Cheltenham Festival 2024 preview and tips

A Cheltenham Festival preview with a difference! Some of the sharpest minds in the game come together to preview the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, and throw in some bets along the way…

0:00 Talking points
18:28 The Irish team
32:04 Punting Pointers
51:30 Bankers and favourites to take on

Welcome everybody to a Sporting Life chelam Festival preview with a bit of a difference lots to come over the next little while with all sorts of guests but what a star we’ve got in the company of olle Graham and Fran right boys we’re going to deal with the talking points at the chelam

Festival Ollie let’s start with you how important for the sport is that we have a really good a Humdinger if you like a Pelon Festival well I I think it’s crucial really I think the chelham is is our I mean we talk about it a lot on ITV don’t we it is our

Biggest and best shop window for National hunt racing and if we can provide the audience be it new or old with an experience that they will remember forever then the hope is that they come back they engage in the sport and I think more so perhaps this year in

Light of a lot of things going on in the world Etc in the racing industry I think if we can go actually there are issues in this industry but this is when we’re at our very best and I think that could only be a positive for us moving forward

Uh in 2024 and Beyond why why aren’t people coming back it seems as Ollie refers to there GC yeah it’s an interesting question it’s because winter cold weather small Fields betting industry in turmoil Stars injured or Worse Scotch eggs being con on the door there’s a lot of downbeat feel but this

Is always the meeting that you know that gets things going again the weather’s getting better there are awesome stars on show the betting really hits five new levels next week it’s not Shelton’s fault that various horses have got injured and when we lose stars like Constitution Hill Maring National and

Plenty others along the way it’s tough on shelham but it it really shines a light on the fact that quite a few of those Stars head weren’t running much at all when they were bang healthy and that’s the problematic period is to build up to chelham not chelham itself

And and in terms of the betting shape of next week I used to go to chelham for three days and I’d be delighted if I back three or four winners it was so hard now I OE be able to speak to this bit more there a lot of young Lads I

Think they’re delighted about the shape of the chelon festival they can go and go Will’s got three or four Bankers here 50 Quid on this 100 quid on that it it really suits them so you have to pick your backles uh and I’m not I think

Cheldon has a is at a Tipping Point I think it has to embrace change in various um various aspects now the the racing program the pricing etc etc it’s at a Tipping Point I hope it does embrace those changes but if you’re not excited at this point in the build up to

Chel them then you know you lost something that that I still have thankfully it it will be magic it always is are the Irish excited the annual pilgrimage is it as normal cuz you you’re hearing lots of stories of of people in this country that may be doing

Things differently what what’s it like back home yeah look at the buildup to is always really good like a number of CH in previews I’ve done a couple and my colleagues have couple you’ve done about 17 might look for things I lot kind and H look the appeti for the game

Is still very much evident uh no matter where you go full houses people my keing just to get a bit of a build up to the festival and for the armchair viewer it it’s very very popular but for people traveling over there’s a lot of negatives now Sterling is quite strong

At the minute in comparison to the euro obviously the mission cost as um greme has mentioned and chelam accommodation is a big issue as well for anybody like it’s brutal isn’t it yeah but the jocky club was criticized for it’s not their fault no what are they supposed to do

The town the town can be to demand maybe of what the track needs people wise if you like for people stay in so that that is a negative I know groups of race sces at do race Festival huge success at his own right a lot of English people come

Over as well obviously for that and uh you know the big thing with them is the accommodation the cost of getting over there and people are going abroad they’re going to ten Reef going to to the sun play golf just due to cost maybe had had enough the festival maybe in

Some respects but uh for me if you get the opportunity to go to chelum two days it’s fantastic but there is negatives but there’s a lot of positives to to it seems to me with all of this olle that the important thing for me maybe the end of this week is that the

Authorities are seem to be listening whether it’s about the race program whether it’s about the cost whether it’s about the parking I just think maybe at the end of the week they say right we’re going to have a wash up meeting we’re going to listen to what people want to

Move forward and maybe there is change do you think that’s a good idea I think it’s always important to listen to ideas no matter how silly or or whatever they may be the the thing I would say align to what every was saying here is I mean I heard somewhere today that

There’s uh you know you can pay in installments to come to chelam this if you want to spread out your pay like buying a carpet you can you can get a caret you to pay installments to go to a sporting event it’s utterly ridiculous

To me and if you have as as GC was referring to a group of youngsters who have to pay off their student loans who have to you know they’re not earning much you know it’s it’s tough in terms of cost of living Etc as you know at the

Moment if you’re asking them to go this sport is amazing this is our championship event you can come but spread your payment out over six months those people will go s it I’m not coming I’m going to go and pay 40 quid to go there instead and have a day out with my

Mate and you probably I don’t really know this I can’t quantify it myself I’m know in no way a businessman as you know in economics was not my strong point but you probably don’t get many strikes with those people to get them back in because once they have it in their mind that

Chelham is too pricey they ain’t going to be watching it so I think the the message I would send to the people in power at chelman is is do listen to change it so that you can get these people through the gates because when they come to I know that they will love

It you can’t not when you hear that raw when a horse comes back and you get the bug we’ve all got it get them in it might cost you some money shortterm but longterm you will benefit hugely from it you feel as if we have reached a very

Important phase and that change some sort of change in the race program to make it more competitive is essential Kevin Blake there out a the bar storming piece the other day about how CH and Festival was on the bring compared to a washed up Mike Tyson now that’s very

Dramatic dramatic metaphor but it works from a journalistic point of view but gelon have to come out swinging off the ropes in a way now with some changes but it’s worrying to think that this were the FM Ed two years ago who were ready to press the button on a 5-day Festival

So whether they’re prepared to say well their defense on that they did listen didn’t they in the end I think they were looking for a way to make you one other thing before we move on to to Highlights if you like this might not be a negative William ‘s

Domination in Ireland let’s talk about Ireland first the drf positive or negative I look it’s um it’s a running team through the season obviously once Willie gets rolling at the Christmas LEP to meeting it just continues on from then on to the D racer Festival he 40 OD

