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Bula dictates all from here
Interesting statement, Katchit. Out of interest, what would happen (or at least be considered as an alternative) if he flops in the Bula?
Good question and given the statement I’d made you’d think I’d have thought of that
I don’t think we know yet – that said I don’t think its very likely that he’ll flop… not winning and flopping are very different. We’re convinced he hasn’t regressed, the yard think he’s better than ever at home and so when he gets back to what he loves (Cheltenham) we should see him back to himself… even when finishing 2nd in the Bula last year he was convincingly ahead of the others.
I think we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it but I don’t think there is any way (health permitting) that he won’t be there to defend in March.Bula dictates all from here
Interesting statement, Katchit. Out of interest, what would happen (or at least be considered as an alternative) if he flops in the Bula?
Good question and given the statement I’d made you’d think I’d have thought of that
I don’t think we know yet – that said I don’t think its very likely that he’ll flop… not winning and flopping are very different. We’re convinced he hasn’t regressed, the yard think he’s better than ever at home and so when he gets back to what he loves (Cheltenham) we should see him back to himself… even when finishing 2nd in the Bula last year he was convincingly ahead of the others.
I think we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it but I don’t think there is any way (health permitting) that he won’t be there to defend in March.Is it the route you might take that might change Katchit? Possibly giving sharp tracks like Kempton and Wincanton a miss. Can’t remember, are any of the Irish grade 1’s on stiff tracks?
Value Is EverythingGinge,
yes, it’s only the route to the champion that may change. Ultimately Alan will plan the route and he’s proven pretty good at getting him absolutely ready come March. He knows that we’d be happy to lose every race this season if we can win the big one.
Mike Catermole mentioned that he didn’t think Night Nurse had won a race the year he won his second CH… don’t know if that’s true and nor am I making comparisons, it just means it’s possible (I’ll await a barrage of comment/correction on this)
Night Nurse did not win a race that season prior to his second Champion Hurdle win. In fact, Bird’s Nest, his great adversary, thrashed him by 15 lengths – but old Miles Henry Easterby had him spot on come the big day, and though most had written the horse off before the big race (he started 15/2), his jockey Paddy Broderick told anyone who would listen that Night Nurse was a good thing to reclaim his crown.
If Katchit can do a Night Nurse then he deserves all the plaudits.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
Some horses find The Festival too much at the end of a hard season. The undulations of the course and the possibility of soft or ‘sticky’ ground also play their part.
We know the horse enjoys a bit of cut, loves Cheltenham, is a model of consistency and a real professional.
As I mentioned in the Cheltenham section, this horse was well beaten by Harchibald and Osana prior to the CH last year and reversed the form.
I can’t see him finishing outside the first three and if the others don’t bring their ‘A’ game, which this horse undoubtedly will, he’ll take all the beating again.
The best horse doesn’t always win at The Festival, but rather the one who has the talent, courage and great constitution.
"…………his jockey Paddy Broderick told anyone who would listen that Night Nurse was a good thing to reclaim his crown…………."
Paddy may have told people that but nobody ever understood a word he said anyway.
Colin
He knows that we’d be happy to lose every race this season if we can win the big one.
The exact problem with National Hunt..
I just think that saturdays race didnt suit katchit, although giving all that weight didnt help, but i would have been pleased with the way he finished his race if i was Alan King. A bit too early to for CH predictions yet i would have thought! just for the record i think Katchit will win the bula with some authority. cheers
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