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‘Reported on RUK that Monet’s Garden will miss Cheltenham and will be aimed at Aintree.’
Strange decision. I’m glad that Cheltenham is not being seen as the be all and end all of NH racing by some trainers and owners, but given MG’s run in the Arkle (and given the subsequent performances of the victor that day), MG would surely be in with a shout in both the Ryanair and Queen Mum?
Well Nicky Richards (or his father before him) has never held the Festival as the be-all and end-all of NH racing.
Nicky Richards told me at last year’s Cheltenham April meeting that they are convinced he doesn’t get 3m and that they would never ask him to run over that trip again. I made the point about his hurdling exploits and Richards said that it was just his class getting him through in those early days.
That’s really good to hear, as they seemed convinced he would get the 3m last year when it looked to me as though he wasn’t staying. It would have been a shame to run such a talented animal over the wrong trip at the height of his powers.
Monet’s Garden will NEVER run beyond 2m 4f again.
Does that rule out the Ryanair then?
Strange decision. I’m glad that Cheltenham is not being seen as the be all and end all of NH racing by some trainers and owners, but given MG’s run in the Arkle (and given the subsequent performances of the victor that day), MG would surely be in with a shout in both the Ryanair and Queen Mum?
I note that Monet’s Garden has not run over the minimum since the 2006 Arkle. I suppose we can probably come up with half a dozen possible reasons for this between us, but my take on it would be that as follows.
If the gelding’s attempt to make all in the Arkle represents the only way that connections could envisage him having a Championship 2m event best run to suit, then his inability to keep Voy Por Ustedes quite at bay 19 months ago may suggest that he could always come up short against a tasty rival at this level, even granted those optimum running tactics.
Moreover, what are the chances of him getting an early, uncontested lead in the Queen Mother in any given year? You could pool any one or more of Ashley Brook, Dempsey, Gemini Lucy, Jack the Giant, Newmill as likely rivals for that leaders’ berth, and the likelihood of a bit of mutual throat-cutting up front (to all involved parties’ detriment) therefore couldn’t be dismissed altogether.
Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)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.
Monet’s Garden will NEVER run beyond 2m 4f again.
Does that rule out the Ryanair then?
A strict interpretation of that comment would say "yes", given the Ryanair is over a furlong further.
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.
]Monet’s Garden will NEVER run beyond 2m 4f again.
Does that rule out the Ryanair then?
I think it probably does and the horse will miss the Festival altogether.
Plenty of bucks to be earned by winning Peterborough/Ascot/Melling treble in additon to the Old Roan to keep any owner happy, and surely nowadays it’s not that silly to crown a 2m 4f chase champion?Monets King George run was nothing to do with lack of stamina. He was beaten in strides so quickly that he must have been amiss I think.
Monet’s Garden will NEVER run beyond 2m 4f again.
Because connections have decided he doesn’t stay 3m, not because he doesn’t stay three miles.
There are plenty of races at 2m4f including 3 Grade 1s without the need to step him up again. If he is successful in those then he could win the Order of Merit which carries an additional prize money of £200K for the winner (£75K for second). I reckon if he wins his next couple of races (Peterborough & Ascot), we WILL see him in the Ryanair but with an eye on Aintree 3 weeks later. Not suggesting he won’t be ridden to win but Dobbin won’t be beating him up the hill!
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