Placepot dividend final insult

1615: Throat genuine agony and now can't talk. Heading back to my hotel in Evesham before a night on the town. My friends are going to miss out on some legendary craic owing to my condition - but then again they can't expect me to go to the bar either.

Plenty of study needed for the morrow Manyriverstocross will win the Greatwood though, you read it here first!

Right. Time to gargle some bitter.

1608: Breaking news I've won...£1.73 on the Placepot. That's £1.73.

1600: Nicky Henderson adds: "I don't see any reason to change the plan with Long Run and he will go to Kempton for the King George now although I doubt Kauto Star will be quaking in his boots.

"You could say that Long Run has shown his best form on flat tracks although that might be clutching at stras.

"We didn't really have a plan for Mad Max after today. He would probably have preferred better going and finished quite tired. They should both improve a bot for that although I'm not going to say they will improve two stone because obviously they won't."

1552: Can't think the Pot will pay much - every chance I'll even lose money on the bet - which would somehow typical.

1550: Devil To Pay beats Crystal Rock...with Ballybriggan third and Bold Addition fourth. Go on the Placepot.

1544: Just realised Highland Love - a stablemate of Lady Kildare - runs here. Hope he runs well. The Lady is finished for the year after her second at Wolverhampton. Back in the spring as a maiden. She'll be placed to advantage.

1542: Had my biggest bet of the day on Ballybriggan and just found out the hotel room is £25 more than expected. Go on the Placepot.

1540: I'm now communicating via grunts and hand waving. The throat is agony - however it will feel better if Bold Addition, Ballybriggan and Rajamand all hit the frame in the last. Go on the Placepot.

1534: One of the biggest cheers of the day is for Pistolet Noir who took a horror fall in our last race but has regained his feet behind the screens and is walking back with Dan Skelton.

1534: One of the biggest cheers of the day is for Pistolet Noir who took a horror fall in our last race but has regained his feet behind the

1528: You can now watch the free Racing UK video replay of the Paddy Power Gold Cup. If you backed Little Josh - enjoy!

1526: "He's a nice horse. He needs soft ground and it was just soft enough for him today, he's very genuine," adds winning rider Alan O'Keeffe.

1524: "That's fantastic. His future lies over fences and four miles but we'll enjoy today first!" beams winning trainer Jennie Candlish.

1518: It's a familiar theme - but at least the Placepot is still going...Cross Kannon wins - staying on too strongly for Viking Blond. Backbord runs on late for third

1514: Christian Williams is in the wars and he suffered a suspected fractured left arm in an earlier fall.

1510: I'm hopin the step up to three miles will suit Sir Harry Ormesher here and he's in the Placepot - along with Cross Kennon and Ackertac.

1508: Paddy Brennan had the choice of Pigeon Island or Little Josh in the Paddy Power but had to play second fiddle to the emerging Sam Twiston-Davies. Wonderful ride.

1505: Nod too to Richcard Horner who flagged the runner-up up (if that makes sense) in our Book Review column.

1504: I spoke to Ed 'The Kingmaker' Chamberlain before the Paddy Power and his daughter Polly was responsible for selecting Dancing Tornado as the best turned out. A 40-1 second for the four-year-old. Out of the mouths of babes..and all that!

1500: Betting reaction from Sky Bet who have cut Kauto Star to 5-4 (from 7-4) for the King George. Long Run is out to 7s from 5s.

1455: Well the Placepot is still alive - but they never saw which way Little Josh went. He makes all to beat Dancing Tornado with Long Run (no excuses) third and Mad Max fourth.

1430: Poquelin just about my pick of the paddock. Off on the lawn to watch this. Hope the Long Run dream stays alive - he's a Placepot banker too.

1425: Poquelin is potentially a big price despite his welter-burden. He's 13 pounds higher than when second last year (and the mark from which he won the Boylesports) but track and trip are ideal.

1422: Long Run is very much on his toes in the parade ring, bucking and kicking. He was lit up by the applause for the trophy presentation for the previous race. He looks wonderful but they'll be trying to keep the lid on him.

1418: Paddy Power Gold Cup next. I'm boring - very boring - but can't see beyond the top four in the market and have reservations about Mad Max.

It has to be Long Run - although he's only opened 5-2 on the track - but I do fear Great Endeavour and Sunnyhillboy.

1414: Connections of Any Currency now hope to go up seven or eight pounds after his second place. If he does he'll be put away for the John Smith's Grand National. He'll stay - that's for sure.

