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Very impressive and what a fine specimen as well.
Thought he’d go for the Scilly Isles (Best Mate route). BM would have cantered up in that Arkle as well!
I must have been watching a different race. Looked like a strongly-run 2m would suit him down to the ground.
My thoughts exactly, and there are enough tyros in the ante-post market for the Arkle that could set up the race as required for Calgary Bay.
I’d probably say the same thing about Araldur, for that matter. Alan King seems adamant that his gelding will just be taken off his feet in the Arkle, but I’d counter that some of them could go off too fast and play into both of these two’s hands (or hooves).
The 17s and 19s about Calgary Bay and Araldur for the Arkle respectively hardly represent the worst shots to nothing to my mind, then, and of the two Festival novices’ chases it’s the kindest option – as inferred earlier in this thread, the Royal & SunAlliance exacts too severe a toll on so many of its protagonists to risk probable non-stayers of 3m+ in lightly.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
thanks Bosranic….
I agree with your comments too. Maybe a shade too careful from time to time but if i had a jumper of the highest order would much rather be with her than many stables
What a fabulous looking horse too, I think he should go for the Arkle. HK is a brilliant trainer when it comes to chasers.
JohnJ
It seems to be a widely held view and certainly one that Hen’ subscribes to but I am a bit bemused and amused by…which are the horses that were burst by the RSA?
I must have been watching a different race. Looked like a strongly-run 2m would suit him down to the ground.
[/quote- as inferred earlier in this thread, the Royal & SunAlliance exacts too severe a toll on so many of its protagonists to risk probable non-stayers of 3m+ in lightly.
You guys seriously think "Calgary bay" wont stay the RSA trip of 3m,
this horse is a future"Gold Cup" participant, he is a rare breed because he has a blend of speed and stamina which is so apparent with the ease he travels and the effortless way he clears those Cheltenham fences. I doubt
he will run over 2m again! He also has "Phardante" in his breeding,stamina
influence for 3m+ easy!I’d fancy Calgary Bay to reverse form with I’msingingtheblues when / if they meet again. Although, the latter is still available at 33/1 for the Arkle and with or without CB, that’s tempting.
Henrietta Knight admitted that Calgary Bay was far from fully wound up for his chase debut against the fitter and more experienced I’msingingtheblues.
The mistake he made four out failed to knock his confidence today and, like Tidal Bay at Doncaster last season, it’s always nice to see a horse respond in such a positive fashion after an error.
I would understand if connections decided to bypass Cheltenham for Aintree, but there’s nothing to be frightened of in the race. A final decision will probably be made after Sandown.
I was way to drunk to say much when I got home hence my one liner.
I would say in all modesty I have backed the Arkle winner at 40/1.
Calgary was going so well throught the race I thought he was going to trample those in front to death.Whether they were just going that slow it made him look brilliant or he actually is I have no idea. Will have to look at it again.
One things for sure the Arkle will be run at a faster pace which will help him rather than hinder him.
I think they will be pushed to get this horse out of a canter come March I think he’s an awsome prospect.
Miss Cheltenham!! sure they will! that’s why they sent him there yesterday
He’ll run in the Arkle after that make no mistake and he is still backable.
Looks a much better horse to me than the favourite…….another PN fav that should be twice the price.
I must have been watching a different race. Looked like a strongly-run 2m would suit him down to the ground.
[/quote- as inferred earlier in this thread, the Royal & SunAlliance exacts too severe a toll on so many of its protagonists to risk probable non-stayers of 3m+ in lightly.
You guys seriously think "Calgary bay" wont stay the RSA trip of 3m,
this horse is a future"Gold Cup" participant, he is a rare breed because he has a blend of speed and stamina which is so apparent with the ease he travels and the effortless way he clears those Cheltenham fences. I doubt
he will run over 2m again! He also has "Phardante" in his breeding,stamina
influence for 3m+ easy!Calgary Bay is still a young horse, HK is very patient with her horses, and the Sun Alliance can be a severe stamina test for young horse. I would not be surprised if she ran Calgary Bay in the Arkle as was Best Mate’s intended target in 01.
JohnJ
Never heard of him
I already gave my reasons why think CB will run in the Arkle in the Cheltenham forum. There isn’t enough time to try Calgary Bay over 3 miles plus and to go to Cheltenham on a hunch he might stay that trip would be crazy.
If there is a 3 mile race at Aintree that suits him they would be better running him in the Arkle and if he comes out of it ok then go to Aintree.
If they run him in the RSA they have definitely got a touch of Gold Cup fever setting in
I must have been watching a different race. Looked like a strongly-run 2m would suit him down to the ground.
[/quote- as inferred earlier in this thread, the Royal & SunAlliance exacts too severe a toll on so many of its protagonists to risk probable non-stayers of 3m+ in lightly.
You guys seriously think "Calgary bay" wont stay the RSA trip of 3m,
this horse is a future"Gold Cup" participant, he is a rare breed because he has a blend of speed and stamina which is so apparent with the ease he travels and the effortless way he clears those Cheltenham fences. I doubt
he will run over 2m again! He also has "Phardante" in his breeding,stamina
influence for 3m+ easy!He might well stay 3m in time, but when a horse travels with that exuberance and jumps so well, there isn’t much doubt in mind that the Arkle is the right race for him this year. I wouldn’t fancy Imsingingtheblues to confirm the form if they met at Cheltenham, anyway.
Throw in the fact that Tidal Bay, My Way De Solzen and Kicking King were all able to win an Arkle and I would be amazed if that wasn’t the race they chose – "Phardante" or not.
He certainly was impressive – I watched the race from the last fence. He travelled well, jumped well for the most part, and had the others cooked a long way out.
However – I get the feeling that Kicks for Free is probably short of top class over fences (as he was over hurdles and in bumpers – admirable though his achievements in those spheres were). If The Market Man gave his true running at Kempton, when easily brushed aside by Breedsbreeze, this doesn’t say much for Kicks for Free’s form, and therefore the form of Calgary Bay.
I’m of the opinion that CB is certainly useful, but nothing more at this stage. He could go well in the Arkle (connections would never go for the Sun Alliance, correct or not), but I would say he is likely to fall short of the best and will end up in handicaps ultimately.
He will be hyped, however, as he will be saddles with the "Hen and Terry’s new Best Mate" tag, a la Racing Demon…
I hope he proves me wrong and develops into a top class performer, but strictly on form, he’s got a good bit to find at present.
but I would say he is likely to fall short of the best and will end up in handicaps ultimately.
He will be hyped, however, as he will be saddles with the "Hen and Terry’s new Best Mate" tag, a la Racing Demon…
I hope he proves me wrong and develops into a top class performer, but strictly on form, he’s got a good bit to find at present.
BennyB,
This fellow "Calgary Bay" is a fine example of what my whole philosophy
about Horseracing is to me! Seeing with your own eyes something that
just shouts X factor and then going through the Checklist just to make sure
it ticks all the boxes! My only negative on yesterdays performance was that he was in receipt of 4lbs From "Kicks for free" who stayed on well
up the hill, but will never win a Gold cup! What outweighs that fact is having
now watched the race 3 times "Calgary bay" outjumped "Kicks" at virtually
every fence and then was heavily restrained allowing "Kicks" to lead on
this effectively cost "Calgary" probably 5l in my opinion! which i see as
a level weight performance! As they turned in to the straight i am sure i
saw A.P almost laugh the smile on his face said " i"m sitting on a Rolls
Royce here" and of course the fact that this was at Cheltenham itself bodes well for the future! I hope for "Fist" that he runs in the Arkle because my interest will be in next years Gold Cup ( Corals go 33/1) thought so!
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