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Ruby worked harder and found it tougher cleaning his teeth this morning than on Faugheen he just sat there and enjoyed the ride.
I’d say his arms were sore afterwards, was still pulling a plough three out!
Not long in the door, was a great day and had plenty of winners which always helps!
Quick run down:
Delighted with Faugheen and Felix Yonger, both look Grade 1 winners in waiting.
Disappointed with Defy Logic, but one of them had to lose unfortunately.
Was great to be there for Hurricane Fly’s 17th Grade 1, he’s a credit to everyone connected with him and has been an absolute beast in Ireland for the past four or five years.
Walsh was the difference on Morning Assembly, fantastic in the finish and had willing partner. Don Cossack is a great jumper, I wonder if he’d be better off bowling along in front?
Anyway, I’m going to have a read around here and watch some race replays
Ruby worked harder and found it tougher cleaning his teeth this morning than on Faugheen he just sat there and enjoyed the ride.
I’d say his arms were sore afterwards, was still pulling a plough three out!
I’ve just watched it back and although the horse was a little keen Ruby wont of felt anything as he would of been too happy and smiling showing off his clean teeth.
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
‘Twas a good job it was overcast cos the reflection off his gob from the sun wouldn’t have helped spectators Nath
Just to add to my earlier comments, Defy Logic had a serious blow after the race.
Tommy how was racing for you at weekend did you enjoy it and i think Hurricane Fly is not the same horse so many dangers to him now there are
Tommy how was racing for you at weekend did you enjoy it and i think Hurricane Fly is not the same horse so many dangers to him now there are
Hi Darren, had a very enjoyable day in Punchestown thanks
Hurricane Fly was disappointing. It’s not the first time he’s ran below par on his seasonal debut but he’s ever been that bad. He’ll need to improve a lot if he’s to maintain his dominance. It’s unfortunate that with so many promising young challengers coming through the ranks that he may possibly decline this season. I don’t think we’ve ever seen the best of him at Cheltenham and as such I wouldn’t back him for the Champion Hurdle currently, but there are three more two mile Grade 1’s in Ireland.
He’ll face tough opposition at Leopardstown in Our Conor and Jezki. Our Conor was the best juvenile hurdler I’ve seen in my short time following the game, he hurdles beautifully and could be a star. Jezki also looks very exciting, many think he’s unsuited by Cheltenham and if that’s true then his Supreme Novices run was a hell of a performance.
Having said all that, I expect the Hurricane to come on plenty for that run, and if he retains all his ability he should win his 18th Grade 1 at Christmas.
I don’t know what’s going on with Our Conor. There were rumours he didn’t come in from the summer the same horse and now he’s missed the Morgiana, apparently due to Danny Mullins incompetence.
Likewise, I can’t comprehend the Jezki camp favouring the Hattons Grace over the Morgiana? If they were afraid of losing to Hurricane Fly on his first run of the season then you’d have to wonder. If the ground is heavy for the Hattons Grace, which is a distinct possibility, will 2m 4f on that ground really suit the horse? Speed is his main asset and I don’t understand their decision at all. Perhaps the horse had a setback, but I haven’t heard if this was the case.
Enjoy Wexford today THM, hope Briar Hill impresses, certainly interested in him myself this year.
Might chuck him in a small perm/acca with Grey Monk, Glen Beg, and Fergiethelegend……..dead easy this game
Enjoy Wexford today THM, hope Briar Hill impresses, certainly interested in him myself this year.
Very impressed with him VTC. He’s not over big but he’s a strong looking horse. Ruby’s post race comments sum up my initial thoughts on the performance. He jumped superbly, pinging most of the hurdles without breaking stride at all. He was well able go long and he was smart at one or two when he got in close. As Ruby says, Wexford wouldn’t have suited at all: a sharp track with a downhill finish. Wasn’t surprised to see him pushed along between the last two flights but he pulled out plenty and will surely be seen to better effect given more of a stamina test.
He’s the reason I’m not lumping on Faugheen for the Neptune
THM: trouble is we have to guess as always as to what races Mr Mullins will send his potential stars!!
