Amateur punter
Ben Morgan almost gave up betting after Festival Tuesday but was back on an even keel by the weekend
Ben Morgan gets out of jail after a dreadful start at Cheltenham
Having never enjoyed a good day at Cheltenham on the Tuesday, I was adamant that this was the year to change that horrid record. There was no ‘Mullins banker’ in the first couple of races as he apparently had limited firepower on the novice front this season.
Just 45 minutes after the first race I was debating going home. The man from Closutton had just notched up a quickfire double with victories in the Supreme and the Arkle. I told my Dad: “We’re not coming again.”
I had backed Angels Breath in the opener, who never looked happy and Ornua and Glen Forsa in the Arkle who both unfortunately fell. I went in on Vintage Clouds (£15 ew) in the Ultima for the second year running and I thought I was about to be rewarded for such loyalty as he jumped the second last in front. Beware The Bear eased past him however and jumped the last with an outright lead. I had just about given up on Vintage Clouds when he started to come back at the leader, but it was too little too late. I had a good each-way return and went forward into the Champion Hurdle with a positive mindset.
Little did I know I was about to enter two of the unluckiest hours of my punting career. I had banged on about Buveur D’Air all year and I was adamant the Irish mares would not beat him. A £40 win bet was struck at 11/4 but no sooner did I make my way back to the stands, that I was cursing my luck as the slickest hurdler we have
seen in years fell. The Irish mares were nowhere to be seen in the finish and Espoir D’Allen cruised home alone.
It got worse. Benie Des Dieux (£60 win) was my banker of the week and featured in all my ante post bets. Again, as she cruised to the front I was relieved that I had predicted another race spot on. I even had the forecast between BDD and Roksana, I was elated. Then, it happened.
I don’t question Ruby’s integrity, but there has to be a question asked about his riding style/technique. I thought it was arrogant of him to head down to the final hurdle in top gear when he didn’t have to as the field were beaten. Because she arrived at the hurdle at full pace, the possibility of allowing her to pop it was eliminated.
To round off Day 1, Highway One O One faded tamely and Chef Des Obeaux was virtually brought down by the ill-fated Ballyward in the NH Chase to make it five non-finishers out of seven races.
I woke up the next day not feeling too disconsolate with the state of affairs. I had three days to make it back up and I just needed that bit of traction in order to get the ball rolling.
Champ (£20 e/w) provided something to cling on to as he just got outstayed by City Island in the Ballymore. Up next was the RSA and after the defection of Vinndication, I was pretty keen on the chances of Topofthegame (£30 win). This equine giant looked sure to benefit for the switch to three miles around Cheltenham and as he merely stepped over the first few obstacles, I thought to myself, this is the one.
Harry Cobden rode the perfect race and delivered him up the straight. His jump at the last looked effortless and crossing the line Cobden didn’t look to have broken sweat whereas I was exhausted after roaring home next year’s Gold Cup winner from the bottom of the home straight.
I was off the mark and overjoyed. Brio Conti (£15 e/w) almost made it a quickfire double for myself and Paul Nicholls as he travelled powerfully in the Coral Cup before finding one or two too good. He brought home a good each-way return and more importantly kept the momentum flow
ing. The final main fancy on Day Two was Blue Sari (£30 win) running in the bumper. I thought his Flat pedigree would mean he would simply have too much speed for what looked like a bunch of three-mile chasers in the making. Had Barry Geraghty not met as much traffic turning in, I think I could have well been right. He was forced to use Blue Sari’s gears earlier than he would have liked so by the time he got to Envoi Allen, he was close to empty. He just got outstayed up the hill but finished a decent second.
Barry Geraghty was a man on a mission on Day Three as he delivered the perfect start to the day by producing Defi Du Seuil (£30 win) beautifully up the straight to gain a deserved success in the JLT.
The mightily impressive Paisley Park (£30 win) came with a late rattle to take the Stayers Hurdle in good fashion and by doing so, secured a return in mine and many others’ ante-post bets.
Harry Skelton rode a perfect race on Spiritofthegames (£15 e/w) but could only finish third in a race that I think could work out well.
I managed to get £15 each-way on Kilfilum Cross at 18/1 before everyone worked out he was massively overpriced. Jumping the third last, Alex Edwards eased his mount to the front with a double handful still intact. I was bouncing around the living room until I saw Derek O’Connor sneak up the inside entering the straight. O’Connor had chosen Any Second Now over my lad and it was just typical that it came down to these two. Jumping the last my selection was spent whereas O’Connor still had a bit more to give and he stayed on for a good victory. Another placed runner, which was good, but frustrating. I needed to turn these places into wins.
I placed a cheeky tricast in the Triumph Hurdle. 1st Sir Erec, 2nd Coeur Sublime, 3rd Gardens Of Babylon. As you can imagine by 1.40pm, I was feeling pretty sick. After the first few results it was clear it was going to be a day for the bookies so I reigned myself in with the idea of coming home with a late rattle.
A £20 win on Hazel Hill bought back £110, but £40 of that went straight back to the bookies as Gino Trail was clearly not quite right in the Grand Annual. It came down to the last race and I made Dallas Des Pictons a certainty.
£80 went down on Gordon Elliott’s charge and jumping the last I was counting my winnings. Donagh Meyler hadn’t moved aboard the favourite and he looked certain to clear away after the last but I don’t think Meyler appreciated at how well Early Doors was going and the Joseph O’Brien runner got first run on him.
From then on he just couldn’t get past him and finished a length second. I was feeling as sick as a dog, but looking back at the Festival, I was probably lucky to finish somewhere near even.