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Tanya Stevenson's Racing UK Blog |
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Tanya's Blog - Thursday 15th March 2012
It's freezing in the press room, the many layers aren’t fending off the cold and the bacon in the butty has congealed! Not appetising. I didn’t have my finest hour in my betting pod on the Morning Line, ruing the fact time is always impatient, least of all waiting for me. Questions have to be more succinct, yet you learn something every day, me I learn lots of things every hour!
The press room seems empty, the atmosphere much calmer. What a wonderful industry we are attached to, never a dull moment and always drama and excitement to debate about. I hate looking back but yesterday was much better on the tipping front which gives me a boost ahead of Fox Appeal.
A loud cheer in the press room as the Racing Post’s Andrew King walks in, he takes his place on the desk behind me. Now, I digress, back to today and back to the selections. Although I like Champion Court in the first I couldn’t back him.
In the Pertemps I agree with Tom Segal with Pineau De Re and I will mix it up with forecasts with Across The Bay. I also go into battle with two horses in the Ryanair, Kalahari King and Poquelin, I want to take on the front few.
Then there is Big Buck’s I’ll be hoping he’ll win, I fancy Thousand Stars but I won’t be on him, it’s a watching brief.
Come on Notus De La Tour this is your big day, however I have always thought he would be better off bypassing Cheltenham and going to Aintree! This though is a winnable race for him looking at his form in Ireland and at least a place is on the cards.
In the final event it is back to dabbling in the forecasts with Brackloon High and Faasel. Fingers are tightly crossed.
POINTERS
Since 1996 there have been 37 runners aged ten or over and only one has won, Buena Vista last year.
Only one winning five-year-old in 36 runnings (0 from 35 since 96)
Only one winner out of the handicap since 1974
The last eight winners have been priced in double figures
Only one favourite has won in the last ten years the remaining winners have been no better than fourth in the betting
Since 1996 40 horses have worn blinkers managing only one win, two seconds and three thirds
Six of the seven winners have been priced 6-1 or shorter
Five of the seven finished in the first three, last time out
The favourite has only won once in seven runnings
All seven winners had previously won at Cheltenham
Poquelin has won four of his ten races at Cheltenham
Three winners of the Ascot Chase have been beaten
No Irish-trained winner for 16 years
No 5-year-old has ever won
The last 9 winners no bigger than 8-1
Horses aged 9 and over are one from 71 since 1988
AP McCoy’s last 12 rides have all been beaten including three favourites
All of the last ten winners finished first or second last time out
Big Buck’s has won six of his seven races at Cheltenham
The last 9 winners were 12-1 or bigger
12 of the last 14 winners carried under 11 stone
Since 2000 the Favourite has been second five times
In the last ten years the shortest priced winner has been fifth in the betting
AP McCoy is one from five on favourites in the Byrne Plate
17 of the last 19 winners had previously run at the Cheltenham Festival
Just one Irish-trained winner since 1951
13 runners for Nicky Henderson since 2003 have resulted in, 2 winners, one second, three thirds
