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If Always Waining doesn’t get a slot next year then there is no justice in this World. My dad is convinced he would have won had he not missed the cut and looking at the way he won the Topham; i find myself inclining to agree he would have run a big race. He clearly loves it round there and the ground could not have been more perfect for him. I still think he’ll have a chance at 11, but i think a crack at the Becher to test his staying ability will be the best option for him. Same goes for Frankie Figg.
Encouraging runs from Cappa Bleu, Tamarinbleu and Killyglen today. Could be worth keeping an eye on these with Aintree in mind.
Wonder what sort of weight Cappa Bleu will get, given that he was thought to be Gold Cup class. Does the handicapper drop a horses weight considerably when they’ve been off for a long time? Good to see a horse with such potential make a come back.
I’d like to see The Midnight Club given another chance in the National. He has bundles of ability and a tough of class too, but his jumping was diabolical last year. That said, he managed to blunder his way around without coming down.
However, I have a theory on his poor jumping last year
He absolutely butted the first, which can’t be ideal for a relatively inexperienced horse, who hasn’t many miles on the clock given his age. That must have frightened the daylights out of him, and his confidence was shot to pieces. As a result he was deliberate at most of the fences thereafter, losing ground at most of the obstacles. The fact that he finished 6th, beaten under 30 lengths, was an achievement in itself.
Of course, he could just plough the first again!
Wonder what sort of weight Cappa Bleu will get, given that he was thought to be Gold Cup class. Does the handicapper drop a horses weight considerably when they’ve been off for a long time? Good to see a horse with such potential make a come back.
Don’t put your mortgage on it. Smith is a moron. Eurotrek took two years off and was still given 11-3 for his return race; the National. Just 5lbs less than what he carried in ’07 when he was a fancied shot at his peak. But lets face it; it’s all about ratings. That’s all Smith knows. He’ll base weights off ratings alone as an oppose to the horses legit merit.
If the weights came out today i would say Cappa Bleu would just squeeze in. A rating of 140 is just about the minimum in the modern day National. Same can be said for Tamarinbleu. And that’s another horse who had a Gold Cup claim some seasons back. Runner up, and a close one at that in two grade 1’s in the Charlie Hall and Betfair Chase. I would say they do have good National claims if they are able to get in.
Horsesmouth; agree with you completely. In fact Ruby says that they lost the race by the third fence. He showed his class finishing so well.
Chicago grey, alpha beat, Oscar time or uncle junior take your pick they ll all be there or there abouts if they make the cut. If there any cut in the ground Oscar Time will win pick your distance
Junior all the way for me, love a tilt at the ante post market and he is my first. Got 25s but didn’t go in large enough. David Pipe will not be running him until Jan/Feb keeping his mark intact and then he’ll go over hurdles!
I agree with Always Waining in that he deserves a chance and jumps the fences at Aintree for fun but not so sure that he would last home but maybe he could possibly be too far clear by then!! He ran away from Mon Perrain and that one is held in very high regard by the Champion trainer
Junior all the way for me, love a tilt at the ante post market and he is my first. Got 25s but didn’t go in large enough. David Pipe will not be running him until Jan/Feb keeping his mark intact and then he’ll go over hurdles!
I agree with Always Waining in that he deserves a chance and jumps the fences at Aintree for fun but not so sure that he would last home but maybe he could possibly be too far clear by then!! He ran away from Mon Perrain and that one is held in very high regard by the Champion trainer
That’s the thing! If a horse jumps those fences as well as we know Always Waining does; it would land him in great stead. Sometimes, if the horse jumps the fences well enough; he doesn’t really need to stay! I think Ballabrigs is a good example…
engine
mean that he has seen his best races?
Hoping to make the trek to Aintree and for the weekend, would be nice to win a bit of extra beer money, with maybe a little bit left over too
Could Burton Point see a return to form?
It’ll be really interesting to see how the potential runners start 2012, but definitely keen to get a bet down before the odds drop!
Unless Nichols is hiding something; i’m afraid those National hopes we had for Denman in ’09 are well and truly dead. Although i would love it if he was at least entered, just so they had something to mull over, incase things go wrong at Cheltenham etc. He would destroy the handicap aswell. Probably be the first time in what 7 years since we had runners from out the handicap…?
Burton Port does appeal as a National type, but i’m hoping Hemmings gives the independent horse owners at least some room to get a runner in too… i’m looking at you too, JP!
Considering how tired Denman got when winning his Gold Cup and his second Hennessy, I’d be amazed if he stayed the trip in the National. A shame as otherwise the race and course would appear tailor-made.
After just watching closing stages of the race Dynaste won i was impressed by SYNCHORINSED who was a fast finishing 3rd.Any thoughts on him.On that run.
After just watching closing stages of the race Dynaste won i was impressed by SYNCHORINSED who was a fast finishing 3rd.Any thoughts on him.On that run.
I backed him each way that day because i
knew
he’d finish like a train and that he did. He’s very much ready for a repeat at Chepstow and goodness knows he’ll stay. I’d get your fill on the 33/1 available before it crumbles to 16’s when he runs another blinder next month. Only reason i’m not laying him is…
A. McCoy said last year he wasn’t sure he’s an Aintree horse and so will he run? I dunno…
B. Whenever i go ante post in the National; something terrible happens and they get withdrawn (R.I.P Nil Desperandum and One Cool Cookie)
I am on at 50/1 as i said at the start of this thread along with Junior these are 2 horses i like for race.
Did not know that AP said he was not a Aintree horse i still hope he goes there.
Beshabar looked a very promising National candidate in today’s Hennessy – prominent throughout, jumping well and staying on to be beaten about 5 lengths.
What the handicapper will do with him now, I don’t know as it was a most unusual choice of first outing for a horse whose main target has been declared as the National. I know the handicapper is cottoning on to those kept over hurdles early doors (as Ballabriggs was), and it will be interesting to see what trainer Tim Vaughan does next with Beshabar.
He’s a big Rag Tradeish-type bull of a horse and today was just his 6th outing over fences. There’s more to come from him and he’s first on my National shortlist.
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