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Nov 10 2014 @ 16:31
John Welsh wrote a new post, Paddy Power Gold Cup looms as 2014-15 National Hunt season takes centre stage 9 years, 4 months ago
Compare latest antepost racing odds for Cheltenham here
Open Eagle proved to be an impressive winner of the November Handicap at Doncaster but that victory was the final highlight of the 2014 flat season in the UK with attention now switching to the winter national hunt calendar.Most roads usually lead to Cheltenham in March for the annual jumps championships but Prestbury Park also stages the prestigious Paddy Power Gold Cup on November 15th as part of the Open meeting usually recognised as the moment when the jumps season really begins.
Johns Spirit will attempt to win the ‘Paddy Power’ for the second successive season but must carry almost a stone more than last November but he is an autumn horse as he proved by winning at the course last month over 2m4f. He cannot be ignored at a price of 12/1 with 888Sport while ante-post favourite Present View is also a course winner.
Present View won a novice handicap chase over course and distance during the 2014 festival and has been in the first two in each of six steeplechases. A second placing in a hurdle race at Cheltenham last month will have sharpened the horse for this race and his odds of 8/1 with 888Sport are appealing but Buywise is another course winner worth considering with William Hill quoting him at 12/1.
The Evan Williams trained six year old gelding has only lost one race since beginning a chasing career and a second last fence blunder cost him any chance of winning when fifth to Present View in that same festival race. A useful two mile chase victory at Ludlow when beating the fitter Area Fifty One should ensure that Buywise is in peak condition prior to the Paddy Power.
It is expected that the ‘Paddy Power’ will be another closely contested affair but this is also the time of the year when potential candidates are considered for other races in the months ahead.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup, for example, is reckoned to be at the mercy of any promising young ‘chaser with both Bobsworth and Silviniaco Conti failing to enhance their reputations during the 2014 renewal.
The Jonjo O’Neill trained Holywell improved throughout last season culminating in winning a 3 mile handicap chase at the festival and then scoring in the Midmay Novices Chase at Aintree, but he disappointed in his recent seasonal appearance at Carlisle. Yet nobody can argue with the form of Lord Windermere at the festival with two successive victories including the 2014 Gold Cup and maybe he is just a horse for the course at the festival.
For the Champion Hurdle, Jezki may return to defend his crown but the Willie Mullins trained Faugheen looked an ominously good prospect when winning the Neptune Novices Hurdle at the festival and is being aimed at the main two mile hurdle races. It is uncertain at this stage whether impressive Supreme Novices Hurdle winner Vautour will follow a hurdles or novice chasing campaign.
Among the two mile chasers Sire De Grugy is expected to confirm his superiority despite incurring minor surgery while a heart issue raises questions as to whether Sprinter Sacre will ever the same horse as during his dominant spell in the 2012-13 campaign.
Other horses worth following during 2014-15 jumps campaign include?
Thomas Crapper – Novice chaser over 2m 4f and who usually runs well at Cheltenham
Rocky Creek – A 3 mile chaser who could be aimed at the Hennessy by Nicky Henderson
Un De Sceaux – He was unbeaten over hurdles but missed Cheltenham. It is expected that he will be aimed at two mile novice chases by Willie Mullins.
Tell Us More – A novice hurdler for Willie Mullins who was an impressive performer in bumpers.
Eduardo – Trained in the North of England by Nicky Richards and is effective over 2m – 2m4f. Won three of his four races last season and was just beaten by Many Clouds on seasonal reappearance. -
Sep 26 2014 @ 09:01
Points Genie and John Welsh are now friends 9 years, 6 months ago
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Sep 16 2014 @ 12:32
Irish Big Race Trends and John Welsh are now friends 9 years, 6 months ago
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Jul 23 2014 @ 19:31
John Welsh and sue are now friends 9 years, 8 months ago
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Jun 26 2014 @ 09:08
John Welsh wrote a new post, Racing: Angel Gabrial will appreciate two miles in Pitman's Derby 9 years, 9 months ago
Compare betting odds on the Northumberland Plate
The Irish Derby may be the more high-profile race on the racing calendar for June 28th but general odds of 2/5 for Australia to add to his Epsom Derby victory […] -
Jun 15 2014 @ 12:30
John Welsh wrote a new post, Royal Ascot: Leading Light should relish Gold Cup distance 9 years, 9 months ago
Compare latest antepost betting odds for Royal Ascot here
Although the World Cup will be dominating the current sporting media coverage and betting markets, the Royal Ascot meeting commencing on Tuesday 17th June […] -
Jun 03 2014 @ 19:45
John Welsh wrote a new post, Racing: Australia seeking to confirm his high reputation in Derby 9 years, 10 months ago
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May 10 2014 @ 19:31
John Welsh wrote a new post, Racing: Ten to follow during the 2014 flat season 9 years, 10 months ago
With the 2014 flat season now gathering momentum, attention focusses on the forthcoming classics and the reappearance of some of the older horses who have remained in training.
Several ten to follow lists […]
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May 10 2014 @ 10:45
John Welsh and Dave Camm are now friends 9 years, 10 months ago
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Apr 29 2014 @ 22:30
John Welsh wrote a new post, Racing: Kingman and My Titania primed for Guineas attempts 9 years, 11 months ago
Newmarket Guineas weekend is that part of the horse racing calendar when the flat season begins in earnest as the national hunt equivalent draws to a close in the UK.
Both the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas […]
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Apr 29 2014 @ 21:59
Trader and John Welsh are now friends 9 years, 11 months ago
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Apr 21 2014 @ 09:09
John Welsh and Jorvik Racing are now friends 9 years, 11 months ago
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Apr 09 2014 @ 17:56
John Welsh wrote a new post, Racing: Harry Fry expecting good show from Mendip Express in Scottish Grand National 9 years, 11 months ago
Compare betting odds on the Scottish Grand National
After an eighth fence mishap in the Aintree Grand National, trainer Paul Nicholls is analysing further options for veteran chaser Tidal Bay with the Scottish […] -
Apr 01 2014 @ 20:36
John Welsh wrote a new post, Racing: Rocky Creek can feature prominently in Grand National 9 years, 12 months ago
For many horse racing fans, the Grand National is just a more difficult event from which to tip the winner but the race also tends to attract numerous once a year punters attracted by the large field and […]
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Mar 25 2014 @ 22:31
John Welsh and RITCHIE are now friends 10 years ago
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Mar 25 2014 @ 20:34
John Welsh and Jackie are now friends 10 years ago
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Mar 25 2014 @ 18:59
John Welsh and Mulldog are now friends 10 years ago
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Mar 25 2014 @ 16:52
John Welsh wrote a new post, Racing: Jim Bolger may seek Lincoln glory with Paene Magnus 10 years ago
Compare latest betting odds on the Lincoln
With the ending of the Cheltenham Festival, horse racing attention now switches to the new flat season and the Spring Double comprising the Lincoln Handicap and Grand […] -
Mar 07 2014 @ 00:31
John Welsh and SY are now friends 10 years ago
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Mar 06 2014 @ 10:01
John Welsh and Tomo's Tips are now friends 10 years ago
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