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grasshopper – my bringing up the crowning of Kauto Star as 2m 4f champion was to illustrate the point that the National Hunt pattern races outside of Cheltenham just aren’t given the recognition they deserve, especially by the trade media.
That’s probably a truism, david. But just because the media take that line, doesn’t make it so. That’s my point.
I`d be more interested in the flat if there were a few less bookie sponsored sprints being dressed up as a big event
Totally agree
Across both codes, there is nothing that interests me less than big sprint handicaps
…..certainly as a betting opportunity, Clivex, but surely something of a challenge to try and arrive at the winner.
Aren’t you ever intrigued by the Wokingham and Stewards Cup, surely a challenge for the form analyst and the conspiracy theorist!
Colin
I’d choose an 8-runner Group race ahead of a 30-runner 5f Hcp any day
Me too.
Years ago, I read an interview with the late Phil Bull, who when asked for a piece of advice for the small punter who wished to back winners on a more consistent basis, said that it paid dividends to stick to non-handicaps, and preferably in races with eight runners or less.
I never bet in sprint handicaps. It’s a hard and fast rule of mine. Besides, it’s too much like hard work to decipher and analyse all the various form lines. Cavalry charges are not for me. Though, I take my hat off to the people who find winners in these races – whether through their own endeavours or by sheer good luck.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
…..certainly as a betting opportunity, Clivex, but surely something of a challenge to try and arrive at the winner.
Aren’t you ever intrigued by the Wokingham and Stewards Cup, surely a challenge for the form analyst and the conspiracy theorist!
Colin
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Nope
There’s enough races in the calender and not enough time. Never been one to bet for the sake of it anyway
I love both codes, although I have a preference for the Flat due to the strength in depth of the season structure, the international scene and the bloodstock/breeding side of things.
I can get just as excited over a summer Group One race as a top class 3m steeplechase in the winter…I guess I’m one of the lucky ones
No, big-field sprint handicaps aren’t for me either, and it’s even worse when the fields split in two.
8.40 @ Uttoxoter tonight.
A 13 year old grey colt called Mighty Fine is running.
He has won 4 of his last 5 races and is thriving at the moment, and is one of the reasons that it is so easy to fall in love with the National Hunt game.
I am not knocking the flat for one minute as I love that also, but I love the jumps purely for the fact that you get horses like Mighty Fine and Spot The Difference who keep winning no matter what age they are.
The Punchestown Festival and the Cheltenham Festival are just simply magical, you don’t get that on the flat. Yes there are some great meets, but nothing can rival the National Hunt festivals in my opinion.
Mike
8.40 @ Uttoxoter tonight.
A 13 year old grey colt called Mighty Fine is running.
He has won 4 of his last 5 races and is thriving at the moment, and is one of the reasons that it is so easy to fall in love with the National Hunt game.
I am not knocking the flat for one minute as I love that also, but I love the jumps purely for the fact that you get horses like Mighty Fine and Spot The Difference who keep winning no matter what age they are.
See also Eric Clough’s indestructable veteran Longstone Boy, thrice a winner at the ripe old age of 15 this year, turning over a Nicholls horse in a hunter chase in the third of these. Terrific effort.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
My heart will always be with the jumpers and not just the superstars & big meetings. You see them run over so many years, they become your friends.
Dear Quixall himself was a legend in his own lifetime, as was his predecessor Amrullah (now he did have talent, just chose not to use it!)
A horse I adored was Vulrorys Clown and I saw him run many times, never a superstar, but in his own class a brilliant horse.
The flat just doesn’t do it for me, although there are one or two old troopers that I follow, like The Tatling.The jumps. Technical knockout ten seconds into the first round. The flat was unable to defend itself.
I used to be all about the Flat, and I still enjoy the big races/meetings, but now my heart definitely belongs to National Hunt. I don’t get very excited any more wondering if last year’s top two-year-old has trained on, but I’m dying to know if Kauto Star could possibly be as good or better this coming year than he was last season; what will happen if/when he meets Denman/My Way de Solzen/Star de Mohaison; whether Nickname will ever get the soft ground he needs at the Festival; will they persevere with Brave Inca over two mile hurdles, step him up in trip again or send him novice chasing…ooo, so much to look forward to!
Is it October yet?
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