We hope everyone has had a profitable week and the Cheltenham Blues aren’t too bad. To makes matters slightly better, we have the Aintree/Grand National meet in a few weeks time. All of our selections for this will be posted nearer the time.
News this week:
Bryan Cooper has decided to hang his whip at the age of 30. Wishing him the best with what he has planned for the future. A class talent and credit to the sport. The Gigginstown rider has had plenty of great winners. Two that spring to mind are Don Cossack for Gordon Elliot in the Gold Cup and Our Conor in the in the Triumph Hurdle…
Who kept the faith with On The Blind side? I was shocked to see it run so well at 50/1 yesterday having been pulled up on his last two runs. Nicky Henderson yard clearly still in the Cheltenham form!
Further from the above, I think it is a point well worth noting that a lot of the larger yards are still benefitting from aiming their peak for the season at the Cheltenham festival. With Aintree coming up a lot of the top yards in the UK will be keeping the momentum and putting in the extra work to hope for a successful few days. We can usually benefit from runners in between this limbo period between the two meets.
Horses the the team are monitoring today-
Algo:
17:07 CURRAGH- RAZDAN 5/1 (put in Discord at 9/1 by Brennan)
I was torn between RAZDAN and Cliffs of Freedom in this 1m 17 runner handicap. The reasoning for the former selection is form and way he ran his hurdle race at Leopardstown on 6th March. He finished a good second there and showed some nice speed in the third quarter of the race. 2m was too long and although no match for the winner, I think he will be ready for this and could argue he is chucked in with Adam Caffrey claiming 7lb. 5/1 looks good value as an each way to nothing play in my eyes.
NTN:
13:45 LINGFIELD - PABLO PRINCE
PABLO PRINCE Up against it with Moore and Billy The Kid on the favourite but he’s in deeper waters today, so this selection will either be wise or very foolish! (Hopefully the former). Won here C&D (3 times) has Probert on board and reported to be in good form at home. 5/1 ew Looks a decent play.
Goose:
15:57 CURRAGH - AGARTHA 8/1
First races of the UK and Ireland flat season today over at the Curragh and in the first Group 3 I think AGARTHA (8/1) is very overpriced and a strong each way bet. I’ve followed this filly last season and always thought maybe a mile would be too far for her, but at second look other than her 2yo start over the trip I think she has just been beaten by better stayers for the most part. In the Cornelscourt Stakes last year she was beaten by History whop went on to race over 10 and 12 furlongs. In the Irish 1000 Guineas there were 4 ahead of her including; Homeless Songs who looked incredible and Tuesday who boasts wins in the Oaks and the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf as well as a 2nd in the Yorkshire Oaks behind Arc Heroine Alpinista. She has shown some form on soft ground which some of these either are yet to face or have had performances blunted by the ground, as well as some being dropped back in trip which may not be optimum. Insinuendo has the class however she was staying on over 12 furlongs on Champions day last year, and I think this may prove too sharp a trip for her. AGARTHA is very smart at breaking from the stalls and likes to front run which for those in behind who may be over a short trip on unsuied ground, they may not be able to catch her if she tries to slip away from the front.
Kurtis:
16:35 MEYDAN - USHBA TESORO 9/1
He has been targeted for this race by his owner and trainer ever since he made his switch to dirt. He was a fairly inconsistent turf horse but ever since his switch to dirt he is 5/6, picking up a listed prize and most recently the G1 Tokyo Daishoten, beating the re-opposing T O Keynes. I had requested a price for him for this race a few months ago and got given 14/1, he hasn’t moved too much but I really fancy him for this. He faces a whole host of Japanese rivals such as Panthalassa who, as I mentioned just picked up the G1 Saudi Cup in his first ever dirt race under a masterful ride, beating Country Grammer who heads the market along with the Crisford’s Algiers. It’s a very tough race on paper but I think Ushba Tesoro has a great EW chance and has a great draw in stall 8, whereas the two market heads in Algiers & Country Grammer have horror draws in Stalls 13 & 14 respectively.
Football-
Key pointers for the week:
Bayern Munich one point off the top of Bundesliga and in the Quarter Finals of the Champions League but manager Julian Nagelsmann still gets the sack? Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel takes over. Rumours
Harry Kane breaks goal-scoring record for Engalnd against Italy - of course it was a penalty.
England play Ukraine on Sunday at 4pm in the next European Qualifier game.
FPL-
NTN:
No FPL this week (how good by the way was Harry Kane against Italy?!) and the next deadline is 1 April at 11am. Below are the current stats and team as is stands. Not sure on the changes just yet but will change Captain to a double game-week player and a chip is likely to be used (Bench boost) with as close to a full squad as possible.
Good Luck as likely to be a big scoring week!
Best of luck with the above and remember - it is always US vs BOOKMAKERS!!
Regards,
The Algo Academy
