I’m so glad Hobbs Hill got up after that!

[graysonscolumn]

Seconded, Pilgarlic – Aintree Mildmay might just break what spirit either horse has left. Options around fairer tracks are limited for the remainder of their novices’ season, but I’d be much happier for either of the two fallers today to be sent up to somewhere like Ayr for the Future Champions Chase or similar.

gc

Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.

[Chris B]

I’ve seen far worse, a recent incident being Granite Jack.

[Ten Plus]

Yes and sadly Granit Jack paid the ultimate price … could have easily been both those two yesterday.
Hobbs Hill is indeed 9 years old but yesterday was only his 11th race ever so not many miles on the clock. Although his new owner has no doubt paid megabucks for him I’d like to see him put away now and come out again next year – if he has to come out again I agree Ayr would be preferable to Cheltenham/Aintree.

[runandskip]

think that the ground was almost on the fast side played a part in the falls yesterday.
lets hope that at cheltenham they get the groud right or it could be more of the same

[Scribbles]

I kinda agree regarding Aintree. I thought the same before I even posted, but most times the good horses are geared up for the premier end of season meetings and my point was more that Cheltenham might come a little too quick rather than Aintree being ideal. Is the Ayr race really prestigeous enough for a horse that will come back next year a 10yo?

[Ten Plus]

Extract from Racing Post re Hobbs Hill:

"He holds entries in the Ryanair Chase and Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next month but will be given time to recover before Egerton’s team assess their options.
Frank Berry, racing manager for McManus, said: "He was quite sore leaving the racecourse yesterday but he’s fine really this morning.

"He is still sore and it was a bad fall but it was just good to see him get up after it.

"He has a bit of bruising so we’ll just see how he is in a week or so. He had jumped well up to that point and I’m just happy he got up."

[Grasshopper]

Having backed Hobbs Hill at a big price for the RSA Chase, I’m amazed and delighted that the race hasn’t been completely ruled out yet.

More amazed than delighted, actually – I was convinced they would definitely swerve the Festival after yesterday’s fall.

[Author]

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