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but to take Roman Villa as an example, I believe the only positive for him is that his current mark will allow him to contest the top handicap hurdles for a while. I’d be surprised if he earns a penny in win prize money, so dubious is his finishing effort these days
Absolutely. It’s hard to forgive the two races he declined to win in successive days back in September, and his 8l fifth in that better Cheltenham novices’ chase on his debut for Matt Sheppard subsequently was only very marginally more convincing.
He’s looked like an animal soured by a succession of tough asks in big-field handicap hurdles just over a year ago, and neither the tongue strap nor occasional recourse to headgear has arrested that decline to any significant extent.
Sheppard has done well with other people’s rubbish previously, but the difference here is that Roman Villa hasn’t always been rubbish – quite the opposite. I think he’s got his work cut out to get Roman Villa back to the same level of form of last November-January, and as such the gelding is a hopeful buy rather than a "solid" one, to my thinking.
I’m not quite sure I concur with the idea that "Coole Dodger’s last win at Windsor stands up to the highest scrutiny", either. Admittedly the 1.25l second that day, Mr Hichens, did run up a hat-trick in the following weeks, and there were excuses for his defeat over the same C&D subsequently, but I was at Sandown on the same evening as Rory and to this pair of eyes there was little positive spin to be put on the gelding failing to confirm a 24lb superiority (including riders’ claims) in one of the softest claimers we’ll ever live to see at the Esher venue.
A strike-rate of 2-18 marks him out as strictly a "buggins turn" winner on the Flat, no more and no less, and on the evidence of two sound beatings at Ludlow his hurdles career runs the risk of being no better unless a switch to handicaps or sellers elicits a marked improvement. It’s noted that half-sibling Bright Green has a jumps record of 1-24 to date, so the omens aren’t terrific by any means.
Brutal honesty is often the kindest honesty of all, not least where racehorses are concerned, and it has to be in Mr Strangeway’s best long-term interests for him to be advised at this early juncture that not all – and possibly even none – of his geese are swans before he gets too disenchanted with / impoverished by the game. Rory’s sound suggestions on how to shop smarter are well worth heeding.
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.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the Windsor win, I’ll agree with that. Very solid handicap form backed up by both the time and the subsequent performances of those behind. The trouble is he’s something of a law unto himself, hence why the SP of his wins have been 50’s and 33’s, why he failed to land the odds at Sandown, and why he deserves his sguiggle!
Coole Dodger takes in the opener at Hereford tomorrow, so, as a great man once said, "Strangeways, here we come"!
I need hardly add that I’ll be the very definition of magnanimity on air if he does win, though it’ll need a career-best over hurdles to dispose of both Giorgio Quercus and Solar Max, all things being equal. Good luck, one and all.
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.
Dunaskin, to be fair, has run well in the November Handicap to be fourth. I hope Mr S had a big each way bet on him.
Big of Mr Strangeway to respond. For the record I have no problem with the buying of Film Festival which is why I didn’t cite him originally, but to take Roman Villa as an example, I believe the only positive for him is that his current mark will allow him to contest the top handicap hurdles for a while. I’d be surprised if he earns a penny in win prize money, so dubious is his finishing effort these days, while Dunaskin and Bailieborough will be very difficult to place effectively as age diminishes their ability. Coole Dodger was a truly awful buy, especially if he was purchased to go hurdling.
It is, of course, Mr Strangeway’s prerogative exactly how he spends his money and if he’s happy with what he’s doing, then I wish him all the best. I do maintain, for the little it is worth, that he would save a huge percentage of his outlay if he bought the horses he liked at the sales with the help of a reputable expert that through claiming races and private sales.
Does taking over 500k on horse betting since march make you a little bit of an expert judging claimers
lol i applied for a acc when this thread first came about, and nice to know it became active yesterday when i re apllied lol
least im here to answer anything now.
And i since bought the lions share in Ladies Best and moved coole dodger to Ellison as well as looking at the sakles tomorrow for something new.
5k paid for Restless Genius
anyone think thats a good buy or a bad one ?
The sales seem better now after the credit crunch i will admit that and alos that Coole Dodger is a bit smaller than the form books i paid for said. I got an average verdict on his size when after ive seen him id say small.
anyways this last one looks a good buy to me anyways.
Well, this is certainly one way to get new blood on the forum.
Apologies in advance for calling Roman Villa some choice names tomorrow afternoon.
I’d say that the size of Coole Dodger would be the least of your worries – is he aptly or ironically named????!!
Roman villa will probably be useless tomorrow as he needs fast ground but he needs 3 runs to be qualified for the bigger handicap chase so he can run for decent place money. The race tomorrow is 18k added so worth a bash as the transpot is only 50 quid to ludlow as well
Coole dodger be ok, ive manged a nice deal with brian to train him as he simply never settled in with Matt and as such never ran to any sort of mark. brians hopefull he’ll return to some form next year with him. You cant expect an unhappy horse to run to form so he’s got another chance when the flat season starts.
Restless Genius would seem to be a decent enough price considering he’s beaten Trafalgar Square recently and Trafalgar has since won at Lingfield. My thoughts are he needs to return to six/seven furlongs though, his last win being at six. Whatever happens you shouldn’t lose much, not that I know anything, other than it costs a couple of grand or more to get a decent hack, I think.
Just retired Roman Villa as he had got prorgessively worse at home and also alot more worse on the track.
It was a gamble as i knew he had some issues but the fact he was rated 126 gave me hope he could cut it a bit better than that.
Campagnewd him badly as well tbh but he’s refused on the flat at ludlow against crap and at ascot against good uns.
So hes been found a good home now.
Also, i wont have many other runners as all my horses have been trasfered to Koo’s racing club. Lets hope i have a better year than last with a new name. Ifg anyone is ever interested give me a shout but i wont spam it on here. UNless you want me to lol
Just retired Roman Villa as he had got prorgessively worse at home and also alot more worse on the track.
It was a gamble as i knew he had some issues but the fact he was rated 126 gave me hope he could cut it a bit better than that.
Campagnewd him badly as well tbh but he’s refused on the flat at ludlow against crap and at ascot against good uns.
So hes been found a good home now.
Good to hear, Koo. His heart hasn’t looked in it really and I hope he enjoys retirement.
In the interests of fairness and balance, I’m entirely happy to congratulate Dunaskin on doubling up for Koo and company at Market Rasen this afternoon, all the more so on ground probably as fast as he’d want. Hope connections had a washer or two on.
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.
Hopefully some of the more recnt buys have done better for me that ones mentioned on here.
Some buys work out, some dont go as planned. Just the nature of the beast, only putting this back up as i was talking about Coole Dodger and beleived hed have won plenty of races had he been sent to Brians to start with since he was a cronic box walker and Brian had a specialised stable or 2 for horses like him. Sadlt by the time we moved him there he was too far gone mentally for racing but was a lovely tip to pat.
Lets hope no one bumps this up in 12 months saying why did he pay 80k for the ex stoute horse
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