1410: A worrying run from Tricky Trickster, under pressure after about four fences and never a factor. Three blips now since that Aon Chase win at Newbury.

1408: Winning trainer Neil Mullholland says: "Stepping up in trip suited him and Dougie Costello gave him a great ride."

Mullholland shares David Pipe's gallops and must now shout his neighbour an evening meal. He's thin NM. Doesn't look to be an eater.

1405: Midnight Chase is in the form of his life right now and he runs his rivals ragged. He made his first semblance of a mistake three out and ploughed through the last but was too strong for the staying-on Any Currency. Junior runs a cracker in third and Bluesea Cracker keeps the Ord Placepot alive in fourth. I am clutching at straws.

1358: Minimal delay and we're off!

1358: Minimal delay and we're off!

1357: The free Racing UK video replay of the opener is now available. Check out Sam Winner for yourself.

1356: We may be delayed here as we await the arrival of an ambulance.

1353: Proper crowd here today - almost Festival-esque. Sadly the stair-dwellers are in their ranks. Their ability to stand as a group in the worst-possible place is unsurpassed anywhere in the racing world.

1350: Ogee noticeably weak on-course.

1347: Tricky Trickster looked wonderful in the parade ring - but also the run will bring him on. I'm with that old rogue Character Building here. Kid gloves required from AP.

1345: Jockeys after the second race have followed their first-race counterparts by saying the ground is "dead".

1333: Sky Bet have left Wayward Prince at 16-1 for the RSA Chase following his win.

1329: Having praised his jumping, Berties Dream proceeds to make a mistake at every fence. Wayward Prince justifies favouritism but Chicago Grey looked to be taking his measure when falling two out. Balthazar King chases the winner home.

1322: Philip Hobbs says of Balthazaar King: "I'm more worried about the opposition than the ground. He's a grand horse who does his best but this is a tough task."

1322: Berties Dream for me - I liked the way he jumped last time. I've also lost my voice so my only contact with the outside world is now via the blog.

1320: Cracking novice chase next - it's non-stop here. Ian Williams says of Wayward Prince: "It's a good race but part of the learning curve and hopefully his stamina will come into play."

1315: Fehily says of his tie-up with Nicholls: "My boss (Charlie Mann) is happy with the situation and very understanding and that's the sixth win since the association began.

1310: "It's not very often you get to the top of the hill here and know if you keep them on their feet you'll win - but he's a bit special. The ground is just about soft and they'll finish tired today," Noel Fehily says of our first winner - and the racing surface.

1305: Back to Sky Bet and they have a host of Long Run specials ahead of the Paddy Power Gold Cup. It's 14-1 he wins today and the King George, 66-1 he wins those two and the Gold Cup this season, he's 6s to win by under for lengths today and the same price to win by more than four.

1300: Nine lengths and 15 were the winning distances and winning trainer Paul Nicholls says: "He had good form in France and is a big horse who've we given plenty of time. He jumps brilliant and could run in a chase now but until you run them you don't know.

"He was the best juvenile I've run so far and it's great to see him do that."

1258: Bookmaker reaction is swift and Sky Bet make Sam Winner their 8-1 favourite for the Triumph Hurdle. William Hill are as low as 5s.

1255: Now that was impressive Sam Winner is the winner and is hardly asked a quesiton by Noel Fehily. He was clearly travelling best from the second last and any amount in hand of runner-up Grandouet who did step up from his Wetherby run ridden with more restraint. Timeform had it right.

Favourite Titan de Sarti pecked on landing three out and was beaten soon after having travelled strongly to that point.

1247: Front two in the market are weak so glad to have snared the 8s about Architrave. Go on Dickie J. Here we go!

1240: Charlie Longsdon runs Tatispout here and says: "She's in the deep end but we like her very much. It's a hot heat and we need her to settle, my worry is her racing with the choke out."

1230: Little bit of racecourse gossip concerning Rajamand in the finale and it seems Noel Fehily was very keen to ride Warren Greatrex's charge but Paul Nicholls had first dabs on his services.

1215: Right market moves time from our sponsors Sky Bet.

In the opener at 1250. Titan De Sarti is the subject of favourable reports but there's opposition and we're joint top-price at 2-1.

In the 1320 Berties Dream is 4s from 9-2, Cannington Brook 8s from 10s and the most significant mover Wolf Moon 10s from 12s from local trainer Martin Keighley. It's been the right money for him.

In the 1355 Pricewise selection Any Currency is 7s from 8s and Ogee 8s from 9s.

