Straight from the horse's mouth
Adrian JP Harrington, friend of In Fact, Ah and assorted RTE personalities, attended the second Annual Cheltenham Preview Night and was bursting to tell us all about it. At this stage, I think we've tipped every horse to win at Cheltenham.
We're hoping that Adrian can send us back reports from the upcoming cricket World Cup which he be attending.
The second Annual Cheltenham Preview Night took place Monday night last in the Royal Hotel, Roscommon. MC was top journalist and tipster Donn McClean. The panel included trainers Dessie Hughes (Hardy Eustace) and Tony Martin (Dun Doire), senior handicapper Noel O'Brien, jockey Ross Geraghty and John Kennelly of Bruce Bookmakers.
It was an educated National Hunt panel on paper, but Hughes and Martin were like two school kids hiding sweets from the teacher Noel O'Brien. Geraghty was quiet and slightly flustered when asked a question while Kennelly was well prepared, but he kept reminding us that Bruce Bookmakers were now No Run No Bet.
The programme had an 8pm start but, like a bad Junior B match, did not start until 8.45pm. Ciaran Mullooly from RTE got us organised and may have been the right man for MC. Tonight reminds me why Bill O'Herlihy is so much more important than Giles, Brady and Dunphy put together when analysing a European Cup game.
McClean starts off at a quick pace, Hughes reckons Clopf is the one to watch at 14/1 in the Supreme Novices and nobody disagrees. Kennelly claims there has been some money for Tipperary All-star each way. There is no real Irish interest in the Arkle, but Hughes is still expecting an exciting race.
What we have really come to hear; Hardy Eustace will win the Champion Hurdle. He obviously doesn’t say it but Hughes gives an upbeat report on the horse and there will be no excuses. He makes an interesting point that “when Hardy has been right he has never been beaten by Brave Inca”. Strangely enough none of the panel are Brave Inca fans. Ross Geraghty much prefers Hardy Eustace while O'Brien is a big Detroit City fan and thinks “Asian Maze and Macs Joy are great value”.
Martin likes Silverburn in the Ballymore, while the rest are excited by Aran Concerto but judgement is out until after Cheltenham. Scots Irish at 16/1 is one to note here. Geraghty reckons Well Chief is a street ahead of the rest in the Arkle, Martin and Hughes think Voy Pour Ustedes is a serious horse and O'Brien thinks the ground will be perfect for Nickname. All have respect for Newmill, so try and make that one out. I might as well have stayed at home.
The one horse that everyone agrees on is Denman. Martin thinks he's “a superstar in the making”. O'Brien fancies Cailin Alainn each way. The Champion Bumper is interesting; O'Brien informs us that Willie Mullins really fancies Mad Fish. Hughes thought Fiveforthree was impressive and Martin gives us Theatrical Moment at 20/1. In the Ryanair Chase, Hughes makes a very strong case for Monet’s Garden.
The Ladbrokes Hurdle and Black Jack Ketchum have been nearly always mentioned in the same breath. Tonight you would forget he is even running. Kennelly shocks us even more that he is nearly out to 4/1. Celestial Wave is the one everyone wants to win. Hughes says the mare has done everything right and the 7lb weight allowance for mares may be helpful. United 25/1 and Princess D’Anj’ at 50/1 are tipped.
Hughes rightly says that the gloss of the Gold Cup and has been slightly diminished by the loss of War of Attrition and In Compliance. Kauto Star is the one they have to beat but Kennelly will gladly take him on. Some of the panellists were not impressed by his last run and were worried he may not come up the hill. Geraghty thinks “The Listener is the one they all have to beat”. Exotic Dancer, State of Play and L’Ami are all given an each-way chance. To the ironic laughter of the crowd, O'Brien gives Beef or Salmon as his each way chance. Those laughs could turn to cheers if the ground comes up heavy(4.33 with William Hill). Cheltenham has not had heavy ground at the festival in a long time.
It took the most interesting character of the evening, Tony Martin, to give another classic tip. Turpin Green trained in England by Nicky Richards at 80/1 for the Gold Cup. The now sleepy audience are woken up by this Martin special and maybe the journey might have been worth it after all.
Other tips ...
LOUNAOS
FARMER BROWN
CARACCIOLA
BLUEBERRY BOY
MY WAY De SOLZEN
The panellists did their best to give insightful views but usually ended up sitting on the fence. Last year Paul Carberry, Davy Russell, and Colm Murray added more life to the proceedings. Remarks like “will win” “won’t come off the bridle” and “a certainty” was classic Carberry. He reckoned Sweet Wake(County Hurdle this year) would go down the hill fast and up it even faster in the Supreme Novices. Sadly it did not happen but it was part of the magic of Cheltenham.
The funniest moment on the night was when someone asked Dessie Hughes if he would be afraid of Charlie Swan if he rode Brave Inca. His reply? “If Charlie is riding Brave Inca then I’m riding Hardy Eustace”
Good Luck to both, a classic race is in store, regardless of who wins.
tags:cheltenham
Published by Colm.
