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imo Jumping is basically Shan Blue’s greatest asset and his jockey deserves credit for that. Trouble is the same thing that allows Shan Blue to make ground at his obstacles can also be a negative. Standing off, fast, low jumping style when good, but is yet to perfect the pop when getting in close. Personally I’d much rather this in a young chaser than one who does not know how to stand off. Latter rarely become top chasers and the Skeltons know this.
This is just one race beyond Shan Blue’s novice season and (as long as the horse’s confidence isn’t lost) there’s time to learn and jumping may well become more consistent. Many horses – in an even bolder way Desert Orchid – also made this type of mistake quite regularly in their early chase careers.
Shan Blue’s performance on Saturday strongly suggests he’s of grade 1 standard and hopefully both Skeltons will get their reward soon.
Value Is EverythingBecause Harry kicked so far out instead of just cantering home for an easy win the horse was so knackered he couldn’t lift a leg when asked for a jump
A davy Russell, Ruby walsh etc etc wouldve held on to the horse way way longer and he would’ve won
Harry kicks for home way too early all the time
He did it on both shan blue and third time lucki at the festival and doesnt seem to be learning from these mistakes
Completely agree FF. I posted the same thing just after the race on Saturday. I backed the horse and I wondered if maybe I was just having a moan in frustration. However, I watched the race again this morning and I still believe it was a poorly judged ride. Skelton did not need to ask for such a huge effort so far out. Why was he trying to win by half the track?
Maybe he realised Cyrname was running on empty and he wanted to put him in his place. However, I think he just succeeded in lighting Shan Blue up and it caused the horse to make his mistake.
As you say, there is no way Walsh, Russell or any of the top Irish jockeys would have ridden the horse that way. They would have sat quietly for as long as possible.
I have sympathy with what Troy is saying. If Dan Skelton is serious about taking his career to the next level, is Harry Skelton going to help him get there? Because he is not a proven big race jockey, especially around Cheltenham.
Harry had sounded bullish before the race and was probably trying to prove a point
He’s a good jockey but fortunate to be classed alongside McCoy and Johnson as champions
Yes FF, couldn’t agree more. if it wasn’t for Frodon not sure if Bryony would get a chance.
Because Harry kicked so far out instead of just cantering home for an easy win the horse was so knackered he couldn’t lift a leg when asked for a jump
A davy Russell, Ruby walsh etc etc wouldve held on to the horse way way longer and he would’ve won
Harry kicks for home way too early all the time
He did it on both shan blue and third time lucki at the festival and doesnt seem to be learning from these mistakes.
As you say, there is no way Walsh, Russell or any of the top Irish jockeys would have ridden the horse that way. They would have sat quietly for as long as possible.
Hmmmm, Irish jockeys never fall in the home straight do they.
Short memories?Just because a jockey doesn’t ask a horse to go clear doesn’t mean nothing will go wrong. Valseur Lido in the 2016 Irish Gold Cup springs to mind, going very well taking it up just before the last only for the mistake to leave Ruby going out the side door on landing. Might have been different had he not gone into the last so motionless.
Then there were the times Ruby did go clear: 2015 Mares Novice Hurdle when Annie Power had the race at her mercy before falling at the last.
Just a few weeks later in the Aintree Hurdle… If you think hanging on to them is any better, Ruby going supremely well yet to ask Arctic Fire for his effort upsides, before falling. Had he asked Arctic Fire to go clear instead of jumping the last hurdle in between horses things might have been different.
Four years later again in the Mares Hurdle of 2019. Ruby (“not learning” from his Annie Power experience?) Fell at the last when seemingly cruising home on Benie Des Dieux. Had Ruby done what Skelton did and asked AP or BDD for a big jump instead of sitting pretty things may have been different.
…And Ruby sometimes went for home too late. Gave Saint Calvados far too much rope in the Grade 3 Poplar Square Chase. Finally asking Footpad for his effort between the last two… Only to get in too close and fall.
Yes, horses can fall after the rider asks for its effort. But horses can also fall when jockeys are sitting pretty / motionless or after going well through the race pay the penalty for leaving their effort too late.
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Value Is EverythingSo what? Nothing is going to change my view that Skelton did not need to win by half the track. Why subject a horse to a needlessly hard race anyway?
Yes Cork simple reply regarding skelton, FF said it skelton not learning from his mistakes of last season. not delving into history long gone.
Shan Blue wasn’t a tired fall, Harry was not subjecting the horse to a “needlessly hard race”. Skelton didn’t need to go for the whip; just couldn’t find a stride going into the fence – that’s all. Not at all surprising Skelton pressed on some way out, indeed expected. When looking at his market rivals. 2/1 fav Shan Blue, 85/40 Cyrname, 100/30 Fusil Raffles, 8/1 bar. Although Cyrname had won last year’s renewal, a 2 lengths beating of Vindication giving that horse 2 lbs was not up to Cyrname’s best. That “best” had come over shorter. Where as Fusil Raffles was yet to run over 3m and not sure to get the trip. Therefore by far Shan Blue’s two biggest dangers both had massive question marks about their stamina. ie In this field stamina was Shan Blue’s asset.
So – without hindsight – why was it in Harry’s best interests to go easy turning for home?
Value Is EverythingI totally agree Ginger.
Shan Blue was in the process of turning in a spectacular performance which would have had us all raving if he had stood up and won by thirty lengths.
There’s no way it was a tired fall. You don’t power clear like that then become tired a furlong later. If he had tumbled like that at the last it would have been a different matter but not the third last.
I just think the horse met the fence halfway between a short stride and a long one and panicked.
He has to be in the King George reckoning.
Thanks Gladiateur, yes Barton Bank with Irish jockey Adrian Maguire in the Charlie Hall… And then – some on here might say – “didn’t learn from his mistakes” in the King George if I remember rightly. Should remember, I travelled all the way to Wincanton that Boxing Day only to find it called off! Stayed there and instead backed a few at Kempton, going home home well in profit.
Value Is Everything
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