Having continually told members of the excellence of trainer Joseph O’Brien has in setting up successful raids on big races the world over.It’s time to put my words into action and my money where my mouth is.!
The drying ground and generous odds makes it highly likely that the stable can pull off two more handicap plots with horses that have already successfully collected huge prizes for the yard. The skill of the trainer is obvious as both go to handicaps at Cheltenham still with good handicap marks.
Firstly on Thursday in the Jack Richards Novices Chase at 2.00pm Nurburgring can land another big prize for the team having already won the 150,000 Galway Hurdle.
That race is traditionally one of the most competitive hard fought in the Irish Calendar. Nurburgring off a mark of 139 turned the race into a possession. Always travelling strongly he was never going to be beaten winning eased down by JJ Slevin by 7L
His mark on Thursday 143 – just 4lbs higher. His mark has been preserved by being carefully introduced to fences. He has not looked a natural jumper but he has been held up in every race and his best form is when being up with the pace – a run style ideally suited to Cheltenham.
Springwell Bay comes here rather than the plate with Jagwar switched to the that race, leaving JP McManus with no runner here and meaning the amateur Tom Costello can ride 2nd favourite Asian Master, which with respect is a negative. I do think Springwell Bay is the main danger but he will be raced cold and if Nurburgring jumps well he will be long gone and clear before Springwell is delivered to land the first leg of a tasty looking double
The 2nd leg can be completed by Lark in the Mornin in the County Hurdle. I am putting this up on Tuesday before the declarations are made as the current price of 7/1 will collapse if Kopek De Mee is declared for the Martin Pipe. Which hopefully will be the case as it looks much the easier option for the Willie Mullins blot on the handicap which we are on at 5/1. he could well go off at 2/1 or less in the Martin Pipe.
Lark in the Mornin won the Fred Winter at the festival in 2024 despite drifting from 3/1 to 9/1 because of the rain softened ground. He bolted in off a mark of 122 and is 10lb higher this year. However, he would have won with a mark of 20lb more and he has been campaigned this year in the knowledge that the mark of 132 is still well within his capabilities.
Clearly if Kopek Dee Mee runs here it will be a challenge but with at last 5 places on offer its worth taking that risk to get the better price.
Recommended Bets
1pt win Nurburgring 2.00 Cheltenham Thursday 13/2
1pt win Lark in the Mornin 2.00 Cheltenham Friday 7/1
0.5pt ew Double Nurburgring (1-5 places Bet 365) Lark In the Mornin 7/1 (1-5 places Bet 365) Place double pays 9/2. Which will also cover the already advised 1pt win bet on Valgrand in the County Hurdle if that fails to win.
Chrysalis Consortium 
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