This page will be used as a summary for the Majors antepost thoughts. As I record my thoughts, advices and mingle them with memories and lessons from history, it will all go here.
I will also link in some other amateur bloggers who have been kind enough to share their views.
This festival is building into an absolute classic. There are so many questions to be answered, three of the four championship races have wide open markets (Jan 21st). This Cheltenham Festival might also have a number of surprises. Throughout the winter we have run the major Grade 1 races on soft or heavy, if Cheltenham brings the usual spring good to soft, we might see some dramatic improvements and deteriorations in form.
Antepost Cheltenham Tips
The Major is starting with a look at the Gold Cup itself….
The Major’s Gold Cup Antepost Tips – Once you have read mine, I would heartily recommend a read of Alex Owen’s thoughts which you can find here…
Added 21/1/13 – The Major’s antepost champion hurdle thoughts.
Added 28/1/13 – Cheltenham Trials Day Notes
Chetenham Festival Guide
There are a few pages I created last year collating a few thoughts about how to get the best from the festival. Follow this link for the Major’s Cheltenham Festival Guide
Useful Cheltenham Links
Tickets – Get your Cheltenham tickets
Racing Post Big Race Entries – Check out the cards in advance
The Cheltenham Antepost Markets – Oddschecker Cheltenham Betting
UK Horseracing Tips - The Major 
Major I love your website I would just like to mention some horses that I think will go close at the festival in March.Firstly one observation from Trials Day is that conditions were very testing and all horses that ran last Saturday had tough races.CAPE TRIBULATION won the Argento but unless the ground is testing for the Gold Cup cannot see him repeating this come March.BOBS WORTH looks the one to beat and I would throw in THE GIANT BOLSTER has an each way selection the latter will come into his own on better ground and loves Prestbury Park.The form of BOBS WORTH’s Hennessy is cast iron.
REVE DE SIVOLA is as tough as teak but his wins in the Cleeve and Long Walk were in bog like conditions and OSCAR WHISKY could take his revenge in the World Hurdle.But I am a big fan of Irish trained MONKSLAND who is a big improver.Other big Irish hopes look like JEZKI for the Supreme and PONT ALEXANDRE for the Neptune.
To finish I have two dark ones for the Handicaps and a horse for the 4 miler.
Connections have entered KATENKO for the Gold Cup but still off a mark of around 150 he should go for the 3m Handicap Chase on Day One.He has a progressive profile similar to Hunt Ball last season who took the same prize.
SHOEGAZER looks like a D.Pipe plot for a handicap and I would keep a close eye on this one.My horse for the 4m Amateur Chase is SIRE COLLONGES.Earlier in the season he ran at Cheltenham against Our Father and although he was readily beaten I loved his jumping and looking one paced over 3m I thought immediately go for the 4 miler.P Nicholls likes a tilt at this race and SIRE COLLONGES looks tailor made for the race.
Great write up…. Thanks for making the effort…. I shall definitely be mentioning some of these! Shoegazer was an eye catcher at Cheltenham on Saturday… I hope you didn’t follow any of my trials day advice, I managed to get everything beaten!
Major the Festival is just over 5 weeks away and I’ve come up with a mid season Ten To Follow.I reckon these horses will win us some money if we follow them for the rest of the season some are running at the weekend but I have put their likely target in each analysis.
AUPCHARLIE trained in Ireland by the redoubtable W.Mullins this 7 y-o has showed ability racing in the prevailing mud in his homeland.The key to this one must surely be a trip over the Irish Sea to race on better ground.The dam’s mother is Lear Fan whose progeny all like top of the ground.
(Likely Target – JEWSON at Cheltenham)
(Back – On Decent Ground)
BRACKLOON HIGH trained by Noel Chance this 8 y-o gelding had struggled but won last time out at Kempton under the excellent amateur jockey Mr N De Boinville.Looks rejuvenated and can go in again but has to race on a right handed track.He runs tomorrow at Sandown.
(Likely Target – RACING PLUS CHASE at Kempton 23 Feb)
(Back – Next Two Runs)
CLOSE HOUSE only raced once this season and won on Boxing Day at Wincanton on heavy ground which he would have hated.This 5 y-o by Generous is flat bred but obviously needs a trip and the 2m4f he won at Wincanton seems the minimum.Expect D.Pipe his trainer to aim him for a handicap on good ground in the not too distant future.
(Likely Target – CORAL CUP at Cheltenham)
(Back – On Good Going)
COOLE AVENUE trained in Ireland by the very underrated Thomas Cooper this 9 y-o is being aimed at a sortee to the Cheltenham Festival.Thomas Cooper has a remarkable Cheltenham record with a handful of runners over the last decade.Forpadydeplasterer and River Liane are two that have landed big pots at the festival.Coole Avenue is being aimed for a likely tilt at the Pertemps Final he won two races in the autumn but has been given two “sympathetic rides” in his last two races and runs at Punchestown on Sunday where no doubt he will get a 3rd school round and then hopefully dropped another a few pounds in the handicap comes over to contest the aforementioned Pertemps Final.
(Likely Target – PERTEMPS FINAL at Cheltenham)
(Back – PERTEMPS FINAL)
OUR MICK this 7 y-o Karinga Bay gelding was tanking along last time out at Cheltenham when falling in the race won by the well touted Katenko.This flying grey is an admirable front runner with bold tactics should win a decent 3m Handicap Chase.Donald McCain loves to plunder a big chase.
(Likely Target – 3m HANDICAP CHASE at Cheltenham)
(Back – FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON)
PRINCE DE BEAUCHEME I think this 10 y-o could win this year’s Grand National.Last time out he won over hurdles and this trend seems common place as horses need their handicap protecting for the big gig in April.Expect this one to have a light campaign and then go for the big one.
(Likely Target – GRAND NATIONAL)
(Back – GRAND NATIONAL)
OUR ISLAND this 8 y-o was 5th in the Welsh National and screams Midlands National to me.He runs tomorrow at Ffos Las and must be backed.By Turtle Island who has threw up some very decent chasers such as Bensalem and Seabass,Our Island has stamina in abundance.Trained in Wales by Tim Vaughan he should go close tomorrow.
(Likely Target – MIDLANDS NATIONAL)
(Back – NEXT TWO STARTS)
TANERKO EMERY owned by Dai Walters this improving hurdler trained by David Pipe still races off a lenient mark of 136 and can win the Welsh Champion Hurdle tomorrow at the owner’s own track.
(Likely Target – WELSH CHAMPION HURDLE)
(Back – TOMORROW)
TEAFORTHREE this clean jumping chaser trained by Rebecca Curtis went very close in the Welsh National coming a gallant second to Monbeg Dude there is still a big prize to win with this one and I think it will be next time out in the Haydock mud on 16 February the 8 y-o Oscar gelding runs in the Natinal trial there.
(Likely Target – HAYDOCK NATIONAL TRIAL)
(Back – NEXT TIME)
WYCK HILL – this 9 y-o is trained by the chirpy David Bridgwater and holds an entry in the Gold Cup after a superb victory at Ascot against the highly touted Katenko.This bold jumper is still ahead of the handicapper and follow for the rest of the season.
(Likely Target – POSSIBLE FESTIVAL TILT)
(Back – FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON)
That is a fantastically detailed comment – Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. These are all going on my watch list so I can share the thrills and spills with you!! I had my eye on Tanerko too – Will put it in the Saturday Sermon!