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Oh well, Picture This blew out, mistake at the penultimate, sorry, second last hurdle
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Carried his head to the right most of the time. Have now made him my long-range fancy for the 2009 Feltham.I thought Karabak was tremendously impressive in the last at Ascot yesterday. He had a decent field well strung-out behind him and was travelling with great zest at the finish. The extra distance at Cheltenham will be right up his street on this evidence. He’ll go straight to the Ballymore, according to his trainer. Hills go 12/1 and that looks a very decent price to me even with Diamond Harry and one or more of Mullins’ stars in the race.
A very big pointer there for Pandorama as Alpha Ridge wins the G2 Galmoy against experienced stayers.
Alpha Ridge’s has won 4 from 5 this year, his only defeat coming against Pandorama at Navan when P ran a monster time.Pandorama’s comments in running when beating Alpha Ridge by 26 lengths[b:235efjpm]…”Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to challenge 5 out, led travelling well 3 out, soon clear, not extended”[/b:235efjpm]
If you subscribe to the bounce theory for his defeat by Mikael DH then he has an outstanding chance in the Ballymore. I am on anyway.Would say he’s a doubtful runner in the Ballymore tbh Shabby. Disappointed last time out with no apparent reason for that and not been seen since. If he goes to Cheltenham you’d think it would be for the Albert Bartlett 3m Hurdle.
That said Alpha Ridge did just advertise the form for Mikael and Pandorama
I dont really think Alpha Ridge has advertised the form with Pandoramas and Mikael D’Haguenet as such.
Alpha Ridge is an out and out stayer who handles heavy ground well, his last run over this distance on heavy ground he won by 25l, but he was dropped down 4f when beaten by Pandorama.
In todays race he was becoming more dominant with every yard passing, if todays race had have been over 2m4f again then I’d be convinced he’d have been beaten easily enough.
IMO the Alpha ridge performance that Pandorama beat over 2m4f, is not even close to the form that Alpha ridge showed today over a punishing 3 miles, because the horse is an out and out stayer and you cant really judge such horses on how far they are beaten when not able to play to that strength.
Pandorama is a very good horse and still a serious contender for cheltenham, although I think Mikael D’Haguenet looks the one to beat in the ballymore.
Alpha Ridge may turn out to be a serious Welsh National contender in time and his performance very much reminded me of Carruthers win last season but his jumping leaves room for improvement.
Is it for definate that Mikael is coming over? ? ?
On ATR they didnt seem confident that Mullins would be running him at Cheltenham because of the going.
Would say he’s a doubtful runner in the Ballymore tbh Shabby. Disappointed last time out with no apparent reason for that and not been seen since. If he goes to Cheltenham you’d think it would be for the Albert Bartlett 3m Hurdle.
Meade says of Pandorama in this week’s Weekender: "…[he] may run in the Grade 2 novice at Leopardstown on Sunday…will probably have only one more run before Cheltenham. His owner is very keen to go and we’ll decide nearer the time between the Ballymore Properties and the Albert Bartlett. Wouldn’t want the ground too quick, though."
In todays race he was becoming more dominant with every yard passing, if todays race had have been over 2m4f again then I’d be convinced he’d have been beaten easily enough..
Think we might have to differ on this one Bul’ I thought he travelled sweeter than anything in the race the whole way today. Looked the winner to me at any distance you might care to mention. Reviewed the race again and …imho whilst he is clearly a stout stayer he was much the best horse today.
That race at Navan was the best speed rating of the season for me by about the equivalent of 9lbs. MdH obviously has the collateral form but a bounce from Navan was possible (due to the big number) and in the Weekender today Meade also said Pandorama came home lame, which I wasn’t previously aware of.
I am very much in the Panders camp from early season …so maybe I am not the most reliable witness. I was however waiting for Alpha Ridge to reappear and in fairness that couldnt have been much more encouragingI thought Karabak was tremendously impressive in the last at Ascot yesterday. He had a decent field well strung-out behind him and was travelling with great zest at the finish. The extra distance at Cheltenham will be right up his street on this evidence. He’ll go straight to the Ballymore, according to his trainer. Hills go 12/1 and that looks a very decent price to me even with Diamond Harry and one or more of Mullins’ stars in the race.
Totally agree. That was the first time I had seen him run and was very impressive.
Would say he’s a doubtful runner in the Ballymore tbh Shabby. Disappointed last time out with no apparent reason for that and not been seen since. If he goes to Cheltenham you’d think it would be for the Albert Bartlett 3m Hurdle.
Meade says of Pandorama in this week’s Weekender: "…[he] may run in the Grade 2 novice at Leopardstown on Sunday…will probably have only one more run before Cheltenham. His owner is very keen to go and we’ll decide nearer the time between the Ballymore Properties and the Albert Bartlett. Wouldn’t want the ground too quick, though."
Thanks Gus – just think with his running style and he’ll stay all day if Carberry kicks on in the 3m race he’d have a real huge chance in it – don’t see him reversing form with Mikael at 2m 5f so not sure why they’d bother.
Charlie Mann fancies the chance of Wendel.
He is entered up in the Supreme Novices, however, listening to what he had to say the other day, i think he will favour the Ballymore Properties.
Interestingly enough, Wendel isnt even in the betting for the Ballymore Properties just yet, but that is the race that Charlie Mann seems to be favouring.
He’s entered in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over 2m2 on the 8 February Gareth. The likes of Cousin Vinny, Hurricane Fly, Pandorama, Zaarito and Mikael D’Haguenet are also entered. I’m pretty sure I heard that Charlie Mann has said he intends to bring him over so we should get a good idea of how the English and Irish novices stack up against each other.
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Wendel was quite impressive in winning his first two races over hurdles and wasn’t at all disgraced in better company last time. That said, I didn’t get the immediate impression that he wanted a step up in trip.
After Diamond Harry’s performance today I’ve had a little extra on Karabak for the Ballymore. Bensalem is probably smart, and Nick Williams’s horse looked extremely lean (too much so in my opinion), but I’m keen on covering myself having had a ‘fair’ interest in the current favourite.
As the trials develop and pass…already my whole Cheltenham is revolving around Pandorama. Worrying in most respects though I do have confidence in the Meade horse.
He’s entered in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over 2m2 on the 8 February Gareth. The likes of Cousin Vinny, Hurricane Fly, Pandorama, Zaarito and Mikael D’Haguenet are also entered. I’m pretty sure I heard that Charlie Mann has said he intends to bring him over so we should get a good idea of how the English and Irish novices stack up against each other.
Thanks, as always.
It does seem to be a very good looking race, on paper.
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