Verdana Blue

[Steeplechasing]

@strawbear

Raceform have featured ‘too much to do’ in plenty reports. I think they would at least have used that here if they’d thought the jockey had been out of his ground. I quoted them because I find them the most objective of the form analysts – YMMV

As to making his move earlier to avoid trouble at the last, there’s a lot of hindsight at play there.

[Gingertipster]

However on Sunday everything was right for Verdana Blue, ground especially, distance no problem. The week before he made a decisive move early and he won the Elite easily. I beleive that he thought he could pick the leaders up however he found so much trouble and did not amke his move early enough.

That’s not true.

Whether both races were run at the same trip or not, difference between the two courses are enormous.
Wincanton is a right-handed flat track which suits Verdana Blue as it’s a speed track, with an easy finish. Cheltenham is stiff undulating left-handed track with a difficult uphill finish that usually (at a fair pace) suits stamina horses.

The week before, Verdana Blue made his “decisive move” after 2 out and only hit the front at the last flight “to win the Elite easily”.

Am aware from TV pictures it can seem very different, so can be deceiving. But what you seem to be forgetting is the finishing straight had no hurdles because of low sun. The usual 3 out becoming the final flight at Cheltenham. At Wincanton Verdana Blue was still travelling strongly well behind 3 out. McGrath actually tried to make his move sooner at Cheltenham than he did Wincanton – probably making that judgement because of a slow pace. ie Tried to make his move soon after what should’ve been the usual 3 out (not like at Wincanton 2 out)… But – due to it being a slow pace with a bigger field and most jockeys wanting a position near the presumed favoured rail – there wasn’t much room… twice suffering interference. By the time Verdana Blue had a clear path it was too late.

Value Is Everything

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