- This topic has 41 replies, 24 voices, and was last updated 18 years, 4 months ago by
.
- Posts
Looks like a pretty standard entry for it to me. Can’t think the last time anything great ran it, guessing Hors La Loi was last horse to go on and win the Champion. Bit surprise Straw Bear is running seeing as his trainer said on Boxing Day he might go straight to Cheltenham yet that will be his second run since. Maybe they just pot collecting as he has no chance in the Champion.
Looks like a pretty standard entry for it to me. Can’t think the last time anything great ran it, guessing Hors La Loi was last horse to go on and win the Champion. Bit surprise Straw Bear is running seeing as his trainer said on Boxing Day he might go straight to Cheltenham yet that will be his second run since. Maybe they just pot collecting as he has no chance in the Champion.
Straw Bear isn’t running – announced today… obviously realised that they couldn’t win the race and don’t want to break the horses heart so close to Cheltenham!
JP had a theory about Straw Bear last year. He reckoned if he had trouble laying up with them by the 4th hurdle then they would be going the pace he would need to go close. The way it turned out I could have kept up with them so obviously the race wasn’t run to suit.
He will have no such problem this year with Osana and Katchit sure to be prominent. Only problem is I think his theory is wishful thinking and the horse simply isn’t lover of big fields……..I would have run him in the Kingwell where at least he had a chance.
- Total Posts 17716
Academic to this race now, but I don’t know why some insist that Blythe Knight needs goog going to run to his best? Remember, the horse won the Lincoln in an absolute bog.
As a horse who was best at 8/9f on the flat, he will probably always have stamina issues which will be exacerbated by softer ground – hence his best hurdle performance being around Aintree’s sharp 2m on goodish ground – but no way can I see that he isn’t as effective on it.
Wouldn’t even contemplate hin for the CH for the same reason either, though Aintree might be his place again.Was the Champion not run at a bit of a breakneck speed last year? Hence why so many of them found it hard to "lay up" with the leaders and why come the end of the race, HE and BI had nothing left to give.
That’s how I remember it anyway…
Funny old thing racing but facts are facts.he won the lincoln on unsuitable ground and it beats the hell out of me how he did it.
You do know where he is kept don’t you? He’s not at Bellwood Cottages he’s up at Highfield stables where it is said there are ghosts
I think the little spirit that got into 8 classic winners got up his backside that day. I agree with what you are saying about staying and the more I look at him the more it puts me off. Originally I fancied him to be placed but now I am not so sure.
In the Fighting Fifth John Quinn blamed himself for running the horse and said he had gone to the well once to often with him……..I totally disagreed with him and I thought he was totally unsuited by the pace of the race. He was ballooning his hurdles like a chaser which is a sure sign of a horse crying out too go faster.
I think he will be much better suited by a CH blistering pace than he was at Newcastle. I haven’t and I am not going to bet him because their must be stamina doubts in a fast run race. To win a champion you must stay every yard.
The other thing that swings me was his Aintree victory the horse who finished 2nd to Blythe Knight would be a stone behind the Osana who won the trial this year. Blythe Knight won’t have improved anything like that and if I don’t fancy Osana I can’t in my heart of hearts fancy Blythe Knight……..
Still hope he gets placed in the race but I just can’t see it happening.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.