- This topic has 55 replies, 32 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 6 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Paul Nicholls’ column yesterday didn’t quite knock Alastair Down’s allegations on the head. Nicholls asserted that Hales didn’t say anything unsporting to him. He added:
John puts an awful lot into the sport; like many of us he wears his heart on his sleeve, and in the heat of the moment I’m sure he was disappointed that Neptune couldn’t finish closer than fourth in the Gold Cup.
Why write that, if Hales hadn’t said anything that could have been construed as graceless?
Mr Down should concider certain facts:
Mr Hales buys and pays the bills for the horses he has in training. its him who suffers when a horse goes wrong or is slower than a downed dairy cow.
Racing is about winning, history forgets the also rans.
The horse entered the race with a great chance of winning, he was ridden too win it, not as a pacemaker. By slowing it up from the front he was I suspect trying too try and nullify Denman and Kauto’s abilty too quicken off a strong pace.
If he was not angry about loosing then he would not be a racehorse owner in that situation. Later finding his horse got injured would have made the loss easier to swallow.
Porky down should keep away from the trough and use the cash too buy a racehorse, he would find that their are allot more lows than highs in racing, so each win is specail.
Till then I suggest he keeps his able frame and opions too himself.
Paul Nicholls’ column yesterday didn’t quite knock Alastair Down’s allegations on the head. Nicholls asserted that Hales didn’t say anything unsporting to him. He added:
John puts an awful lot into the sport; like many of us he wears his heart on his sleeve, and in the heat of the moment I’m sure he was disappointed that Neptune couldn’t finish closer than fourth in the Gold Cup.
Why write that, if Hales hadn’t said anything that could have been construed as graceless?
Does he really write it though? Or does he talk to a journo on the phone, who then does his best to misconstrue things?
he was saying something along the lines that he hoped to be 7L ahead of Kauto at the top of the hill, and 4L behind him over the last, and would then do Kauto again up the hill.
Christ, is he on the pipe ?
I found it very odd that Christian Williams tipped Star de Mohaison as an ew tip for the race on the Morning Line and not his own horse; not sure what to read into it but it made me feel quite uncomfortable.
That irked me as well, and I backed Neptune Collonge.
Mr Down should concider certain facts:
Mr Hales buys and pays the bills for the horses he has in training. its him who suffers when a horse goes wrong or is slower than a downed dairy cow.
Racing is about winning, history forgets the also rans.
The horse entered the race with a great chance of winning, he was ridden too win it, not as a pacemaker. By slowing it up from the front he was I suspect trying too try and nullify Denman and Kauto’s abilty too quicken off a strong pace.
If he was not angry about loosing then he would not be a racehorse owner in that situation. Later finding his horse got injured would have made the loss easier to swallow.
Porky down should keep away from the trough and use the cash too buy a racehorse, he would find that their are allot more lows than highs in racing, so each win is specail.
Till then I suggest he keeps his able frame and opions too himself.
The only fact in that lot is that Hales pays the bills, the rest Like Alastair Down’s comments , is opinion.
The comments seems to suggest that the rest of us mere mortals in the racing community should doff our caps to our elders and betters, the racehorse owners.
Sadly it is easier to make abusive comments than compose a reasoned post.
- Total Posts 17716
It was quicker ground this year maybe Neptune wasn’t comfortable going a stride faster.
Ian
He was certainly comfortable enough, on even quicker ground, at Punchestown last April.
I have hand-timed NC’s runs up until touching down over the first fence in the straight first time round, for both years, and there is less than 0.5 seconds between the two, despite this year’s race being run 3 sec faster overall.
It may just be that Christian Williams isn’t the judge of pace that Mick Fitz was last year but, imo, John Hales had every reason to feel aggrieved that the horse wasn’t ridden to the best of his capability, It also suggests that Alistair Down is more concerned with mealy-mouthed apologies than he is with reporting what actually happened.I agree with most of what you say Reet.
The going was firmer than the previous year.
Christian Williams did not set as fast a pace as I was expecting. When thinking Kauto Star was the main danger, if Neptunes was to win there had to be a strong pace; to nullify the Star’s turn of foot. To talk of ground or course being against him is (imo) rediculous as his win at Punchestowns (on good) and 3rd in last years GC show. I can therefore understand if John Hales was none too pleased. On the face of it, it seemed as though NC was ridden for the benefit of both Kauto Star (best when the emphasis is on speed at 3m2f) and Denman (not thought in good enough condition to go at his normal pace). Neptunes best performances have come when stamina is at a premium.
It may be the case that Christian was going to up the pace more on the second circuit, like Denman the previous year. However, NC just did not jump the way he can, so was unable to up the ante. Neptunes Collonges was (imo) below form and it seemed (after the race) as though for no reason other than pace. Again understandable John Hales was not too pleased.
