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Colin Kidd quoted in RP as been outraged (rightly so IMO) at Phil Smiths rating of his horse Rashaan at 154 for the Betfair Hurdle….I’m trying to figure out how he could possibly have arrived at this……..its a whopping 15lbs ahead of what the Irish handicapper rates him
to put it into perspective in their last runs in England these horses achieved:-
Faugheen (Christmas Hurdle) 172
Annie Power 162
Arctic Fire (when 2nd to Faugheen) 157
Vroom Vroom Mag (mares) 154
Apples Jade (Fighting Fifth) 153
Petit Mouchoir (Fighting Fifth) 150
Apples Jade (Aintree demolition) 145Now the handicapper claims he takes all factors into account but yet he sees fit to give Rashaan a rating of 154 for his beating of ” novices first time in open company” Petit Mouchoir and Apples jade in a Down Royal Grade 2 when they were clearly in need of the run. I know its standard for irish horses to get a mandatory 4/5 lbs when travelling but 15lbs is ridiculous. This horse has shown he is not true graded class and I think we all know he would struggle in any Grade 2 / 1 around. Yet the handicapper rates him 8lbs inferior to last years champion hurdle winner?????I don’t understand
I suppose the way he is looking at it HardyFlyer, is that Rashaan beat Apple’s jade,
rated 153 (giving her 2lbs) and Petit Mouchoir, rated 147, 1 1/2 and 3 1/4 L respectively. You’re very
probably correct that both could have been expected to come on for their first outing,
but even so they were clearly expected to have the race between the two. He beat them
going on at the end and did look fairly impressive. Both Apple’s Jade and Petit Mouchoir
subsequently run in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth, Petit Mouchar looked the likely winner
when falling in the lead 4 out, and Apple’s Jade would have won in another yard. Both
AJ and PM win Grade 1s on their next run, AJ beating Vroum Vroum Mag, and PM beating
Nichols Canyon. Apple’s Jade, having dropped a couple of lbs is now back up at 153,
whilst Petit Mouchar is now on a mark of 162.I get where you’re coming from, and whilst there’s an argument that Rashaan had
the edge on fitness in the race, it was a very good victory and the form could be
said to have been very well and truly franked. It does leave Phil Smith with a
predicament, and if Rashaan does go for the Betfair, and runs as good a race as he
did at Down Royal, then he’s maybe not that far off the mark. Time will tell.The one thing I learned a long time ago, was that Phil Smith and his team are the best handicappers in the world, if they say that Rashaan is a 154 rated horse, then Rashaan handicap mark is 154.
Mike.
Thanks BigG, can see the argument there…..was caught up in Mr. Kidd’s indignancy for awhile
but I do firmly believe that Rashaan is a mid 140’s horse at best. I would highly doubt we will ever see him winning a race in England. I will find it interesting to see where he goes next! Blue’s, you’re no doubt partly right, there’s a reason Phil Smith is the handicapper and not me but I do not think we will ever see Rashaan be competitive handicap off 154 
The one thing I learned a long time ago, was that Phil Smith and his team are the best handicappers in the world, if they say that Rashaan is a 154 rated horse, then Rashaan handicap mark is 154.
Mike.
Mike Smith, Phil’s brother ?
He’s about as objective as a bookie.
but I do firmly believe that Rashaan is a mid 140’s horse at best. I would highly doubt we will ever see him winning a race in England. I will find it interesting to see where he goes next! Blue’s, you’re no doubt partly right, there’s a reason Phil Smith is the handicapper and not me but I do not think we will ever see Rashaan be competitive handicap off 154 
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