Search Results for 'ar mad'

[LD73]

Shishkin’s objective is to actually start the race……once a horse has refused to race the first time they are much more likely to repeat the offense going forward. There was an interesting opinion piece in the RP a few days ago by Catherine Macrae regarding horses refusing (Mad Moose and Vodkatini were obviously mentioned) and here are a couple of snipets from the piece that give food for thought:

‘Australian sprinter Chautauqua, who was on par with Shishkin on six top-level victories before he first refused to compete. Known as the grey flash, he pulled the stunt six more times before connections decided enough was enough’.

‘Again and again, the record books show us that horses who refuse to race once are almost guaranteed to do so again, with Supreme winner Labaik, Oaks heroine Sariska and Hong Kong’s cult hero Pakistan Star all supporting this worrying conclusion which no doubt has been at the forefront of Nicky Henderson’s mind over the past seven days’.

‘It could very well be less about if Shishkin will repeat this newest trick, and more a question of when’.

Coming back to the race itself, what makes me chuckle is that Hendo is worried about CH having a hard race in deep ground 17 days before the Christmas Hurdle (reallly….the hardest race he has had was in his PTP when he got beat a head) but he doesn’t mention it is exactly the same for Shishkin, who comparably speaking actually has the infinitely tougher job on over Christmas. Guess his soft spot for Shishkin must have fallen off a bit after all the headaches he is giving him.

Fyi – Sandown on the hurdles course is currently soft (heavy in places) with predictions of possibly another 25mm of rain to fall during the week – I would be surprised if he ran them both as clearly it is Shishkin who needs the run on Saturday more than CH.

[sporting sam]

A great weekend even if the Twins made off with my Saturday copy of the racing post.
It’s December 4th as we spin relentlessly towards the unspeakable festival of greed overindulgence and selfishness. No, I don’t mean Cheltenham.
More relationships come to an inevitable end over this time than at any other time.
It means a lot to so many people for so many differing reasons. I’d happily pass on it myself.(or worse).
I’ve got back into the swing of my racing again with a group 1 winner over night in America for the round the world in 80 ways thread.
The main news other than my inclusion in the art exhibition next month is my first installation starts today. I’ve won a commission to restore a bed in the town. It is actually a rockery bordering an old cottage. This rockery is overgrown and riddled with weeds. My task this week is to learn the art of posting my pictures on this thread do you can see this installation take shape it will be done in time for the exhibition on January 11.
My Co-exhibitor Mike, a highly talented cinematographer cum photographer has the task of deciding his role in this exhibition He is certainly the lead as he has exhibited in his chosen profession before and will I hope gain further recognition from this event.
The reason for asking Drone to post up the images? The Hydrangeas will form part of a montage/ collage at the Exhibition of the bouquets that I’ve made up in the past week. It has been difficult getting available staff in the shop so I had a go myself and while my flower arrangements haven’t got a patch on that of Amber it is time I had a go as the charity push will come to an end for me and I will move on towards earning a keep from my work.
Musically there are a couple of songs or two that I’m putting up today including this one ironically by the Liverpool band the Christians
Forgotten Town.
The featured albums this week will be the iconic and very apt U2’s
The JOSHUA TREE and
HACKNEY DIAMONDS ♦️ by the Rolling Stones

[LD73]

Ruby – look how close they were bunched up on the home turn compared to where the 3rd ended up at the line (12L back), honestly I was a bit surprised that Teahupoo was able to go with him and that made it look like IEP didn’t quicken up.

He has no other options than the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham as the Stayers Hurdle will be too far for him and there are much better stayers he would be facing there anyway. A drop back to a strongly run 2m will suite him but they might need to look into getting a pacemaker as sometimes the 2m races can get tactical.

Have to say after this I was even more impressed with State Man’s return and I wouldn’t be certain that IEP would finish in front of him at Cheltenham as I was a little underwhelmed by State Man’s run in the Champion….at the moment CH holds all the aces and assuming he comes back (be it Sandown or Kempton) in the same way he started last year……they both have to improve a significant amount but as the saying goes…..you have to be in it to win it.

