Big Bucks needed for festive celebrations

Well how's the week going. Only two days left and it's all over. I fancied Master Minded to get stuffed and saw it as a two horse race between Big Zeb and Sizing Europe. Wish I bothered to do the reverse forecast as it paid over €40. to a €1 stake. When will I ever learn. Chicago Grey keeps us in the black for the week and looking through the St Patrick's Day card, I see winners galore, what could possibly go wrong.

World Hurdle

You'll need Big Bucks in your pocket already if you want to win Bucks Bucks by backed Big Bucks in the World Hurlde. Will he win? Well he has won his last 10 starts and done it without breaking sweat. He is a two time champion and has had this division to his self for over 18 months. This field is not too shabby though. Grand Crus has

emerged as the young pretender to Big Bucks throne and has been visually very impressive and importantly has some course and distance form in the book. The big danger is of course the ground. There is no way they'll withdraw him for the race but they have done as such each time the ground has been on the fast side. He'll need a deluge to beat Big Bucks and that looks heavily odds against. Big Bucks should be heavy odds on with the ground conditions.

If Rigour Back Bob wins, there will be some party in the streets of Galway courtesy of John Mulholland. There has been loads of bets struck at fancy prices and you can still get some on the Edward O Grady trained horse. He looks to be running for 3rd and is not a forlorn hope who could relish the better ground.

Ashkazar loves it around here and also can get in the shakedown for the places. Of the Willie Mullins two, my preference would be Fiveforthree despite the jockey bookings. Bertie's Dream is another bogey horse of John Mulholland after cleaning out the tills at 33/1 in last season's Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle. I thought he was a pig back then, a pig still but I'm more sensible to write off Gilligan horses completely. At at big price I like Celestial Halo and can see owner having a one-two. He would of stepped up to this trip ages ago if it were not for Big Bucks already as he looked tailor made for it. Flopping over fences he has came back down over the smaller obstacles(Just like Big Bucks) and looks a decent each way bet.



VERDICT: Big Bucks & Celestial Halo(EW)

Ryanair Chase

This looks one of the weakest renewals of this event for some time but thankfully we have a great chance of backing a winner so who cares. Albertas Run won this last season doing handstands. His form this season has been rank rotten but don't let that put you off. He is game, will love the ground and should win. Poquelin has looked better than ever this season after winning off top weight in the big Cheltenham handicap in December but the old stat about horses last running being outside the calendar year is holding up this week and at the prices is one to take on. Kalahari King will have his fans and Ferdy can get them ready but I fancied him in last season's Champion Chase and he let me down badly, one bitten twice shy. At a huge price Hey Big Spender could get involved while J'y Vole may have ran well in this last season but she's not a horse to trust with your last shilling

VERDICT:Albertas Run(nap)

Pertemps Final

Rivage D'or has been some bridesmaid but got his head in front last time out. Michael O Leary's horses are flying! after a double on the Wednesday and he'll have his supporters with plenty of bets already struck on him in the John Mulholland shops. I couldnt put you off him but one that appeals at a huge price is one of my old favourite horses who has dropped down the weights nicely is Kayf Aramis. Winner two seasons ago, he has a mark now to repeat.

VERDICT: Kayf Aramis

Jewson Novices´ Chase

Two wins so far for Hobbs/Johnson and I backed neither. Captain Chris's Arkle win caught most people out as he was fairly beaten by Ghiazo and Medermit beforehand and was expected to run here instead. They had Wishfull Thinking here so there was no need to fire two darts and if everything goes well, this thing will jump up handy can win in a canter. racing doesnt always work out like that but even at 3/1, that looks a fair price. Loosen My Load and Noble Price have to be respected but on official figures then need to find something more to trouble the favourite

VERDICT: Wishfull Thinking

Byrne Group Plate

Call me a Legend looks another strongly handicapped Alan King horse and while beaten by the probable favourite Aigle D'or back in November, these formlines can turn on its head at the festival and I just can't get away from King's handicap chances. It didn't do me any harm in the Spinal Research Handicap Chase. Tatenen is another who could get involved havnig been revitalised since leaving Paul Nicholls but it's a big burden to concede.

VERDICT: Call me a Legend

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup

Last season Galant Nuit was a big talking horse for Ferdy Murphy and has had only one this season over HURDLES. He is now 6 pounds lighter than his 3rd in the race last season and has the services of Nina Carberry in the saddle. While plenty of others stand out as potential winners like Saddles Storm, Pomme Tiepy and Billie Magern, I would side with the horse we know will enjoy the Cheltenham circuit

VERDICT:Galant Nuit

Selections
1:30 Wishfull Thinking
2:05 Kayf Aramis
2:40 Albertas Run(nap)
3:20 Big Bucks & Celestial Halo(EW)
4:00 Call me a Legend
4:40 Galant Nuit


Don't forget to buy the Irish Racing Post to get your free €5 bet with John Mulholland and Betpack. We will also be enhancing horses all morning from 11 onwards incase you want to skip the parade