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What a ride from Timmy this afternoon. The way he cajolled this horse to victory and kept the horse’s mind alert was magnificent to watch. On jumping the last Murphy sat still and didn’t just pull the whip, he allowed the horse to relax and use his rhythm to pick Pancake up. Majestic ride. There are plenty of jockeys that would’ve got beat on Wichita today.
Agreed Ian, i backed him in running at 7/4 and he was certainly "thinking"
coming up the straight, returned at 15/8 incredible price in this 4 horse race for those of us who see him as a Sun Alliance ch contender!I’m not sure he’s a Sun Alliance winner in the waiting if I’m honest but I agree he was a good bet today and connections are perfectly entitled to aim at the sun Alliance with him. One thing in his favour I think will be the track at Cheltenham because Cheltenham is stiff and this horse will stay all day. If he can stay in touch half a mile from home he will run on up the hill when others have cried enough and the horse jumps well under pressure.
Talking of rides Choc Thornton had just ridden a fantastic race on Araldur at Sandown as well.
Talking of rides Choc Thornton had just ridden a fantastic race on Araldur at Sandown as well.
What a battling ride it was too, and a fantastic effort from Araldur (who i, and a fair few others at Barbury Castle, think a lot of).
I made a comment in the Arkle thread about him.
As for Wichita Lineman, i havent seen the race yet, but i read on the RP site, that he had got his head in front today, which is nice to see, i like the horse, and it is nice to see him get a win over fences.
I’m not sure he’s a Sun Alliance winner in the waiting if I’m honest but I agree he was a good bet today and connections are perfectly entitled to aim at the sun Alliance with him. One thing in his favour I think will be the track at Cheltenham because Cheltenham is stiff and this horse will stay all day. If he can stay in touch half a mile from home he will run on up the hill when others have cried enough and the horse jumps well under pressure.
These races are taylormade for him as he can get back at moderate horse. As you say he was a pretty obvious bet today but he should be able to beat horses like that in a common canter.
Up against good horses he won’t get away with dropping himslef out. He has loads of ability but is too lazy to be backing in top races IMO.
Can’t say I disagree with you Fist I’m of pretty much the same opinion. I think the softer the ground at Cheltenham the better chance he’d have but even then I doubt he’d be anything more than an each way chance.
Two great pieces of horsemanship today – the only problem with Timmy’s was that it came that bit too late to qualify for Ride of the Year in the TRF Awards.
I agree about the reservations in general re: Wichita Lineman and the Festival, especially if Timmy is engaged on something else (for the sake of argument, say, Hold Em). It’s going to need a precise set of race circumstances, and even then a bit of magic in the saddle, if the gelding is going to prove much better than this in the more exalted company he’ll have to keep in novice company this term.
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.
Can’t see the fuss to be honest. The horse had about 2 stone in hand on his hurdles form and had comfortable room for manoeuvre on his chase form, he was clear top rated on both RPR and Timeform ratings.
"… and Wichita Lineman is still on the line."
Very good, Glen Campbell would be proud.
I agree with David Johnson, thought Murphy did well; but no more than that.
As for the ride on Araldur. Well, I’m a bit surprised by all the praise for Thornton. The horse battled on well, just as he did in his previous race against Nicholls’ other novice chaser. Thornton didn’t make any important tactical moves did he?
i just thought that Thornton kept trying… but not as much as the horse.
Can’t see the fuss to be honest. The horse had about 2 stone in hand on his hurdles form and had comfortable room for manoeuvre on his chase form, he was clear top rated on both RPR and Timeform ratings.
What relevance do the figures have? Races are run on a racecourse not a computer screen. Yes on form Wichita Lineman was entitled to win but how many times have we seen horses with plenty in hand on ratings get beat? On the best horse or not it doesn’t take away from the quality of Timmy’s ride.
I thought Timmy did give the horse a good ride.
You all seem to have forgot the way he beat Air Force One at the Festival very easily over 3 miles,
Last season as with a number of Jonjo’s horses he did not seem to go forward.
However this season he appears to have turned a corner and apart from getting beat by Lodge Lane giving that horse 6lbs which may turnout to have been an impossible task, I think he has a great chance at Cheltenham.
Can’t see the fuss to be honest. The horse had about 2 stone in hand on his hurdles form and had comfortable room for manoeuvre on his chase form, he was clear top rated on both RPR and Timeform ratings.
What relevance do the figures have? Races are run on a racecourse not a computer screen. Yes on form Wichita Lineman was entitled to win but how many times have we seen horses with plenty in hand on ratings get beat? On the best horse or not it doesn’t take away from the quality of Timmy’s ride.
Exactly – well said that man.
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.
Timmy gave this horse a superb ride. I love watching Witchita Lineman in a finish – this is the 2nd time at Chepstow the horse has put in a sprinter-like performance in the final few furlongs and I’d love to see him back at Chepstow again before a tint at a Cheltenham festival race.
A lot of punters learnt from Witchita Lineman’s last Chepstow run too (didnt go above 4.0 in running). If you havent seen the last race, try and watch it on the RP site or YouTube
Both Timmy Murphy and Mr McCoy have ridden this horse superbly this season. I’d be comfortable with either of them on board for a bigger race now. One of Jonjo’s best prospects for the season IMO
Looks like we have found the first festival banker anyway.
Wichita Lineman for the 4m Chase, Bet Jonjos Amateur Alan Berry cant wait for the ride.
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