- This topic has 9 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 18 years, 1 month ago by
.
- Posts
Has Mr Hobbs thrown his toys out of the pram with Aintree or something? Boychuk, Captain Corelli, Parsons Legacy and Monkerhostin ALL taken out???? Strange.
He can seem a bit tiresome in his interviews so I wonder what has happened.
We also have a position where the 40th horse (Royal Auclair) will carry 10-10. The trend brigade will soon have to rethink the 11st stat if this continues.
I wouldn’t have thought anything sinister whatsoever, and certainly not throwing toys out of the pram. Of that named quartet, Monkerhostin hated the whole experience last year, Captain Corelli has no chance of getting in, and Boychuk appeals as the sort of horse that would spit the dummy out at the mere sight of an Aintree fence. That leaves just Parsons Legacy – and with him the reason must be either a) he is injured (hence no run since January and a non-appearance at the Cheltenham Festival which he has such a fine record in), or b) they are keeping him fresh for another tilt at the Scottish National which he was arguably unlucky to lose last year.
Hobbs generally comes across as one of the more level-headed trainers around and probably realises that there is no point in having a runner in the National just for the sheer hell of it.
The "trends brigade" have known for quite a while that the infamous 11st statistic is becoming less important with every passing year. The major thing that this is highlighting is how ridiculous the handicapping of National runners has become. If Phil Smith doesn’t want this race to be a proper handicap, he may as well just let every horse run off eleven stone.
HJ, if you are correct about the withdrawal of the three horses mentioned above, why do you think they were entered?
I have spoken to Philip Hobbs, on course and over the telephone and he has always been very approachable. I have heard that others haven’t had the same experience with Mrs. Hobbs.
Colin
I’ve no idea Colin, presumably either to appease an owner, give him "options", or simply to see whether the handicapper would make an almighty rick with one of them, leaving them 20lbs well in.
I’d be interested to know of the unpleasant experiences people have had with Mrs Hobbs, I’ve had dealings with her in the past and have had no problems whatsoever. Anyway, whether Philip or Sarah are "nice people" or not is beside the point.
A friend of mine wrote to Mr. Hobbs a few years ago to ask why he’d entered horses for the National that subsequently didn’t run, and he was just told if you don’t enter you can’t run….I think the horse in question was Gunther McBride, and he wanted it to run but the owners didn’t. Recently I’ve stopped backing horses ante post for the National because so many of them are withdrawn.
Bit gutted about Parsons being pulled out, had a small ante-post on him. Suppose I should have been more worried by the long lay off since his last run and the Cheltenham non-appearance.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.