Winners in January from what I can recall and which is unheard of for his time of the year and obviously backed up do race Festival you worried about that there is changes coming in some respects garnell is obviously on record say you got to just got to go and try and match

Willie Ms every morning which is hard to do H the fire party has the amount of clients that Willie gets in not only with Irish owners the amount of English owners that he’s got in his stable and ke to come there and join him is quite significant um the middle tier trainers

I think in Ireland and probably the UK are being totally wiped out by the point too scene uh they’re not getting the raw materials anymore the trainers used to go to the sales and buy five or six young horses on spec can’t compete with the market for the pointto point uh

Brigade have to buy on certain credit terms if you like with the sales and as a consequence William WS is able to go and buy the end product and the middle tier can’t buy the product at all so that’s a big swing at it so it can get a

Bit repetitive do race Festival Way dominate winning all the great ones you know you’d like to see somebody else in the mix but it’s where we’re at now and as an Irish person next week if he is 12 with as a child nobody would be complaining like so it’s it’s a double-

Edged sword but the mid and here jumping is very very much a tight Market at home in the minute can I just jump in on that I I I think that ultimately will happen at CH where Willy Bonners has loads of favorites Etc the the the problem is at

Source I think and I wrote a column about this earlier in the year if you can incentivize for life was it uh it wasn’t actually but um maybe they’ll post it after this uh the the problem I think comes at source and if you can incentivize trainers with 10 winners to

Their name 20 them races for them and give bonuses Etc so that they can go into the open market with money in their back pocket and try and compete with a Willie Mullins and perhaps they can buy the horses that Willie Mullins is is buying they can maybe get to chelam in

Two three years time with those good horses rather than Willie winning all the races at a lower level with Progressive horses and then getting them to chelman so I think you shouldn’t focus and go well Willie M is is going to do dominate chelham I think if you

Can incentivize it for lesser known trainers at the bottom level perhaps that is the springboard for them to get the top we’ve a little bit of an advantage Dar too with a central government body at a program is controlled if you like from H so next

Year the great one obious a Chris gone which was off a cracken to my L Chase lepone B the Morgana has been downgraded punch sand which was long over two very poor grade one often a cake walk for William W horse you us you have four to

Five runners in the race so there is small steps in celing the program coming but there’s more needs to be done to funnel everything to take each other on a bit more than what we see at present but there is there is a sense of awe

About it isn’t it when Aiden takes you know 20 OD horses to Bo Alaska or whatever it’s ultimate and the day that you you cannot get pleasure from Brilliance the game’s up and it’s an absolutely awesome operation and my issue in a way is whether punters feel that it’s taking something

Significant away from the festival I remember when I was young the dickinsons were absolutely killing it but in steeple chases by L they were this is a dominant operation in speed stamina chases erles bumpers the whole lot and some good flat horses as well uh and it’s Sensational the other point I would

Make that I think is a little underplayed and Fran touched on something about the sourcing trying to get the raw talent to me in Britain it’s three trainers who were capable of getting group one grade one horses on a regular basis it’s Nichols it’s Henderson and it’s Skelton and it’s

No party if those three don’t find horses Venicia long press there is cranville maybe one or two others on the fringes but you would think that even with these supply issues those British trainers outside the top three should be finding a star here and there and you know there comes a point at

Which you think n those Lads in Ireland they’re just better Ed will CRA domic car kler now so just as Russell yes H the Gold Cup 100th year of the great race what kind of goal cup have we got uh that’s a good question I don’t uh

Probably I don’t really know the answer to that I think shishin makes it a very F A fascinating race with one eye on galap inder shop but but personally for me I see the Gold Cup as essentially an opportunity to to elevate galap Pinder shop from a very good horse into the

Category of a great horse I I think I think it is his to lose and therefore I think this will be the crowning of a horse that we are telling our kids about grandkids about but it’s deep though OE I mean do you think it is I think it’s a

Cracking race I really do I think from itv’s point of view we’ve got fantastic stories in it particularly Huck hu would be a amazing you go fast or slow you’ve got a British challeng in Brave man’s game you’ve got shishkin you’ve got long press uh you’ve got gent game you’ve got

A grandal win of stories or in terms of competition think I think everyone I think it’s the race of the week by a million miles personally I do I think that think he’s very competitive well yeah I think the gang’s all here all the other Championship all the other

Championship rers have a significant non-runner Constitution Hill inamine alaho um THM that French St has heard this one has them all and but I agree with you on galipan um there’s a point at which that horse has the chance to elevate himself from a very good to a

Potential great and in the last three years he’s had a flat performance at puncher stown when chelon may left thear he was Rusty first time out this year Fran for three years he’s been utterly dominant in every other race he contested exactly you think it’s going

To be the crowning of galipan I I tend to agree but I do agree it’s a fascina raced its own right I just think G when he did the SV chase at LEP when he turned the screw and put him on his game he was so impressed that thing that they

Did turn the screw for that and I don’t think Martin brassle necessarily did turn the screw with fast or slow he will next Friday yeah fast slow Martin brazzel great record CH two hor speed the handicaps by short marage last year H one day balore hard for his owners a

Couple years ago City Island fantastic Target trainer talked with him last week you get the impression he’s only begin to to Peak him for this race but Paul town was just adamant he was only going to win the doin race Festival in the Irish Gold Cup by the minimum amount if

You like it didn’t open up the way he did in the savath chase I think Alin has really come to himself as well it’s a fascinating Race fast slow could well get quicker than but H I’m not sure three miles two would bring out the best

At fast or slow and just have a nle about him to last far at chelam in a Gold Cup I love to go for Riner 92 would be very appealing at it with a run but I think gallopin he should have won the last three festivals he and he should

Make a two gold cups in a row we don’t remember much about Albom photo I think we’ll remember a lot more about Galpin shops he’s eight now as well Frank he’s in prime time now isn’t he yeah he really is he should be in his very best

