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If a jockey knows another horse is a better fighter than his own mount, wouldn’t it be a reasonable tactic to challenge wide á la Observatory versus Giant’s Causeway?
Funnily enough I had thought of that race, PC gets a lot of stick especially for the 2005 CH, he didn’t do a lot wrong at the time. Looking back maybe he should have come either later or wider, but that’s easy to say looking back. I can still see him making he frame, he has class, but not a battler!
If a jockey knows another horse is a better fighter than his own mount, wouldn’t it be a reasonable tactic to challenge wide á la Observatory versus Giant’s Causeway?
I suspect Harchibald would be an even worse shirker racing on his own than when heading another horse. If the trainer had thought the tactic worthwhile I’m sure it would have been tried by now.
Rob
It`s the easiest job in the world to be snide and critical about those who are actually doing something. What has Neesom ever done to pontificate from his ivory tower?
Neesom suggested the horse should have been sent on at the second last flight rather than coasting.
See that’s the thing with Harchibald that seems to have gone straight over Neesom’s head (I normally have a lot of time for the man btw. Harchibald gives close to everything he has on the bridle (hence him being appropriately termed a quintessential "bridle horse"), so when he actually is "sent on" he has little or nought to offer in front. How anyone can say that he should be sent on two from home given what happened in the County Hurdle as well as at Punchestown is beyond me. What more evidence do you need?
I actually didn’t think Carberry gave the horse a brilliant ride myself, as he hit the front too soon IMO, leaving himself vulnerable (it’s hardly a secret that the horse isn’t exactly a scrapper!). In a sense I actually think the Champion Hurdle will suit him better in that regard, as he will hopefully get a strong gallop and a lead.
As for Carberry being little more than a "cocky showboater," I couldn’t disagree more.
I am a great fan of Paul Carberry but I find it difficult that even his biggest fan wouldn’t admit that he can "showboat", and appear "cocky".
I dislike "showboating" intensely, and if he wasn’t being "cocky" when The Beef beat Best Mate a couple of years back, then I misunderstand the meaning of the word.
Colin
When Harchibald lost the Champion he was given a terrible ride………what he was asked to do and the time he had to do it in Nijinsky might have struggled to achieve had it been a flat race…….way way too late but no one is perfect…..if he had gone 75 yds earlier he may have taken a length or slightly more out of the winner and held on but that we will never know.
It would be fair to say Carberry knows the horse better than anyone and if anyone can pull it off he can.However I wouldn’t bet him against the likes of Katchit who stays every yard of the trip in the CH..if he steals a march on them he is the one horse Harchibald could have big problems getting past.
i cant see harchie winning the CH but if osana turns up and runs a race like make a stand did a few years ago i cant see it out of the frame, a fast run race and carberry picking them up late to get placed at least,chipmunk
When Harchibald lost the Champion he was given a terrible ride………what he was asked to do and the time he had to do it in Nijinsky might have struggled to achieve had it been a flat race…….way way too late but no one is perfect…..if he had gone 75 yds earlier he may have taken a length or slightly more out of the winner and held on but that we will never know.
It would be fair to say Carberry knows the horse better than anyone and if anyone can pull it off he can.FoF, what about the EMO Oil Champion Hurdle after that famous CH, Harchibald was sent on after the last hurdle and was still clawed back by Brave Inca on the run in, it must be very difficult for any jockey to judge when Harchibald has run out of steam, as he does everything on the bridle. Thats why I cannot accept Neesom or Wallace’s view, btw, Wallace you never answered by question, did you have a financial interest in Roman Villa?
JohnJ.
Fist of Fury 2k8 wrote:
When Harchibald lost the Champion he was given a terrible rideFOF
The problem that day was he got there too soon. A great jump at the last put him with the leaders too early hence Carberry then had to disappoint him by waiting to ask for his final effort. IMHO of course.
There will be a strong pace in the Champion Hurdle, you have to say, and this will probably suit Harchibald.
In my opinion, Osana will take on Hardy Eustace for the lead and both will ensure that the race is run at a fair gallop.
With you on that one Gareth, if there’s ever going to be a CH run to suit Harchibald it looks like being this year.
Like many I think he was produced too late in the ’05 CH. 50 yards may be enough to pass the Al Eile’s of this world, but Hardy Eustace is a real battler who commands more respect than Carberry gave him that day. 50-100 yards earlier and harchibald is a Champion Hurdler IMO, but again such is the mystery of the horse that we just don’t know.
However, what I do know is that Harchibald has to lead for the first time when in the shadow of the post, and if anyone has the guile to do that in a CH then it’s Paul Carberry.With you on that one Gareth, if there’s ever going to be a CH run to suit Harchibald it looks like being this year.
Like many I think he was produced too late in the ’05 CH. 50 yards may be enough to pass the Al Eile’s of this world, but Hardy Eustace is a real battler who commands more respect than Carberry gave him that day. 50-100 yards earlier and harchibald is a Champion Hurdler IMO, but again such is the mystery of the horse that we just don’t know.
However, what I do know is that Harchibald has to lead for the first time when in the shadow of the post, and if anyone has the guile to do that in a CH then it’s Paul Carberry.Agree.
I think for Carberry, the 2005 Champion Hurdle was a bit of a lose-lose situation.
If he had hit the front sooner, i.e. ~200 yards out, before coming to the last, or just after the last, then it is possible that the horse would have found little when hitting the front, and would have got beaten.
Then on the other hand, you do what Carberry did, and waited, and waited but was found to be against a very tough, quality and determined horse in Hardy Eustace who battles him all the way to the line and keeps his head in front all the way.
That could be that Harchibald finds little when asked at the last minute like Carberry did, or he just came up against a very determined and gutsy horse in Hardy Eustace.
Being the jockey on Harchibald is obviously a difficult task as the horse possibly needs a bit more thoughts than on other rides. Certainly isn’t a ride that i would like to take personally.
I cannot see him winning at the Champion Hurdle come March, however, i can definately see him placing, and at around 8/1 – 10/1 at the moment, that is a fantastic Ante Post bet in my opinion.
Gareth.
Friggo,
I really think its pot luck when you produce him, it must be so difficult to know when exactly he should be let lose, because i don’t think anyone could judge how much he actually has left in the tank.
JohnJ
and thats why i couldnt back him at Cheltenham. How many bridle ponces win there? Worst course (bar Sandown maybe) for that type of runner
PC is skilled but in the heat of this race, its going to be murder getting this one right. I could also see a few finishing across the course on the day which again makes judgement very difficult
Wouldnt be suprised if Mccoy (ride of the season for me…loved it) conned him again too
For me it’s not so much what he’s got left in the tank, it’s more his attitude. See the Christmas hurdle; he went half a nostril ahead of Straw Bear and decided that would be sufficient. When McCoy went past him again Harchibald renewed his effort, but all too late. Had the line come 50 yards earlier or later he wins, so I don’t think it’s his stamina that’s in question.
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