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Did anyone else feel that Jonjo put Shutthefrontdoor into the wrong race on Saturday?
He looked badly in carrying top weight over 2 and a half miles and lined up at about the same odds he was to win the National itself. He seemed outpaced nearly all the way and was under pressure pretty early. He was pulled up and I can’t see what value there was in that for aiding his National preparation.
Pushed out to 25/1, I suspect few will be interested in those odds and it looked a bad bit of placing to me.
Some people felt Jonjo had turned the corner after getting a couple of winners but he is 1/24 the past fortnight and on a 4.17% strike rate. With just over a week to Cheltenham I would be concerned and as far as the Grand National goes Holywell and Shutthefrontdoor make little appeal at their odds.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
Did anyone else feel that Jonjo put Shutthefrontdoor into the wrong race on Saturday?
Yes and No, when looking at the card the first horse I put a line through.
Jonjo likes to give them match practise, remember Get Me Out of Here, would lob around top weight at the back of the field all season either finishing last or getting pulled up then run the race of his life at Cheltenham. Don’t Push It was warming up all season long prior to winning the Grand National. Shutthefrontdoor will have one target only and any other race will be to tick him over.Blackbeard to conquer the World
It is all right trotting round at the back of the field Nath but Shutthefrontdoor was never going and that didn’t look like a trot round to me.
Like Steve I am fearful of Jonjo,s awful form running up to Cheltenham let alone Aintree.
The one I liked about the 3.45 at Doncaster, yesterday, was The Druid’s Nephew. Perhaps on ground too soft but the way he came prominently on the scene impressed me (a little bit
) I agree The Druids Nephew’s run was very encouraging too. Don’t quite understand this thing about him being better on good ground though. To my mind TDN’s form suggests he’s just as effective on soft, even very soft. Was he much below form yesterday? Doubt it myself. And has 10 lengths to make up on The Last Samuri who’s improving all the time – and they meet at Aintree on identical terms.
Although the description in last year’s National was Good To Soft, the time suggested to me that it was as firm as they let it. The second fastest time since Mr Frisk won over 4 miles 4 furlongs in a TIME of 8m 47.80s (fast by 22.20s). While Many Clouds won over 4 miles 2 furlongs and 74 yards with a time of 8m 56.80s (fast by 7.20s).
The Druid’s Nephew came down just after Valentine’s second time round, but up to then looked like he was handling the ground.
The best things in life are free.
But you can give them to the birds and bees.TDN definitely acts on good ground Rummy, it’s just that I believe he also goes on soft too. Can’t believe he didn’t act on soft when given plenty to do, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths behind Sam Winner (who gave 6 lbs). Winner then franked the form in two runs the following month; including 1 1/2 lengths behind Gold Cup third Road To Riches in Lexus. So – because he goes on soft – I don’t see why TDN would improve as much as 10 lengths he’d need to turn around the Grimthorpe result with The Last Samuri. Although I do believe he has less chance of staying the trip if it turns very soft.
It’s true that TDN was going better than Many Clouds when crumpling on landing 5 out. But TDN always travels well in his races (did so again at Donny as well as most losing runs and Cheltenham success) and so was eventual 5th Shutthefrontdoor travelling better than the winner. Where as Many Clouds can find plenty for presure. I wouldn’t be at all certain TDN would’ve beaten the winner… And yet TDN is on a mark 9 lbs worse than last year and is now handicapped as if he’d beaten Many Clouds by at least 4 lengths!
Not the well handicapped horse he was last year. At the time of his fall TDN was 10 lbs well-in (after the Cheltenham win) so it would’ve been a surprise had he not been going well 5 out. Not out of it this time around, but imo needs to show improvement/a career best.
Value Is EverythingThe one I liked about the 3.45 at Doncaster, yesterday, was The Druid’s Nephew. Perhaps on ground too soft but the way he came prominently on the scene impressed me (a little bit
) I agree The Druids Nephew’s run was very encouraging too. Don’t quite understand this thing about him being better on good ground though. To my mind TDN’s form suggests he’s just as effective on soft, even very soft. Was he much below form yesterday? Doubt it myself. And has 10 lengths to make up on The Last Samuri who’s improving all the time – and they meet at Aintree on identical terms.
