicapped going into this.

Race comment:chased winner, ridden 2f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened over 1f out**4th

20:20 Kempton Colebrooke £300 win 3/1

Twin Soul looks to be the main danger, but for me she has been be flattered by her form so far as the her last two races were weak affairs, and the extra 6 lbs could find her out, seemingly improving but one to oppose for me. I’m going with the Johnson runner Colebrooke, far from disgraced in last two outings off the back of a break unexposed at this trip and improving, may try to set a muddling pace which with his running style could be an advantage.

Race comment: chased leader until 9f out, settled in 3rd, ridden to dispute 2nd from 2f out, upsides and every chance 1f out, one pace in 3rd final 110 yards**3rd

Sunset Kitty + Colebrooke £100 Double

Bank £5,725

Update: The last two days have been brutal with me dropping £3650 almost half my bank, I always go in heavy at the festival and have done well by it in the past but clearly I have made some serious errors of judgement so far this year. What was particularly frustrating were the two poor runs tonight at Kempton. However i'm not one for hard luck stories and i'm far from done yet, may take a break tommorow as i've had thorough look through the cards and nothing stands out yet.