ATR Stable Stars 2017-18 competition

[BigG]

Thanks Jac, and I’m glad your daughter’s big day went so well What a way to top
the week for you too, I know how much you were looking forward to the Craven Meeting, and
someone was obviously smiling on you with Star Of Southwold. It sounds like it would have
been some day at Newmarket, I love when a syndicate wins, so many people that just love
their racing.

Good luck with Un De Sceaux, I already had him in my stable, but I’ve put in the horse I
picked out at the start of the season (in Bobby’s Ten To Follow), but I had to wait until
this March for him to make an appearance. He’s Great Field, and I think he will be next
year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase winner. He’s got my star, and my money on him at 20/1
for next year. I’ve also taken the plunge in the Scottish National, I think Cogry has a
great chance and is far too big a price at 25/1. I’ve backed him and Mysteree at 40s and
50s. I think the ground has gone against Mysteree, he would have loved Aintree but he
didn’t make the cut.

I’ve stuck in Killutagh Vic, I don’t think we saw the best of him in the Gold Cup, it
just wasn’t his ground, and also Coquin Mans who I thought was very impressive last
time out at Fairyhouse. It looks like a terrific meeting at Punchestown this week,
some great horses to see there. It’s a great finish to the jumps season, but you’ll
be pleased to know I’m quite getting into the flat more this year. So you see, you can
teach an old dog new tricks

[Triptych]

Best news of the day…
MIA’S STORM GOT UP AFTER HER FALL

Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...

[greenasgrass]

Yes I feared the worst Jac but she looked OK

[Inthestream]

I don’t believe it – once again I got my weeks messed up. Like Greenasgrass I also wasted three transfers in the vain hope of picking up points at Ayr, without realising that the transfer window also includes this week’s Punchestown meeting ….. aaarrrggghh!!
Oh well, let’s just hope Footpad, Laurina & Monalee do the business !! Good luck everyone !

[BigG]

Oh dear Inthestream, someone didn’t read my usual transfer update on Thursday
Having said that, I can’t be too self righteous, as initially I would have had
everyone including the Bet365 Gold Cup next Saturday in this week

You’ve still got a very decent chance with the 3 you mentioned, and don’t forget
you’ve also got Petit Mouchoir who’s in the Ryanair. I’m a bit pig sick myself,
as I stuck in Great Field and put my Star on him, only for him to be pulled out
with a minor setback…… double aaarrrggghh!!

Good luck with those that you have running Inthestream

[Tonge]

I did read it but still picked Vincente & starred Vintage Clouds as, although almost all my others are entered at Punchestown (bar the “elite” ones), I am far from confident that they will actually run. Still smarting from receiving no points for Anibale Fly (I know rules are 1st 3 only but it WAS the Grand National…) but at least VC managed to stay in the money.

Good luck this week everyone

[BigG]

I think you have a good point there Tonge, I would have thought that they would have
made some provision for the Grand National. It wouldn’t have been difficult for them
to cover at least the 1st 4, maybe 5, but well done with Vintage Clouds. I also went
for the Scottish National, but Cogry never looked to be travelling that well and was
pulled up eventually. I’ve already mentioned Great Field, that one was just as sore as
I really rated his chances. The one thing that’s sure in racing, is you can guarantee
you are going to get a kick in the teeth when you least expect it

Good luck at Punchestown, you’ve got a collection of decent chances in there

[BigG]

As week 23 draws to a close, I can definitely confirm that next week will
be the final week of the competition. Transfers, as always (apart from when I say they are at 9pm )
have to be in by 11pm. The final Bonus Race is the Bet365 Gold Cup.

Normally runners in the National don’t take this in, but Black Lion and Houblon Des Obeaux went
at the 1st and 6th respectively so haven’t had a hard race. Black lion in Particular has strong
claims and it’s not surprising he’s joint favourite. Problem for me is that he’s running off
his highest mark and carrying top weight of 11-12. No winner, barring that exceptional if quirky
horse Tidal Bay, has carried more than 11st to victory in the last 11 years. His co-favourite,
Missed Approach, won the Kim Muir at the Festival and although he’s been raised 8lbs for that,
he carries 10-11 and has a further 5lbs taken off his back by his amateur jockey, who won on him
at Cheltenham. If he is in the same kind of form, and Warren Greatrex’s horses have been running
well, he has a serious chance of taking this. I think that Sugar Barron, with 10-2 on his back
looks very well in here considering his c/d running on 2nd behind Benbens in December where he
was very unlucky to get to the winner a stride too late. He looks the type to take this and 12/1
seems a decent bet to me.