I am slowly building up my portfolio but generally with BetV as then I won’t mind what race they target as il have numerous free bets come March
It’s always a guess with him isn’t it! I’ve been lucky with my guesses the past two years so hopefully I’ll make the right calls this season again.
No harm betting with the insurance policy BV provide though if it’s possible
I’m going to give Concordin another chance today. His run last time out was too bad to be true and he should be thereabouts if he returns to form. Instead of backing him each way I’m backing another with him: Maasai. Aidan O’Brien and Robbie Powers’ combined strike rate together has been really something and it would be no surprise if this was another useful type.
I’m backing Father Jack in the three mile handicap hurdle. He won with something to spare last time and the step up in trip should suit him. I’ve backed Royal Caviar in the bumper, he won his point with ease and it’s very hatd to oppose these connections. Haven’t backed anything heavily but hopefully they’ll return a small profit.
Fairyhouse 2.15
Concordin
€5 win @ 9/1 (pp)Fairyhouse 2.15
Maasai
€5 win @ 10/1 (boyles)Fairyhouse 3.15
Father Jack
€10 win @ 11/4 (pp)Fairyhouse 3.45
Royal Caviar
€15 win @ 4/6 (pp)I make current p/l at
That includes all ante posts so you could say I’m a bit ahead, or not, depending on how you view the world of ante postLost a tenner today, Mullins bumper winner looked like a fair horse, wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up on the boat in March.
On Friday Uncle Junior ran his race for me, pity Vitrix Gale just missed out on a place. Colour Squadron placed in the PP Gold Cup, covering my bet on Ballynagour but I can’t help but think he would have won given a clear run. As for Marito
All set for the Annie Power show this weekend
If
Annie Power
is Champion Hurdle material she’ll need to be beating Zarkandar on Saturday. I’ll probably have more on on the day because even though Mullins has said she’s very likely to run, I don’t trust him!
Ascot Hurdle
Annie Power
€20 win @ Evens (PP)- €22.07
i do hope she comes over; I’m really looking forward to seeing her. Seems a while since we had a good racemare, but when they’re good they’re very good.
I hope she goes too Moe, too often in recent years Mullins’ horses have had entries in Britain only to be pulled, a change of policy seems in place this season though so fingers crossed.
Quevega has been phenomenal but wish we’d seen more of her, the mares’ race at Cheltenham has basically been a prep for her annual demolition job at Punchestown and then she’s put away again. Fair play to Mullins for keeping her sound for so long but would’ve been great to see her four or five times a year.
Wasn’t going to have a bet tomorrow but I can’t resist a fiver each way on Baily Dusk in the three mile handicap chase. Blinkers seem to have transformed him and he was a long way clear of the third horse when second on his latest start at Naas. He’s up 7 lbs from that but back up in trip to three miles tomorrow he should go close.
Thurles 12.55
Baily Dusk
€5 e/w @ 5/1 (pp)- €32.07
I’ve been looking at hurdlers from last season for the past few weeks in an attempt to compile a list of novice chasers who will hopefully prove to be up to competing in the best races. All ten horses on the list are Irish, and are mostly the more obvious ones. I’d like to think more than a few of these will be competing at Prestbury Park in March.
Ballycasey
There was an unreal amount of hype about this horse before Cheltenham last year, half the country seemed to have heard he was working well with this and cantering alongside that. As it happened, he was a non runner at Cheltenham before disappointing when hot favorite at Punchestown. He’s not one I’d be backing for Cheltenham at this stage as he’s got something to prove for me but he should prove capable of reigniting the hype machine at some stage and could yet be a very good horse.
Bright New Dawn
I fell in love with this horse when I saw him run behind Champagne Fever at Leopardstown. I’m no expert on horse conformation but to me he looked an absolute picture. But what really appealed to me about him was his attitude: he looked very willing in his chase behind the winner that day and I marked them both down as real fighters. He has the scope to go on to better things over fences and I think he’s a Grade 1 horse. This horse is Cheltenham material imo.
