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Very good horse on his day although if Sprinter hadn’t had his setback he wouldn’t have been a QM winner.
Highly unlikely to get back to best but even if he did the only possibility of him beating Un De Sceaux would be for Mullins horse to encounter a problem along the way.Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Given his record at Sandown I would think they
d want to try the Tingle Creek if all seems to be well with him. It seems likely hell never approach peak form now but I`m not convinced Exeter should be seen as time to bow out. Concession of weight to useful types in worsening ground may well have been a very tall order. A lot of horses were pulled up at the meeting including well fancied ones.Ginger, it’s not so much that I’m dismissive of possibilities or time between races. I put my cards on the table within minutes of his Chepstow win, when many were saying the horse was finally back to his best. I didn’t feel the need to wait 18 days. You’re a form man – fair enough. I’m a watcher of individuals, and after Chepstow I was convinced he had gone – as measured against what he’d previously achieved. And as I made clear in my post, but you – as is often your wont – chose to quote selectively:
This is a horse who has gone. The argument that his jumping is responsible might well be the case. It could be that he is still feeling his hip, or something else is bothering him (I’ve even wondered at times about his eyesight). But ignore the form book, his jumping, or whatever you want to put it down to, and simply watch some of his races in that magnificent 13/14 season, and then watch those since. That old SDG no longer exists.
Nothing that has happened since Chepstow has inclined me to change my mind.
A hurdling outing is next for “disinterested” Sire De Grugy. That’s what his trainer said.
A hurdling outing is next for “disinterested” Sire De Grugy. That’s what his trainer said.
For “disinterested” read “lost confidence in his jumping and therefore not enjoying it” at the moment.
Value Is Everythingbut you – as is often your wont – chose to quote selectively
Ditto Joe, ditto.
Value Is EverythingGinger, it’s not so much that I’m dismissive of possibilities or time between races. I put my cards on the table within minutes of his Chepstow win, when many were saying the horse was finally back to his best. I didn’t feel the need to wait 18 days. You’re a form man – fair enough. I’m a watcher of individuals, and after Chepstow I was convinced he had gone – as measured against what he’d previously achieved. And as I made clear in my post, but you – as is often your wont – chose to quote selectively:
This is a horse who has gone. The argument that his jumping is responsible might well be the case. It could be that he is still feeling his hip, or something else is bothering him (I’ve even wondered at times about his eyesight). But ignore the form book, his jumping, or whatever you want to put it down to, and simply watch some of his races in that magnificent 13/14 season, and then watch those since. That old SDG no longer exists.
Nothing that has happened since Chepstow has inclined me to change my mind.
So it could be that the horse has lost its confidence and/or feeling something?
ie If regaining his confidence or something is found (think Cue Card) it’s possible Sire De Grugy could come back… And yet you say “That SDG no longer exists” and that he’s “gone” (certainties). That’s a contradiction or at least makes your opinion ambiguous.
Which is it Joe?Are you saying it might be the horse has lost his confidence and/or feeling something, but might be back if those problems can be sorted out? – Then there’s very little difference between your opinion and mine. :lol:
Or are you saying there is no chance of the old horse returning and is gone/no longer exists?
If there is a possibility he might be back, then the “old SDG” is in there somewhere if they can find it.
Value Is EverythingNever really understood how putting a long standing chaser back over hurdles for one race will give him confidence when switching back to fences. Jumping hurdles is a completely different technique to jumping fences, you need to be fast and low over hurdles and that technique over fences will very quickly see you on the floor.
Wouldn’t a better confidence booster be to run him in a lower grade chase where there would be less pressure on his jumping, yes he may have to give weight away but going hurdling seems to me be a backward move – ideally, I think they just need to go back to basics at home with him through repeated schooling to build his confidence back up.
Although he is not one of my favourite horses, I still think connections comments after his first race back were very defeatist and did a disservice to a horse who has taken them into the big time – hopefully, they will not be half hearted in their attempts to get him back on track as he doesn’t deserve that. In any case, horses have a way of making people look foolish when they have been written off prematurely.
Like Norman Stanley Fletcher, doesn’t he suffer from bad feet?
Good point Homer.
Bit of porridge will sort that out.
Value Is EverythingA hurdling outing is next for “disinterested” Sire De Grugy. That’s what his trainer said.
For “disinterested” read “lost confidence in his jumping and therefore not enjoying it” at the moment.
An impartial, neutral, unbiased and objective horse: what a clever fella, probably ‘knows where the winning line is’ too
Jumped like he has never seen an open ditch before. A short lived effort 3 out and then he went out like a light. That was not a strong race and none of them would be a contender for a proper prize over 2m. He still finished stone last. I wonder how many excuses connections will find this time to justify running him next time out. You shouldn’t do that to a 2m Champion Chaser in my opinion. The horse has called enough on numerous occasions.
Even George Osbourne hasn’t done such a massive U-turn Ex-Ruby.
Hope you and others remember Sire De Grugy next time you think of calling for retirement of one of our much loved horses.
Value Is EverythingJumped like he has never seen an open ditch before. A short lived effort 3 out and then he went out like a light. That was not a strong race and none of them would be a contender for a proper prize over 2m. He still finished stone last. I wonder how many excuses connections will find this time to justify running him next time out. You shouldn’t do that to a 2m Champion Chaser in my opinion. The horse has called enough on numerous occasions.
Even George Osbourne hasn’t done such a massive U-turn Ex-Ruby.
Hope you and others remember Sire De Grugy next time you think of calling for retirement of one of our much loved horses.
Have him race until he becomes a twen.
Which is it Joe?
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