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No.
Horses rated 130+ pose no greater risk to the other horses’ safety than any other participant.
It’s arguable that a horse who’s shown a tendency to make mistakes ie. Kauto Star or Neptune Collonges would pose a far greater threat to the safety of the field than a sound jumping 125 rated horse.
I admire Paul Nichols for standing up and saying these monkeys shouldn’t be allowed to run. 0P/50PP- CERIUM
Just because it hasn’t happened TDK doesn’t mean it wont.
Wilson should be told to take his horse to Cartmel for a selling chase where he belongs.
Rippling Ring doesn’t fall into the same category IMO. He’s a decent horse in fact he’s a Champion in comparison to the above.
The point is why should the Gold Cup cater for this man. His only reason for running them is probably social climbing.
He wants to run his own substandard horses in Championship races to suit his own ends but sticks his oar in when others want to run their substandard horses to suit their own ends. Like I say, the man is a hypocrite.
David are you interested in debating the issue or just personally attacking the man? Was that the purpose of starting this topic?
Rippling Ring will be used as a pacemaker to ensure a good gallop, something we all want to see otherwise all we’ll hear is ‘sub-standard renewal’.
Cerium…absolutely no use at all except the owner will get to go into the parade ring.I’m not a big fan of PN personality wise but he is correct on this issue IMO.
I think that Paul Nicholls is missing the point on this one.
The whole beauty of racing is that everyone is entitled to compete, big or small at the same level. Given the distance and demands of the Gold Cup any inferior horses will not be at the head of affairs, or not for long.
I agree with the principle of having a mimimum rating for the really top races but in reality, how many of these horses would actually end up running anyway?
There is also the point that if you want to avoid a horse in a race the jockey shouldn’t have too much trouble in doing so, but that’s beside the point.
If Cerium runs he will be there to run on his merits but his owners will be looking for him to come back in one piece and ideally pick up 5th or 6th place prize money.
Any horse can fall and bring down a fancied rival, not just a complete rag. Its not just bad horse that get in the way and they are more likely to be out the back pretty early on anyway so less likely to be a hinderence. If they pay their entry and are not keeping other horses out that would have a chance then there’s nothing wrong with it.
David are you interested in debating the issue or just personally attacking the man? Was that the purpose of starting this topic?
David and I may not agree on many things but I am with him on this one.
As has already been pointed out PN is complaining about the running of sub-standard horses in championship races then proposes to the exact same thing himself.
He is more than happy to use his column in the RP to suit his owm mwans and set his own agenda – but when he is inconsistent it needs to be pointed out – which is all David has done. He cannot expect to have a high profile media outlet where he is to express his views then not expect negative feedback when what he says is absolute rubbish. He is not above reproach, he is not some sainted being who is the fount of all knowledge.
PN cannot have it both ways and although an undoubtedly good trainer he does also have an arrogant and oversensitive streak and woe betide anyone who dares to offend his sensitivities by suggesting any of his horses may be off!!!
If you are in any doubt then I suggest you look up the meaning of the word hypocrisy in the dictionary and I think you will find Mr Nicholls pronouncements today provide the perfect example.
David are you interested in debating the issue or just personally attacking the man? Was that the purpose of starting this topic?
David and I may not agree on many things but I am with him on this one.
As has already been pointed out PN is complaining about the running of sub-standard horses in championship races then proposes to the exact same thing himself.
He is more than happy to use his column in the RP to suit his owm mwans and set his own agenda – but when he is inconsistent it needs to be pointed out – which is all David has done. He cannot expect to have a high profile media outlet where he is to express his views then not expect negative feedback when what he says is absolute rubbish. He is not above reproach, he is not some sainted being who is the fount of all knowledge.
PN cannot have it both ways and although an undoubtedly good trainer he does also have an arrogant and oversensitive streak and woe betide anyone who dares to offend his sensitivities by suggesting any of his horses may be off!!!
If you are in any doubt then I suggest you look up the meaning of the word hypocrisy in the dictionary and I think you will find Mr Nicholls pronouncements today provide the perfect example.
There is a big difference between running Rippling Ring as a pacemaker for a positive effect (for a stablemate) and connections running Cerium for what? Just to be there to add nothing whatsoever to the race which is a Championship event, they are not the same things at all.
As for Nicholls being "sainted" or the meaning of the word hypocisy – come on lets keep it adult please, patronising comments serve no positive purpose.
There are lots of horses that run in lots of races that add little to them, so why should it be different at The Festival. Its just snobbery.
i cant see what pleasure it brings him having horses that are tailed off after 2 furlongs. Why cant he run them in there own grade where he can have a chance to enjoy them winning. Its just appaling seeing horses that once had talent running twice at a festival for no reason. He should save his money and buy a decent horse that at least has a chance of being placed.
Im sure he said last year after the festival that he would be having no more runners as he was selling his horses.
i quite agree with paul nicholls comments and rippling ring as at least still got an iota of talent and is not likley to be tailed off after jumping 2 flights.
Any horse can fall and bring down a fancied rival, not just a complete rag. Its not just bad horse that get in the way and they are more likely to be out the back pretty early on anyway so less likely to be a hinderence. If they pay their entry and are not keeping other horses out that would have a chance then there’s nothing wrong with it.
Of course any horse can bring down another but why increase the chances by allowing the running horses who simply shouldn’t be there.
Lets’s say you owned Denman and Kauto Star fell and brought down Denman and God forbid he was killed..you wouldbe verysad and shed a few tears no doubt.
If he was brought down and killed by one of these monkeys that Wilson runs you would be up in arms wanting to kill the man. Every horse/racing lover in the country would be up in arms emailing the official writing to newspapers and anything else they could think of.
Then you know what? Because of public pressure they would do something about it and it would never happen again.
Prevention is better than the cure IMO Man’s a dangerous fool and pressure should be put on him to withdraw these horses.
PN is only voicing the opinions of thousands of others.
I agree with PN. although anything can happen, the pacemaker is clearly not going to be a nuisance (although we have seen spoilers in thae past) if they can possibly help it. The no hoper runner will only have a responsibility (whatever that amounts to) to connections
I’m with the initial sentiments of the thread on this one. PN cannot pick and choose when a rule suits and when it doesn’t- Cerium is rated 139 and he has stated that he wants the bar raised, presumably to above that (otherwise it would be a pretty pointless rant). The subsequent statement of intent to run the 136-rated Rippling Ring in a similarly-graded contest therefore cannot be declared anything other than hypocrisy.
Furthermore, if you take the view that running these lower-rated horses is dangerous by virtue of them proving an obstacle, then surely such a horse acting as a pacemaker is more of a problem than one who will be outpaced within 3 fences?
Surely Rippling Ring dropping back through the field coming down the hill in the Champion Hurdle has the potential to cause more trouble for the fancied horses than Cerium who is never likely to be in front of any horse at any stage in the Gold Cup.
I understand Nicholls’ fears that a no hope rag could hinder the chances of one of his chasers but I can imagine the outcry if a weakening Rippling Ring was to block Binocular getting a clear run down the hill in the Champion Hurdle. You can’t have it both ways Paul.
- Total Posts 170
I agree 100% with the above post of Imperial Call
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