[Red Rum 77]

Messages

First : The usual but all important check your scores for errors and let me know if I’d made any.
I will correct it if any are found ASAP.

Second : Most of the races will be of the National Hunt except when the main venue gets cancelled for reasons or the Lincoln in spring. This week the reserve race nearly took the place of the main race and a few, before it was known did put in selections for the reserve race. THANK YOU for that.

P.S. Fairyhouse itself was under inspection, if both races was to be cancelled then that week might be voided. Unless you want me to find an alternative Sunday race.

Third : Thank you for those taking part, this competition was inspired by Pat123

Fourth : My usual TRF vs Pricewise Cheltenham Competition starts in the New Year.

You've got to accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don't mess with mister in between.

[greenasgrass]

It’s a bit ridiculous having 4 for this- I’m already on Grangeclare West, American Mike and Grey Dawning- but I think Monty’s Star is going to be Henry de Bromhead’s next Gold Cup winner. Gorgeous big beast made for fences. Came second in a P2P – to Stay Away Fay, who jumped the last better and Monty was then eased- and was just marking time over hurdles.

He has some decent opposition today and will likely need the full 3 miles to be at his best. Also might need the run a bit as he is such a beast (his half brother Monalee won his first chase, big Minella Indo lost his albeit to Laurina over 2m4f). But I expect class and jumping ability to get him there and I think the 13-2 today is a good price, took that and the 50s for the BANC.

[Marlingford]

Harding is someone who has a long record of taking an interest in racing and has made significant personal investment in it to boot. She is also clearly very well-connected, and racing needs all the allies it can get amongst influential Establishment figures. Having a first female senior steward would also seem to be something that should be celebrated.

Against this background, I don’t enjoy criticising someone who appears to be a genuine supporter of the sport. However, the debacles of the massive TalkTalk data breach and the Test and Trace programme both occurred under Harding’s leadership, and it is very difficult to understand what she has achieved that merits her endless stream of senior appointments.

I would be interested to know what the recruitment process for being senior steward involved.

[sporting sam]

We’ll be off to Bawdsey for a night or two in a few weeks. It’s an isolated place across the mouth of the beautiful Deben river. The Romans, Normans, Saxons and Vikings ( to name a few) in our age all came to see the unique and strategic military significance of the area and all made settlements here. The unique properties of it’s lush rich peninsula were lost on none of our ancient peoples and conquest of this vast hinterland was crucial to all who wished to rule and tame the land.
Without a doubt civilisations previous to this modern age had the same desires and discoverers and Archeologists of their day would likewise have marvelled at the previous exploits of their ancient ancestors too.
Perhaps those who settled at Sutton Hoo way way upstream were following ancient trails and having dug up and marvelled at the technology at the disposal of their ancient forerunners set about conquering the vast forests and woodlands which were later to provide Britain with Her huge navy’s requirements. We have a river here called KINGSFLEET and the main settlement on the river Deben is Woodbridge. Just before you get to Bawdsey as the crow flies, you come to the end of Felixstowe on the edges of one the countries oldest links golf courses at the very end lies Felixstowe ferry ⛴ A once tiny remote fishing hamlet. Here’s where it gets complicated. It’s a small but rapidly growing place with a small amount of space dominated by a beautiful boat yard almost unspoiled by developers but they are adding larger and larger installations as London and the affluent grab Suffolk by the balls and stake a claim like an American gold rush. My earliest memory of this place as a visiting “urchin“ from Ipswich aged ten. Myself and a lad called Julian Smith on a seaside expedition to the ferry with his family were let loose on the golf course while the others sunbathed on the beach which lines the golf course right up to the mouth of the river. We found these lovely inland “sand dunes” and proceeded to make elaborate sand castles. Very soon the plus fours were upon us as wave after wave of Danny Kaye lookalikes informed us we were trespassing on Felixstowe Ferry golf course! A kindly old gentleman gave us a pat on the head seeing the funny side of us thinking we were on the beach and gave us a rake and sixpence to level things off. It would be 30 years before I ventured onto a golf course again!!
The approach to the river silts up quickly and is a very narrow fast tidal gateway and many a posh sailor has run aground here. Marooned for hours until able to refloat. The currents are treacherous and you DONT swim here. Indeed go in by all means but you won’t come out, simple as. Many a strong swimmer has been lost here and many tales exist of heroic rescues.
I worked with a delightful lady at the port called Shirley and her husband was the ferry’s best fisherman and he indeed drowned in the strait between the ferry and Bawdsey.
Due to the spring tides the ferry has been flooded many times and obviously was badly affected in the great flood of the fifties. A coastal surge where the water came in and then back out again with devastating effect.

