The day we knew had to come has arrived Frankel the horse of our lifetimes takes his bow today at Ascot.
At least we hope he does as I write his owners representatives are walking the track but I’m fairly sure he will run, he is such a huge horse with a massive stride on him there is the frightening possibility that he will improve on this ground.
What we don’t want of course is to see him turned over, although from my point of view that wouldn’t diminish anything he has ever done but I can see how many would feel that his aura of invincibility is part of the legend and that it would by definition prick that particular bubble. My abiding memory of him will be of York this year as they came round the home bend he was in sixth place and there was a hush on the Knavesmire. Penny said to me “He is a long way back is he ok?” There was no need to reply partly because she never listens but also because as she finished the phrase Queally sat motionless began to just come through the field. These were group one horses and yet they appeared to be running through treacle. This proved to me that this horse cannot be beaten at this trip and though I rate the french raider Cirrus des Aigles very highly in fact he paid for Arc weekend and made my members very happy as we smashed into him I have given up trying to get Frankel beat and I expect him to win by 5 lengths today and ride off into the sunset. We will not see his like again and racing must get the maximum publicity around today because this horse should be back page and front page news tomorrow!
It’s easy to forget it’s a brilliant jumping card at Cheltenham today with all the Frankel fever in the air, however, it offers some tremendous betting opportunities and we are going in hard with three members bets. We are sitting pretty in the upper regions of the BetFan top ten this month and this is the time of year to get with me because I know which stables are forward and which are still to come to hand which is vital at this stage of the season. One horse who is well forward in his work is our TGD free Saturday cracker and she runs at Cheltenham this afternoon. It is trained by the man who will surely be Champion Trainer this year Nicky Henderson and ridden by the man who will certainly be Champion jockey AP and she is called Nadiya De La Vega and should be backed each way with Betfred at a lovely 12/1. She won first time out last year and the feeling is this is the best time to catch her so she is being brought straight to Cheltenham. It is a competitive race as you would expect but AP should be able to get her into a nice rhythm and bring her through between the last two fences, lets be honest who would you want your money on when they hit that final hill, exactly.
So Cheltenham for the betting and the spectacle then pause and raise a glass to Frankel and Sir Henry they both richly deserve it! Have a great weekend!
Back next Saturday.
The Gambling Don
http://go.betfan.com/1000/119
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