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The Listener put a bad run behind him and will go be a live contender for races like the Irish Hennessy over 3 mile +.
As far as I am aware, the plan for Neptune Collonges is to run in the Lexus and then the Irish Hennessy and I can’t see The Listener beating him over 3m
A slower place and WOA would have been beaten even further…blatently was out paced from the turn in.
The Listener’s poor jump might have made the different but it is jump racing…
Shame Nicholls will not let Noland take on Kauto in the King George.
whoop whoop nobby n sam are the men what a fab boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 oh and 4 everyone that dougbted them!!! lol am so chuffed lol xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nice one beckster.
Delighted for you, the family and of course Nobby. 
He obviously enjoyed his little holiday in Ireland.A great race. Very thrilling and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Listener set a decent pace from the off, Noland and War Of Attrition content to sit in behind and take a good lead off The Listener. The race began to unfold about five out. With Noland and the field moving up to three lengths or so of The Lister. The Listener blundered at the fourth last forfeiting the lead to Noland. Who went on with War Of Attrition, tracking him on the bridle. But over the third last War Of Attrition was soon under pressure to stay with the leader and after running a good race looked beaten. Leaving the race between Noland and The Listener, who had fought his way back, after his bad mistake, to challenge Noland. Noland was two lengths up going to the last and idled up the run in to allow The Listener to get to within half a length of him at the line.
The key to the race was jumping. Ruby Walsh said last season that Noland is the best Novice jumper he’s ever sat on, and once again that proved to be a very salient point in todays race. The ground wasn’t in Noland’s favour and if anything, owing to The Listeners mistake four out, was in front too soon. And was definitely idling up the run in. But he put in a foot perfect round of exhibition jumping and he deserved his win.
Great to see a change of fortune for Sam Thomas, on another day and on another horse the line would have been just one stride too many and he’d have been nailed. I hope this restores his confidence and he moves onwards and upwards from here.
Some sectionals for the leaders at various junctures in the three 2½m chases today (time, in seconds, at 1st; win post first circuit, i.e. between 4th and 5th; 8th; 11th; 13th; 15th, i.e last; line):
John Durkan: 15.0; 79.4; 165.1; 219.1; 268.7; 304.6; 321.6.
Handicap: 16.1; 83.9; 170.8; 226.6; 277.0; 313.8; 329.5
Maiden: 15.4; 84.1; 170.9; 225.4; 277.9; 315.3; 332.8.I have to agree with aiden here marb, I have seen the Listener foil WOA before with a slow pace at 3 miles and so couldnt have had WOA at all today over a shorter trip. WOA needs a competetive pace at further than todays trip as he’s an awesome traveller, his gold cup was quite a decent paced event with Hedgehunter in second.
Also congrats to the Noland team, I had a feeling he would be the winner today but just didnt have the nuts to back him at his price. Would still think the listener could be up to winning another lexus if all went to plan.
Didn’t think it was Daryl Jacob’s finest hour TBH- seemed to go off very fast (was at least 10 clear at one stage) then let everything back in the race 4 out when he made the mistake. A more even pace and I reckon he’d still have had a length or 2 on them turning in, which might have been enough. Good effort from the winner though. Small crowd despite the free entry, understandable on a midweek working day I suppose.
I agree. I’m not one to criticise jockeys on a whim I think they often face far too much criticism but I’m not Daryl Jacob’s biggest fan. I remember him setting a suicidal pace a couple of years ago which led to Beef Or Salmon collering him on the run in and again today he went a stride too fast IMO. That said he may still have won but for the mistake but he gave the horse no margin for error at that pace.
A Cauthen clock Jacob certainly doesn’t have.
Good to see some success for Sam though, if anyone deserves it he does.
his gold cup was quite a decent paced event
Think you’ve got that mixed up: only Kauto Star’s win was in a more slowly run race – judged on time from 3 out compared to overall time – in the last 12 years, and no-one is going to suggest that was in any way a true test of stamina.
My reading of the race is that War Of Attrition has (at the moment) got to be rated not as good as he was before injury.
Noland won the race fair and square. Possibly idled a bit late on. Sam seemed at pains to just pop the last two fences. Did not want to get Noland on the floor by asking for a big one. Where as Jacob went for everything on The Listener. Although some might think the result would have been different had the grey not made a mistake four out; Thomas would’ve asked for bigger jumps at the last two had they been upsides.
Mark
Value Is EverythingI was just looking through the form, War Of Attrition has contested 18 chases in his career. He’s won only two at 24+ furlongs (one was the Gold Cup), and only actually been seen in seven races out of 18 at longer distances than todays distance (20F). How anyone can think just because he won a piss poor Gold Cup (where a horse like Lami could get within ten lengths) makes him a proper 3 miler, that would need a searching gallop in a race like todays against good opposition where essentially because of the long lay off he would have been an unknown quantity or possibly even needed the race is beyond me, but i’ll let you draw your own conclusions
He did win a Gold Cup after all.
