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Nothing has come to light for the reason that DC ran such a poor race in the champion. <br>On the day i thought there was definatly something wrong with the horse, he looked tired at the last, and looked exhausted when richard got off him and he was led away.<br>But could it be because he was taken off his feet?<br>i would say no, because he managed to keep up with fair along and has showed he is fast enough to out sprint HE this season, and if anything he should have been staying on at the end of the race, which leads me to think there was something wrong with him, but tests say there was not. <br>Interestingly, he is going to run at aintree with the blinkers off, and i dont really understand why this would help?<br>Has anyone else got any views on what went so badly wrong?
<br>I know that nothing has come to light but initially I was thinking that he may be slightly under the weather like a few of Hobbs’ have been recently….
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They haven’t found anything because there was almost ceratainly nothing to find, he was out-paced by top class horses who went too fast for him on the ground – simple as!<br>When he ‘kept up’ with Fair Along, in a race run at a blistering pace for a novice hurdle, he was being pushed and shoved for the whole race and didn’t manage to master FA – a specialist 2 miler who had reached the end of his tether stamina-wise – until half way up the hill. Unsurprisingly, given the nature of the severe test that day, the next home was another strong stayer in Blazing Bailey.<br>That was a novice race, DC was unable to repeat the feat against better and more experienced jumpers on similar ground on Tuesday.
When he ‘outsprinted’ Hardy Eustace – another horse that needs a strong pace, and that stays a deal further very well – it was on totally different ground, off a joke pace, and, being twice his age, HE needed more time to get into gear, which he did to some purpose shortly afterwards.
The reason he ‘wasn’t staying on’ at the end of the race was that he had taken so much out of himself, trying to keep up with horses that were going too fast for him, that he made an almighty blunder, (When only about 3l adrift of the pace), which totally finished what little chance he had left, and he was allowed to come home in his own time.<br>Now I know you won’t accept my view, nor the view, or that of other reasonable judges who made the same point, but his form, both flat and jumps,very strongly suggest that he a horse who needs further/softer, and the only reason he has achieved so much over 2m hurdles is his class and determination, and, if you still feel so strongly that is wrong, perhaps you would care to take up the bet I offered previously; namely that he won’t run in next years CH, unless it is run on soft ground or worse?
i would actually like to agree with you reet hard, but i just cant seem to understand why he has beaten so quickly. He isnt that slow surely?<br>Afsoun was miles behind him in all previous meetings
im not saying your wrong, or im right, only time will tell. <br>So what do you think will happen over 2 miles 4 at aintree?<br>what would you point to if he dissapoints badly again at aintree? <br>i was asking my self whether he could have ‘fallen’ out of love with the game being as he has been highly tried for a 5 year old, and technically, he is still 4!!
Detroit Citys lazy style made matters worse….thats why he was push along from the start where as the mare wasnt. Also the only time DC got into the race was when O’Dwyer tried to get a breather into HE so he slowed the pace up down the back…..which was when Detroit City managed to get near the front. But Walsh didnt want to give HE an easy ride and kicked BI on straight away picking up the pace and once again DC floundered.
Super post Reet Hard.
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Trackside
You are probably correct about HE’s pace in the CH, a couple of years ago it would probably have been a different story.<br>Personally, I was disappointed to see him running in a visor, rather than the blinkers he wore in his 2 victories, though I doubt they made that much difference.<br>He still ran a blinding race for a 10 year old, though.:)
Quote: from reet hard on 8:44 pm on Mar. 17, 2007[br]They haven’t found anything because there was almost ceratainly nothing to find, he was out-paced by top class horses who went too fast for him on the ground – simple as!<br>When he ‘kept up’ with Fair Along, in a race run at a blistering pace for a novice hurdle, he was being pushed and shoved for the whole race and didn’t manage to master FA – a specialist 2 miler who had reached the end of his tether stamina-wise – until half way up the hill. Unsurprisingly, given the nature of the severe test that day, the next home was another strong stayer in Blazing Bailey.<br>That was a novice race, DC was unable to repeat the feat against better and more experienced jumpers on similar ground on Tuesday.
When he ‘outsprinted’ Hardy Eustace – another horse that needs a strong pace, and that stays a deal further very well – it was on totally different ground, off a joke pace, and, being twice his age, HE needed more time to get into gear, which he did to some purpose shortly afterwards.
