Cheltenham from 14 March to 17 March 2017

Am a bit puzzled about all this talk of Yorkhill being supplemented for the Champion Hurdle. I would have thought that if Willie Mullins has a potential winner of the race in his yard now that Faugheen and Annie Power are out, then it's Vroum Vroum Mag. I'm not saying that she would win it, but she would have as good a chance as any in what is shaping up to be a weakish renewal of the race.

True Steck this year looks a rather weak field with no stars in line up

Finians Oscar will win at the festival.

Is that for the Neptune on the 15th ?
Its around 5/1 Jim

Finian's is due to run at Exeter on Sunday.

In that case should be a good punt

Altior and Native River both run on Sat

Well after weekend with both winning well
Altior looks a cert
The intersting one is Native River it takes on stable companion Thistlecrack plus Cue Card also going for Cup
The impossible to beat TC is now almost 2/1 and NR is as low as 4/1
Should be a great race and tempted to stick to the "cert" at 2/1

4 weeks today ?

Favourite out of the Big one


Colin Tizzard said:"Thistlecrack is out. He had heat in his leg last night. The vet scanned him this morning and it's a slight tendon tear."

Big news bob and a real pity

Racing post

BARRY GERAGHTY will not ride at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival.

JP McManus's retained rider was hospitalised when falling from Charli Parcs in the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday and with just 16 days until jump racing's biggest four days, his injuries have cost him a place at next month's meeting.

The 37-year-old, who has fractured six ribs and punctured a lung, will not add to his 34 festival winners this year.

"I've a collapsed lung and six broken ribs on my right side," said Geraghty. "I'm obviously devastated to miss the Festival - there were so many good horses to look forward to as JP's team all look in particularly good shape this year."

Speaking to At The Races, he added: "Last night was pretty rough. I've broken ribs individually before but never had six go all at the same time. I'll be in hospital for a few more days but once the lung improves my recovery should be straightforward and I expect to be back for Aintree."

Geraghty was due to ride either Buveur D'Air or Yanworth in the Stan James Champion Hurdle and warm favourite Unowhatimeanharry or Jezki in the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle. He also had the ride on Triumph Hurdle favourite Defi Du Seuil.

In his absence McManus's second jockey Mark Walsh, who is yet to ride a winner at the festival, looks set for a vastly increased role. Paddy Power make Walsh 12-1 to be top jockey at the festival, while he is 20-1 with Betway who now have Aidan Coleman as their 10-1 second favourite.

Only Geraghty (30) has ridden more winners for McManus in Britain this season than Coleman, whose 20 puts him comfortably clear of Richard Johnson who is in third with six. In Ireland Walsh has ridden 48 winners for McManus compared to Geraghty's 24, the only two with more than four winners in the green and gold.

More to follow . . .