And the way he goes true the way they were able to switch them off last year no things did not go to plan to start last year but the way he’s able to work his way through the field that turn footage short against the hill was quite

Remarkable they know he gets the trip really well now as Graeme said he a year older as well so Just a Touch back on that Rollins angle which we mentioned a few minutes ago they have been deadly with their their gradeable aces in the last couple of years the last two years

It’s small sample but it’s worth mentioning William enss has saddled eight group one favorites at six to four or shorter seven of them won goodlooking not by a half a length or a length driven out by Miles Alo appreciated Etc and the other one was G TI when he was

About B to the wood is that a missing one yeah oh in other words it’s effectively the last eight think the four is shorter have not just won they have SED them gosh right just to finish with I’m going to fast forward hopefully the headline on on Friday night in the

Newspapers on Sporting Life will be either gapan makes history or coric ramler does an amazing double what’s the headline going to be olle big picture-wise on the festival do you think moving into the weekend let’s fast forward is it going to be positive is it going to be negative what’s the headline

Going to be do you think or hope well what ultimately racing has an incredible Knack of delivering good news stories when it needs it most and I know that as GC referred to at the start there are champion horses that are going to be their constitution Hill being the

Headline but there will be a performance or a moment at CH because there always is that we remember forever whether that’s Sprinter Sacra coming into the winers enclosure it might be Paisley Park in the stairs hurdle but there will be a moment you know we will look at each

Other and go this sport has a number of flaws and there are hopefully clever people trying to work on them but at its core this is a sport that makes us feel things feel things that we don’t ordinarily feel which is why we come back year after year I hope the headline

Will be about a performance or a moment that makes us remember it forever with a sub headline but the sport needs to take a look at some of the our experienceing and I remember do you remember a few years ago we went there thinking this is going to be an absolute Nightmare and

Then Rachel Blackmore yeah yeah made headlines you’re absolutely right GC what’s the headline for you it’s a slightly more pragmatic uh issue but I think it might come to the for and I have a feeling that the only affordability checks that will be talked about by the end of next week is whether

Bookies can afford to pay out because I genuinely believe that you know the The Mullins aces are going to be mighty mighty hard to beat and if a few of those gambled on handicappers like s chest Etc if they if they don’t come to

The no rest at all yeah it could be it could be big trouble for The Bookies next week I think is it going to be Irish route yeah I think it’s all there and I think they soft the grounded more in favor the Irish train horse given the

Winter which we’ve had and um the way it seems to bring out the best of William oens trained horses he been for his 100 go H winner Chum is quite remarkable and that should happen by day two day three who know yeah potentially and day two I don’t have a bet that

And the Gold Cup is the recipe a bit of classic when you mentioned obviously G the shs I can’t get away from but when you mentioned Huck the potentially are for a great story staying loyal to Jordan gainford is a great move I think by connections I respect him a lot for

That and then he got fast to slow Martin Brazil with his record at the festival small Target trainer um yeah it’s got a recipe of something that could be very very special to finish off the week right you stay sitting there thank you for the moment chaps it’s Irish and the

Irish team that comes next okay it’s time to talk all things Ireland with these three hand up pel if you’ve ridden a shelham festival winner think I’m an ear R the this is the doing the Press bre cup one of the great confrontations who do you support Britain or Ireland I’m definitely go

Ireland like their shot if I didn’t I think that’s sensible I’m going to ask all of you the various different stables and the chances iseland have got but let’s start willly Mullins the best in double green for Willie Mullins is alav Viola I thought that might be the answer

And what I like about him is you get so wound up don’t you when people say he’s a bit of an iffy jumper but he’s not he’s he’s a very very good jumper he nearly fell under you when he did I mean to be fair or nearly falls under me does

It that’s I I can D quite a few horses but no he’s not he’s just he’s he’s he’s a very very he gets from A to B um and the mistake that he made with me at LEP town I promise you the majority hes would have fallen there and he found a

Leg he just lost his concentration yes exactly that’s is that what happened exact he just loses his concentration slightly at times but he’s getting better and better and I think he very very good at falling the AR last year he never missed a beat so from Mullins

About Mullins from you Billy I want a good thing and maybe a darker one I wouldn’t have said this last weekend but the good thing has to be stat man because the champion hurdle has just completely opened up for him dark one you could pick any one of probably 10 or

12 he have loads of runners in all the NOS races and whatever one that I like at a price if he runs in the Albert bartett is Ley Watson I think he’s coming out for that trip he’s about 12 or 14 to one at the moment will he have

Three or four in the race he’ll probably have the favor maybe the first two or three in the betting but Ley Watson at a price I really like him like it your are eyes and ears at M’s yard for Sporting Life B burn come on tell us where’s he going not a two

What’s your in you must have an in um after me down here last week and obviously the William W St to her for the sportting life we got to spend a couple hours down there and I think he’s everything’s Computing in his head whether it’s where I think bny Burns to

Banker whether he goes into Bing bam got her novice is known now of course I the Supreme novice mystical power all depends where he fits into the equation for me I’d like to see him go further mystical par think because jumping isn’t quite where it is

Needs to be asked for to you You’ go G power Supreme noice s b I bet you would the other way around probably would now also the great thing is you’re are eyes and ears with Frank Berry what’s he had to say what’s his good thing of the week what’s he been saying

On the phone it doesn’t talk to me at all he don’t his other son he does yes yeah and I look they have a big team this year when you go down to race to mcm’s team I don’t think he’s ever had a strength and depth in all race like

Normally the handicaps but in champ race I think fact to F he’s definitely the banker of the week the fact Willie was almost forced to come out nowadays Target two weeks before the race as it all uh what he did to get a warrior lepis was very very taken his win at

Christmas time also skipped to a generation of going harling to go chase and he’s a beautiful looking horse I’d say the best yet to come with him okay should we move on to Gordon Elliott he didn’t ask for for Dark Horse when he go FL ail in the champion buper FL ail

