cheltenham

My Stable - Ian Hogg

Ian Hogg, Managing Director of sponsors Better bookmakers
		Bankers
		103	Fair Along
		105	Detroit City
		Strong Fancies
		201	Amaretto Rose
		211	Den Of Iniquity
		233	New Alco
		242	Pouvoir
		Good Chances
		328	Labelthou
		340	Punjabi
		342	Raslan
		349	Spot Thedifference
		Outside Chances
		442	Snowy Morning
		450	Zilcash

One thing is certain - I'll know my fate in the competition early - in fact just a couple of hours after the 1.45pm deadline for entries. I have an interest in the first three races on the opening day and my two bankers are the stablemates Fair Along (103) in the Arkle and Detroit City (105) in the Champion Hurdle. The pair fought out the finish of the Triumph Hurdle here last season and their trainer Philip Hobbs seems to have struck form at just the right time. We've made Amaretto Rose (201) the 9/4 favourite for the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle - a race where the favourites have a particularly good record. I've been impressed by her attitude and ability in the mud. New Alco (233) is relatively unexposed and from another stable in cracking form whilst Spot Thedifference (349) will surely make another bold bid in the cross-country race he is in danger of monopolising. I was impressed by both Pouvoir (242) and Punjabi (340) who won on really testing ground at Kempton recently whilst in the bumper Den Of Iniquity (211) hasn't beaten much so far but looks a great prospect and may even be good enough for a rare home success in this event. Labelthou (328) impressed when winning the Rendlesham in heavy ground at Haydock and Raslan (342) is a good improving sort from David Pipe's in-form stable. For my outsiders I look to the consistent Snowy Morning (442) and Zilcash (450) who is on a recovery mission after falling here last time.

My Stable - Steve Mason

Steve Mason, Racing Post Ratings
		Bankers
It is a measure of the strength of the stable's Festival challenge that Paul Nicholls trains three of the ten Bankers. For the purposes of Select A Cheltenham Stable, Denman (104) the hot favourite for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, and Gungadu (106), who sidesteps the same race for the much weaker National Hunt Chase, look the best options. Amaretto Rose (201) is clear top-rated in the Supreme Novices' while Brave Inca (204) is still the one to beat in the Champion Hurdle.		104	Denman
		106	Gungadu
		Strong Fancies
		201	Amaretto Rose
		204	Brave Inca
		221	Inglis Drever
		240	Our Vic
		Good Chances
		312	Copsale Lad
		314	Duty
		323	Hide The Evidence
		349	Spot Thedifference
		Outside Chances
		405	Beef Or Salmon
		447	Turko

Inglis Drever (221) is less ground-dependent than his major rivals and is taken to regain his World Hurdle crown, while Our Vic (240) will be the form selection when dropped back to his best trip in the Ryanair Chase after failing to stay behind Exotic Dancer. Copsale Lad (312) will be a big player in either the Coral Cup or the Racing Post Plate, while Duty (314) is rated only behind star filly Lounaos in the Triumph Hurdle. Hide The Evidence (323) is a good Irish second string for the Supreme Novices', while cross-country specialist Spot Thedifference (349) is hard to leave out.

My Stable - Matt Williams

Matt Williams, Trading Post, Racing Post
		Bankers
		101	Aran Concerto
		105	Detroit City
		Strong Fancies
		232	My Way De Solzen
		242	Pouvoir
		244	Saintsaire
		250	Whyso Mayo
		Good Chances
		302	Aranleigh
		319	Granit Jack
		321	Heltornic
		326	Kadoun
		Outside Chances
		416	Hairy Molly
		433	My Will

THERE is only one banker I strongly fancy to win and that is Detroit City (105) in the Champion Hurdle - the rest of them I can see myself opposing on the day. However, if forced to put another one up, I'll go with Arna Concerto (101), who has done little wrong so far and looks pretty solid. I think it's safe to say My Way De Solzen (232) is going to line up in the Arkle, so he'll do, and as I reckon Saintsaire (244) should be in the bankers' list, he'll do as well. The other two, Pouvoir (242) and Whyso Mayo (250), aren't as well fancied, but both should still go close. The 'good chances' I've gone with have all got good chances, and I'd have included Hairy Molly (416) in the list if his name was bracketed in the strong fancies section. I rate him a no-brainer of the outside chances. I'm convinced My Will (433) is going to run well in the Gold Cup and punters could do a lot worse than to side with him, as stablemate Kauto Star is no good thing, and if he doesn't win, something has to.

