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Embarks on his hurdling career tomorrow, known on the flat for being runner up in the Derby to City Of Troy
Vf x
Hoping he wins or goes close . Owner puts a lot in over many years . Always like seeing those colours win.
Looks tough today though .Looked a right handful early on but jumped fairly well and just tied up at the end.
The more I know the less I understand.
A horse that they simply couldn’t ever get to settle on the flat (where they go a hell of a lot faster) surprise surprise didn’t settle in a 2m hurdle race – I will say that he clearly knows how to jump (newspapers as well) but he will have the exact same issues finishing off his races as he did on the flat only it will be highlighted even more going 2m.
They simply have to get him to drop the bridle early on in his races or it will be a utter waste of time trying this – he clearly has the talent and jumping doesn’t seem to be ay issue but for a horse where 2m will likely be pushing the limits of his stamina, he can ill afford to be wasting any energy early on.
Faster ground and a flat track should help. Can see him winning his maiden at a track like Huntingdon and then being put away for a spring campaign.
I was quite impressed with him in a strange sort of way. He ran off his face and I fully expected him to fold tamely. The fact he jumped the last when still in front shows the engine is still intact.
A novice hurdle at a gaff track is obviously his for the taking at long odds on but it is difficult to see him winning in top company unless he settles better.
I am inclined to agree that Aintree will suit him better than Cheltenham. Maybe skip the festival, take on the opposition in April and hope they left their races behind the month before.
Really hope this venture proves successful. Seeing Group class horses transfer successfully from the Flat to the Jumps is such a rarity nowadays. In fact it’s probably more common to see the reverse happen!
Cezanne was an odd one back in day , I was at Huntingdon at evening meeting when he won over hurdles , he had won Irish Champion, second in Dubai Duty Free and had a go at The Breeders Cup Classic . Around the world , dirt , turf , hurdles and fired a few blanks at stud in between
A quick ground (thats relatively for NH racing) on a flatter track may make his inability to settle more pronounced as he will be able to go that much quicker early on and waste more energy in doing so.
I wonder just what they have done at home to try and get him to settle other than fitting head gear – Sir Henry took pains with Frankel to make him stay in behind his lead horse for the whole piece of work if he didn’t settle properly……may be a bit late to be trying that tactic but what they have been trying at home (whatever it is) has clearly not worked to date.
Not sure what they have done at home, other then him being gelded and a wind operation
Vf x
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