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The best horses haven’t won at Cheltenham last week.. Well Chief and Black JAck both falling. Brave inca hitting the front a mile out..All should be seen in better fettle at Aintree. And as for Punchestown-Beef or Salmon In Compliance Mad Fish..I’m Sure i’m leaving out a few… Let me Know..
I think Detroit City is probably the most interesting at Aintree. I’m not his #1 fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I think he’ll suit 2m4 over the Mildmay course down to the ground.
And as for Beef or Salmon; if the Gold Cup was in Ireland he’d have won all five! I’ll always give him a lot of respect if he’s racing that side of the water.
(Edited by Friggo at 3:27 pm on Mar. 23, 2007)
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Quote: from Friggo on 3:26 pm on Mar. 23, 2007[br]<br>And as for Beef or Salmon; if the Gold Cup was in Ireland he’d have won all five! I’ll always give him a lot of respect if he’s racing that side of the water.
Yes, far too much according to that quote.<br>If the Gold Cup was run in Ireland, his record would be much the same as it is now, he just can’t keep up!
Quote: from Friggo on 3:26 pm on Mar. 23, 2007[br]I think Detroit City is probably the most interesting at Aintree.  I’m not his #1 fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I think he’ll suit 2m4 over the Mildmay course down to the ground.
And as for Beef or Salmon; if the Gold Cup was in Ireland he’d have won all five! I’ll always give him a lot of respect if he’s racing that side of the water.
(Edited by Friggo at 3:27 pm on Mar. 23, 2007)<br>
Not unless they were run in a bog and in small fields.
OK, hands up, my statement was hyperbolic, maybe even a bit rash. I think FSL got it spot on with the small fields point.
I just think he’s unfairly treated because he’s never run well over here. In Ireland he’s beaten all comers, including the likes of Kicking King and Best Mate; but he’ll be remembered as some sort of donkey just because he gets travel sickness. I think it’s slightly unfair on a horse that has been in the top half dozen long-distance chasers for over 4 years now.
Quote: from Friggo on 4:55 pm on Mar. 23, 2007[br]OK, hands up, my statement was hyperbolic, maybe even a bit rash. I think FSL got it spot on with the small fields point.
I just think he’s unfairly treated because he’s never run well over here. In Ireland he’s beaten all comers, including the likes of Kicking King and Best Mate; but he’ll be remembered as some sort of donkey just because he gets travel sickness. I think it’s slightly unfair on a horse that has been in the top half dozen long-distance chasers for over 4 years now.
Personally, I don’t buy into the " he doesn’t travel well out of Ireland " theory. I think that he just needs very soft/heavy ground.
I don’t think we have seen the best of Lennon yet Cheltenham didn’t suit him and we no he likes Aintree as he as won there previously. Numbersixvalverde didn’t run at Cheltenham but if he can repeat his Grand National sucess of last year surely it would be worth the wait.
Quote: from ClintM on 5:03 pm on Mar. 23, 2007[br]
Quote: from Friggo on 4:55 pm on Mar. 23, 2007[br]OK, hands up, my statement was hyperbolic, maybe even a bit rash. I think FSL got it spot on with the small fields point.
I just think he’s unfairly treated because he’s never run well over here. In Ireland he’s beaten all comers, including the likes of Kicking King and Best Mate; but he’ll be remembered as some sort of donkey just because he gets travel sickness. I think it’s slightly unfair on a horse that has been in the top half dozen long-distance chasers for over 4 years now.
Personally, I don’t buy into the " he doesn’t travel well out of Ireland " theory. I think that he just needs very soft/heavy ground.<br>
I agree with you well enough but like i said before he had plenty pace a few years back even on decent ground. He has been getting progressively slower and his jumping technique wouldnt do. Interestingly he did jump ok this year didnt he… but at this age and after the tough slogs his had he was never a serious candidate this year. Must have been a slow early race then.
He has been the cause of a fair few rows on this forum over recent years. I think its in peoples nature to be parochial to some extent and perhaps we dont like the idea of people devaluing irish racing in our eyes. Im sure we would make similar comments on any well thought of French horse that didnt adopt that well over here.
As for the original comment. I have long believed that Cheltenham is just one set of circumstances so even if the best horse on the day wins, he has to show versatility over a season to be considered a champ in my opinion. Thats why I like Kauto star……
Its entirely possible that one could come along like WOA and beat him over the extended 3 miles on good ground and cheltenham (im not saying he would) but Kauto can win at much shorter distances and probably could win an irish gold cup or a lexus as well which are run under different conditions. The great horses like Moscow flyer and Istabraq didnt a narrow range of ideal conditions to win big races. They were versatile and that means an awful lot in my book.
Well chief was the biggest dissapointment of the festival because I think he is a champ and nobody here was sitting around before the festival wondering if the ground was going to be too soft or the pace too slow for him. This is something you do for the majority of horses but not for the special ones.
Every year of course accidents and incidents means that best horse at some discipline doesnt even make it cheltenham and of course the best dont always win either. This year was no different. Im sure there was apoint in there somewhere :)
SHL
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