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WD Ruby and GT!
Derek Fox must have been thinking he was in a 3 mile chase. Poor ride.
I didn’t get involved but I did consider backing Ahoy Senor given his Aintree record. After the ride he got, I’m glad I left the race alone! Agree with the comments above. It was a distinctly moderate ride. Maybe not schooling in public but it was close.
Up to two out that’s exactly what I thought that he was having a nice schooling trip.
The more I know the less I understand.
I think Fox did just enough to get away with it but anyone who backed the horse is entitled to be dissatisfied with the ride.
Ahoy never put in the race till it was too late. A disgrace that the stewards never even bothered to ask the question to connections.
Fully agree with the above comments, but what drives me mad is when Racing TV presenters don’t seem to be to bothered about incidents during a race. Like in this case the blatant schooling in public ride performed by Derek Fox. Why is there no one (the commentators) willing to speak out the obvious?
The racing media loves Lucinda Russell, so they are not going to ask any questions.
I was a bit surprised with the Ahoy Senor tactics. However, he is (or should that be was?) a poor jumper of fences. It is possible that with two other front runners in the field connections didn’t want to put too much pressure on Ahoy Senor’s by jumping alongside a couple of far better leapers. Therefore hold up tactics were tried. Maybe connections had had a chat beforehand and thought (like so many of us) there’d be a strong pace. In a strongly run race there’d be no problem for a stayer at the trip being held up. Maybe Fox misjudged that pace and thought it had been strongly run… Because with the pace not as quick he really should have been pushing from a longer way from home than two out. Again, maybe connections made the decision to get over two out before pushing, in order not to put too much pressure on his jumping. We also do not know whether Ahoy Senor’s jumping has improved at home when following horses. So tbh I can see the logic in why he was held up for a late run… However, there were no two ways about it – this was a poor ride. Whatever riding tactics had been made beforehand Fox should have changed them when the pace was slower than expected.
That said, just because the ride is poor does not mean it was a non-trier. No point stewards looking into it.
I’ve had another look and LD is spot on. It was by some way Ahoy Senor’s best round of jumping that I’ve seen. Maybe these tactics are just what the horse needs – only over further. If (and it is still quite a big “IF”) continuing to jump this well it would not be out of the question he’d develop into…
I’ve just taken all the 90 and 85 Ahoy Senor for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Value Is EverythingI think what made the ride look particularly bad was Fox allowed the horse to be relegated to last place turning down the far side of the track on the run to the cross fence. He must have dropped at least two lengths behind the fourth placed horse, without showing any sense of urgency.
I agree with Ginger that it is difficult for the stewards to deem it a non-trier but it was without doubt a poor ride.
Ginger sums it up well ‘Maybe these tactics are just what the horse needs – only over further.’
Connections look for races at Aintree as the horse goes well round the course, the problem is that there just aren’t many races at the track that Ahoy Senor is qualified for. Talented but a bit of an enigma.
If Ahoy Senor were mine he’d be going to Haydock for the Betfair Chase.
It may not be Aintree but Haydock is left-handed.
Then to Cheltenham for the Cotswold Chase which he won in 2023 and would’ve at least gone close in 2024 had his tack not broken. He’s been more inconsistent away from Aintree, but has good form on other left-handed courses.
Depending on what happens in the Cotswold I’d either go for the Gold Cup or miss the Festival entirely and wait for the Bowl.Value Is EverythingThis article may explain the jumping issues Ahoy Senor had in the past and the reason why he seemed to be much improved with his jumping.
Gingertipster
“That said, just because the ride is poor does not mean it was a non-trier. No point stewards looking into it.”
As far as I know stewards aren’t restricted to just having an enquiry only if they consider a ride a non trier. Many jockeys and connections have been called in to explain a ride, as should have been the case here.
Fox was motionless for so long in this race I half thought he was considering pulling up.PS
A late posting by the BHA on their website states they did have an enquiry into the ride and connections explanations noted.
Well done stewards!
Here is the full stewards report:
“An enquiry was held into the running and riding of AHOY SENOR (IRE), ridden by Derek Fox and trained by Lucinda Russell, which was settled in rear before being ridden after the second last to finish third of five, beaten by 2 ¼ lengths. Fox and Russell were interviewed and shown recordings of the race, and the Veterinary Officer examined AHOY SENOR (IRE) post-race and had nothing to report. Fox stated that as he expected the running to be made by the winner, MINELLA DRAMA (IRE), and STAGE STAR (IRE), placed fourth, his instructions were to settle in and get into a good rhythm as in the past AHOY SENOR (IRE) had made jumping errors when taken on for the lead. The rider added that he had been outpaced leaving the back straight as the race developed, but felt that the gelding was travelling as fast as he could at that point of the race. Fox further added that he had made progress until the second last fence which AHOY SENOR (IRE) had got in tight and not jumped as fluently as MINELLA DRAMA (IRE) and HITMAN (FR), placed second, resulting in his mount losing ground at a crucial stage of the race. The rider further stated that in his opinion, he had obtained the best possible position in the circumstances as AHOY SENOR (IRE) had jumped much better for being settled in rear on this occasion. Russell stated that she was satisfied with the ride and that it accorded with the instructions given. Their explanations were noted”.
Value Is Everything“As far as I know stewards aren’t restricted to just having an enquiry only if they consider a ride a non trier”.
“Ahoy never put in the race till it was too late. A disgrace that the stewards never even bothered to ask the question to connections”.
Fair enough Yeats. Just thought by describing the ride as a “disgrace” you thought it warranted a full Stewards Enquiry.
Value Is Everything
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