Champagne Fever
I half expected this horse to go straight over fences last season, but he showed huge ability to fend off the speedier animals in the Supreme. You would think he’d be better over further than two miles, but the way he won the Supreme the Arkle might be right up his street. He will surely be a big player in March, whatever race he runs in.
Defy Logic
This is a horse of huge ability but his temperament is somewhat flawed. He ran a great race at Navan behind Annie Power, with some useful sorts such as Don Cossack and Moscow Mannon well behind. He was caught by Mala Beach on his last start but I thought he received a poor ride and was much the best horse in the race. Back over two miles I think he’ll be hard to beat provided he jumps well. If he learns to drop the bit he could be a monster.
Felix Yonger
Felix Yonger ran a top race behind Simonsig in the 202 Neptune, coming home well clear of the hampered Monksland. He obviously had his problems last season as he didn’t run until a Punchestown beginners’ chase in May, thus he maintains his novice status for this campaign. That day he was efficient rather than electric against White Star Line, but he gave him 3 lbs that day and given that horse’s win in the Kerry National the form doesn’t look too shabby at any rate.
Monksland
Monksland stayed hurling last season,only running three times but winning on two of those occasions. He thumped Lyreen Legend as a novice hurdler and if he comes back well from injury he’ll be a player in all the big novice chases in Ireland – that is, if chasing is even the plan. Noel Meade’s Cheltenham record is a negative in terms of the Festival, and this combined with question marks about injury, trip and whether he stays hurdling or goes chasing mean I couldn’t recommend anyone back him at this stage.
Rule The World
I’ve been waiting to hear news on this horse since Punchestown, and I was recently told that he’s back in training, so hopefully this is true. When I think RSA Chase I think Rule The World. There’ll doubtless be who will run where with all the Giggy runners but I honestly think he should be at the head of the RSA betting. I find it strange he’s not even quoted. I think he has huge potential and he’s in the right hands.
Some Tikket
This is a bit of a dark one, a horse who might be under the radar for those across the Irish Sea. He ran out first time out at Punchestown, before winning his bumper and maiden hurdle impressively, both at Navan. He then disappointed at Fairyhouse. I think he could be useful kept to left hand tracks – if you forget his two runs right handed he falls into the ‘cold be anything’ category. His owner is on the other forum and from what he says they think he’s pretty useful. He’s been moved to Dessie Hughes from Dermot Weld for the coming season.
Un Atout
Three parts brother to the mighty Sir Des Champs, he’s another who looks a real chaser. Like most of these he looks versatile trip wise: hopefully he’ll go down the two and a half mile route when it matters. He’ll most likely start off in a two mile chase at a galloping track and step up in class from there. It wouldn’t surprise if he goes the same route as his close relation and gets the softly softly approach before the festival.
Un De Sceaux
I’m not sure if this one goes chasing, but whatever he does he’s one to keep an eye on. He’s a bit like Defy Logic in his running style: if he learns to settle he could be very very good. If he stays hurdling, he’s a dark horse for the Champion Hurdle.
Above is the list of potential novice chasers I outlined at the beginning of this thread as potential Grade 1 candidates. It looks like Un De Sceaux, Monksland and Rule The World are staying over hurdles, while unfortunately Un Atout is out for the season.
That leaves Ballycasey, Bright New Dawn, Champagne Fever, Defy Logic, Felix Yonger and Some Tikket.
In terms of the RSA, I think CF, DL and FY will run over shorter trips. Some Tikket is still my dark horse but given he started over two miles I’m not sure if he’ll want the RSA trip in under four months time. Bright New Dawn is a horse I love, he’s reportedly going to begin his season in a 2m 6f hurdles race before going over fences. Definitely one to keep an eye on.
The other one I like for the RSA is Ballycasey. I voiced my doubts about him in the above post but is it just me or do RSA horses seem thin on the ground? I doubt many of those above him in the market will even run and I couldn’t have the likes of Smad Place or African Gold on my mind – I just don’t think they’re good enough. Ballycasey is 25/1 NRFB with Bet Victor and is entered at Gowran on Saturday. If he’s impressive I think his odds will be halved.
RSA Chase 2013
Ballycasey
€10 e/w @ 25/1 (BV, NRFB)
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