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Given that despite winning the world and his wife appear to have been falling over themselves to criticise Tom Queally for his ride on Frankel I found it quite strange that there has been no criticism of McCoy on Grands Crus. Yes, he pulled hard but that should hardly be a surprise. Not sure how many times McCoy has ridden Auteuil but it looked a simple case of the horse being produced far too early. Yes, he may always have been outspeeded by the winner but he is surely better than sixth? Difficult for connections as clearly the first choice jockey if you ever want finesse was on the winner.
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Utter nonsense! The horse pulled like stink in a race run at "a hack canter" (R. Walsh) and McCoy had to try to make use of his stamina – or what was left of it – in order to try to run the finish out of Thousand Stars et. al.
It was noticeable that having dropped to the rear when the sprint began, he came through some beaten horses at the finish to end up as close as he did. McCoy did the best he could in a race where the cards didn’t drop to suit him. If anything, there’s an argument in favour of the idea that he should have given the horse his head
earlier
to make for a sterner test.
Can’t say I agree with you.
Like you mention, the horse wasn’t exactly settled. The early pace was very slow so it was probably prudent to make the challenge when he did and besides, he closed at near enough the same time and rate as the other hold up horses. Furthermore, the 2nd and 3rd were racing prominently, the 2nd running in snatches in fact.
Somewhat disappointing though he was, Grands Crus had other excuses yesterday including long season (we didn’t know if he’s "tough sort" like the Mullins horses), slow pace and the soft ground.
The Tony McCoy excuse is tenuous at best
Utter nonsense! The horse pulled like stink in a race run at "a hack canter" (R. Walsh) and McCoy had to try to make use of his stamina – or what was left of it – in order to try to run the finish out of Thousand Stars et. al.
It was noticeable that having dropped to the rear when the sprint began, he came through some beaten horses at the finish to end up as close as he did. McCoy did the best he could in a race where the cards didn’t drop to suit him.
Typical bluster on your part. Grands Crus is not a slow horse – he is more likely to be effective at shorter than three miles than further. He came there seemingly travelling as well as anything but didn’t get home. As you like quotes the Racing Post comment is ‘no extra run-in’.
He rode Temple Lord at Auteuil at the back end of 2009 in a Grade 3 4yo Hurdle after JP bought him – the pair started a 3/10 favourite and was pulled up. Not a fair assessment of the jockeys ability at the track as he reported TL was injured after the race but IMO there would have been better jockeys for Grands Crus yesterday in the absence of Tom.
I haven’t had a chance to see the race, therefore I cannot comment.
However, Grands Crus does seem a tricky ride and did have two very hard races at Cheltenham and Aintree. Everything has to go right for this horse, I believe – good to soft ground, quick pace throughout, big field, perhaps ?
As for AP McCoy. Very hard to criticise a 15 times champion jockey, but even he has his off days as witnessed at Ffos Las the other evening when he was severely criticised for his ride aboard Nicky Henderson’s Oasis Knight (2/5); beaten ( or should I say, caught napping ) by 12/1 chance, Conellie.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
- Total Posts 17716
Utter nonsense! The horse pulled like stink in a race run at "a hack canter" (R. Walsh) and McCoy had to try to make use of his stamina – or what was left of it – in order to try to run the finish out of Thousand Stars et. al.
It was noticeable that having dropped to the rear when the sprint began, he came through some beaten horses at the finish to end up as close as he did. McCoy did the best he could in a race where the cards didn’t drop to suit him.
Typical bluster on your part. Grands Crus is not a slow horse – he is more likely to be effective at shorter than three miles than further. He came there seemingly travelling as well as anything but didn’t get home. As you like quotes the Racing Post comment is ‘no extra run-in’.
More nonsense! Yes, "no extra" from him run-in, but he passed horses which were going backwards. Compared against many of the others who passed him from two out, he stayed on at one pace. Watch the race and you’ll perhaps see what happened.
And by the way, where did I say the horse was "slow"? He isn’t – but sudden bursts of speed are not his weapon.
And by the way, where did I say the horse was "slow"?
Ha ha, I like this Pinza.
You are the undisputed master at misquoting people and accusing people of something they neither said or insinuated, and here you are in the same shoes as many of the fellow forumites you reply to.
Love it
Enjoy your evening fella.
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Your generosity is appreciated,
OneEye
. I have plans to watch my favourite Strauss opera
Die Frau Ohne Schatten
on DVD, conducted by Solti, so am guaranteed a very good evening indeed. But first I must catch up with the
Pontefract Cup
, whilst eating some Whitstable potted shrimps on focaccia, perhaps washed down with a mouthful or two of Traquair House Ale (Scotland’s finest).
I think that any criticism here may lie with the trainer not the jockey. After 2 hard races at Cheltenham and Aintree, my own view is that the horse would have benefitted greatly from a summer off. Keeping him on the boil for another couple of months has probably been a case of going to the well once too often
- Total Posts 17716
I think that any criticism here may lie with the trainer not the jockey. After 2 hard races at Cheltenham and Aintree, my own view is that the horse would have benefitted greatly from a summer off. Keeping him on the boil for another couple of months has probably been a case of going to the well once too often
I agree with you – I suppose the temptation of running a French-bred in the French Champion Hurdle was too hard to resist, but the rhythm of the race was never going to suit this horse’s running style. At least now he’ll have the rest of the summer off, or so we may hope.
According to most on ability he was home and hosed (at least judged on the money the books saw for him) – if I were the owner I’d be asking serious questions about why they were pratting around for 22k with the horse in January rather than giving him a long break before Cheltenham and then going Chelt-Aintree-Auteuil.
- Total Posts 17716
According to most on ability he was home and hosed (at least judged on the money the books saw for him) – if I were the owner I’d be asking serious questions about why they were pratting around for 22k with the horse in January rather than giving him a long break before Cheltenham and then going Chelt-Aintree-Auteuil.
Well .. like all the 3M division, he’s probably got a higher rating than he deserves. But I don’t want to start an argument about that!
Personally I thought Saturday’s race would be a bridge too far for him, given the very different running style for French jumps races. I was sorry to be proved right.
Agree Pinza – personally I’d rather take something that’s at least proven he/she acts on the course (see Thousand Stars and Quevega for example) than one that hasn’t.
Pleased I was right about Portal’s Toy bouncing back and he placed for me at 50’s but wish Grands Crus had run better.
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