The local hardware chain have a glut of bulbs and I’m hoping I can get first dibs when they go past the sell by date.(now)I meant to go in last week but have been otherwise engaged.
Priority lies with pruning my fruit 🍎bushes today at the main site I’ve got blackcurrant and red currants.
Ive applied to stage an exhibition in the new year. There is no point hanging about and I’m grabbing the Bull by the horns. The gallery is booked solid for the whole of 2024 but I know I’ll get a date, because I’ve got something different to offer and a statement to make which won’t wait. I even think I can obtain a sponsor, because I’m confident and the organically minded people I’m thinking of would readily associate with my message. (As would most companies.) In fact if you can’t identify with genuine environmental issues and something socially beneficial to the community then you’re not the type of company I’d want onboard anyway!!
I can get ten. I want one main sponsor and two associates.
The main person I need to get onboard is the artist 👩‍🎨 I’d like to double up with me.
More about that as things develop, but getting the main man onboard is critical but not vital but a twin exhibition would be good. You get a concept in your mind and then you have to convince others of your “big idea”. I overcame one such hurdle at the journey’s beginning when meeting “force of nature” Amber at the Hospice shop. She was so clued up and importantly, open to a fresh idea 💡 that the key denominator of “listening “ sealed the deal and a receptive mind meant I barely had to explain my ideas before She’d got on board. Today’s flowers are hydrangeas and hopefully I’ll source some big blooms for the shop. My neighbours want some as does my fisherman and if the weather remains calm he’ll lay his nets tonight and I’ll go out with him on Saturday for a view of the land, my land from the sea, my sea again. It has been a long long time.

[LD73]

This really shouldn’t be a difficult decision to apply on the day of the incident, afterall Stewards are already able to reverse placings in races and those cases are all based on the Stewards interpretation of whether the horse interfered with would have won had the interference not taken place (interpretation which could vary depending on what individual Stewards are on duty on any given day).

Rightly or wrongly the whip rules on disqualification as they stand are specifically set out and clear in a way that doesn’t require Stewards interpretation – i.e. excluding the strikes used clearly for safety purposes, if you go four or more strikes over the limit the horse is disqualified.

It is completely daft that this decision had to go to a seperate panel to decide (and making it worse by having said decision made) several days after the actual incident took place, what sort of additional experience do they have, to warrant that they have to be the ones making this decision? If that is the case then……WHY……what is the justification for it, Stewards enforce plenty of race day rules (its their job) that are probably a lot less cut and dried than simply reading and applying the rules to an incident.

or

Would the fact be that because this was the first whip disqualification decision of its kind to take place here that the Stewards on the day passed (or bottled it) on making the decision themselves and referred it up the chain?

[sporting sam]

Massive fire 🔥 at big Lottie. And a nearby resident has given me the largest collection of pots and odds and sods you could ever see, thrre were also some tiles which will come in handy and my second metal incinerator bin someone must know there is a bit of a firestarter in me! 🔥.
I saw a friend on his allotment with a new hand made fence. “If you did it yourself it must have been very cost effective”. I said innocently.
Yes “£200.00” He said proudly.
I haven’t spent that much in all my years as an allotment holder, save the fees.
Everything and I mean everything is found in skips or is something that no one else wants. My absolute first rule is spend as little as possible reuse and recycle ♻️.
except the seeds which maxed this year at one pound a packet buying me approx 200 varieties ( estimated) last month for an outlay of £60 and that amount shared with a client. Everything comes from giveaways or the tip.

