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What does everyone think of the chances of Chapoturgeon staying the 3m 2f of the Foxhunters.
Was mightily impressive today and looked as if he could have gone around again.
However not only as he never raced over the trip, he as never ran over further than he did today.Nobody thought Chapoturgeon’s Jewson Handicap performance at the Festival a few years back was better than I did. An incredible performance. I remember comparing the times between that and the Ryanair. Chapoturgeon managed to jump the last 2 and get to the winning post something like 3 seconds faster than Imperial Commander or whoever it was. Just ridiculous how impressive it was. Damn shame the horse went missing after that.
Would I want to trust him at 10/1 for a race like the Foxhunter’s? Not a chance.
I backed him at 33’s earlier,the only doubt i have is the trip but he should stay if ridden to.He loves Cheltenham and today he looked as good as ever in a good race.
She was beaten. Travelled up with the pace for a long way and was just starting to get niggled when falling 3 (I think) out. Ground may have been too quick.
Would it not be one of the great stories were for Monkerty Tunkerty to make the frame? Nowadays owned, trained and ridden by the ‘unfashionable’ Jessica Westwood, he absolutely hacked up on his first start in nearly 3 years, and his chasing debut, earning quotes of as low as 10/1 in places for the Foxhunters’.
Now I am a realist, the field for the race wasn’t up to much, but what a story it would be, even for the festival!
This year’s renewal looks a real minefield, lots of newcomers to the foxhunters game, not a lot of collateral form to go at. I was personally gutted at the defection of BABY RUN, one of my favourite horses, and he was going to be one of my main bets this year despite his mishap last season. In his absence, I quite like the chances of MERCHANT ROYAL, who won a decent Hunters Chase LTO in Ireland. Dermot Weld isn’t generally associated with these types of races, but I think the horse is on a roll and should go well at 14/1 if taking to Cheltenham.
Race is wide open now with the Champion and Baby Run out! Zemsky was to be one of my bankers again so have no interest in this race apart from a placepot selction!
I love this race but there have been so few Hunter Chases so far that any final decisions are still up in the air
Right now I like these, just about in the order below…..ON THE FRINGE (Let me down big time last year, would benefit from the handling of Nina Carberry, still my first choice, can’t forget the way he won on his debut in The Punchestown Hunter Championship after losing the best part of a furlong due to interference at the first fence, runs on Sunday),
MERCHANT ROYAL (Big chance if a runner, top jockey but may be headed for the National Hunt Chase)
BRADLEY (Will be well suited by trip and likely pace, missed last season with sore shins, ground likely to be perfect, course winner, nothing will come up the hill better, I’d expect him to reverse latest form with the winner),
MY FLORA (Something to prove after latest run, prior to that she looked as if The Foxhunters would be the stepping stone to greater things)
GALWAY JACK (Lovely horse, bold front runner but may find the trip too far)
MONKERTY TUNKERTY (Likely contender, very impressive last time outHuge improvement since joining new yard, front runner but I can see him getting caught on the run-in)
BITTER BLUE (Very useful hunter from a top yard)
BLACKSTAFF( Promising pointer, better than his last outing)
CORK ALL STAR (One of my favourite Hunter Chasers but small athletic type who may find these fences too big for him)
OVER THE PHONE ( Prior to this season had looked the real deal, will need to show last years form to have any chance)That’s my short list of the Poiners/Hunters but there are a few ex-handicappers hovering in the wings, main contender would be
CHAPOTURGEON who needs to win again to qualify. Looked very good at Newbury but did My Flora give her true running? I have always prefer pointers on the way up rather than handicappers on the way down for The Foxhunters so I probably will be looking elsewhere but he must be fearedJust watched the re-run of the Salsify win on Hennessey day and he’s probably the one for me
Mr C J Sweeney looks inexperienced, but did it nicely at Leopardstown and will likely carry my cash on the day
Sorry, I’ll correct that. He has qualified but it appears that he’s banned from running as he breaks rule 41.5.3.2.
He won in a race at Ffos Las in 2009 with a penalty value of £20k+ and not confined to amateur riders.
Chapoturgeon won a 2 horse match race for an Open on Sunday so is now qualified – he did slip up after the winning line I believe but is ok.
Martin
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