In the Paddy Power Gold Cup, where Sky Bet are paying five places, their worst results are Long Run and Mad Max. However with five places each-way money is for Awesome George at 40-1 and Pigeon Island 20s.

In the 1510 Cross Kennon is 11-2 from 13-2 and Ackertak 5s from 11-2. He was nibbled at for the Greatwood earlier this week.

Finally in the 1540 Bold Addition is 11-2 from 13-2, Devil To Pay is the best backed 7s from 8s and Rajamand is 10s from 11s.

1202: Those looking to a sporting bet elsewhere a very good judge has backed Daldini in the 1525 at Wetherby. 16-1 available about Sue Smith's charge who goes well at the track and has undoubtedly well handicapped.

1200: Interesting stuff from Ruby Walsh on the Morning Line today about Long Run. When asked if he saw him as a potential threat to Kauto Star in the King George he replied that if Kauto was running off 158 in this race today he'd win without coming off the bridle. The gauntlet is down to the young pretender.

1155: No surprise to hear Mick Fitzgerald put up Long Run as his best bet of the day on the preview panel.

1145: My regular reader will remember the halcyon days when I was part of the Guinness Awards juding panel. Not now. Joe Tizzard won yesterday's for his ride on Cue Card. He looks a good un.

1130: Good to have Ian From Newcastle with us. He says: "Im going for an ew lucky 31 on: 1.55 Chel - Midnight Chase, 2.35 Chel - Pigeon Island, 3.10 Chel - Is it me, 2.20 Wet - San Deng, 3.50 Utt - Bunclody

"And Blackpool to beat West ham is my footy nap. Any thoughts??"

Be interesting to see Mr Holloway's team selection for that one Ian - given the 'reserves' did so well at Villa. Of the horses Midnight Chase is on the Ord shortlist and Pigeon Island could make the exacta. No promises though...

1120: One of the main bets today is Ballybriggan in the closing Ultima Business Solutions Novices' Handicap Hurdle. He looked to be a young hurdler going plces at Aintree last time and should be up to winning off 124 - hopefully today.

1110: Soup on offer but I'll wait for the pie. Trying to put together the exacta and at the moment Great Endeavour and Poquelin are in there even though I'll end up backing Long Run now he's out to 4-1 in places.

1105: Great news - we're now forecast a bright, dry, day. GoingStick reading for the number crunchers is 7.6

1055: The opening JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial is a fascinating little heat. On Timeform ratings it's between Grandouet (158?) and Sam Winner (155). The former ran quite an eyecatching race at Wetherby first time, when far too free, but is passed over by Barry Geraghty for Titan De Sarti. He's held in very high regard and is two from two in bumpers in France.

Sky Bet make Titan De Darti their 2-1 favourite with Sam Winner 4s. I think Architrave is a big price at 8s given the strong level of his form over here. He's sure to run his race and looks the each-way play.

1035: Good journey down here which I'm taking as a good omen - as I am yesterday's Placepot triumph. Small dividend but got it up to £3.20. Positively rolling in it.

1030: Andrew Morris writes: "Glad to see a blog today, was concerned yesterday that we may have no blogging fun on this, arguably my favourite weekend of the winter.

"All eyes are no doubt on Long Run today and while he should win this, especially if he wants to rival Kauto on Boxing Day, 3/1 is not a price I am willing to get involved with and instead I have plumped for a win bet on Great Endeavour at 9/2 and smaller each way bets on Awesome George (a huge 50/1 in my opinion) and The Sawyer (20/1), although I may add one more to my portfolio before the off.

"Elsewhere on the card I see the legend that is Sam Thomas down for the ride on Tricky Trickster in the 1.55 before he leaves to partner Black Noddy in the 3.50 at Uttoxeter. If he is driving, as his Twitter suggested yesterday, he has got to really fancy picking up some prize money on one of them, and whereas I am a fan of the Trickster, don't fancy him to get the better of Razor Royale today.

"Finally, in the 3.40 I am on Lucaindubai each way and think it has every chance to go close."

Morning AM. Getting stuck into the Paddy Power Gold Cup as we speak and I really can't see it being won outside of the front four in the market.

1015: Good morning and welcome to Cheltenham. Sunny Cheltenham. Glorious Cheltenham. What a day we have in store and surely low sun rather than showers will be the only potential cause for concern for Simon Claisse today.

Only two non-runners so far, Strategic Approach in the 1320 and Rory Boy the big one. The going is good to soft, good in places and emails please to daveord55@gmail.com.