Cheltenham Festival Day 3

Well, I mentioned yesterday watch your bets in case the wet stuff came down, but I don’t think anybody saw what was coming. It was biblical, the rain arrived in force and the ground soon turned heavy.

The new clerk of the course has had a nightmare, watering the night before whilst turning the bumper into a chicane was nothing short of ridiculous. Running through a puddle has never hurt anybody and it happens in Ireland most days through the winter.

Despite all of the above, it was still great viewing and a good day on here with three winners and some nice, placed efforts. The icing on the cake would have been the JP gamble highlighted at 6-1. Andy Dufresne beat into second returning 3-1.

I went in big on Energumene when the rain came and had my biggest ever bet. Shishkin was never going to get near Energumene on that ground, as things turned out, never had moments of worry which was handy.

The weather forecast for today is beautiful, clear skies, but the damage has been done. Racing switches to the new course, the ground will be very testing and in favour of the Irish who run on it most days through the jumps season.

Over the years I’ve found the third day of Cheltenham the most difficult. Big fields and big priced winners. For that reason, I’m going very steady and keeping hold of money from Wednesday.

Bob Olinger vs Galopin Des Champs in the first race should be a fantastic duel. No thoughts on it whatsoever but very much looking forward to it. Good luck in the Pertemps at 2:10, sitting this one out as I am the Ryanair where Allaho should take some beating.

A few bookies are paying four places in the Stayers Hurdle at 3:30.

I can’t not have a few quid on Lisnagar Oscar EW who won this race at 50-1 for us a few years ago. Lisnagar Oscar efforts this season can all be ruled out, he’s trained for today only and the ground has come right for him.

Lisnagar Oscar showed a sign he was coming to hand last time out when having to make his own running on good ground. The quicker they go, the better for him and he’ll stay stronger than most. At 33-1 with 4 places on offer, he’s worth a couple of quid EW.

When the rain started yesterday, I backed our syndicate trainer, Tom Lacey’s Admiral EW at 25-1. He runs in the Plate at 4:10. Admiral only shows his form on bottomless ground, it’s all come right for him whilst the yard is in flying form.

Admiral is quirky and he might not like the big field but at the same time, it might help to have other horses push him along. The 25-1 is long gone, he was always going to be backed once others cottoned on to his love for the ground. Tom also said at our Cheltenham preview night, the horse was in good form. 12-1 is the best price now and that will likely go. Plenty of bookies are paying six places.

Couple of big priced bets and that’ll do for today. I won’t be trying to find the winner of the mares’ or Kim Muir.