I’ll update the league tomorrow after Punchestown has finished, still plenty with horses running
there. Good luck with the Bet365 Gold Cup, I think it may well decide who is top on Saturday, it
is still way too close to call

[Mike007]

Disaster. Had Samcro and Melon ready to give me some valuable points. Ended with nowt.

[Triptych]

As long as both the horses are alright it’s not a complete disaster.

We lost poor old Cantlow yesterday, these horses give their all for our pleasure.

Yes it’s disappointing when they fall but seeing them get up and go back to their stables is worth so much more..

Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...

[Mike007]

That too.

[BigG]

Well it’s finally arrived, the final week, or to be more precise the final day.
It’s a one day shoot out with 37 points separating the top 3, Mike Nijjar, Hugh
Welsh and James Jones. Having said that, it’s not a gimmie that one of those 3
will lift the trophy as there’s less than 100 points between the top 5. Even then,
if someone has their star on the winner of the Bet365 Gold Cup, and with some high
value races at Punchestown still going, there’s every chance that a late surge could
mug the leaders on the line. This is without doubt the closest finish we have had
since the competition started.

Some terrific score this week, but none better than Virginia Rowlands (Greenasgras)
who romped home with a super impressive 255 points. That was a great week Virginia,
and moves you up to 8th, from 10th, in the league. If you could pull that off again,
tomorrow, you wouldn’t be far off. I see you have Old Guard running, he’s not without
a shout, I wont know what your final 3 picks are until after 11pm, but good luck with
them.

Not far behind Virginia, and perhaps an even more important move, Hugh Welsh (Goodfellow)
fired in 230 points which moves him up from 4th to 2nd and only 28 points behind our
leader Mike Nijjar. I don’t know what you have in your stable Hugh, but very well done
and best of luck tomorrow.

Mike you had a bit of bad luck today, but probably most of us were in that boat with Samcro.
As Jac has already mentioned, it was a blessing to see Samcro and Melon get back to their
feet. Nonetheless you’ve still managed to hang onto that top spot, as you have for the great
part of the competition. If you get over the line 1st tomorrow it will have been an exceptional
performance. Well done to you and all that have made this such a close call.

We are sitting 60th in the League Of Leagues, and many thanks to all that kept us well up
there for such a big league. I’ve enjoyed keeping things going with the League, I hope that
most have enjoyed the competition. I think it’s been a success, even with the changes they
made this year which admittedly I was a little skeptical of at the start. I’m grateful to
Mathew Taylor for the introduction of the League of Leagues this year, there might be a few
teething problems on that front, but it’s in it’s first year and hopefully they may be open
to a suggestion of two to make the League more competitive regardless of the size of the League.

Best of luck to all tomorrow, and thanks for plugging on and putting up with my drivel over the
last few months