Okay two wins w at nce run away Jolie town and run away with her in lepris toown could still win she’s 16 to one for the champion bumper two M have W the champion bomper in the last 10 years this would be another one excellent Gordon Elliott before I was rudely

Interrupted it’s a big week from this isn’t it absolutely really really important would you agree with that totally yeah the last couple of Gentlemans he’s had the odd winner here and there he has had a really big winner of CH for a while and he’ll definitely

Be hoping to put that right this week on our weekly podcast you and I have had two quite big arguments over the last year or so never of arguments one of them’s over Jerry colom and the other’s over corck Rambler they’re both in the Gold Cup yeah how do you see that

Playing out well Jerry col will finish ahead of car G both of them will finish will be Gand really you think Gand is a good thing I think so yeah okay back to Gordon Elliot same question really a strong fancy he hasn’t got that many I suppose compared to the Mullins yard oh

You have a handful um they’ll be really hopeful of brighter days ahead in the mayor’s novice or um possibly his best Chan is to hoo or however you like to pronounce it in the stairs hard he ran really well in the race last year may be a little disappointing that he couldn’t

Win it last year but he they’ve changed his campaign slightly hasn’t run since the hattens race they’ll be hoping that it keeps raining at chelton because the softer the ground the better for him um if it turns into a bit of a bog a chelton then I think he’ll be a really

Hard horse to beat um as it stands He he’ll probably be one of Elliot’s best chances um of his dark hes he’ll have plenty of handicaps yeah um I don’t know if anything really stands out at at the moment uh but yeah his his handicap owners will be will be

Worth noting cross countries and other R he does really well and so expect him to have two or three lows in that as well and unusually the May’s nois race this year wouldn’t be the most high-profile races but this year it’s uncredible really high quality and it’s a real I

Know da Enos is aned for the ferl Bryan team top of the market it’s a proper head-to-head isn’t it between Elliot and mullet it is indeed yeah and a better ISE brighter brighter is it brighter and better getting that mixed up uh she’s been very very impressed to date what

She’s done all the way through suggest that she’s a high class filing to make and they’ve got a really high opinion of her down there and I think for me her and T the G Elliot Bankers of the week for him I think they’re the two big

Hopes for him going into the rest of the week and for as regards she could be a potential Superstar next year or second season and obvious two put back in the stairs har so I think she at this stage of her career is a bit more forward than

The mods Runner who J Dei J grui who was very impressed when she won at the Sarina at fairy house she went to the race and in a slow race she really good turn of foot to pick up and my ground and win really well but I was down in

Willies that morning and she physically looks very immature and I think whatever she does as an novice she be far stronger Philly next year or S Dr Dino willly says about staman that he as only coming to himself as a seven-year-old this year that he’s really mature from

Six to S she could be the same goes through her career so for that reason alone I’m going to go with the Elliot Runner okay you Elliot Allin in the May nois or elsewhere no I prefer J Dei I really like the way it’s on it’s on i’

Like the way far GL lers campaign sardinas so she won’t have a penalty that could be crucial 5 pounds could make a big difference but I’ve been very impressed with ji I love the way she’s she jumps in particular she’s really quick over hard and I think the drop

Back to two miles might just suit Elliot M as well as this one I think she might have too many gears for her darl in the double green next week give us a couple of dark ones maybe one of the ones in the bumper the Boodles Mr GIF in the sky

Best Supreme yeah Mr gift who are you most excited about well obviously our Banker are hopefully going into zel Fabiola but like you said we’ve got a lot of young horses that are coming through you’re allowed two I’m allowed two okay Mr gifted the Supreme I love

The way he went about his business and the way he won down what in the which race Mr gift in the Supreme Sky Supreme sorry Sky Supreme yes love doing contract love the way he went about his business um at limr that day under Kieran Gahan jump great traveled great

And it took him a long time to pull the horse up um after the wind line so he’s usually exciting and we’ve got two nice bumper horses I won’t even try to name their names because I get that wrong and then you three two three will absolutely abuse me so we

That I’ll give you Jasmine devau and S chance exactly perfect lovely horses and I suppose Batman G in the Bo in in the buers just let’s do a long day already let’s talk Henry De Bron head it seems to me Billy every year Mullins Mullins Mullins Mullins little bit of Elliot De

Bron head turns up a chelham and he always seems to have a good week doesn’t he he is outstanding the way he just produces his horses absolutely to the minute for chelton he seems to have a a happy Knack of doing it every year and

You can be sure he has a couple lined up again for this year going then one of the best of the de Brom head horses do you think I think the way the arle is shaping up I think cxus has have a real chance now of course he’s a former TR

Hard the winner he jumped really well at n the last day um he’s certainly thrown his hat in the ring um Envoy Allen will be back again in the r air again it doesn’t look a great race uh he’s probably as good a horse as he was last

Year maybe that’ll be good enough to see him over the line he’s got a couple of really nice Mayors uh later on in the week uh he runs a very interesting mayor called lantry lady in the mayor now she’s really inexperienced I had her approval coming to my last I’ll come to

You in a second she’s after winning two races at Gordon on very bad ground but she was really impressive the last day she’ll need to step up quite a bit to be competitive in a a hard but she might be capable of it and in the same colors he

Has AR called Hispanic Moon who might go for the mar Piper one of those handicap hardles um she won nicely at punch Stone the other day she’d have a chance as well why were you nodding at lantry lady yeah H she won made har in really good

Style last year beating sign approach of gorm Park uh she went anoun to win a grade two chase this season she not going to beat L is she a 16 to1 in a round I’d be very happy to chance her I was very very taken with a win at gor

Park 11 months off the track she traveled strongly to the race won readly beautiful looking murder ring and uh Henry said that post ra a couple of niggly problems just kept off the track you don’t often like see run a G Park and bottomless ground and turn around to

