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As usual, exception will be made for Punchestown, and it’ll be kept to a thread for the meeting, rather than individual races.
Entries starting to come through.
Banbridge really appeals in The Gold Cup, while in Stayers Hurdle, I’ll definitely be betting Eagle Fang and Franciscan Rock.
Edit
Eagle Fang a losing AntepostTwo Anteposts for me, and then the rest after Final Decs
Both risky, with potential to be bigger on the day
Barberstown – Brookie 25’s EW 3Pls
Stayers – Franciscan Rock 50’s EWDay One Selections
Albert Bartlett – Billy Lee Swagger 18’s EW
Killashee – Sonny May 33’s EW4Pls
KPMG – Irancy 16’s EWBilly Lee Swagger odds added after race had finished
Champion Novice Chase – Impaire Et Passe 6/1
Impaire Et Passe has good form in this time of year. Ballyburn is the favourite, but with his jumping he isn’t worth a bet. First time 3 miles for Impaire Et Passe is a question though.
Champion Chase – El Fabiolo 10/1
Obviously El Fabiolo is a very tricky one. But I’m still hopeful he can produce a 170+ performance with a decent round of jumping. Not too sure about Marine Nationale and Fact to File back tot 2 miles is also a bit of a uncertainty. Although I do think he will probably win.
4 in the Gold Cup is very disappointing and I’m still pissed that Gaelic Warrior was wasted in a Grade 2 on Saturday when he had a huge chance in this.
I can’t believe Ricci settled for a Grade 2 worth 45k when he could possibly have pocketed a Grade 1 worth £150k on Wednesday.
“I can’t believe Ricci settled for a Grade 2 worth 45k when he could possibly have pocketed a Grade 1 worth £150k on Wednesday.”
As Nathan pointed out above, it’s not Ricci’s decision.
He pays the bills Glad and so it should be his decision. Great trainer and all that Willie is, it’s no financial loss to him or any other trainer when these animals get hurt, retire or even die.
The owner should always call the shots on where their horse runs. That’s only if the owner has a keen interest in the sport overall though obviously. Some of these owners appear to know absolutely nothing and so need to give the trainer complete control.
In that case though, they’d be better off with their own racing manager to look after their best interests. The trainer always looks after No1.GM, while i get it to an extent, i’d say being at the yard day-in, day-out entitled the trainer *any trainer not just WPM* to have the main say on the planning for a horse and what suits it best.
Owner might be a great planner, like a Tony Bloom operation, but the trainer needs to be in on it too.
Racing Manager the same, he is unlikely to know the horse like the trainer.Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!Ricci was burnt with Vautour Gold Cup/Ryanair and keeps his opinions to Mullins is the trainer and knows more than me ever since.
Lossiemouth is better over further than 2 miles and either State Man was showing more than her at home or they didn’t think they would beat Constitution Hill with either so went with the easier option. State Man could only run in one race. I’m not sure you can run a horse with the thought if another falls we might win let alone if two fall we might win. Its not Mullins fault that there are other options available. Mullins goes wrong by saying rubbish like its been a two year plan when he never fully commits to Mullins bingo until the last minute.I’d have loved to have seen Gaelic Warrior it too GM23
They view him as a head case and they don’t view him as a Gold Cup horse “yet”
Blackbeard to conquer the World
My selections today are:
Timmy Tuesday 3.05
Gaucher ew 5 places 3.40
Stellar Story 4.50
and
Solness 6.00 to lead them a merry dance!Jack,
Obviously the trainer should get a big say as nobody will know the horse like him and his staff.
What I’m talking about is the blatant situations when a trainer switches a horse to a different race to suit himself and not the owner. Happens every season with the big trainers.
Un De Sceaux and Annie Power being kept away from the Champion Hurdle in 2014 when either could’ve won it.
Willie wanted to give Hurricane Fly a shot at a 3rd title and made sure nothing out of his own yard could thwart that. He ended up beaten anyway.Gaelic Warrior being placed in a Grade 2 last week when he had a huge chance in the Gold Cup this week.
Chacun Pour Soi always got the Leopardstown races whereas Energume was sent for a Grade 2 at Cork and then on to Ascot.
Faugheen was 8yo by the time he got his first run at Leopardstown due to Willie refusing to run him against Hurricane Fly. He knew Faugheen would’ve destroyed him at that stage and couldn’t bare to watch it.
That’s not fair to Ricci who had the best horse around and so deserved the biggest prizes.It’s these types of scenarios where I think the owner should overule the trainer every time.
I always like to bet on most races at Punchestown, as if my tokens are going to expire at the end of the NH season
Today’s hastily chosen ew hopefuls
Cloudy Tuesday
Crazierthandaisy
Ascending Lark, Gaucher, Samui
Salvator Mundi win only (try not to feck it up Patrick)
Champ Kiely and Ile Atlantique (try not to fall off again please Patrick)
Green Hint
El Fabiolo
Galileo SandAt the end of the day if Ricci really wanted her to run against State Man and CH she would as he gets the final say regardless of how much Willie’s influence is – most felt it was clearly the wrong decision to go to the Mares as while some would question whether she could beat CH and State Man I doubt that anyone felt she wouldn’t have handled Golden Ace comfortably.
That being said, having just checked the RP for entries for Saturday, strangely they actually don’t even have her listed as a runner for the Mares race at all – do they know something we don’t as RacingTV’s entries page does have her listed
https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/195/punchestown/2025-05-03/893173/
https://www.racingtv.com/racecards/2025-05-03/punchestown/1542
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