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Wondering if anyone can give me an update on one of my and i am sure most folks favourites.
Have been checking the RP everyday to see if he has been officially retired or not after his injury in his last race but havent seen anything concrete yet.
Thanks
On Tingle Creek day HJ said that he was doing well but they ain’t going to make a decision until the new year. He did add that it was probably it for him though as he owes them nothing.
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In his heart he wants to retire him but they are going to see how it trains in the new year and make a decision.
he’s in his box for 6 weeks, well 3 now. then their going to make a decision on him. howard said if fancies retiring him, however if he did turn up i’d back him again. i thought he was going ok when he pulled him up.
Yea the last report I heard was pretty much as blackfingernail says. He was given a thorough examination by the connections vet. The vet then advised six weeks box rest. That was approximately three weeks ago. They will follow the instructions and a decision will be made after the six weeks of rest, about any further racing.
News from RP:
Johnson optimistic for Inglis Drever future
By Tom O’Ryan6.23PM 7 JAN 2009
WHILE Tidal Bay, one of Howard Johnson’s two winners at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, returns into full training on Monday, the other, Inglis Drever, faces an all-important veterinary appointment, which is likely to go a long way to determining his future career.Having injured a hock when he was pulled up on his season reappearance at Newbury in late November, Inglis Drever has since been on the sidelines. But he has responded so well to treatment that Johnson is optimistic that a scan and x-ray, planned for Monday, will give his record-breaking triple World Hurdle winner the go-ahead to return to light training.
“I am very encouraged,” said Johnson on Wednesday.
“He’s as sound as a bell and, although there’s still a little enlargement around the cap of thehock, he seems fine. Only problem he’s got is that he’s bored; he sees other horses going out and probably wonders why he isn’t. But that might change shortly. If the scan and x-ray go well, I’ll tip away quietly with him, and let him do some road work, go on the walker and do some swimming, and get him going again, and see where we end up.”
I have mixed feelings about this. I’d love to see him back racing at his best, but would hate to see him injured again (or worse) on the track. However, if he’s bored at home…. racehorses are for racing, and all that….
It’s not all that long to the festival though…is 8 weeks long enough to get a horse fit that has had box rest for weeks on end?
Wouldn’t have thought they’d be able to get him fit in that sort of time. They’ll probably just see if he’ll stand training, then if he does, back off and aim to bring him back next year.
No point aiming for Aintree, as he clearly doesn’t like the place.
If they cared they would just retire him straight away. They have had a warning shot at newbury when he went wrong and it would be dreadfull if something happened to him like best mate or dorans pride.He has nothing to prove and its not lke hes there only good horse in the yard.
My initial feeling after Newbury was that he should be retired.
Call it divine intervention of just luck, but it could’ve been worse. Connections would’ve had no regrets about retiring him too early and he was still in great shape to enjoy life after racing.
HJ is very attached to this horse and considered calling it a day after Cheltenham last March. He said he’d never forgive himself if something went wrong. In my opinion, he quite rightly decided not to retire him.
I firmly believe that if Inglis Drever is at no greater risk of injuring himself than any other horse that competes, they should have one last crack at the World Hurdle.
If the injury doesn’t respond well to training then there’s no doubt they’ll call it a day with him, but there’s no harm in giving it a go.
They can easily train him for the race – he goes well fresh and loves Cheltenham. It will more than likely, win or lose, be his last race.
One last fight for the old warrior who will leave it all out on the track. I’m reminded of what Paulie said to Rocky before he went out for the final round in the film Rocky Balboa "This is the last round of your life, Rocko."
There’s a certain young lion called Punchestowns that needs to be taught a lesson by the old lion – the leader of the pride will never go down without a fight.
Would love to see Inglis Drever turn up fit and well for the world hurdle. Denis O’Regan pulling him out as soon as he felt him go at newbury may have helped.
And imagine the scenes if he were to win a 4th crown? He is only 10 years old, hasn’t been overraced in his career and was still showing enough ability at Newbury.
And, if during the World Hurdle O’Regan even had the slightest inkling the old warrior was struggling, he could be pulled up (Istabraq) and I dont think for a second anyone would begrudge the warrior a well deserved round of applause and thank G Wylie and H Johson for having a go. Lets face it. If you are gonna get one more run out of him and he still has the desire, let him take the chance of making history. Id bet nothing on the race yet cheer him on like my mortgage depended on it!
The injury Inglis Drever sustained (I don’t know the severity, but in general) would be more than enough to end the career of any lesser animal.
8 weeks is more than enough to get him fit, but not enough time to truly get over the injury(imo).
Its very rare you get a warning with horses, and I have always believed that when you do you should take note.
I’d love to see him race again, but hope that connections are sure that whatever they are doing is going to come off.
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