Our racing expert answered your questions, including his current picks for Cheltenham.
Q: Hi there can you ask @holding_andy if he had a jump horse who would he send it too and the same on the flat as well. Cheers #askandy
A: Probably Jessica Harrington or Henry De Bromhead over jumps. If I could afford it then John Gosden on the flat but on a smaller scale I think Kevin frost has shown this year he can do a great job with other yards cast offs.
I’d also have to mention my own trainer Mark Loughnane who has done a terrific job with dark alliance and is a fun person to be around outside of racing'
Q: Will you ever consider going over 4pts for a NAP? #AskAndy
A: Only ever had one five point nap and luckily that won but I’m sure there will another sooner rather than later! The four-point naps can be quite stressful to watch so I’d probably be pacing up and down with a maximum bet.
Q: Ante post Cheltenham Lucky 15? #AskAndy
A: Here’s an ew Lucky 15 at the current prices: Summerville Boy - Champion Hurdle, Black Op - RSA Chase, Road To Respect - Gold Cup, Paloma Blue - Arkle.
I also think Ballyoisin could turn out to be a big player at the highest level in the 2m chase division, so 33/1 for the Champion Chase looks tempting at this stage of the season given so many question marks surrounding others.
Q: How many lengths does Presenting Percy win the Gold Cup by? #AskAndy
A: That’s a bold prediction! He clearly is a very smart horse who always seems to peak at Cheltenham so he has plenty going for him. At the current prices I just prefer Road To Respect who ran well in last years race and looked good on his seasonal return. Either way, I’d hope to see black op top of the pile come 2020!
Q: Hi Andy, which potential Cheltenham horse are you most excited about backing? Secondly - are you #TheresaIn or #TheresaOut? #AskAndy
A: Dead-heat between Summerville Boy and Black Op in their respective divisions. As I’ve never got any spare time other than to just watch racing 24/7 I’ve no interest in what’s going on in the political world.
Q: I understand black op might suit the longer trip, but why go for the RSA when the easier option would be the JLT? #AskAndy
A: Agree the JLT is the easier option but reading between the lines I think Tom George and connections see him as a Gold Cup horse in time so it makes sense to go over 3m this season - similar to presenting Percy. The recent RUK interview with Tom George offers the biggest clue to how he is thinking. To be on the safe side you could always back him for both races at 10/1 and 16/1 respectively.
Q: Centreofexcellence replay video for last race has been edited online due to a faller at the last fence so hard to get accurate time. Did you use this for your sectional times for that race or another source? #AskAndy
A: I used the RUK replay and checked it twice as it was so good and I’m happy with the figure I’ve given him.
Q: What are your thoughts on Laurina for the Champion Hurdle? She may follow the same path as Annie Power and with the Mares Allowance in a arguably weak division could prove a class apart. #AskAndy
A: Having made her my banker of the meeting at Cheltenham last year I’m a fully paid up member of her fan club. As she’s yet to be really tested against the big boys it’s hard to know how good she really is but it would come as little surprise to see her unbeaten on home soil in the build up to the festival. As you say, she could also stay against her own sex which makes her a dodgy proposition at her current odds.
Q: Does Andy think there is any track bias in Dundalk currently? #AskAndy
A: Not especially - there seems to be a good spread of winners from prominent racers to hold up horses at the moment and the draw also appears to have little significance.
The only place you don’t want to be on a general note is challenging up the inside in the home straight but it’s been like that for ages now.
Q: Will Sizing John ever get even close to landing another Gold Cup? #AskAndy
A: History dictates it’s incredibly difficult for horses to go back to back in the Gold Cup and I fear we may have seen the best of Sizing John on the evidence of what we saw last season. That said, he’s trained by a genius so nothing is impossible.
Q: Which novice are you most excited about? And where does Commander of Fleet end up at Cheltenham? #AskAndy
A: Commander of Fleet is definitely an exciting recruit and the form of his Punchestown bumper was boosted by the runner up last week. I also wouldn’t totally give up on Quick Grabim who got a modest ride by Ruby Walsh standards at Navan last week - I'd fancy him to bounce back.
Knowing how Gigginstown operate id imagine Commander of Fleet will go down the Ballymore route similar to Samcro.
Q: Afternoon Andy, with the Staying Hurdle division looking so wide open would you like to see Thistlecrack go back over hurdles and if not who’s the one to watch in that division? #AskAndy
A: If it doesn’t work out over fences you’d could certainly make a case for Thistlecrack back in this division because as you say, it seems wide open w/o an obvious star. Although he’s not exactly one to watch for and is fairly exposed I think Wholestone still has plenty to offer.
He wouldn’t have been suited by the way the stayers panned out last year and yet he still finished a creditable 3rd. He looked good on his seasonal return over an unfavourable shorter trip and has loads of top class Cheltenham form (12113123) so 25/1 seems a mythical price.
Q: Any thoughts on Don Poli this season? #AskAndy
A: He’s always looked like proper stamina tests would suit so if they can patch him back up again he may well turn out to be a grand national horse.
Q: What are your favorite Chaser/Hurdler/Flat horses in your lifetime? Mine being Pendil/Hurricane Fly/Mill Reef.. #AskAndy
A: Desert Orchid/Rooster Booster/ Dancing Brave
Q: With Speedo Boy and Lord Yeats due to run over hurdles this weekend is the any other flat horses turned hurdlers that have interested you? #AskAndy
A: Having made her my banker of the meeting at Cheltenham last year I’m a fully paid up member of her fan club. As she’s yet to be really tested against the big boys it’s hard to know how good she really is but it would come as little surprise to see her unbeaten on home soil in the build up to the festival. As you say, she could also stay against her own sex which makes her a dodgy proposition at her current odds.
Q: What do you make of the Mullins bumper horse mt Leinster you think that looks special ? #AskAndy
A: He looked very good but the time figure wasn’t that great. Over here the best bumper horse so far on the figures is Silver Forever trained by Paul Nicholls.
Q: Which of the promising horses of last season or before who missed Cheltenham last season is the most exciting? Waiting Patiently, Champagne Classic, Annamix etc #AskAndy
A: Like everyone else I’ve been hearing good things about Annamix so you’d have to say him out of those three.
Q: Any early antepost bets for the flat season? #AskAndy
A: I’ve backed advertise at big prices for the Guineas and expect him to make into a lovely 3yo so fingers crossed with him.
Q: Who wins the Betfair Chase for you? I’m such a native river fan, but what does Andy think? #AskAndy
A: It goes without saying the ground is the key as if it were soft ground Bristol De Mai would be the bet at 11/4.
Q: Hi Andy, do you prefer jumps or flat? From both a betting and enjoyment view? #AskAndy
A: The jumps wins hands down on all levels. The Cheltenham festival still remains the ultimate buzz for punting and pure excitement and there’s nothing like backing a few winners during that week.
Q: Any thoughts on any more english horses ante post for races in Ireland? Bedrock and Saint Calvados showed it's easy enough. #AskAndy
A: As there are currently no ante post races with English runners I can’t answer the question but on a general note, trainers over here should go over to Ireland more often - especially in the 2m chase division.
Q: Thought Column of Fire looked good on Sunday, did the figure stack up and if so what should plans be? #AskAndy
A: Yes I was a very fast time for an Irish bumper sadly he’s trained by a firm that don’t like the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham so he’s unlikely to come over here.
Q: Will Supasundae stick with the Stayers' Hurdle? #AskAndy
A: No Supasundae doesn’t stay 3m so he’ll be much better off running over 2/2m4f.