However, now that we know Neptunes Collonges has an injury, there is a valid excuse why he could not go any faster / did not jump with usual fluency / below form. I would think John Hales has a different opinion now about the race / ride, as I do. A faster pace probably did not alter the result.
Mark
Value Is EverythingThe trainer bloody well should doff their bloody hats too the owners treat them with respect as should the so called journalists, without the owners the trainers and the hacks would be claiming jobseekers allowence. They are like any type of staff, you hire them because if their skill and give them tools too work with.
Racing is a pleasure activity for allot of owners, if it ceases too be so, then they leave. Mr Hales wanted too win the greatest prize in steeple chasing, he had a live chance and his horse didnt win, of cause how was hacked off.
If you had a horse who was exspected too win and it ran downt he field you would feel cheesed off, having your horse do it on the big stage is especally galling.
Loosing is crap and no matter how long you are in racing it still doesnt get any easier.
- Total Posts 17716
Ignoring the fact that Neptune Collonges wasn’t ‘expected to win’ the race, yorkshirepudding, are we all supposed to pander to racehorse owners because of the fortunate position they find themselves in?
Anyone else notice the little apology tucked away in today’s Post. Didn’t seem to reflect very well on Down that he couldn’t do it himself.
Fists
Neptune Collonges could have set a better pace, should have, and most certainly did last year where, far from being outpaced as was the case this time, he finished best of all the principals.
Whether it would have incommoded Kauto Star enough to make a difference, neither you or I could say, but it is blindingly obvious that NC wasn’t ridden to best advantage, and the owner has every right to complain when, as it seems, the race was orchestrated against his own horse’s interests.
The only energy he was conserving was apparently that of his stablemate’s.Perahaps he could have but what would the end result have been. Maybe Hales was expecting too much. I have been saying for a year NC was flattered by KS becuase he ran below form.
PN had a few runners and as far as I can see he ran them all to give tem the best chance possible. If that played into the hands of Kauto then so be it. One things for sure PN should be praised like Tricky Dicky was not questioned by some silly owner who wasn’t happy with the end result.
I’m not surprised PN walked away shaking his head. NC simply isn’t in the same league as Kauto Star and it wouldn’t have mattered a rats ass if he set off at 2 million miles an hour Kauto would still have won.
Owners can be complete prats when their dreams are shattered. I have seen it first hand and assure you reason flies out the window when reality sets in.
If Hales thinks his horse should have finished closer he’s lost the plot and if Downs think he should have been ridden differently his opinion sucks.
PN did the business in a big way, 4 from the first 5 home ffs. He’s the man as far as I’m concerned and the rest should respect that and keep their silly mouths shut.
BTW Roll On 18/1 for the Whitbread. Don’t say I never told you
Roll Along? was pricing him up today; he’s got an entry for the Scottish National..is he definately going for the Whitbread? [sorry, should we start a Whitbread thread?]
Anyone else notice the little apology tucked away in today’s Post. Didn’t seem to reflect very well on Down that he couldn’t do it himself.
Why should he? He has an opinion – the fact it is different to Paul Nicholls’ opinion is irrelevant. Down doesn’t get money from Hales for training his horses.
That a newspaper could print such a grovelling snippet in the face of a difference of opinion not a dispute of facts shows what a gutless rag it is.
The paper says "…(we) accept Alastairs opinion was inaccurate"
Facts can be inaccurate, I don’t think opinions can.
he was saying something along the lines that he hoped to be 7L ahead of Kauto at the top of the hill, and 4L behind him over the last, and would then do Kauto again up the hill.
Christ, is he on the pipe ?
In La La Land. He can’t seriously think KS could be 4 lengths ahead at the last and be caught and overtaken???
Just to explain exactly what happened after the Gold cup…….
Mr Hales was very disappointed that nipper finished 4th,but actually didnt say anything after the race…
Paul walking away and shaking his head was from a comment from Mrs Hales, Paul asked if everything was ok to which Mrs Hales said" yes except we didn’t think the pace was quick enough on the first curcuit" to which Paul butted in and didn’t allow her to finish what she was saying by putting his hand up in the air and saying" Pat don’t go there " and making a big thing about it !!!!!
If he had waited to hear the whole thing she was going to continue by saying "Denman had run a fabulous race and well done with Kauto star"Mr Hales isn’t fortunate to find himself in the posistion he’s in he’s worked extremely hard for what he has!!!!!!
Also the main comment from Downes that really upset the whole family was the one about grey horses, there is absolutely no need to get so personal and he was totally out of order…
For those people who said it was a needle in a tea cup would you stand for somebody printing that about a member of your family…
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.