Bewerbungen » et up defensively, Smith felt their real strengt

What are the three things you most want to see at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival?I was asked that question at the excellent Sky Bet Preview in Leeds last week.My rather selfish response was as follows:- 1. Racing is currently blessed with a collection of brilliant commentators. They have a number of sitting ducks to whip the Cheltenham crowd in to a frenzy next week. Just imagine the roar as the horses freewheel down the hill in the Champion Hurdle if the commentator exclaims Ruby Walsh is taking dead aim on Annie Power.The place will erupt. I hope the commentator gets the chance with Min in the Sky Bet Supreme to shout Ruby hasnt moved a muscle. That is bound to garner a spine tingling roar. There are plenty of other public favourites like Sprinter Sacre and Cue Card that will get the crowd going. Commentators following the story and whipping the racegoers in to a frenzy is all part of the Cheltenham magic. I cant wait. Alex Hammond is joined by Ed Chamberlin to look ahead to an exciting week of racing at the Cheltenham festival 2. I need Gordon Elliott to have a big week. Noble Endeavor, No More Heroes and Cause Of Causes are major fancies and he seems to have well handicapped horses in every handicap. Elliott has a chance to be a top trainer at a big price but looks a good thing in the market without Willie Mullins3. My mum will probably watch one race next week. Not the best Gold Cup for a generation but the race that follows; the Foxhunter. The Victoria Pendleton story sums up racing. Plenty of those within the sport seem to resent it yet those outside of racing love the story.I love the fact that racing will be on the front and back pages of the newspapers on Friday and Saturday. Its a terrific story and a fantastic achievement to be there so lets hope she gets round safe and sound. Sky Racing Tickets Fast, secure racing tickets: Exclusive racing offers near you Here are five more horses that can make the Festival a rewarding one next week.RACING PULSEClose Brothers Handicap ChaseShaped like a top drawer novice hurdler a couple of years ago before he was found out behind Beat That in Grade 1 company at Aintree. Moved from John Quinn to Rebecca Curtis following an extended break, showing vague promise in a couple of novice chases in October, before getting his act together in a Cheptow handicap off 130.The form of that race stands up well, even in the context of a Festival handicap, and despite racing off a 9lb higher mark on Tuesday, he is still a big eyecatcher at the weights. Punters have to forgive him a dismal effort at Warwick last month, when he was struggling a long way from the finish. Take advantage of Sky Bets non-runner no bet (hes got an entry in the Kim Muir, too) and I can see him running a big race for Curtis, who won this race last year.ARDAMIRFred Winter (only back on the day if the going is no worse than good to soft)The way the Fred Winter is framed, you are always going to hear plenty of whispers flying around for the majority of the runners. At Sky Bets Preview evening at Leeds Town Hall on Wednesday evening I was happy to hear Denis ORegan raving about my fancy, Ardamir, who is reckoned to be not far off the best juveniles in the Alan King yard. Soft ground will hurt his chances (hence the proviso), in fact, they shouldnt even bother wasting a run on him if conditions are not good to soft or better, as hell struggle to see out the trip on the track. He left earlier form well behind at Doncaster last time, comfortably beating Our Thomas, and that form has a solid look to it in a race that contains a lot more questions than answers. Ed Chamberlin gives us his pick for Tuesdays racing at the Cheltenham festival NEW TO THIS TOWNWeatherbys Champion BumperJessica Harrington is not a fan of throwing arrers at the Champion Bumper, in the hope of hitting the bullseye. She won the race with Cork All Star nine years ago and her runners since have been sparse, to say the least. Its a strong tip in itself that New To This Town is making the journey to Cheltenham and when you throw his strong bumper form into the mix, I dont think there is a better double-figure priced runner across the four days. I liked the promise he showed on his Thurles debut in December but I loved his game when defeating a warm one in the shape of Avenir DUne Vie at Gowran Park at the end of January. The runner-up might be the best bumper horse in the Mullins stable, and if that is the case, New To This Town wins.CUP FINALPertemps Network FinalJP McManus has a load of chances in this competitive handicap. Leave At Dawn has been all the rage and you can see why, looking at his connections. However, hes a weak finisher over this trip (his brother runs on fumes in the closing stages of his races over three miles) and I am giving him a swerve. Cup Final is a lightly-raced seven-year-old of Nicky Hendersons and although his mark is creeping up (139) I believe he is more of a 150 horse and his breeding entitles him to another 10lb on top, being by Presenting out of that classy mare, Asian Maze. I thought he was impressive beating a solid yardstick at Musselburgh last month and he can start delivering on his early promise by winning one of the most competitive handicaps of the week. Plenty will have 7lb+ up their sleeeves, this lad might have a good bit more.THREE MUSKETEERSJLT Novices ChaseDan Skelton will be keen to get a Festival winner on his CV and if he is going to have a winner next week, Three Musketeers is one of his better chances. I like the market confidence behind him of late and I can see him proving his rubbish run in the Grade 2 Dipper Chase to be all wrong. Skeltons horses were not in great form at the turn of the year and hes had plenty of time to get the show back on the road with this impressive-looking six-year-old. I keep going back to his run at Newbury on his second chase start, when he blew away some good horses and if he can jump and travel with the same sort of verve in the JLT, he might be the answer at 14-1. The JLT is on Thursday and while he would get away with good to soft, he probably wouldnt want it any faster than that.Also See:Bet now at Cheltenham!Video replay libraryRacecards and formFull racing resultsFirst race of the day offerDallas Stars Shirts . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Cheap Stars Jerseys . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. https://www.cheapstarsonline.com/ . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Stars Jerseys China . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. Stars Jerseys 2020 . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70.Theyre clear favourites to win Tuesday nights World Cup qualifier, but former Brisbane Roar captain Matt Smith has warned the Socceroos might struggle to contain Thailands `Messi.Diminutive playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin, fittingly known as `Messi J, will be Thailands tricky trump card at the Rajamangala National Stadium.Former Socceroos defender Smith, who won three A-League titles the Roar, has himself been on the receiving end of Chanathips cunning game.Smith plays for Thai Premier League outfit Bangkok Glass while Chanathip steered champions Muangthong United to last seasons title.In terms of their attacking strengths, he would be the one the Socceroos would have the most trouble with, Smith said.Hes probably the cleverest, hes very good on the ball technically - he could definitely play at a higher level.He tries to get the ball into the smaller pockets and hes very comfortable linking with players around him.With a name like Messi J he literally floats around.Hell get himself into transition and look to counter-attack pretty quickly.Hes good around the box and he can see a lot in terms of forward runners - and he can finish.Smith expected Thai fans to come out in force onn Tuesday, in what will be the first opportunity for the community to show public national support following a 30-day mourning period after the death of their king.ddddddddddddDespite Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou predictingThailand would set up defensively, Smith felt their real strength lay in attack.I see it week in, week out, he said.They can defend also, but in terms of picking one over the other they attack very well.Smith was on the sidelines watching Socceroos training over the weekend, taking up a rare opportunity to reunite with former Roar coach Postecoglou.The 34-year-old has been attempting to implement Brisbanes football philosophy at Bangkok Glass, where he is their first foreign captain.The team also has another Australian influence in new coach Aurelio Vidmar, appointed in August after his contract with the Australian national teams wasnt renewed.I think our club is ready for a coach of Aurelios stature, Smith said.Hes settled in well, now weve got a good opportunity in the pre-season to work on stuff hes been trying to implement. 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