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I’m not that worried by his reappearance effort, pace obviously false, mistake at last.<br>He looked a very worthy winner at the festival and the 4/1 looks very temting as will odds against at Kempton.
seabird
The class of Sporazene’s dam is really impressive, so since he appears to be able to hurdle, I want to risk his flat-breeding class.
I admire many of you for sticking your necks out so early in the season as I’ve opted for the wait a while approach this year as I have felt some of the early form was misleading due to conditions. I was one of the people who could not see Rooster or the Cowboy winning last years CH and I was wrong on RB last year but my opinion now is despite the no pace excuses of the last 2 runs, RB will not be this years CH winner. Simply good horses make their own pace and therefore luck, from what I’ve seen this year the cowboy has looked the most likely CH thus far in my opinion. I didn’t think the horse was mature enough last year but I do now and I feel the horse could win this years CH on the bridle unless something finds an amazing amount of improvement or another handicapper gets lucky on the day ;)<br>
Daylight how can you base that on the evidence of the runs this season ?
The Booster ran much better today despite again there being no real pace as they ignore dthe leader . Johnson gave him a shocker of a ride .
As for Rc – once again he impressed off a slow pace over 2m 4f for heaven’s sake .
If Solerina goes off like the clappers and he can do that to her then there will be some evidence to support him winning on the bridle . Who knows ? We could see her run him into the ground
A shocking ride indeed. I said last year it wouldn’t have surprised me for RB to lose the odd mickey-mouse prep race before storming back to his best in the big one. Maybe they’ve just being going too easy on him so far. I’m pleased they’re now talking about giving him "at least one more run" before Cheltenham.
Why not the Tote Gold Trophy? Yesterday he was beaten 2lbs by a 160 horse and beat a 145 horse by 1lb. If the handicapper takes the view he’s on the downgrade again he could get in there off 158 (wishful thinking ;) ). He’d get everything he needs bar maybe the right ground. Equally, he could end up leaving his Cheltenham chances behind if he had a hard race (inevitable if you run well in that contest).
Sorry Ardross if you disagree but it is my opinion and nothing more than that as we all watch the same races but come to different conclusions. Mine is I feel RB peaked last year and is on the slide whereas RC is on an upward curve. IMO RC did very well in last years CH to finish where he did as from there as long as he improves as much as I expect him to (showed that he was going the right way to me in his last run) then I think he’s my idea of this years champion Hurdler at this moment in time. I think the strong staying hurdlers division realise how weak the 2 milers are this year and if Solerina runs RC close then the CH field might look a cracking field come next week as it may even persuade Baracouda to get involved despite the trip worries.  I personally hope Solerina gets close to RC to give us the very top CH field this year with my feeling being Monday’s race will give us the most answers so far from the CH field and I can’t wait for this race as it should clear the water and not muddy it.
I can’t help but think the race at Leopardstown on Monday would have been a much better option for Rooster Booster. A small field round Kempton was never going suit him, & having a pacemaker in the race is one thing, but having a strong pace throughout is another. The Leopardstown race is a tougher one, but the track would have suited him better, & you have to think that Solerina would have had the speed & class to set the race up ideally for the Rooster.
Not sure it’s a good idea to run him off top weight in a handicap as a prep. If they did go for it & wished him to win, he would invariably have a hard race, which would not be ideal for his CH preparations.
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That looked like a decent pace today so I can’t help thinking RB would have won as he pleased.
Good point ardoss
Unfortunately Rooster didn’t run in leopardstown and instead ran at Kempton were he was beaten fair and Square.His second run this season and his second defeat.At least he improved on his previous Fifth!!!
On this years shown form he looks pretty much exposed
You are bang on there Nixer. I’ve laid RB both times and can’t see anyone who has him in their TTF picking up any points this season.
I would stop now before you give it all back jilly.
Nixer – are you not deliberately ignoring the obvious . The lack of pace in the gallop for the Booster’s two defeats
You may be right Ardross,but i made the decision at the end of last season that RB could well be on the decline this coming year.No one can take away what he achieved last season and good luck to you for sticking with him. btw on my ever changing list of the 04 CH winner i now have Intersky Falcon at the top,but that could well change. Self Defense has been crossed right off.;)
The chap who summised that the champion hurdle sphere was uniinteresting has been proved slightly wrong by the volume of replies on this one, I’ll put my ten pence in and go for Davenport Millenium, the Bula was not run to suit this fella as he had to cut out his own pace. He was also on the road back from injury at the time. I think he has proven his well being and is the value e/w bet at the present time.
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