[Red Rum 77]

Race Date 2nd December 2023

This competition will run until late April/ or early May depending on when the National Hunt season ends.

Rules

1 Everyone is welcome, just make an entry below.

2 Two different selections must be made, one win and one each way.

3 It is strongly suggested that reserves be made. Remember these will only come into effect if you have non runners, and also the order written.

4 Scores will be update weekly, (old score – stake + winnings = new score).
The stake will be either 0 points if no selections are left, 50 points for 1 runner, 100 points for both runners. Any winnings will include their stake unit back, like what you get back from a bookies.

5 Selections can be updated/ Amended before the off time of the race, but please make a new post. If you do then I will use the latest post only.

6 The each way part will be calculated at quarter odds.

7 Number of places I will use will be :

Handicaps of up to 20 runners, will be normal number of places.
Handicaps of 21 to 24 runners 5 places
Handicaps of 25 to 28 runners 6 places
Handicaps of 29+ runners 7 places

Should the be a non runner reducing the number of places, I will use the original number of runners in the field as stated in the morning papers.

8 A win selection will have a 50 point win on it
An each way selection will have a 25 point each way on it at quarter odds.
The will be a free forecast at 1 point, for those getting first and second (either way) which I will use racing post details for payout.
For fun I will keep a track on successful outsiders (whether it wins or placed)

9 An alternative race will be made at another venue, this should only be used if the main race venue gets cancelled. Sometimes it might be earlier than the original race so keep an eye on that.

The main race this weekend is Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase 2.50 NEWBURY

The 3.10 at Fairyhouse is this week’s reserve race if needed.

You've got to accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don't mess with mister in between.

[LD73]

Such a strange race to watch – a big field (how refreshing was it to see that in a G1) yet virtually nothing else that wasn’t handy got into the race…..not that you could call it much of a race with the distain that Equinox treated them all with.

He is a very special horse that was (in hindsight) incorrectly underrated on his Dubai run, I think most thought it was a very good performance visually but that he was still only beating Westover and Mostahdaf (who at the time were decent but exposed at G1 level). With what those two went on to do this season and with Equinox’s continued brilliance in Japan I think has most realising now just how good the Dubai run truly was.

His preference for fast ground always made it highly unlikely that a trip to Europe was ever going to be on the agenda not withstanding the vast difference in prize money, finishing 5th in the Japan Cup nets you £314k alone (finishing 5th in the Arc gets you £126k) and his combined winnings from his last three runs amount to around £6m! Then add in a little European bias on ratings and arguably his final rating might still be underplaying just how good he was.

[jackh1092]

And shorter now…albeit with NRs

Capo out for a run.

French D isn’t much use is he? Runs his races yeah and technically has everything right to run a good’n but nah not for me.

Haut was running big here + whatever last year + continues to look decent at the weights, but he’s more blowout than banker as a profile.

Lord knows what James Du berlais is?

Farouk has jumping problems, but if he had stayed on his feet at Chelt, he’s probably a G1 animal? Off-putting how he’d have gone off double figs in a handicap though with 7lb claimer on his return even with gordie having 55 runners.

Classic Getaway must be made so fragile, and to be honest his level is unknown. However, he’ll be ready, surely. Beatin Cocooner ain’t bad form fresh given that ones hurdle form.

Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!

[BigG]

Week 1 (and a bit)

Well mickeyjp, with his stable “Just mullin along” finds himself in a place he is well
accustomed to, leader of the TRF league after week one. Fastorslow looks like one that
could run up a good tally after digging in well to beat Appreciate it in the John Durkin
at Punchestown (34.20 points).

