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Apparently this one won’t go for the Arkle. Why not? His time today was by far one of the fastest ever recorded at Sandown during this time of the year. He was about five seconds faster than the Tingle Creek winner and never looked like stopping. He likes faster ground as well and is an improved jumper in my opinion.
Why would you bypass the Arkle with such an exciting horse?Gary Moore said that he won’t be going left handed. In the trainer’s words “he got beat at Plumpton, enough said”.
Have to say that was one hell of a performance. If he can’t get left handed it is a shame becasue he as some engine. He ran them into the ground
I was highly impressed by Bristol De Mai’s defeat of rock-solid marker Karezak at Warwick, yet Ar Mad’s given that one the age allowance and a good pummelling.
Could be very good.
Mike
Plumpton is pretty tight. Obviously the trainer knows him best but I’d be inclined to give him a chance before writing off the idea of going left-handed. The Festival isn’t the place to be experimenting though
So he will bypass Aintree and Ayr as well ??? This means that they will either go for the Punchestown Festival in May or will target something “softer” on a RH track in the next two months. Can’t think of many suitable races for him at the moment inside novice company and over 2 miles.
Trainer says he will probably meet SD Grugy in Celebration Chase at Ascot. His time was 5 seconds faster than SDG, though he carried five pounds less. Simon Rowlands said his final sectional was outstanding, but you could see some evidence of that by eye. Looks like jock gave him a breather going toward the Pond fence (which he didn’t jump nearly as well as the others). But as soon as the button was pressed again going round the bend, he was off and away. Some horse.
A totally unexpected out-of-the-blue performance; as far as I can read his previous from, nothing suggested an electric display like that. Particularly like the way he accelerated away again after the 2nd last, reminded me of UDS performance in the Arkle
His previous form shows he was held up and pulled hard but the last two starts they just let him get on with it and what a change its made
You would think the Wayward Lad on the 27th would be ideal as Kempton should be perfect for his front running, fluent jumping style.
I’m inclined to agree with TYF in that he’s beaten a decent horse senseless but no more so than Garde la Victoire has done on two occasions over hurdles. I know the differences between the two disciplines but I don’t have GLV as a world beater either FWIW.
Twiston Davies was bullish about Bristol Mai’s chances beforehand and has repeatedly said he thinks he’ll make a better chaser but when isn’t NTD bullish ?
I’d want to see a repeat before getting too carried away but comparisons with Fix The Rib are unfair. The latter was winning novice handicaps but Ar Mad has just taken apart what on paper was a G1 race.
Lee
Bold statements TYF and wilsonl, and fair play to you for sticking your neck out. If the trainer stays with his intention of right-handed only, we might not see the horse properly tested in the way you normally would.
Had be just beaten a decent field, I’d be with you in caution. But the style of the victory and the time give it a very solid look. He ran a fair bit faster than everything in the Tingle Creek. His jumping was breathtaking at times, and you rarely see a horse quickening again so willingly toward the last two fences in a Grade 1, having set such a hot pace.
Rather than waiting for him to back it up, I’d treat it him as a potential champ until he proves otherwise.
Was it really a good G1 race, though? Not at all.
You get three camps of horses in the warm novice chases in the first half of the season. There are the ‘now’ horses who will eventually fall short of the best, but are quick learners who are being campaigned to take as much prize money as possible. Tap Night and Hobbs Hill are a couple who played this role in previous seasons.
Then there are the true top notchers taking in each race as a learning experience, usually having enough class to keep winning en route to the big festivals. Last season UDS and Vibrato Valtat were in this group in the 2m novice division.
Then there are the plots who are being nursed along with the Grand Annual, 2m handicaps or even the Paddy Power in mind.
Given Ar Mad’s profile and Gary Moore’s Sandown blitz, he probably falls into the first category. He’s pot-hunting. Bristol De Mai had his limitations exposed last year, while As De Mee, Willow’s Saviour and Bouvreuil were all flagrantly plotted up for handicaps in their hurdling careers. You’re very naive if you think any of the horses behind ‘now horse’ Ar Mad were anywhere near their peaks here.
I think Ar Mad is a G1 horse, at least for this particular track. There is no evidence to suggest that Bristol De Mai and As De Mee were not fully fit or out of form. Both are rated 146 and 140 respectively and the distances between the winner and the two of them were 10 and 11 lengths. None of them made any significant mistakes or were badly impeded at any stage. If Gary Moore thinks this horse should only go right-handed, then the Clarence House Chase at Ascot should be the ideal target.
TYF, the horse either has the capability of running fast or he does not. This one patently does. He has just proved it, irrespective of what was behind him and their state of fitness.
Are you seriously saying that, other than the winner, no horse in the Henry VIII, a Grade 1 Chase of considerable reputation, was anywhere near peak fitness?
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