Because his best form has come at three miles plus….Punchestown, Cheltenham. All his previous form over short has been well short of his best.
I am not saying his best will be good enough, but he has shown in the past (in this very race) that he struggles in soft ground over shorter trips (even his placings behind Beef Or Salmon over three miles are better than most of his form over shorter). A return to three miles can only suit….the horse travelled very powerfully today, just couldnt go with Noland when he quickened up (relatively).
He struggled in the Durkan race a couple of seasons back when they went slow and in soft ground.
Either way there is absolutely nothing in the form book that suggests he wants a slowly run race in heavy ground over 2 miles 4 furlongs.
I’ve watched Noland in all his runs over fences and I just have a question mark about his jumping.
He is usually neat and tidy but doesn’t seem to me to be comfortable standing off and producing a big one when required. Gingertipster said that Sam Thomas popped Noland over the last 2 fences but this is more or less how Noland jumps all his fences. I think he is not the bravest jumper and worry that this could cost him an important race or two in the future.
My reading of the race is that War Of Attrition has (at the moment) got to be rated not as good as he was before injury.
Noland won the race fair and square. Possibly idled a bit late on. Sam seemed at pains to just pop the last two fences. Did not want to get Noland on the floor by asking for a big one. Where as Jacob went for everything on The Listener. Although some might think the result would have been different had the grey not made a mistake four out; Thomas would’ve asked for bigger jumps at the last two had they been upsides.
Mark
Given the number of times Sam has been on his backside lately I wouldn’t be so sure Mark. Probably just wanted to play it safe.
his gold cup was quite a decent paced event
Think you’ve got that mixed up: only Kauto Star’s win was in a more slowly run race – judged on time from 3 out compared to overall time – in the last 12 years, and no-one is going to suggest that was in any way a true test of stamina.
Quote from the racing post:
“TIME 6m 31.70s (fast by 7.30s)
Thankfully, the race was relatively short of incident, and WAR OF ATTRITION, very much one of the race’s younger more exciting prospects, led home what is believed to have been an unprecedented Irish 1-2-3 in a time barely a second outside the course record.”
Now the race was on good ground but I wouldnt say that it lacked pace and thought everything looked a bit laboured atthe end of it, despite the good ground. The listener IMO is a horse who is probably best at about 2m4f but if given an easy lead can slow down a 3 mile race enough to win. I remember watching the 2006 Lexus and thinking that War Of Attrition just didnt have the toe to catch the listener, nor did beef or salmon, however when beef or salmon re-engaged the listener in the 2007 irish hennessy he was able to get his revenge in the dying strides at a slightly less sedate pace.
Everyone sees things different ways, but I see War Of Attrition to be a horse who wants a decent pace at 3 miles or more to be at his best, and as long as that keeps working out Im happy.
I’ve watched Noland in all his runs over fences and I just have a question mark about his jumping.
He is usually neat and tidy but doesn’t seem to me to be comfortable standing off and producing a big one when required. Gingertipster said that Sam Thomas popped Noland over the last 2 fences but this is more or less how Noland jumps all his fences. I think he is not the bravest jumper and worry that this could cost him an important race or two in the future.
NWOLFE?? not sure you been watching the correct horse as paul ruby sam etc , say nobby is one of the best novice jumper theyve sat on, he goes of ay stride?????
oh also yes nobby was idleing in front, but as we thought and was then confirmed by both sam aND PAUL, when listener had the cockup at that fence, nobby was upfront a little to soon, n thought enough was done, however all agreed that he is better sat waitin n windup abit then power surge at the end but , they didunt seam to think the listeners mistake made any difference to the race, as it would av given him more rev up to the finish???eitherway im just glad nobby finished safely xx
Marble,
If your justify labelling WOA’s Gold Cup as "piss poor" because L’Ami was only beat 10L, than how do you rate Kauto Star’s Gold Cup because the exact same horse was only beat 12L a year later?
Monkerhostin was another horse who was beat 11L by War Of Attrition and only 10L by Kauto Star in 2007. I am aware that Kauto Star’s Gold Cup was run at a complete crawl but it just irritates me a bit when some people rubbish War Of Attrition’s Gold Cup win.
As for the race today, I would be happy enough with WOA. He will improve on better ground like most Presenting’s and stepping up to 3 miles again won’t do him any harm. He probably doesn’t possess the same speed that enabled him to mix it with the likes of Brave Inca and Macs Joy over hurdles anymore.
I can’t have the mistake giving him more rev Becks. That’s taking positive thinking too far – if that’s the case it’s pointless doing any schooling as blundering through 12 fences will give more rev than just one
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