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| Cheltenham News 2007 |
McNamara Looking Forward To Newmill Ride 13/03/07
Jockey Andrew McNamara believes Newmill has a real chance of winning
tomorrow’s feature Seasons
Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase for the second season running.
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Speaking at a Horseracing Ireland press conference today, McNamara reported
that the ground would not present a problem for his mount.
“The ground is not as soft as we were hearing beforehand and I
don’t think the going is going to bother Newmill whatever it is,” said
McNamara. “Newmill was a good winner last year and showed it again
at Punchestown.
“At every Cheltenham preview I’ve been to and everything
I’ve read has said that Well Chief can’t be beaten but I
beg to differ - I’m not saying he is, but there’s every chance
that Newmill might be the better horse.
“Of his other rivals, Nickname wins so easily that it’s hard to say how good he is while Voy Por Ustedes won here last year and has been a good horse this season.”
McNamara will partner the 10-time Grade 1 winner Beef Or Salmon in Friday’s
totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup but feels that drying ground will not help
his cause.
“He’s packing on in years and surely this is his last big
chance at it so we’ll give it everything,” said McNamara. “He
does go on good ground but maybe doesn’t have the cruising speed
of others so is better on soft.
“He tries harder than any horse I’ve ever ridden but he’s
a clever old fellow and blinkers keep him concentrating. If he’s
there at the second last he’ll give them a race.
“Kauto Star is the best horse in training this year but it’s hard to know if he gets the trip and I’d be worried that he hangs left. But he’s the one beat.”
McNamara rides Hi Cloy in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase and added: “He
had an operation last year which was why he was slow getting back to
himself. We dropped him a bit far back in last year’s race and
so he was always chasing. We’ll try and be a bit handier this time
but it’s a tough race and will be hard to beat Monet’s Garden.
“I also like Vic Venturi in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase on Thursday. He was just shy of the top hurdlers and then had a wind problem before he came back to finish second in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown. He’s got a good weight, the drying ground will help, he’s a tough horse and will run a big race.”
Latest betting (William Hill
13/03/07)
Well
Chief 11/8
Newmill 10/3
Voy Por Ustedes 9/2
Nickname 6/1
Ashley Brook 12/1
Dempsey 18/1
Justified 28/1
River City 40/1
Oneway 66/1
Mister Mcgoldri 66/1
Sybellius D'art 500/1