Chad that quickly but given how little mileage she’s on the clock in a race where loim is up a lot of Market there will be without betting or each way betting I definitely have something on our do you want to Second the wrong head yeah go quick C

This he said no want him to tease you m kind think is interesting where they go with her obviously be H beat William mme in the race last year the grand annual I just think she’s working her way back to for maybe he’ll go for the championship

But she is back in the grand annual has a couple of handicap entries I do think there’s mile legar still okay so to finish with I want the best do you want two or three arish Raiders two or three two it’s like vanilla or chocolate go

Three you can have three okay for you two think of those you best of the double greens L fabiolo yep best if you could ride one in the Gold Cup that wasn’t galath Shaw would you be Irish or British fast or slow it’s cons consistent I like it could big races

Like that I think consisteny consistency is key consistency and concentration are absolutely keep exactly and um I I like him and like you say I think it’s an open go few horses have got questions to answer and I think he’s bomb proof he’ll turn up he’ll run his race and uh he’s a

Great jumper he’s a great travel he wouldn’t mind either ground whether it’s good ground or softer ground I’d be with him if I couldn’t like galloper okay Billy you can have three not all short prices but your RS I like the way he only comes to me for one because know he

Three you wouldn’t remember three since asking far too much Jo you happy with three yeah we go for here we go okay so let’s go 321 save the best of us let’s go 321 321 okay but in three B Bar will win whichever now hardle he runs in I think it’ll be the

Gard hope he’ll get more exciting from here Billy um yeah you like fact to F is the other one let’s hope it gets more exciting from him not very exciting yet phly we know we like Bankers AR the brutal are 16 to one not this year okay fair enough front

Okay Tre li la in the miror chase I think she’s going in there under radar I think Dina blue at two and a half miles coulding vulnerable and aloras running so take Ono who wants Liber CL okay come on resource this is that race is it no no there you off

So it’s lay on Friday it’ll be in the Caro yeah three that’s three go go two built by bore trm by Martin Brazzle big gamble pulled off a Christmas the away me limrick uh had good bumper form two runs hand been sided went down to limrick backed off

The boards i w in poor race really good style but went to Pointes down weak in the market race fell apart end up winning by 12 lengths got a mark higher that Mar braz was hoping he get a CH him but as a consequence he gets into race

To CH him so it’s kind of Shan mine Bing homes of course also also a horse call faster slow might WIP the news later in the weekend just keep it under your number one he so anyway wherever he goes in handicap if he goes for Carl Cooper and

Martin pipe he’s a really interesting horse and number one as aards the best T all in really M thank you chaps good luck Daryl thank you P punting pointers punting pointers comes Next here we go then punting pointers with three of the best punters in the game and GC we deserved you were you just filing your copy on here yeah it takes me back I know we’re we’re alling on a bit but even I’ve never had to file

Copy on one of Al right let’s talk hting Dave give us an insight for the the festival is it different how do you approach it yeah it is different I think next week um I think the main rule for me is that it’s the same rule every year

Is um you’ve got to remember next week everything has ability everything’s got ability 33 and 50 pokes have got a basic level of ability don’t be afraid to sort of scatter a few about next week on handicaps and stuff like that because even if you’re back in a a 33 to one

Shot 50 to one shot they’re going to have 130 plus they’ve all got ability it’s just whether they can use it on the day I think that’s that’s my Golden Rule next week and with the coffee you right Matt do you try and treat it like any

Other week or is it completely different no it’s not completely different they nailed it I think you have to treat these handicaps certainly the the same as a lot of the others um I used to approach this week it’s interesed with a real kind of like almost manic excitement when you’re just really

Coming through the game and getting into it uh and as much money as I could possibly get together but now obviously you know not only my own mouth to feed and it’s a bit more cautious these days and obviously looking at these races now that um the the the from a value bet

Point of view um you’re relatively limited I mean there are some races where you’re not going to get 20 25 to1 shots in the race cuz then Aren’t Enough Runners uh yes very true so I suspect they will be top of top top of the market races weren’t there a lot of

These championship and grade One races so yeah handicaps uh is going to be that’s where the fun is for me ugc a bit different than the other lad said I’m a as a punter I’m a good front runner I’m not so good trying to play from behind

So I I try to play quite steady away to begin with and get in front and then I trust myself to go well through the week There’s a patch of ground about 50 yards what used to be the lawn at sheldo tarmac now um where I stand if I really

Need one if you see me there on a Thursday or Friday and I’m standing there it’s because I’m well behind and I need one to get one home Z are and the Triumph FD I remember that was that was an ous not especially but if I’m getting

Well behind get out of the road when I want that bit of grass stroke back I better have a camera on there so R sure we’ll know how the weeks go sounds like you’re bit like a cricketer early in his Innings feeling your way get your ey and

Away R isn’t it you know and and they don’t get any easier as the week goes on uh if if you look at the the results particularly on the last two days very fful Tuesday and Wednesday last year yeah um Thursday and Friday some some

Wild ones so um but my my strategy is to try to get ahead and then and then play with some confidence there I’m sure you’ve all had plenty of highs and lows Dave I don’t want to remind you of too many heartbreaks I want to high as well

Your cheltam FES Festival memory B we’ve just been discussing the L just before we came on was was was blowing wind for me he won well yeah he won the wrong race though unfortunately he was um i’ spotted him early where he was amid ask

And then he went to paid off for the for the champion trial and gave 7 pound to dayto start only got beat oh this is the one this is the one this is that when they’re lining up for chman for a handicap and I started anti posting him

I thought he definitely needs a step up in trip I was backing him for I think it was the coral golden herd in those I don’t think it was the coral whatever they called it the two four the two five race and uh I got a nice sum of Tidy sum

Of money going in to the weekly and then send down the entries come out the head blow in when the going for all and no sooner he won the Imperial than Martin P came out said yeah we’ll be going for the county next week and it’s like and

I’m just looking at these dockets thinking you know in the bin they go that was that was the cuz cuz cuz P said Unsinkable boxer was the biggest certainty ever but blowing wind wasn’t far behind that day really wasn’t no no it really wasn’t it’s just one of those

