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I’m a big fan of Paddy Brennan but today was the third time he’s been on the floor with Cue Card, does anyone think the horse needs another or better jockey?
I’m a big fan of Paddy Brennan but today was the third time he’s been on the floor with Cue Card, does anyone think the horse needs another or better jockey?
How many years or races should he have left in him???
They are extremely lucky that he got away with 3 terrible falls in his last 10 races. Prior to that his last unseat was FIVE years ago.But maybe they want to tackle the GN at some time in the next 2-3 years.
The horse owes them so much.Difficult to take the chap that’s won so many massive races on the horse off, but I can see the thinking. I’m not sure, and if you did who’d replace Brennan? As for Cue Card, with him still in such form why retire him. After all I’m sure this is his last season.
Difficult to take the chap that’s won so many massive races on the horse off, but I can see the thinking. I’m not sure, and if you did who’d replace Brennan? As for Cue Card, with him still in such form why retire him. After all I’m sure this is his last season.
Nothing wrong with Brennan and no need for a new jockey. But this horse deserves to go out on a high and not with a “F” to his name
Brennan’s a fine chase jockey but, like everyone, he makes mistakes and rightly blames himself for Cue Card’s crashing fall in the 2016 Gold Cup. If memory serves they went at the same fence this year and that could well be a sign Cue Card remembered the fall. He jumped today as sketchily as I’ve seen him without making an obvious error before smashing into that fence.
There has to be a reasonable chance the horse is losing confidence either in Brennan or, more likely to my mind, jumping fences.
Given everything he’s achieved I’d be very glad not to see him again in a steeplechase. If connections feel the horse is still enthusiastic and enjoying the training routine, they ought to revert to hurdles. If they lose this horse on the racecourse it would take an awful long time for the Tizzard reputation to recover. Maybe it never would.
I don’t know what the right thing to do is, to be honest. But, seeing Paddy riding away from the paddock on him and talking away to him, I just feel he loves the horse TOO much. I wanted to shout to them both to come back safe, but didn’t dare in case I brought bad luck on them. I honestly don’t think I can cope with watching him run again. I guess they’d like him to go out on a win; looking to the future, not having won a GC, I fear that history will not show him to be the amazing horse that we all know he is [goes away and has a cup of tea and a bit of a weep…]
For what it’s worth I think that the horse should be retired.
He may well be capable of winning another race, but in my opinion there is far more downside than upside to continuing.
He owes nobody anything, and god forbid anything happens to him.
Age catches up with us all I’m afraidWeird fall today because he just didn’t jump. Walked straight through the fence when travelling comfortably
Quote from Colin Tizzard on change of jockey “… but we owe the horse and sometimes you have to say enough’s enough.” Maybe he should be talking about retirement with this statement
Dr Walker gets his wish.
Brennan off > Cobden on for Cue Card next time.
Is this part of a three year plan, or what?
Anyway, Cue Card is intelligent enough to remain the one calling the shots. That’s why the jockey change won’t bring any significant improvement at this age.
Can’t say I am surprised by this if I am honest – connections will most likely explore every avenue available to them before coming to the most obvious conclusion that just maybe the horse has had (and more importantly has done) enough.
Fingers crossed this doesn’t eventually all end in tears.
Trainer said ‘he sometimes just guesses at his fences’. Surely a horse of his age and experience shouldn’t be doing that? Now I’ve got over Saturday [up to a point] I think they’ve made the right decision[he is still one of the highest rated horses in the country I believe] but I won’t be watching Cue Cards next race.
Trainer said ‘he sometimes just guesses at his fences’. Surely a horse of his age and experience shouldn’t be doing that? Now I’ve got over Saturday [up to a point] I think they’ve made the right decision[he is still one of the highest rated horses in the country I believe] but I won’t be watching Cue Cards next race.
Every horse (regardless of age, ability or experience) guesses at times at fences – if you want proof of one of the games great jumper guessing at a fence, take a look at Dessie fall in the ’91 King George where he went to take off then seem to realise it was too far and put down before even taking off (see from the 4:55 mark of the attached) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxAPRQzP5yI
I am not surprised. I like Brennan but if you keep coming down then you can’t blame the owners.
Generally Cue Card is a good jumper who makes the odd catastrophic error. imo Jumps best when allowed to lead (without others around him). Saturday’s fall seemed a carbon copy of Cue Card’s Cheltenham fall. Held up innitially, shown some room and falls at the next fence when alongside others. On the other hand might be something Brennan does that distracts this one horse – not necessarily his fault.
Don’t like seeing jockeys losing rides, but in this case can’t blame connections for trying something different – time’s running out. However, Cobden isn’t exactly a household name and will have a lot of pressure on his young shoulders next time Cue Card runs.
Value Is EverythingIt does feel harsh on Brennan. I’m no expert on raceriding but I couldn’t see anything obvious Brennan was doing wrong. For all the big races he has won, Cue Card has never been a natural. Perhaps it’s just a symptom of doing his initial schooling under Joe Tizzard!
It’s tough on the Cob-dog too. He’s an up-and-coming young jockey with an outstanding races-to-completions ratio, mostly under-the-radar midweek stuff. A high-profile ride on a has-been superstar is rarely going to end in triumph for the young rider. There is a small chance he’ll beat Sizing John and co, or perhaps the horse will jump safely and be beaten on merit…but any mishap could be quite damaging for the jockey.
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