My Stable - Alan Bentley

Alan Bentley, At The Races sports betting pundit
		Bankers
Bankers : Detroit City (105) : there’s nothing flashy about Phillip Hobbs’ grey, but he a relentless galloper and showed in the Boylesports.com international at Cheltenham in December that the hill holds no fears for him. And remember, he readily disposed of Hardy Eustace that day. Kauto Star (107): of course there are concerns about his jumping but he is the most talented horse in the field and I just hope he does himself justice in what is not a vintage renewal of the Gold Cup.		105	Detroit City
		107	Kauto Star
		Strong Fancies
		222	Katchit
		230	Millenium Royal
		232	My Way De Solzen
		244	Saintsaire
		Good Chances
		305	Bica
		311	Clopf
		349	Spot Thedifference
		356	Tot O'Whiskey
		Outside Chances
		416	Hairy Molly
		449	United

Strong Fancies : Saintsaire (244): Paul Nicholls has stated that he feels this is his banker of the meeting. Who am I to argue ? Katchit (222) and My Way De Solzen (232) both represent the Alan King yard. Both have form at Cheltenham, and Robert Thornton could be a live outsider in the Top Festival Jockey market. Good Chances : Clopf (311): I’m not sure it will be a great Cheltenham for the Irish, but Barry Geraghty feels there is something of Moscow Flyer in Clopf, and that’s good enough for me. Spot Thedifference (349): how can you get away from Enda Bolger’s ageless hero in the Cross Country, while in the Foxhunter’s Sam Waley-Cohen is in a different league to the rest of the jockeys and Bica (305) has a big chance. I backed Tot O’Whiskey (356) when he dotted up on debut at Hexham and have since followed him closely. Trainer Malcolm Jefferson won the race with Dato Star and he can put an end to the Irish domination of the Bumper. Outside Chances : The World Hurdle is already missing the great Barracouda, and with Black Jack Ketchum’s participation in doubt and the Howard Johnson yard under a cloud, I fancy United (449) to cause an upset. Lucy Wadham trains in Newmarket and I met her a few years ago when she trained a horse called Matt Holland, and believe she is a trainer to watch.

My Stable - Karl Hedley

Karl Hedley, winner of Search For A Tipster
		Bankers
Karl Hedley, 27, from Belfast beat over 4,000 wannabe tipsters to become the winner of the Racing Post's 2007 Search For A Tipster - winning £25,000. Now Karl turns his attention to Select A Stable Cheltenham......		103	Fair Along
		109	Well Chief
		Strong Fancies
		203	Blazing Bailey
		204	Brave Inca
		215	Exotic Dancer
		235	New Little Brick
		Good Chances
		332	Liberthine
		340	Punjabi
		344	Royals Darling
		35	Tysou
		Outside Chances
		416	Hairy Molly
		418	Honourable Spider

My two bankers are Fair Along (103) and Well Chief (109) . I love the attitude of both horses. Fair Along is so small, yet he attacks those fences with so much courage. He also has pace in abundance. I think that as proven with Lucifer Bleu, David Pipe can notch another victory out of Well Chief. He is sheer class, having mixed it with the likes of Azertyuiop and Moscow Flyer a couple of seasons ago. I will be very put out if these two don't win as I think out of all the favourites at Cheltenham, they deserve it the most. My four strong fancies are Brave Inca (204), whose sheer guts and determination deserve another Champion Hurdle. Blazing Bailey (203) is next on my list as I think there is much uncertainty regarding several leading contenders within the World Hurdle Field. Exotic Dancer (215) has course form at Cheltenham that reads 1211, that is good enough for a Gold Cup and finally New Little Brick (235) really impressed me on his last start and I think he can continue a winning thread. Within the Good chances Category I have selected a few Nicky Henderson horses as they are usually in the firing line in big handicaps irrespective of their price (Remember Irish Hussar last year!!) Here I have selected Tysou (357), Punjabi (340) and Royals Darling (344). All must be feared and I can see anything of his shortening as Mick Fitz may be retiring and looking to out with a bang (Also an outsider for top jockey which I will have a couple of quid on). My final Selection would have been Ringaroses (343), but that is now doubtful and I have elected Liberthine (332) as a replacement, again from the Henderson Stable, but with top novice Sam Whaley Cohen on board, looks to give me another good run. As for outsiders, The obvious one for me is Hairy Molly (416) as she won at last years festival and has been targeted for the festival again. Whilst Honourable Spider (418) is a classy recruit who has won his two previous starts and he may just prove that he really has eight legs compared to the rest.

My Stable - Craig Thake

Craig Thake, Big Race Trends		Bankers
FIRSTLY, there is no such thing as a Festival banker, and I can think of at least one reason why all the 'Bankers' may get turned over. However, Wichita Lineman looks the safest option as tackles the weakest race, while Well Chief at his best is different class. Hardy Eustace loves it at the Festival and looks assured to be in the Champion Hurdle shake-up, while Silverburn has solid claims in the Ballymire Properties.		109	Well Chief
		110	Wichita Lineman
		Strong Fancies
		219	Hardy Eustace
		233	New Alco
		245	Silverburn
		246	Spring The Que
		Good Chances
		312	Copsale Lad
		340	Punjabi
		342	Raslan
		349	Spot Thedifference
		Outside Chances
		433	My Will
		442	Snowy Morning

New Alco has run three top-class races over the course this year, and he must go close wherever he runs. Spring The Que looked a hurdler for the future when landing the Pierse and could still be ahead of the handicapper in the County. Nicky Henderson rarely goes a Festival without a winner, and Punjabi in the Triumph and Copsale Lad, whatever his engagements look his picks. Raslan looks potentially well handicapped in the Fred Winter and cross country specialist Spot Thedifference is a safe option. Snowy Morning has the ideal profile for a SunAlliance winner, and will start much shorter than most those in the 'outside chances' section. A Big priced horse often places in the Gold Cup, and My Will should be staying on when most have cried enough.