The reason he ‘wasn’t staying on’ at the end of the race was that he had taken so much out of himself, trying to keep up with horses that were going too fast for him, that he made an almighty blunder, (When only about 3l adrift of the pace), which totally finished what little chance he had left, and he was allowed to come home in his own time.<br>Now I know you won’t accept my view, nor the view, or that of other reasonable judges who made the same point, but his form, both flat and jumps,very strongly suggest that he a horse who needs further/softer, and the only reason he has achieved so much over 2m hurdles is his class and determination, and, if you still feel so strongly that is wrong, perhaps you would care to take up the bet I offered previously; namely that he won’t run in next years CH, unless it is run on soft ground or worse?
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Actually Reet I do agree with that and believed it BEFORE the Champion Hurdle as you did I’m sure. Shame i couldn’t pick the bloody winner lol!
So if he has a lazy style of running and couldnt go pace, how come he went off like the clappers in the greatwood and was awarded high speed ratings by the likes of Maudlin etc? (best for so many years i recall…)
Im not a great one to follow speed ratings, but something is missing here
So a fit and well Detroit City can’t run 50 yards flat out without sending out distress signals? Yeah, right…
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Quote: from clivex on 1:15 am on Mar. 18, 2007[br]So if he has a lazy style of running and couldnt go pace, how come he went off like the clappers in the greatwood and was awarded high speed ratings by the likes of Maudlin etc? (best for so many years i recall…)
Im not a great one to follow speed ratings, but something is missing here
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Good question, Clivex.<br>2 reasons, imho.
1/ The time based ground for the Greatwood was soft, not the official g/s. As I said on the day of the CH, the ground was good imo, but certainly a piece faster than in November.
2/ As I have said a number of times previously,again imo, a horse can run a fast time when it allowed an even pace, and not challenged by horses of similar ability, (Which they weren’t in the Greatwood), but will not necessarily reproduce that time when challenged at various stages by horses equally as capable. Something Beyer realised a long time ago, but Nick Mordin still can’t get his head around.<br>Surely you remember the arguments on here about the Hannon 2yo, (Whose name escapes me), that won in a time reputed to be listed class fto, then never ran another decent time, or race, when faced with more capable opposition?
Gareth<br>Could I suggest you watch the race again, (Free on the RP website?), taking particular note of how the horse travelled to the first hurdle (easily), how he jumped it (poorly), how his rider gave him one backhander to get him back in the race, only to repeat the same cycle exactly at the next one.<br>Having done that, you may change your mind, if not, feel perfectly free to make your own judgement, and back the horse accordingly.<br>
Amazing stuff from the upside down formbook reader
<br>I was obviously wrong, but it also puts Detroit City in a different perspective.<br>He beat HE fair and square at Cheltenham, off a pace that inconvenienced both equally, and the pounds/lengths handicappers that decry the form because of the proximity of Crow Wood need to think again, imo.<br>Both principals are strong galloping types, so the way they surged away from the nippier Crow Wood in the sprint up the straight says much more about the class gulf than the 10l distance could ever do justice to.<br>I see no justifiable reason, slow pace apart, to suspect that either horse ran below form that day, and with DC having more scope to better that run, he thoroughly deserves his place at the head of the market.
PMSL, seems reet was obviously wrong again
His posts are more entertaining than Tom Segal’s picks
Jack sh1te reet, jack sh1te :cheesy: :cheesy:
<br>Hope you all had a good Cheltenham, byeeeeeeeeeee
(Edited by empty wallet at 3:32 am on Mar. 18, 2007)
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First cuckoo of the spring?:biggrin:
EW<br>Can’t see much wrong with that post myself, as both horses had won their previous races, went on to win their next races, and, as a consequence, went off as clear 1st & 2nd favourites for the CH?<br>Despite what you think you may have learned from your buddy, time isn’t everything.;)
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Quote: from FlatSeasonLover on 2:54 am on Mar. 18, 2007[br]that would be Cav Okay i believe that looks a shortrunner.<br>
Indeed it was Fsl; showed a fine burst of speed when allowed to do its own thing and win the race by halfway, but unable to maintain it when asked to race for the full distance against better horses.<br>Similar to Detroit City in the CH hurdle, but not the same. <br>Had the ground been appreciably softer that day, and blunted the speed and jumping  of his main adversaries, there is little doubt, in my mind anyway, that he would have been able to conserve his energy more, and, as a result, run a much better race.
Fair point Reet. I can see the logic in that but im still not convinced that that was his true running at all
One other point
Hobbs is a pretty open and fair trainer (and no mug). Never afraid to admit mistakes and I sense he would have made a comment about needing further, if that really was the suggestion
Ill remain open minded for now
Eddie Freemantles assesment of the CH in the Observer was noticably downbeat btw
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