We're hoping that Adrian can send us back reports from the upcoming cricket World Cup which he be attending.
The second Annual Cheltenham Preview Night took place Monday night last in the Royal Hotel, Roscommon. MC was top journalist and tipster Donn McClean. The panel included trainers Dessie Hughes (Hardy Eustace) and Tony Martin (Dun Doire), senior handicapper Noel O'Brien, jockey Ross Geraghty and John Kennelly of Bruce Bookmakers.
It was an educated National Hunt panel on paper, but Hughes and Martin were like two school kids hiding sweets from the teacher Noel O'Brien. Geraghty was quiet and slightly flustered when asked a question while Kennelly was well prepared, but he kept reminding us that Bruce Bookmakers were now No Run No Bet.
The programme had an 8pm start but, like a bad Junior B match, did not start until 8.45pm. Ciaran Mullooly from RTE got us organised and may have been the right man for MC. Tonight reminds me why Bill O'Herlihy is so much more important than Giles, Brady and Dunphy put together when analysing a European Cup game.
McClean starts off at a quick pace, Hughes reckons Clopf is the one to watch at 14/1 in the Supreme Novices and nobody disagrees. Kennelly claims there has been some money for Tipperary All-star each way. There is no real Irish interest in the Arkle, but Hughes is still expecting an exciting race.
What we have really come to hear; Hardy Eustace will win the Champion Hurdle. He obviously doesn’t say it but Hughes gives an upbeat report on the horse and there will be no excuses. He makes an interesting point that “when Hardy has been right he has never been beaten by Brave Inca”. Strangely enough none of the panel are Brave Inca fans. Ross Geraghty much prefers Hardy Eustace while O'Brien is a big Detroit City fan and thinks “Asian Maze and Macs Joy are great value”.
Martin likes Silverburn in the Ballymore, while the rest are excited by Aran Concerto but judgement is out until after Cheltenham. Scots Irish at 16/1 is one to note here. Geraghty reckons Well Chief is a street ahead of the rest in the Arkle, Martin and Hughes think Voy Pour Ustedes is a serious horse and O'Brien thinks the ground will be perfect for Nickname. All have respect for Newmill, so try and make that one out. I might as well have stayed at home.
The one horse that everyone agrees on is Denman. Martin thinks he's “a superstar in the making”. O'Brien fancies Cailin Alainn each way. The Champion Bumper is interesting; O'Brien informs us that Willie Mullins really fancies Mad Fish. Hughes thought Fiveforthree was impressive and Martin gives us Theatrical Moment at 20/1. In the Ryanair Chase, Hughes makes a very strong case for Monet’s Garden.
The Ladbrokes Hurdle and Black Jack Ketchum have been nearly always mentioned in the same breath. Tonight you would forget he is even running. Kennelly shocks us even more that he is nearly out to 4/1. Celestial Wave is the one everyone wants to win. Hughes says the mare has done everything right and the 7lb weight allowance for mares may be helpful. United 25/1 and Princess D’Anj’ at 50/1 are tipped.
Hughes rightly says that the gloss of the Gold Cup and has been slightly diminished by the loss of War of Attrition and In Compliance. Kauto Star is the one they have to beat but Kennelly will gladly take him on. Some of the panellists were not impressed by his last run and were worried he may not come up the hill. Geraghty thinks “The Listener is the one they all have to beat”. Exotic Dancer, State of Play and L’Ami are all given an each-way chance. To the ironic laughter of the crowd, O'Brien gives Beef or Salmon as his each way chance. Those laughs could turn to cheers if the ground comes up heavy(4.33 with William Hill). Cheltenham has not had heavy ground at the festival in a long time.
It took the most interesting character of the evening, Tony Martin, to give another classic tip. Turpin Green trained in England by Nicky Richards at 80/1 for the Gold Cup. The now sleepy audience are woken up by this Martin special and maybe the journey might have been worth it after all.
Other tips ...
LOUNAOS
FARMER BROWN
CARACCIOLA
BLUEBERRY BOY
MY WAY De SOLZEN
The panellists did their best to give insightful views but usually ended up sitting on the fence. Last year Paul Carberry, Davy Russell, and Colm Murray added more life to the proceedings. Remarks like “will win” “won’t come off the bridle” and “a certainty” was classic Carberry. He reckoned Sweet Wake(County Hurdle this year) would go down the hill fast and up it even faster in the Supreme Novices. Sadly it did not happen but it was part of the magic of Cheltenham.
The funniest moment on the night was when someone asked Dessie Hughes if he would be afraid of Charlie Swan if he rode Brave Inca. His reply? “If Charlie is riding Brave Inca then I’m riding Hardy Eustace”
Good Luck to both, a classic race is in store, regardless of who wins.
tags:cheltenham
Published by Colm.
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