Pundit Arena Because Sport Is Everything
The Greatest Show on Turf didn’t disappoint this year and it was great to tip a few winners on the blog.
The highlight of the week was our 27/1 double on Day 2 with Presenting Percy and Tiger Roll bolting up. We also had notable priced winners with Balko Des Flos (14/1), Missed Approach (11/1) and Rathvinden (7/1), while Footpad (11/10) won The Arkle under a superb patient ride from Ruby Walsh.
Full breakdown of the week is below with 1 point used per each tip given. If you had put €10 on each tip, you would be up €450.94!
Also included is an early Grand National fancy. Thanks for tuning in.
Cheltenham Tips Full Results
6 winners (14/1, 11/1, 7/1, 7/1, 5/2 & 11/10)
4 places (18/1, 16/1, 12/1, 10/1)
1 double (27/1)
Tuesday:
Staked 11.00 pts
Returned 10.10 pts
Profit: -0.90 pts
1.30 Getabird 15/8 (NB) -1.00
2.10 Footpad 11/10 (NAP) +1.10
2.50 Singlefarmpayment 8/1 -1.00
3.30 Faugheen 13/2, 5/2 w/o fav -2.00
4.10 Jer’s Girl 14/1, 11/2 w/o fav -2.00
4.50 Rathvinden 7/1 +7.00
5.30 Testify 11/1 ew -1.00
Treble: Getabird, Footpad & Apples Jade -1.00
EW Double: Rathvinden & Testify -1.00
Wednesday
Staked 11.00 pts
Returned 42.00 pts
Profit: +31.00 pts
1.30 Scarpeta 33/1, 16/1 ew w/o fav +0.50
2.10 Presenting Percy 5/2 (NAP) +2.50
2.50 Diamond King 25/1 ew -1.00
3.30 Charbel 50/1, 22/1 ew w/o fav -2.00
4.10 Tiger Roll 7/1 (NB) +7.00
4.50 Oxford Blu 20/1 ew -1.00
5.30 Rhinestone 8/1 ew -1.00
Double: Presenting Percy & Tiger Roll +27.00
EW Trixie: Diamond King, Oxford Blu & Rhinestone -1.00
Thursday
Staked 11 pts
Returned 26.94 pts
Profit: +15.94 pts
1.30 Invitation Only 3/1 (NAP) -1.00
2.10 Forza Milan 14/1 ew -1.00
2.50 Balko Des Flos 14/1 or 13/2 ew w/o fav +18.0625
3.30 Augusta Kate 40/1 ew (NB) -1.00
4.10 Last Goodbye 11/1 ew -1.00
4.50 Salsaretta 33/1, 16/1 ew w/o fav -2.00
5.30 Missed Approach 11/1 ew +6.875
Double: Invitation Only & Balko Des Flos w/o fav -1.00
EW Trixie: Augusta Kate, Last Goodbye & Missed Approach -1.00
Friday
Staked 9.00 pts
Returned 8.91 pts
Profit: -0.09 pts
1.30 Apple’s Shakira 13/8 (NAP) -1.00
2.10 Chesterfield 18/1 ew +1.75
2.50 Calett Mad 16/1 ew -1.00
3.30 Road to Respect 12/1 ew (NB) +1.00
4.10 Burning Ambition 7/2 -1.00
4.50 Sire Du Berlais 10/1 ew +0.75
5.30 Bouvreuil 14/1 ew -1.00
Double: Apples Shakira & Road to Respect -1.00
EW Trixie: Chesterfield, Calett Mad & Sire Du Berlais +1.405
Total Staked 42.00 pts
Total Returns 87.94 pts
Total Profit +45.94 pts
Return on Investment: 109.39%
Grand National Ante Post Tip
A couple of the winners put up the night before were horses I had been on ante post. Ante post is where bookmakers price up a race long before final declarations are made. There is no money back if you have a non-runner but if you do get a horse there, the price on the day will tend to be a lot shorter.
This brings me on to my Grand National tip. The Grand National is the most popular National Hunt race of the year and will take place on Saturday 14th April this year. It is known as a lottery race with a lot of luck needed for a horse to get round, let alone win. In saying all that, in recent years it has become a lot more of a class race, due to safety improvements and I do have a strong fancy.
Cause of Causes won the Cross Country at Cheltenham in 2017 before going on to finish 2nd in the Grand National. I believe Tiger Roll can go one better.
He jumped absolutely brilliant over the Cross Country fences and arguably won it a lot more impressively than his stablemate the previous year, having to deal with soft ground. He will be expected to improve for his preferred better ground at Aintree.
He won The National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in 2016, which is run over a trip of 4 miles, so stamina shouldn’t be an issue.
Gordon Elliot has come out confirming, that all going to plan, Tiger Roll and Cause of Causes will go for the Grand National and out of the two, I most certainly will be favouring Tiger Roll.
With 20/1 still available, he is a horse I can see shortening right up to the day of the race where he could be a single figure price. I believe he is worth a very solid each way bet and with a bit of luck, he can run a cracker.
Grand National Selection: TIGER ROLL 20/1 each way (5 places)