Although the description in last year’s National was Good To Soft, the time suggested to me that it was as firm as they let it. The second fastest time since Mr Frisk won over 4 miles 4 furlongs in a TIME of 8m 47.80s (fast by 22.20s). While Many Clouds won over 4 miles 2 furlongs and 74 yards with a time of 8m 56.80s (fast by 7.20s).
The Druid’s Nephew came down just after Valentine’s second time round, but up to then looked like he was handling the ground.
We’d have to have quite a dry period for the ground to be near it was last year. This winter has been exceptionally wet and whilst I don’t know exactly what the ground is like now I’d be pretty sure it’s on the heavy side. I only live a few miles down the road from Aintree and amount of rainfall we’ve had up north has been unprecedented.
I think we’ll have the toughest National in years in regards to the ground.
There’s over a month to go yet Vinny, ground can dry out within 10 days.
Value Is EverythingJust watched the 4.40 from Naas where Goonyella and Gallant Oscar are heading to Aintree
Goonyella lost his way in the midway part of the race, and needed lots of encouragement but rallied to battle back against stable companion [also same ownership companion] Venitien De Mai.
Gallant Oscar was waited with and made eyecatching moves towards the leaders. He finished in fifth.
Some encouraging figures for Saturday’s race for GOONYELLA
from Racing Post.Fancied Goonyella last year when set to ride with Official Rating of 136
until he was pulled out. Then a good run in the Midlands meant he went up 10 pounds and another 4 pounds with an equally good run in the Scottish [losing by 3/4 of a length ]. His form this season not been up to much, but his run on Saturday as my initial reaction suggest was encouraging[repeating myself there, need a thesaurus
].The best things in life are free.
But you can give them to the birds and bees.Kelso rearranged for this Sunday.
Phew! Didn’t want Many Clouds having a hard race in the Gold Cup before the National.
Value Is EverythingKelso rearranged for this Sunday.
Phew! Didn’t want Many Clouds having a hard race in the Gold Cup before the National.
I second that. He’s at the moment is my main hope
The best things in life are free.
But you can give them to the birds and bees.True, but it’s going to be one helluva slog there…
True Moehat, but easier to take on vastly inferior rivals in a listed conditions race on heavy, than take on the very best horses on a stiff track at level weights too close to Aintree.
Value Is EverythingAnyone know whether any excuse was offered for Triolo D’Alene’s poor Ascot performance?
Value Is EverythingSAINT ARE last race, puts him firmly in the picture in my books, but would welcome other people’s opinion
The best things in life are free.
But you can give them to the birds and bees.Here’s my take on Saint Are Rummy.
/33312-671 Saint Are 10: 10-05 Tom George 146
Terrific record at this meeting, twice a winner of handicaps. Isn’t badly treated off a mark 3 lbs higher than when runner-up in last year’s Grand National. Now 2 lbs better off with winner Many Clouds for 1¾ lengths. On identical terms with both 4th Alvorado despite a 9½ lengths gap and 6th Royale Knight despite 13¼ lengths. Only 4 lbs worse with 5th Shutthefrontdoor for 11 lengths, although that horse may be better than distances suggest. Saint Are lucky to stay on his feet at the 1st fence, lesser errors at 14th, 18th and second Bechers; so jumping not always flawless. Poor 32 lengths 7th of 9 finishers in Becher Chase (3m2f soft) in December. Bad mistake final open ditch and not knocked about run-in once chance had gone. Forget that run! Comes alive in the Spring. Back to form, won veterans chase at Doncaster last time out (3m Good) off this 146 mark in late February. Getting run of the race from the front, looked in trouble three out before particularly good jumps in the home straight and fighting his rivals off; gave Grandad’s Horse 12 lbs and a ¾ length beating. Saint Are is genuine when racing prominently and at his very best on good-soft or good. Easy to see him figuring again although there may be one or two with more scope for improvement.Value Is Everything
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