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Added Vieux Morvan 14’s Win, and will definitely add a third, though undecided between my old friend Oscar Knight, and the fellow JP owned, Timiyan.
Vieux Morvan 14’s
Excellent blog Paul, best of luck with BOF.
I’ve taken three stabs now, added BOF 20/1 & Timiyan 12/1.
Timiyan each way looks a good bet – doesn’t seem a complicated ride so the switch from Walsh to O’Keefe ( 23% over fences ) shouldn’t be an issue.
Shantou Village has a nice racing weight and cheekpieces make sense,
Thanks for the blog link BoF, hope your inlaws are enjoying the day and bring your horse luck.
My 3 are
Haymount
Bay of Freedom
SaturnasGood luck all
I’m a bit surprised Shantou Village is going on this ground, so he’s my selection at 22-1 with 5 Places.
I have also bet Oscar Knight just to win
With Lisa O’Neil booked, I finally went for All Hell Let Loose 40’s to the 5 Places. Don’t think he deserves to the outsider of the field anyway.
Oscar Knight owes me nothing, so I’ll take it on the chin if he comes in.
The winning post came a couple of strides too soon for my lad! Good race but some bad luck for Timiyan and a few others. You were right about Haymount’s jumping Kev, he was a bit sticky and lost momentum at a lot of the fences. Needs a few spins out hunting perhaps! Hope Bay of Freedom is feeling OK after his endeavours.
Well done anyone with the winner, he deserved it, great run.
Well done those who found the winner. Thought Dell Arca ran a screamer. Looks like staying chases are an avenue worth exploring with him this coming season.
A quick update: he was distressed despite only running 1 1/2 miles. I am pretty sure he was stressed and we will be checking him for ulcers in the morning. If they are there then that will be it for him as regards racing. It’s a real shame but we have to do the right thing for him.
Thanks for the update BOF, do post how he is after the checkup, i immediately thought of your post as i seen him drop back
Yeah Paul, as Ham says, keep us posted. A fine horse to own, and he’s in good hands. I hope he’s more relaxed this morning.
Well done with the decent each ways, and that was so unlucky for you Grass, with Saturnas, great shout, so bloody close.
Thanks VtC though Snow Falcon did deserve to hold on.
Poor Bay of Freedom, hope he recovers quickly.I am writing this in a state of shock: he does not have any ulcers and seems absolutely fine. None of which explains his run, the fact he was distressed and could hardly walk and that he didn;t want to go onto the track. I have written a fuller update in the blog: http://www.cheltenhamdream.com/blog-diary/2018/9/14/calling-any-and-all-horse-psychiatrists. And, seriously, if anyone has any ideas, or any precedents, then please let me know – we are struggling to figure it all out.
Paul, I suppose the obvious question – and therefore you’ve already considered it – did he resent the first time blinkers?
I just watched a few of his runs and he races like a very honest horse, so, for me at least, I’d rule out temperament. Nor does he look obviously uncomfortable at any pace although he’s simply not responding to pressure lately.
A couple of things occurred to me: he seems to race quite often with a low head carriage – but didn’t appear to do so in his last two steeplechases. Horses carrying their heads higher than ‘normal’, as you know, are sometimes trying to get more air in but I daresay his wind has been checked.
Why does he wear a noseband? They’re commonly used to deter a horse from racing with his head too high yet that does not seem to be an issue with yours.
His fencing lately might well hold the key as it’s been very poor: bit of a shot in the dark – have you had his eyesight checked?
Good luck
JoeFirst of all, thank you Joe (and everyone else) for taking such an interest – it is very gratifying. Those are really interesting questions. Let me try and take each one in turn:
Johnny Burke did wonder if he resented the blinkers but then changed his mind. In fact, he said that normally horses with blinkers respond to the first use of the whip but that he didn’t do that- that was strange to him.
I agree that he is very honest and has always put his head down and runs – at home he works like a 1 1/2 mile horse on the flat. He is for some reason struggling to lay up and that has been the case since Leopardstown; very different from his first two runs last season. The point about head carriage is interesting: according to Roger Loughran he is the ‘clearest winded horse I have ever ridden’ so we doubt there is a wind issue and, certainly, no jockey has ever mentioned it. Peter runs most of his horses in nosebands but not for any specific reason; more aesthetic than anything else. That being said, we are looking to change his race day routine so that certain triggers’ are taken away (eg we won’t plait him, we will take a companion with him)- on that basis we might try taking off the nose band as he doesn’t work in one at home and his work over the last two weeks has been exceptional – I will ask Peter to leave the noseband off and see how he goes.
Finally, the question about eyesight has never occurred to me (although it might have to Peter – we have never discussed it). I will ask him and, if we haven’t checked, will get it done – great idea! Thanks
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