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TANYA'S BLOG - 16th MARCH 2010

There was I thinking that Dunguib could drift out to 5-4 but all morning he stood firm at around 1.97 on the exchanges, his destiny is pivotal to the whole punting meeting in the battle of them (the bookmakers) against us the punters. I like the look of Tote Gold Trophy winner Get Me Out Of Here he beat a competitive field at Newbury and totally forgiveness can be given to Menorah for his last run at Ascot, an ill judged ride in my opinion and he will make amends today. So oppose Dunguib.

Somersby ran a blinder at Sandown and the form holds strong now that Tchico Polos won easily at the Esher venue on Saturday. The fact he hasn’t run in this calendar year doesn’t bother me and he should get a good lead from Sports Line, who could keep going all the way to the line. Of the other Irish Challengers Sizing Europe doesn’t do it for me since his run in the Champion Hurdle two years ago, Captain Cee Bee would have been beaten by Sizing Europe.

Then it is the turn of Character Building, and a big gamble by the owners in putting up Barry Geraghty, I would have preferred Dougie Costello as he knows the horse. The quirky sort needs producing right on the line and he is sure to be impossible to keep out of the frame. Big each-way chance for Chief Dan George and New Alco both Northern challengers have major claims

The Champion Hurdle will create a millionaire in Go Native. The horse won at the meeting last year and has the master that is Paul Carberry in the saddle, Starluck is my each-way selection.

Good luck to Nina Carberry and lets hope she can win her third Cross Country race.

As for now get the glass of water by your side, clear your throat and get ready to roar at 1.30pm

TANYA’S POINTERS

Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

13 of the last 14 winners won last time out

5 of the last nine winners were aged 6

75% of the winners since 1992 had run no more than three times over hurdles

Irish challengers have won seven of the last nine

Six of the last 8 winners have had either yellow or gold as part of their silks

Only one of Willie Mullins last twelve runners have won

The last 13 Nicky Henderson runners have all been beaten, but he has had three thirds and two seconds

Richard Johnson’s last 9 rides have all been beaten

Barry Geraghty’s last 6 rides all beaten

Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy

Only two winning favourites since 1992

Only one front runner has made all since 1980

19 of the last 20 winners had finished first or second on all completed chase starts

20 of the 22 winners finished first or second last time out

30 five-year-olds have run since 1996, four winners, three seconds, three thirds

Only one winner older than seven in the last ten years

Since Azertyuiop won for Paul Nicholls in 2003 his nine subsequent runners have all been beaten, three were favourites

Since 1997 AP McCoy has had 11 rides in the Arkle, resulting in three winners, two seconds and a third

11 of the last 13 winners had white incorporated somewhere on his silks

William Hill Trophy H’cap Chase

Only two winning favourites since 1977

Since and including 1999, 57 horses have tried to carry 11 stone or more, all have failed, but they have achieved four seconds, five thirds and four fourths.

Seven of the last eight winners had finished in the first three on their previous start

Horses aged 11 or older have failed to reach the frame from 29 runners since 1997

Since 2000 only one winner priced bigger than 8-1

Since 2000 only one winner aged ten or older

Five of the last seven winners won on their previous outing

Jonjo O’Neill’s eight runners have resulted in a win and two seconds, three have pulled up though

Since 2000 Nicky Henderson has had one winner, two seconds and two thirds

Paul Carberry and Robert Thornton have both ridden the winner twice

Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy

Katchit was the first of 75 five-year-olds to run in the Champion Hurdle and win since See You Then was successful in 1985

22 of the last 26 Champion Hurdlers had won last time out

14 of the last 18 Champion Hurdlers had won or finished second at the previous Festival

Only three winners older than 8 since 1951

Four of the last nine favourites have won

Ireland have won six of the last nine runnings

Seven of the last nine winners of the Champion Hurdle had won previously at Cheltenham

Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy

Record of horses to finish runner-up the subsequent year -

1960 ALBERGO 1961 FELL Celestial Halo 2nd in 2009

1962 QUELLE CHANCE 1963 3RD

1963 FARNEY FOX 1964 12TH

1965 SPARTAN GENERAL 1966 6TH

1966 SEMPERVIVUM 1967 FELL

1969 DRUMKILL 1970 7TH

1970 MAJOR ROSE 1971 3RD

1974 COMEDY OF ERRORS 1975 WON

1975 FLASH IMP 1976 3RD

1976 BIRDS NEST 1977 5TH

1977 MONKSFIELD 1978 WON

1978 SEA PIGEON 1979 2ND

1979 SEA PIGEON 1980 WON

1981 POLLARDSTOWN 1982 4TH

1982 BROADSWORD 1983 4TH

1983 BOREEN PRINCE 1984 8TH

1985 ROBIN WONDER 1986 PU

1990 NOMADIC WAY 1991 2ND

1992 OH SO RISKY 1993 5TH

1997 THEATREWORLD 1998 2ND

1998 THEATREWORLD 1999 2ND

1999 THEATREWORLD 2000 9TH

2000 HORS LA LOI III 2002 WON

2002 MARBLE ARCH 2003 12TH

2003 WESTENDER 2004 5TH

2004 ROOSTER BOOSTER 2005 8TH

2008 OSANA 2009 11TH

Record of horse to finish third the subsequent year Binocular was 3rd in 2009

1961 FARMER’S BOY 1962 5TH

1964 KIRRIEMUIR 1965 WON

1967 TALGO ABBESS 1968 FELL

1968 BLACK JUSTICE 1969 PU

1973 CAPTAIN CHRISTY 1974 WON GOLD CUP

1975 TREE TANGLE 1976 7TH

1977 DRAMATIST 1978 5TH

1980 BIRDS NEST 1981 7TH

1981 DARING RUN 1982 Slipped Up

1982 EKBALCO 1983 5TH

1983 FOR AUCTION 1984 9TH

1985 STANS PRIDE 1986 PU

1986 NOHALMDUN 1987 8TH

1988 CELTIC CHIEF 1989 2ND

1991 RULING 1992 3RD

1992 RULING 1993 PU

1994 LARGE ACTION 1995 2ND

1995 DANOLI 1996 4TH

1996 PRIDWELL 1997 7TH

2004 INTERSKY FALCON 2005 6TH

2005 BRAVE INCA 2006 WON

2006 HARDY EUSTACE 2007 4TH

2007 AFSOUN 2008 7TH

2008 PUNJABI 2009 WON

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

From 20 possible places Enda Bolger runners have filled ten of them

Enda Bolger has trained three of the four winners, two seconds, two thirds and two fourths

Enda Bolger has won 14 of the 30 Cross Country Races at Cheltenham

JP McManus has owned four of the last five winners

None of the victors have had a starting price bigger than 4-1

Miss Nina Carberry has ridden three winners and a third

Horses aged younger than 8 are 1 from 72 over these fences at Cheltenham