You know right right horse r r we start with half break then that’s so that is a half if you got ative heart break yeah um the heart was involved as well I nearly got skinned by my wife in 2015 it was the first time I’ve been there with

Uh Mrs B uh by your wife I’ve been backing the package all winter for the William Hill trophy the ultimate was it yeah yeah love those colors some really great memories of those over the years I’d been back him all winter and I was feeling pretty pleased with

Myself he was about 92 favorite on the day here we go came with a winning run and he got nailed on the line by 33 to1 shot and Veteran Chief Dan George you probably remember Dave not only that but uh it was later announced obviously that

Chief Dan George was training Cal and my wife just from there and went to school there and I hadn’t informed her that the M tuna so she would in never EMB backed that horse so yeah that was a that was a very painful one for me financially and

Um at home I just sensed you see you might have a few Heartbreakers yeah where did you start I remember does it all called coell star never i’ vied him anti for the arle had a good B on him better prices than SP he went off favorite and I fancied One a strong

Saver called Dempsey and CTO fell at the third and brought Dempsey down also um in in terms of financial turnarounds I had a really good bet or I was called he was doggy but he was so talented farel for the Triumph herle yeah big big Pride 25 to1 Nikki Richards horse just got

Beat by penans I thing Robert Thon win only and I I kicked myself all the way home and another one another Nikki Richards foring Mon’s Garden he’s second in the Articles to viperous deadz I think so two Nikki Richard I backed for for plenty of money and both came I’m

Just sure the high though there must be plenty of them too high yeah a few play spots which are you know by the by but it’s you know good payoffs on place the high in terms of financially not the biggest but in terms of one I remember

It’s going way back the sinkers Gold Cup they will remember it 89 I went on a bus with a load of Ms football mates and what have you and they all wanted to know what’s going to win the Gold Cup and I fancied The Thinker and the more rained and SLE and

Snowed the more I fancied The Thinker and remember by the time they delayed it because of the St stor by the time the horses were in The Paddock it still look really europan we’d all had a few by then and all the lads were sh what’s

This jocky name what it Ridley lamb the L Ridley lamb come on Ridley all China really L as he went around the pic he’ never seen him be he won so we had a fantastic day we had a real good pickup on that one day I think in um recent

Times um lizar Oscar had a few quit on on the day price you get and um I think I up 33 in the morning thank God for bog um I it was just that year we were s talking about this early I think that year of this the stairs I just looked at

It and thought it how open it was as it is I think this year I think we might get another I could see another big price one in the stairs this year I really could if that sort of a race where there’s so many if they run their

Race on the day I’ve got a chance at a at a big price it’s one of those races so I think L go ask watch your third wind on the day um L early well in only on pad looks have to say I don’t that

But it looked superb you yeah I I think with GC as well like for me it’s that shared experience thing isn’t it look Cam’s a big party for everyone to get involved in and the ones that have really meant most to me are ones where a

Few mates have got involved as well the liks of Captain Chris and the ARA we were back in uh through the winter anti post it was touch and go which race he was going to run in whether he was going to run over a little bit further that

Was a very satisfying one and Alderwood as well he ended up going off pretty short on the day and he was a very satisfying one it was one that a lot of people enjoyed uh also um that produced one of the greatest Festival photos of all time as well with Nikki Henderson s

Said he got caught up in the Winner’s uh winners enclosure afterwards because it was um trained by mull Sony Mullins wasn’t it elderwood and Nikki Henderson obviously like got shuffled along was congratulating JP MC Manz and this This brilliant picture of Henderson’s sort of he’s obviously they think that he’s the

Trainer it’s absolutely Majestic it’s superb with mcco riding that was we always used to go in Champions League week he was going to CH them we were all on Jeff Stelling everybody on Zenon who didn’t get much from a mention and then the commentator Mar here on the wide

Outside here comes Zena and the roar was magic which races are getting the pulse going for next week Dave what are you most excited about the champion Chase is starting to Intrigue me if if only for the tactics next week as to what’s going to happen St forward though

With edwardstone going forward well this is what we’ve sort of said I mean he should go forward if he you know it should now be a straightforward he goes forward but you know with Ali King sort of saying he’s not going to compromise his chance are we setting it up for the

Others when you can’t I don’t think you can worry about that you’ve got to do what’s best for your horse and what’s best for Edward stone is him going off in front and then I then I think it becomes a really interesting interesting contest you know we know neither John

Bon nor El Fabiola to a point a thought perfect you can you know listen if with all due respect fix Ed and N can get John Bon at it I’m DN sure Edward so I think it’s a really interesting race next week the the champion CH Shing

Up to be one of the more interesting grade ones if you like I think it’s it’s a bit more open in the market which a few weeks ago it didn’t look like is it one of the handicaps for you that they would get me excited from a puny point

Of view from a purist point of view I’m looking forward to the May’s no his hurdle that looks like a good Clash Bri days ahead JY grui and obviously D inos for uh Ferg o’ban and that you know you’re not going to get many runners in the brown adviser but that clash between

Stay away f file might be a little bit bit closer in the Marcus Jess do you I’m fascinated by Dave said about the champion chains and I hope it is bombs away on Edward Stone because I think that sets up for Captain Guinness to run

A really good race at a big price but in terms of the quality and the event and the spectacle and the star power the Gold Cup is the race the one Championship race where the gang’s all here I don’t think there’s a big name missing no there’s a big name missing

From all the other Championship races and Gand sha some people are out to get him I don’t really see it yes he was flat at puncher toown last spring and he was Rusty first time this year but for three years other than that since he bolted up in the Martin pipe in 2021

That horse has been absolutely dominant in every race that he’s contested so he sets the bar really high for faster slow and shishin Company it’s so good 100th year of the go cup and they’ve got a proper proper Gold Cup this year what I want from you to finish your three best

