- This topic has 264 replies, 61 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 1 month ago by
.
- Posts
You obviously wern’t around in 1986 Clive !!!
I see that not only was the JP not won (probably dead after 3rd race), but the Placepot paid a whacking £32k to £1 !!! Tells a story!
What would people should be the new official ratings for the first few?
Hard to judge in my opinion given the proximity of Anibale Fly, who’s career best until now had been 159. He finished within 4 lengths of the 169 rated might bite, so I suppose 165 would be a fair figure for Anibale Fly, thus leave might bite on 169 and therefore 174 for native river?Great race, loved the way Native River kept coming up every time RJ asked. Thought it was between these two, in the end backed MB, but also had a British-trained winner (evens), so got my money back
So next year; Native River, Might Bite, Shattered love, Footpad, Presenting Percy, maybe a Sizing John comeback. Hope they all make it. But love to see Altior step up in distance
The RPRs for this race are correct. 178 for Native River, Might Bite (173) will be capable of running to 178 on better ground, Anibale Fly was a revelation at 170 especially after a bad fall last time, 167 for Road To Respect (compared to 169 at Xmas) and he will be capable of 170+ on better going. Great race, decent but not vintage renewal.
On a side note, another nail in the coffin of The Cotswold Chase; Definitly Red never went a yard.
I don’t think American did either so that would go with your Cotswold Chase theory too Steeplechasing
Reckon American’s connections have thrown £27.5k down the toilet and ruined the horse’s chances of winning the National. Fry says he needs some time between his races so he is not going to be winning in 4 weeks. I am pocket talking somewhat as I backed him for the Ultima (but NRNB so didn’t lose out). I held off on backing him for the National thinking that if he unseated early I would back him, but if he ran most or all of the race, win place or lose I would avoid backing him as it would take too much out of any horse. Maybe they never seriously intended him as a National horse. I wonder what they will do with him now.
In fact most of the horses I back at the Aintree festival will be ones who spent this week tucked up in their boxes, or who were gently nursed home in the shorter races. This week provided some thrilling finishes but it was hard yakka.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, GAG.
Why not have a go?
American had/has potential to improve given the right circumstances. Of course it was unlikely he’d find enough improvement to win, but had fair prospects of getting in the money. Suspect prize money goes down to at least 6th… not that it’s all about money anyway. He’s fragile so needs soft ground. One race conections regretted running in was “Hennessey”, not soft enough and came back injured. Originally had no intention of running today and only supplemented when obviously highly likely to be ok. May never again get those conditions at the Cheltenham Festival. There’s a necessity to go where going allows with this horse and therefore had they sat at home waiting for Aintree probably wouldn’t have run there either.Value Is EverythingFair points GT, especially as you’re right the cut might have gone from the ground by the time Aintree rolls around and after that there might be no soft left anywhere.
I don’t think he was given too hard a time in the Cotswold and I liked his run there. You are right, they were probably right to give it ago. I withdraw my “down the toilet” comment, it was unfair, plus the horse took his chance so the money wasn’t really wasted- they got their day out. And if he had finished 4th or better they would have got the money back with some to spare.
He must be an awkward horse to place. Needs at least the softer side of good to soft, but not too heavy, and probably not running more than 3 or 4 times/season.
This was one of the most intriguing and gripping races from the very start. Strong suspense throughout. Even as the race progressed, it looked kinda obvious that nothing else in the field was going to strike a blow against the brilliant front two. And yet, all the time, this prolonged game of cat and mouse between the venomous Might Bite and ever-flowing Native River gave nothing away even after the last fence. Absolutely mesmerizing!
Re American. I wouldn’t run any horse in the national. An ugly spectacle and I suspect more owners think the same than we are led to believe.
This was one of the most intriguing and gripping races from the very start. Strong suspense throughout. Even as the race progressed, it looked kinda obvious that nothing else in the field was going to strike a blow against the brilliant front two. And yet, all the time, this prolonged game of cat and mouse between the venomous Might Bite and ever-flowing Native River gave nothing away even after the last fence. Absolutely mesmerizing!
Perfectly put and marks it out as one of the greatest races of recent years. Best gc I’ve seen for the above reasons
Would also suggest that not too many past winners woukd have coped with those two jumping and travelling like that and if anything they are being underrated by many
I love both horses. They have both been underrated IMO. Might Bite is still the better horse at up to 3m. Native River is the epitome of a NH chaser, he jumps, and he stays, he has the heart of a lion. Over 3m2f with the hill, I’d have made NR fav on G/S. Add in soft/heavy ground and I’m shocked Might Bite went off fav, and got as close as he did. On good ground, I think Might Bite will beat him now in next years GC after yesterdays performance.
The GC I’d love to see over the past few years, is Coneygree in his novice season, and Native River 2018, on yesterdays ground.
The race I’m looking forwards to now (and was before the festival), is KG 2018, Might Bite v Waiting Patiently. This will be a race to savour!
Thank you Native River, you made my festival this year!
Although the one negative about Native River winning is that it will heighten the thought that you shouldn’t run in any other race all season except a prep. Tizzard saying that’s it for Native River this season after just two runs and that next year it’s just Haydock, Newbury, Cheltenham.
The first two had only 3 runs between them going into the Gold Cup and it’s been one of the biggest problems facing the Staying chase division for the past decade.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.