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I thought Our Vic’s victory today in the Charlie Hall was very impressive. I must admit before the race I didn’t fancy his chances over the trip and with the ground as soft as it was. However, he coped really well with the conditions and his jumping was top notch. I’ve been a big supporter of this fellow since his novice days and it would be great if he can produce his best form on a more regular basis from now on. His inconsistancy was a big problem last season and it was very frustrating to watch him because he clearly has alot of talent. IMO he has enough ability to challenge any of the top chasers around and I’m really hoping he can prove that this season.
Certainly at the current prices for the King George I’d rather be backing Our Vic than Kauto Star.
I think we need to get today’s race into perspective. I backed OV this morning (in a double with Redemption, as it happens) because I reckoned he’d be the only genuinely fit contender on the day. Timeform/C4’s Jim McGrath said before the race that Kingscliff and Iris’s Gift looked as though they’d improve for the run and Alner said on the morning line that Sir R was being trained for the Welsh National. That, to me, only left Neptune Collonges and Take The Stand. The former, I reckoned, lacked the experience for a race like this and I really thought the soft ground was all against TTS in spite of his occasional good runs in similar conditions.
Maybe I just got lucky and I’m not complaining but the combination of fitness and superb jockeyship was probably crucial in those conditions today.
I thought Our Vic had a very hard race. From what we know about him in the past, I’d have to have reservations backing him next time unless given a good break.
I thought Kingscliff shaped pretty well. They went a good gallop and he was up there doing plenty but he jumped with enthusiasm until getting tired. He progressed to win the betfair Chase last year after prepping in this and he’d be high on the shortlist for that race again I think.
I’ll take Sir Rembrandt on next time if the handicapper puts him up for that. You’ll struggle to find a better example of a slow old boat being flattered in running on through beaten horses than that performance today.
I’ve always found the horse enigmatic and unable to fathom- an all or nothing performer.Clearly it has loads of ability and soft ground isn’t a problem but I had doubts over it getting home over that distance in the ground (plus over that long grass!) yesterday ,as its previous attempt over the distance had been inconclusive.<br>It certainly won comfortably but there had to be doubts over the field it beat. Also OV looked very straight and fit (as you would expect from the Pipe yard) compared to some rivals and I’m unsure how much the run will bring it on. Like others, it looked tired towards the end though his rider was able to pop him over the last 3 fences with the race won. Rider rode similar races on OV and Too Forward, basically cruising to the front and nursing his mounts home and consequently I’m not sure how much was left in the locker.<br>Inconclusive and quotes of between 6-10/1 for the King George indicate that.
DJ interesting to see you thought Our Vic had a hard race, I thought he had a stroll and looked the winner a long way out well before fitness became a real issue. Thought he was faultless yesterday.
Kingscilff ran well for a long way and will come on and Sir Rembrandt really impressed me his best run for good while in my opinion though I agree he’s the type of horse to lay rather than back.
I would be interested to read if anyone thought Kingscliff "backed out of it" as Mark Johnson suggested in his commentary turning into the straight (although in mitigation to him he did counter that the gelding was staying on again closer to home). I do think Kingscliff was outpaced at a crucial stage this time, although some of his "previous" of last season probably prevents me from saying so with 100% confidence.
Jeremy<br>(graysonscolumn)<br>
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
I wouldn’t pay too much attention to a Mark Johnson throw away comment during a commentary. This guy will do anything to try and build his style of commentary.
The ground was much softer yesterday than last year and Kingscliff may not have been 100%. We’ll need another couple of runs to confirm if he has retained ability.
Our Vic was knackered at the end. If any of the other principles had been wound up for the race they would have won it.
i agree alderbrook. our vic was very tired jumping the last. but he still won, so taking nothing away from him, but later in the season when other horses are all fit and its a real battle he will back out, for sure. look at his form. usually wins races when he is not challenged at his fences at the end of his races
Of course Our Vic was knackered after the last 3 miles 1 on soft ground stetches his stamina to the limit. A furlong or so less is ideal.
I thought he had a stroll Posted on 2:05 pm on Oct. 29, 2006
Of course Our Vic was knackered Posted on 5:42 pm on Oct. 31, 2006
<br>An interesting change of opinion. Any reason why?<br>
Quote: from davidjohnson on 6:16 pm on Oct. 31, 2006[br]I thought he had a stroll Posted on 2:05 pm on Oct. 29, 2006
Of course Our Vic was knackered Posted on 5:42 pm on Oct. 31, 2006
<br>An interesting change of opinion. Any reason why?<br>
<br>No change of opinion DJ, I thought he had a stroll in that he won the race very easily, never really had to race and had the contest won way out. I don’t see that he had a hard race just got a bit tired at the last which is understandable given that he doesn’t really stay.
who are you DJ? Columbo?
Dave22- i feel its a rather simplistic view of his form. The 2 PU’s after his fall can be explained through either pyschological or physical effects. I’m not the horse whisperer but i’ll give him the benefit of the doubt there and as i remember it the pipe team didn’t let on to us how badly Our Vic was post fall until pre paddy power the following season.<br>And then last year his two failures came at the tripleprint meeting and the festival, which stable form wise were the 2 low points of a pretty bad year for the pipe yard. Not a single winner at either meeting, with 4 short favourites at the Tripleprint meeting all beaten by a distance means for me excuses on his performance can be made.<br>i’m not saying he would have won the two races had the pipe yard been bang in form but i do think he is far more than an all or nothing character who if things don’t go his way will throw in the towel.<br>
What knocked me for six about him was what had knocked everyone for six in a race last year – the effortless way he was cruising towards the finish; laughing at the field. He oozed class.
You sometimes read someone saying how reassured and relieved they were when they saw the horse they bet on exuding such superiority; "you could see the winner from some way out". This must have been one such case for the lucky/shrewd punters who bet on him, imo.
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(Edited by Grimes at 7:40 pm on Oct. 31, 2006)
well unless our vic has a long break i wont be backing him again. even his owner admits he spits the dummy out when things dont go his way
you and Mr DJ  maybe right dave and i may have to eat my words, but even though his owner and Jockey both questioned his temperament i always thought Pipey had other thoughts and he has always said he was the best horse in the yard.<br>Sentimentality sneaks in also and has since watching him win a handicap hurdle at wincanton nearly 4 years ago, though in the rest of my betting i hold not a jot for sentiment.
After watching the charlie hall a couple of times, even with rose coloured spectacles removed i’m extremely impressed. Not once did he touch a twig, he must have lost lengths racing wide as he did and murphy never once raised the whip.
Hoping now they go for the King George for the sake of my antepost vouchers.
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