Of the week we’ll go along number three down to your best at number one okay Dave you’re going to be first into bat I’m going to listen about 10th but you I’m only letting you have three oh come on we got time you first in third 20 we have okay the theat

Man man okay I think yeah I think it’s really interesting for the plate um I did catch Richard buy last week at Weston definitely goes plate unless it’s good any W be good so he’ll go for the play I think you know that time for handicap keeps throwing up winners year

After year it’s always a hot handicap I think he’s very interesting whether he gets in or not I don’t know but if he doesn’t watch for you talks to the weekend Lord Sno te in what are you that for that’s good I love it just so Dave Massy it’s

Brilliant I don’t know what you’re number two yet the only one only one number three number three okay so number three and Tim cider I think’s just got over pylon defeat thought was going to just got over piled notw much number three gr Cunningham

Your te three for me I’m going to go a little left field I honestly think that the superstars in the in the big grade ones having D deliver I really do but nobody is really wanting to be tipped either money or rods on shot so I’ll go

Uh outside the box without Al aolo Captain Guinness he’ likely to be eight to one or bigger without the favorite I hope and I think he can I think he can definitely run a big race uh I’m going to go and this is a real feel thing

Rather than a formed thing um tell her the name in the first race this isn’t number two is it h this is number two I’m going back for you two three by the way in the previous section I asked for three from Billy Nash with baited breath he went B Burn yeah back

File galanda never heard of any of those you’re number three format is clear as day is it yeah number three they both messing I’ll be short and sweet in the Boodles I’m on the lookout for this uh Brazil host o partia um Martin Brazil trainer for the

M r they’ve had they’ve come very close obviously with the fast or slow and epic song in the last couple of um Coral cups and I think uh this has been did you get some of the 25s on 33s now yeah I think he’s still fair value I think he’s he’s

Got he’s one of these they’ve been teaching to settle I think that’s probably the fair thing to say oh yeah well handicapped what we’re going to do next is do number two that we okay you given us a little bit of a te surprised to hear think number two get is G be

Lord H Lords lordy for the pmts if he gets in as I say if he doesn’t there’s a race you talk on the Saturday for him that’s worth a lot of 100,000 race I think at the weekend but I think he’s one that I’ve been he’s he’s been on my

Radar pretty much all season for the pemp they tried to get him qualified for it at Christmas because there was some pretty weak qualifiers and there was an eight Runner one at win Canton that he got backed in favoritism fo round badly for no great reason but he was much more

Likely at ha last time he have picked up cuur dibbling another couple of strides I think he just got outpaced on the turn a real strong Run Race like that on soft ground he’s just what Lord snoy wants and I think there’s still a big hand he

Can love it in Brackets this week just in case he’s this year’s blowing wind now you’re number two I wonder what that kab skillful editors are earning the money today uh it’s as absolute speculate this but I think people are looking for abut you know big prices

Tell her the name he’s he he a horse who’s won a couple of Noles up one to four and two to n and what have you and bombed out with my money on him my boxing there at inry when he tried grade one company but I’m going to give him a

Pass on that something about pauling’s approach to this horse he thinks he’s really really good I know he’s fast he’s got a high cruising speed and I think you know he can be the best of the British might not be saying the right lot but and hit the Border a price in

The Supreme novices that’s his Target so number two tell her the name Day One race one cut love it just hope it could try out for the horse as well he’s he he’s always said the better the ground the better the chance so we we’ll see

We’re on number two two number one comes next do it yeah definitely saving number one um because this is one that’s just sort of crept onto the radar a little bit later I know some people have had horses in mind for weeks on end but the

Ryan a Chase I do like stage star but I think him and B reg are opposable towards the top of the market and I’m I’m drawn to field door Gordon Elliot is certainly making some positive noises about him he’s obviously changed hands as part of the Coldwell construction he

Was placed behind lossy mouth wasn’t he at the festival and then we last saw him finishing s to Fabiola beating 8 n LS uh in the hilly way put away I think he does want the longer distance it’s a little bit chany on that but he’s got

Good form over two and a half as a hurdler as well and I think he beat Shar last year as well that was a good piece of f so I think on his day Fior is really capable and he’s only a six-year-old so I think there’s plenty

Of improvements to come from him so he might be the Vol in the Ryan Air chain excellent now I’m looking forward to this mhm in first place the one you’re most excited about and K Ram each way in the gold cut love it I think love it I think on the

Day I I think the of the grade ones that’s going to be the one where we get a lot of Runners actually the Gold Cup I think gra saying no one’s missing and no one will miss and you could end up with 13 14 Runners I think on to day and with

That you know bookmakers are going to want your money they’ll be paying the extra place maybe even a couple of extra bles shall we say and if that’s the case you ain’t going to kick car rber out the four the five he going to be staying on

All day every day it was suggested to me last week at newb by by one of the ERS one of the leading contenders oh it’s just handicapped form and I just said Welsh national you know how many times have the Welsh national over the years proved a good point and that’s just

Handicap form this is even better handicap form I think I think K Rambler each way Gold Cup that’ll be if he’s in the mix at the bottom of the hill he’s there he’s there come on then the grand Cunningham number one this is it’s a bit vague and speculative nebulous I don’t

Know which race this very unlike you to beely Wishy all these all these races are still to be to clarify I think great warning is a genuine grade one horse I really do I think he’s got two he’s going for Turners I mean that’s I think

I hope so I hope so because he’s in the money in the market for the for the um Brown advisory Chase as well but I expect him to go for the Turner Chase he has Genie’s Destiny to beat you wouldn’t believe how fat that horse was when he

First joined fall Nicholls the grade awning gave him three pound and was very unlucky not to beat him at Shelton Before Christmas he was very smooth in a good race round War last time don’t know what fil Vega is going to do scared stiff of GIC Warrior if he turns up but

I think gray Dawning is a is a gray War Chaser in the making and he’s got a bit of swager about him hasn’t he a really goodl looking gray horse who jumps extravagantly I think he could be a horse who who shows a bit of Stardust