1 M Nijjar Man Superstars 18-11-17 64 75 2427
2 Hugh Welsh Goodfellow 16-11-17 65 73 2399
3 James Jones Gud things 17-11-17 59 74 2390
4 Sean Rock Spital Lodge 10-11-17 61 68 2355
5 Heston Valentino Jan Molby Blood Eagle 11-11-17 68 73 2346
6 Eamon Higgins Galwayforliam17 17-11-17 60 65 2262
7 Liam gerard steven Mannion Bloggie 16-11-17 54 62 2160
8 Virginia Rowlands Greenasgrass 15-11-17 54 71 2160
9 Phil Clarke Kauto Kings 11-11-17 62 73 2139
10 Charles Olney Slouch House 09-11-17 52 60 2095
11 Jacqueline Monk The Kauto Stars 09-11-17 56 71 2092
12 Ian Tidmarsh Moet and Pizza Darlings 03-11-17 54 71 2067
13 Damien McShane On The Snaff 08-11-17 53 63 2010
14 Darren Callanan InAinmAVautour 18-11-17 51 65 1985
15 Alan Shaw Shaws Superstars 16-11-17 48 69 1922
16 Michael Chatwin Sycamoredesign 29-11-17 52 64 1915
17 Peter Mernagh Peter Mernagh 20-11-17 50 56 1882
18 Jack McCarthy Jack’s stable 02-12-17 50 54 1880
19 Graham Clark FIRSTFENCEFALLERS 06-11-17 49 71 1859
20 Mark Allison Subliminal Celtic 14-11-17 48 60 1857
21 Charles Harrison Charlie Like A Boss 28-01-18 45 61 1857
22 Stephen Cunningham kAMIKAZE hOOPS 15-11-17 46 40 1752
23 Catherine Tonge Firle Flyers 13-11-17 45 68 1710
24 William Kedjanyi Stoke Hill House 17-11-17 51 49 1709
25 Paul Irwin Inthestream 03-11-17 43 74 1617
26 George Maydell Middle Of March 17-11-17 42 43 1607
27 Jack Houston Winner Alright 05-12-17 43 42 1599
28 Nathan Hughes Show me The Mane Salah. 06-11-17 43 49 1592
29 Philip Mc cormack Mc Cormack Marauders 16-11-17 40 61 1570
30 Robert Barlow The Lilypad 10-11-17 43 38 1564
31 Graham Simms Silent Assassins 17-11-17 45 52 1526
32 Thomas Stewart Gemix 15-11-17 44 50 1498
33 Sean Aston Lucy and Sam’s allstars 17-11-17 37 62 1441
34 Graham Black Galaxy’s Chasers 20-11-17 39 32 1375
35 Iain McNulty Tipzer 17-11-17 35 13 1212
36 Ajay Ramgoolam Clown Chamberlin 13-11-17 29 32 1184
37 Mark Thompson Market Manor 11-11-17 30 47 1179
38 Kieran Murray TirNaNog 17-11-17 29 15 1085
39 Thomas Rowe Not Today Stables 15-11-17 26 6 950
40 Andrew Sutherland Teaformee 15-11-17 26 6 931
41 Kelan Mc Carney Magic carrots 13-11-17 27 28 930
42 David Cormack Hibee Horseys 17-11-17 21 0 825
43 David Ward Regal Reform 17-11-17 25 26 767
44 Alex Milbourn Norfolk’n’wayIwin 16-11-17 23 8 711
45 Bobby Wardrope F.A.B 17-11-17 21 40 702
46 Sean O’Brien Cheesecake Racing 16-11-17 21 6 692
47 Terry Brisland Blades Belters 18-11-17 20 17 650
48 Joe Mcnally Lazybet 16-11-17 19 30 577
49 Lois Davis Team Lois 18-11-17 16 3 575
50 Chris Brunton big b’s snipers 02-12-17 18 14 550

[greenasgrass]

Thanks BigG, I’ve just taken the easy route and lumped 3 into the bonus race. Been a fun comp, well done Mike for making pretty much all the running and good luck tomorrow everyone. I like being part of TRF…OK it’s not one of the super nifty small elite high average scoring leagues made up of half a dozen serious form students…more a big motley collection of racing enthusiasts, serious punters, 50p EW merchants/pony patters like myself, those prone to the occasional bout of forgetfulness brought on by wedding bubbles (Jac) or being chronically disorganised (me), wordsmiths, jammy sods, the conscientious foiled by the occasional unfortunate medieval walled hotel and even the people who set up a stable in a fit of enthusiasm then forgot about it and left the nags within to take their chance. Anyway it’s been fun and I’ve enjoyed the thread

[Triptych]

In all we’re just a lovely cuddly horse crazy bunch of competition loving people who will travel miles just to get a glimpse of our four legged friends and to chuck our hard earned cash at dodgy looking blokes and blokesses with bulging briefcases in the hope that they might throw us a few crumbs of comfort when we back a 2/9 winner

Graham..thank you so much for (trying too) keep us all on our toes throughout this competition and for putting up the prize money making it extra exciting. Have enjoyed all the banter with Ginny, Tonge, Nathan, yourself and other members of the team as we have worked our way through this sometimes confusing competition. Can’t wait to do it all again next year…Jac

Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...

[Tonge]

Echo all those comments. I’ve gone for 2 in the bonus race and Top Notch. Certainly won’t be catching Mike though (or anyone else probably).

Good luck everyone

[BigG]

I had a good laugh at both your summing ups Virginia and Jac, that just about says it all.
Medieval walled hotels still give me nightmares Virginia, and I could do with being a bit
less cuddly Jac

Thanks Tonge, it makes sense to maybe have a couple in the big race, which is why I’ve only
got the one. Good luck with them today

Thanks to the usual TRF gang who have helped keep the banter going, it would have been a bit
boring if it were just down to me updating the league positions.

Good luck today guys, I’ll be checking the league throughout the afternoon to see how the swings
and roundabouts are going. It really is an exciting afternoon watching this bunched finish

[BigG]

I’m about to head out for dinner shortly, and I can’t state a winner at this point as there
is evening racing. At the moment it’s looking very likely that Mike has held on, but until
racing is finished today we wont know for certain as I can’t see into the stables of some of
those close behind Mike. I’ll be back in a good bit later tonight and I’ll give the official
result then

[Author]

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