At 1/6 State Man was entitled to win easily. I expected him
to have it put to rest before the last, which it wasn’t, but his class told when stretching
away on the run-in the Motgiana Hurdle. Quite a few stables have him and he looks the real
deal (26.10 Points)

Jonbon was another odds on winner but this one was in no danger in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham.
If their is a worry for me it’s that at times he jumps the fences fast, but without an inch to spare.
If he’s got competition round him, rather than the 3 he beat here I wonder if one could just catch
him out. Having said that, at others he jumped like a stag and this was his ist outing since April.
Undoubted class (21.45 points).

I’ve also got Bravemansgame in my stable, as have plenty, but he’s been disappointing in his
2 starts this season. This time he was well beaten by Royale Pagaile, no excuses offered by
Paul Nicholls. Hopefully we will see the real Bramemansgame at kempton over Christmas. The jury
is still out on this one I’m affraid.

Well done Mickey, a class 4 timer that has you setting the pace after week 1. Staying there
is the thing, but you’re just the man to do it. Great start

Hoy’s boys and ladies was another who benefitted from the win of Fastorslow, plenty said about
him above. Blueking D’Oroux had quite a hard race, but after a good jump at the last he was always
going to win in the Coral Hurdle. Nicholls didn’t have any big plans for him but he looks a stayer
in the making and I think we’ll see him over 3m soon enough (27.10 Points)

State Man gives HBAL a good start sitting not far behind Mickey on 87.40 points. Tremendous start

Red Jumpers had 3 of the above, State Man, Jonbon and Bravemansgame but added a 4th with Pic D’Orhy
benefitting from Shishkin refusing to run. That was a bit of a blow for quite a few stables but not
RJ who saw Pic D’Orhy win easily against the other 2 starters. Hard to say how good he is, a big
distance win but against opposition he would be expected to beat (23.50 points). Could be very decent
and has some big race entries. Total 83.05 points. Very nice start RJ

Well the Dark Angels as expected have started off well. Jac has been winning just about all big compys
recently and had a fine treble with Blueking D’Oroux and State Man, both have been given the once over
above but Jac has pulled a rabbit out the hat with Stage Star. He carried a big weight in the Paddy Power
but looked superb despite giving all a near heart attack at the last. He could be the answer to the Ryanair
Jac and the 22.20 points gives a tally of 75.40 and just off the podium at the moment, but I doubt not
for much longer. Great start Jac

Madison Wonderland, had the trio Stateman, Jonbon and Bravemensgame, all mentioned above but added a nice
one in Facile Vega (12.42 points} for a foursome. It was indeed a facile victory after the last where he
ran away from them. He’ll need to tidy up his jumping a bit. He used to take liberties with his hurdling,
he better not do that going chasing now. I reckon Willie Mullins knows enough to get him sorted out.
Good start MW,73.47 points, keep that up

Yellowbog Stables gets in on the action with 3 of the above stable backed horses, Fastorslow State Man
and Facile Vega for 72.72 points and is well in the hunt in 6th spot. Nice start YS

What’s this?, couldn’t be, must be some mistake. It’s ME, in 7th spot would you believe. I’m normally
a dredger in this competition but I must have had my sensible head on when I stumbled across State Man,
Stage Star and Bravemansgame. Not only them but Klassical Dream also nabbed me 12.12 points at Navan
for 72.42 Points. I think I’m going to have a nosebleed

Edantony tucks in nicely behind BigG with a foursome all mentioned above, State Man, Jonbon, Bravemansgame
and Facile Vega for a nice tally of 71.97 points. Edantony is always a threat in this competition, so
you’ve been warned. Good start in 8th place

Moley racing takes the 9th spot with State Man, Jonbon and Bravemensgame and added Gaelic Warrior. If
ever a horse looked in a different class to the opposition it was Gaelic Warrior. At 5 yrs old he looks
like a horse going places. Just where we don’t know yet. Willie Mullins has him in the Champion Hurdle
and the Stayers Hurdle, so even Willie is undecided. That’s 12.40 points for him and a total of 71.95
points. It’s looking a bit crammed from 5th place to 11th, barely 2 points between them so you are right
in there Moley