Next week fabulous and finally nap is in the coral cup Ed really strong fantasy for first streak um Nikki Henderson to who’s been kind of pot hunting a little bit they tried to have off fenes hated it he had one run over in Anice Chase earlier this

Season hated it ran behind uh ly Mur and behind Constitution Hill obviously in the Christmas hurdle as well but just a well handicap hor I think he’s wanting that step up in distance as well now if you actually go back to his novice days he he’s got winning form at two and a

Half miles I don’t think the trip is going to be an issue at all um he’s actually won the Jerry fieldon at Newbury off a higher Mark than his current Mark uh he was obviously second in the county hurdle a couple of years ago to State man he’s only a pound pound

Or two higher than that now um yeah I think he’s he reminds me a lot of whisper he was another high for me back in the day Coral cup for Henderson he’s got that sort of profile I really like him that hard knock in sort of handicap

Form at the festival you’d like to see Henderson’s Tuesday runners go well yeah it can happen you know that’s a really good point in terms of punting pointers for the week is to be agile isn’t it you know you you see how those horses are running on the Tuesday if they’re

Running like drains then I’m going to have my stake but yeah I think a couple of promising runs from Henderson AR will tear up hopefully for the uh for the Wednesday good luck chaps that was hunting pointers anchors next it’s time for the finale folks it’s bankers and blowouts time who better to

Bring to the party than DJ what do you want to do first I think we’ll go with the bankers let’s go Bankers you go first what’s the banker of the week well it’s got to be gray Dawning hasn’t it got to be I’m really keen on him turning

Up in the staying race hope that that’s where Dan Skelton go not sure he will well it’s I can see why he doesn’t want to take on the favorite it’s a bit of a concern and you can see why the Turners might be perceived to be an easier race

But he just looks so good at War and I think what was key was that stepping up in trip to three miles and granted a well-run race which he should get at cheltonham I think he’s going to set a really good standard and um you know the

Mullins Hot Pot that looks so good at the drf is going to have to be as good as he looked bear I think now you do the Sporting Life podcast with me and Billy Nash after the BET Fair Chas I put up coric Rambler the Gold Cup Billy Nash

Dave goes absolutely no chance please tell me coric Rambler is your Banker of the entire week not my banker of the entire week however I’m very keen on current Rambler my bank of the entire week is going to be brighter days ahead in the mayor’s noice I think not only

Does her form I think it stacked up better than that of the of dce enes um what about J bruie because the M lot I know they’re Keen but I’m the way the Gordon’s talking bright ah had on on every opportunity he gets he talks about

Her I think she’s very much the apple of his eye and she could be the next that was Jade maybe that’s a disaster may I thought Jade de gruy might be the next Honeysuckle and I had a match be with you last year and lost I’m not going to

Do it again you did I P into that tra again Billy it’s also a disaster cuz I was going to put up Jade de grui as Banker of the week but anyway oh we ar you can I won no you can belly no that’s okay I think obviously we don’t know

What way Willie is going to where who’s going to run where but I think if M Skil power runs in the Supreme first race on Tuesday I think he’ll win I think he’s yes he needs to improve but I’ve been really impressed with him his last two

Runs his turn he has a real potent turn of foot um I think toly Hill much as I like that AR so I think he’ll run in this race rather than b Bor I think toly Hill’s jumping is maybe not quite quick enough for a two mile hardle but I think

Mystical power is just improving all the time he apparently doesn’t work great at home that’s why he’s been maybe not talked up as much as the others but he really turns that on the track and I think whatever beats mystical B will win the Supreme that’s

Your bank I had a a bet in the green room with our esteemed boss Dave o that your blowout would be British yoush funny you might say that oh for goodness sake um if I’m yeah the one I’d like to take on wouldn’t be

One I think it has to be Serino in the Triumph please partly because of the the Henderson form at the moment could you enderson ARs with much confidence at the moment certainly I couldn’t look Serino has looked really really good in his two starts he he looked excellent at chelton

But he’s going to be a ridiculously short price it’ll probably be a big Triumph Will’s going to have he’s going to throw a whole lot at it um Triumph can be messy it wouldn’t he wouldn’t be the first short priced horse to get beaten in a Triumph and look we don’t

Know a lot about these horses so I’d be willing to take him on at a really short price how you’re wrong I’ll be in tears on ITV if siga gets beat I’ll be at Absolute pieces he’s an airplane I hope we see another side B going there

DJ well taking on these Willie Mullan real short prices sounds like um not the smartest of strategies but it’s lossy mouth for me I just don’t think that which race again is it in the in the May in the May’s race yeah she should be running in the champion hurdle and one

Of the reasons that she should be there is because I think two miles is what her best trip is and the extended or just show to the two and a half mil I think that’s going to be a bit of a question mark for her she’s always looked so

Speedy hasn’t she and I think she can crab the form of what she did in the international it wasn’t a strong race it certainly wasn’t strongly run and I think there’s two or three in there that you could uh think could run a good race against her and worst case scenario is

If you take her on each way you’re at least on the right side of the mathematics of the each way bet as well and this is hopefully the one week where you won’t get your account shut for a filthy EA back that’s a whole other issue St

Dave you blow out um I’m going to the price I have to take on galap Panda Shan I’m afraid I know it’s it’s as you Dave’s pointed about taking a look at Billy’s face Billy please Billy give me a chance um but you’ve got you’ve got to

Take on at the price it’s been it’s been noticeably weak actually on the exchange over the last few days drifting out a little bit we know it’s in his Armory to run flat and he as we pointed out before this is going to be the great one where

There’s going to be 13 14 Runners things can happen things can happen in in these races uh at 6 to 4 well near sort of 11 to 10 now really I think I’ve got to I’ve got to be a guest there are there incredible competition in there and

That’s that’s enough for me to take him on Love It Good blowouts hope you enjoyed the preview there will be a stack of content on Sporting Life during the childhood Festival