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Was he, indeed? Ah well, that drowns that particular line of conjecture at birth, then.
I trust, though, that NTD has been suitably heartened by the Smith camp’s stated retirement plans for the gelding, as well as their refusal to rush him (the highest-rated horse they’ve ever handled) back into 0-130+ handicaps in which he can no longer get competitive.gc
He’s entered in the big staying hurdle at Wetherby.
It’s a race he’s run very well in on several occasions, but I’m afraid he won’t be able to get competitive this time.
As Graham Smith had bought him primarily to give him a few runs out before granting him a nice retirement, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it transpires this will be one final big day out for him at a place he loves before they call time on his career.
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.
"In touch until ridden along and outpaced before 4 out, behind when pulled up before next".
I would think that’ll be it for him now.
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.
Some of you may have noticed that Redemption, in stark contrast to what most of us had understood was going to happen to him, finds himself back on the racecourse tomorrow as one of 18 that go in the claiming hurdle at Chepstow.
On the one hand, new trainer Brian Baugh is probably no better a trainer than Redemption’s previous handler Graham Smith, but is probably no worse, either.
On the other hand, what happened to the retirement that his last owners had supposedly guaranteed him? I don’t know if Mrs Judith Sulway is / was a member of the Wishful Partnership that had him previously. I don’t even know if the gelding – as happens with some animals – refused to let himself be retired by still kicking the walls down at home.
Clarification from some or other quarter would be appreciated, though. As one of the more vocal proponents of running horses for as long as they are happy to do so (even well into their teens) I’m obviously not about to start decrying the return to action just for the sake of it, but by the same token it’d be good to have confirmed what the motives behind that return are.
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.
I trust, though, that NTD has been suitably heartened by the Smith camp’s stated retirement plans for the gelding, as well as their refusal to rush him (the highest-rated horse they’ve ever handled) back into 0-130+ handicaps in which he can no longer get competitive.
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