Ja’s Jumpers takes the 10th spot with Jonbon, Bravemansgame, State Man and Gaelic Warrior, all mentioned
above for a total of 71.95 points and as I said, 2 points more and he would be 5th so it’s not just tight
at the top, it’s tight all round. Well done Ja

Okay, so that’s the top 10 and with 30 to look over that’s as far as I need go at this point.
I see we have a 31st stable, Galaxy’s One and Only. No problem with you staying with us for a
bit of fun Galaxy, but I’m afraid you have missed the deadline and cannot be considered for
any of the prizes in the TRF league. Obviously if you do well in the Tote competition that’s
still open to you. Good luck in that competition

The fighting Fifth on Saturday looks like a penaly kick for Constitution Hill and I see Shishkin
is down for the big handicap at Newcastle, giving, as you’d expect, plenty of weight to the rest,
but will he decide to run this time Joyeuse is set to show if he is as good as I hope
at Newbury on Saturday and in the Coral Gold Cup Handicap you could pick 10 and still not get a
place, it’s a toughie. Complete Unknown might be the answer, but hard to know how decent his recent
outing at newton Abbot was in a 3 horse race. I’m not sure I fancy a single odds one that much in a
race like this, I’d rather have a punt on Stolen Silver at 16s even though he’s gone up 7lbs for his
easy win last time out at Chepstow.

Paisley Park, Marie’s Rock and Dashel Drasher all face each other at Newbury on Friday so plenty of
good racing about. Best of luck

Here are the scores as per the TTTF website

1
Just mullin along
93.75
2
Hoy’s Boys and Ladies
87.40
3
Red Jumpers 1
83.05
4
Dark Angels
75.40
5
Madison Wonderland
73.47
6
Yellowbog Stables
72.72
7
Onthebridle
72.42
8
Edantony
71.97
9
Moley Racing
71.95
10
Jas’s Jumpers
71.95
11
Goodfellow
71.95
12
Michael Walsh
65.05
13
FF91
59.97
14
Green’s gallopers
59.97
15
Man Superstars
59.55
16
Numpty Plays The Jumps (List One)
48.75
17
Its A Brave Mans Game
47.55
18
Back jumping
45.87
19
Early Starters
45.85
20
Tó Madeira
44.95
21
No More Bets
38.10
22
Galaxy’s One and Only
34.65
23
CrownJools
34.20
24
Sultans Of Swing
33.45
25
Bourne Losers
25.52
26
Gaelic Warrior Bread
24.82
27
Rays Rockets
24.40
28
Inthestream5
21.45
29
Barrow Raiders
12.40
30
Hinton In the Hedges
1.50
31
The Maple Stirrups
0.00

[Nathan Hughes]

How many squiggles did they award Mad Moose

Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026

[Marlingford]

The drift continues; Frankie is now 50/1.

He hardly featured in tonight’s episode, and also made a strategic error if he is serious about winning. He could have put himself forward for the next trial which would have guaranteed plenty of airtime tomorrow, but held back until it was too late.

[vikingflagship]

Flat horse of the year- Paddington
One to watch 2024 Fastorslow
Racecourse of the year Cheltenham
Villain of the year jockey club and Grand National changes made bowing down to the antis, no longer the Grand National

Vf x

[Red Rum 77]

Messages

First : The usual but all important check your scores for errors and let me know if I’d made any.
I will correct it if any are found ASAP.

Second : Most of the races will be of the National Hunt except when the main venue gets cancelled for reasons or the Lincoln in spring.

Third : Thank you for those taking part, this competition was inspired by Pat123

Fourth : My usual TRF vs Pricewise Cheltenham Competition starts in the New Year.

You've got to accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don't mess with mister in between.