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I’m not sure what he normally looks like pre-racing, but I thought Fair Along looked almost lethargic in the preliminaries – he looked as though he was going to fall asleep when being saddled!! I must admit his demeanour in the parade ring would have made me think twice if I was considering backing him. Having said that Pablo Du Charmil didn’t particularly impress me either, looking rather edgy.
Although once on the track and going down Fair Along seemed to liven up.
I have to say I was disappointed with Fair Along’s performance. Pablo Du Charmil, as expected, set a good pace, however the time was still below standard, so I cannot see that as the main reason for Fair Along’s defeat.
In the end I think it was his jumping that did for him. He made a mistake at the second last down the back, was messy over the next ditch, then he finally ruined any remote chance he may have had by blundering the first in the home straight. I would not write the beast off yet and would be prepared to put this run down as a “bad day at the officeâ€
I agree, retirement is laughable. But surely Hobbs should revert to letting him bound from the front, as this is undoubtedly where he has ran his best races? He just doesn’t look as happy dropped in behind.
Anzum,
But where’s the evidence that he can go fast enough to be a front runner in races of this class over this trip?
AP
He’s ran over fences 6 times. Made the running in 3 – which he won. Held up in behind in the other 3, which he lost. I’m not saying if he made the running he’d win. But surely, the best races Fair Along has ran have been when making the running – some horses it suits and others it doesn’t.
A 10 length defeat of the subsequent Arkle winner in ground more suitable to My Way De Solzen indicates the class he possesses, admittedly with the 4 year old allowance. Maybe he’s lost the pace to make all the running in this class of race? All im saying is since the change in tactics, his performances have been lacklustre.
RP handicappers reckon Pablo has improved 8lb, Royal Shakespeare has almost run to his best and Fair Along has run to his best
I think they are about right
Remember with fair Along in the Arkle though, he was effectively brought down i think it was 3 out, and wouldve very likely won the Arkle.
He didnt front run in that race and was hardly lacklustre
Remember with fair Along in the Arkle though, he was effectively brought down i think it was 3 out, and wouldve very likely won the Arkle.
Hmmmmm
Well was finishing like a train a wouldve maybe won then…..
The fact i backed him in the Arkle has no effect on my opinion though lol
I tend to do my race analysis visually rather than rely on times and statistics of that nature. Although in hindsight i do concede the stat is an interesting piece of evidence which may indicate he lacks the pace to be a front runner in races of this class. As I’m not particularly an expert on times, is it equally interesting that Fair Along was a close second in a course record time at Cheltenham behind Detroit City? A time that his early pace was responsible for creating?
A 10 length defeat of the subsequent Arkle winner in ground more suitable to My Way De Solzen indicates the class he possesses,
His overall form suggests a 155/8 horse and that says he’s around 10lbs short of top Class
He’s a decent horse, but not the horse everyone seems to think he his and he will always be up against in races like the Haldon. In level weight races he will probably be be up against horses who are better than him and improvers
Hard times ahead for Fair Along imo
Surely the trip would be the biggest problem. Given the way he jumps isn’t he likely to prove best forcing things over a bare 2m. Perhaps the 2m handicap that Murphy managed to get Well Chief beaten in at the Paddy Power meeting would be a better target. Particularly as Pipe looks to have a better contender for the Paddy Power (imo) in the guise of Abragante.
Abragante did it very nicely today. 6 lb penalty, lesser trip, bigger field but I’m not sure there’s a stronger contender. Rather still back Abrigante at 5/1 than Granit Jack.
Agreed DJ, however, Abragante’s problem is getting into the race on Saturday.
At this stage, I think he needs about thirty-odd to come out, for him to have any chance of getting a run (though that number might be less, if his penalty bumps him up the pecking order – not sure if it does). It doesn’t look particularly good at the moment.
The penalty only moves Abragante up three places and there are currently 51 horses above him.
The safety limit is 20 runners.
AP
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