Thursday, November 15, 2007

Cheltenham's Open meeting - Friday

Tomorrow's 3.05 at Cheltenham looks a hot race which should prove informative as the season progresses. Zilcash is the top rated horse and sets a decent standard, which Philip Hobbs' Snap Tie and David Pipe's Quaddick Lake will look to beat. In a recent running over course and distance Snap Tie and Quaddick Lake came to the last together but the Pipe inmate fell, leaving Snap Tie to collect the spoils. Many commentators felt Quaddick Lake would have come off second best had he stood up but David Pipe disagrees and has gone on record as saying that Quaddick Lake is his best chance of a winner at the whole meeting, a meeting which the stable has targeted several times in the past. I saw Spectait win very easily at Aintree three weeks ago; this is a higher class race but he could be anything. A close call but, given the Pipe stable recommendation, I will side with Quaddick Lake.

I'm intrigued by Glasker Mill in the 1.20. I guess Paul Nicholls' Ofarel d'Airy will start favourite but his inexperience may count against him. Going through some old Weekender stable tours, I came across Henrietta Knight's comment that Glasker Mill will be a better horse this season. I'm undecided at this stage and will make a decision sometime tomorrow. Boychuk could also be competitive having recently run in decent handicaps.

Imperial Commander's recent course and distance defeat of Over The Creek will ensure the horse starts at a short price for the 3.45. I'd be wary of taking a short price about Imperial Commander as some of his jumping looked a little unassured last time.

At the grand old age of fourteen Spot Thedifference will attempt to win the Cross Country Chase once again; should he succeed there won't be a dry eye in the house.

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

Quaddick Lake, backed in to 11/4 favouritism, appeared one of the first beat and trailed in last of the nine runners; this was a most disappointing effort. Snap Tie, with whom he had close form, ran his race to finish second to the appropriately named I'msingingtheblues, a surprise 14/1winner.
Glasker Mill (11/2) on the other hand just collected the spoils with a short head victory over 15/8favourite Ofarel D'Airey; unfortunately I didn't get round to supporting him.
Imperial Commander (4/7f) won in the manner he should have, his jumping proving to be no cause for concern.
Spot Thedifference (11/4) won his *seventh* Cross Country Chase - can you believe it? Just after crossing the line, the fourteen year old collapsed in a heap; everyone feared the worst when the screens were brought out but, bless my old boots, he'd just overdone it a bit and needed a quick breather - he got back up and was promptly led into the winners' enclosure. What a horse!