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Given how weak teh Champion Chase was last season, it’s great to have Well Chief back.
He’s got to be the best 2m chaser around.
Steve
I am sure Murphy didn’t want to get to the front as soon as he did but he pinged the 3rd last and cruised upsides Ashley Brook in a matter of strides that he had no option but to go on.<br>I would expect him to hang on to him a while longer at Cheltenham as that hill can find you out.<br>All in all a wonderful performance.
Would anyone argue that that was the best performance by a chaser this season?
Should be interesting to read the RP tomorrow…
Yes, I would. Though I don’t know the time returned, i.e. for noddies like me the resultant RPSF, he achieved.
It’s not that I don’t rate him. When I saw his weight and his form with Moscow Flyer, having gone for Sporazene prematurely, it was obvious that he had already shown better form/speed than ANY of them, and with young Pipey making the right noises, looked one of the best bets of the day.
But I couldn’t see the horses giving him weight trying too hard against him for Cheltenham, or for a relatively small pot.
Maybe mistakenly, I take Ashley Brook to be 2 1/2 miler, though he’s run fast over 2, but not as fast as His Nibs by any means.
So I don’t mean it wasn’t a very good performance, but that it was unlikely to be close to his best.
It maybe that the time will, in fact, say that you’re right though. Maybe it’s the best 2 mile performance so far this year. But I still fancy Nickname to beat him at Chelters if he runs. Though I think he could even be faster than Moscow Flyer.
I’ve been very lucky with my Saturday Bob Rolfe bets, as I’m always in a flap because I’m rushed for time on Saturday mornings. Last night I’d wanted to make Well Chief my nap, but this morning didn’t even tip him, though I did on another board.
Not only that. I wanted to change my bets, but was 10 minutes late. Can’t remember what they were, but one might have been Well Chief. Also, I was set to turf out Copsdale Lad. It’s an ill wind. Though Betfair price was almost double.
(Edited by Grimes at 9:52 pm on Feb. 10, 2007)
Quote: from Salselon on 9:29 pm on Feb. 10, 2007[br]Would anyone argue that that was the best performance by a chaser this season?
Should be interesting to read the RP tomorrow…<br>
<br>Yes me. Either Kauto Star’s at Haydock or his King George run on the book you could easily pick as better performances.
Don’t forget Well Chief was getting weight today. On todays run theres about a pound or two between him and Voy Por Ustedes on my ratings.
Well Chief is clearly back retaining plenty of ability but whether he is quite as good as he was a couple of years ago I wouldn’t be certain yet not on the back of this one run alone.
Ashley Brook, a talented front-runner who got to within 1.5l of Kauto Star when injured last season, has been absolutely trounced and with there likely to be more to come from the winner, you only have Well Chief and Voy Por Ustedes separated by ‘a pound or two’?
I would have been interested to see how Sporazene faired, had he not clouted one down the far side (still travelling well), but surely that was a performance to take real note of?
Well Chief was laying up with Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop (still the best two-miler for me, though his form doesn’t back it up) two seasons ago, and as he’s only eight there’s every chance he’ll be as good as he ever was. Pipe junior certainly seems to think so.
<br>Can’t have it as the best performance this season but nevertheless still mightily impressive and a pleasure to behold.
I won’t be backing him until NRNB but I just hope that he’s ok tomorrow and that everything turns up on QM day including Nickname.
I wish I could say the same about Well Chief turning up.
(Edited by Grimes at 10:20 pm on Feb. 10, 2007)
Mr Mason has somehow rated Well Chief inferior to VPU based on their best performances this season.
So, did everyone else not give their true running?
A fabulous performance, great jumping exhibition and still only eight. One of the perfomances of the season IMO.
JohnJ.
It was great to see a top class horse come back like that.
But I wouldn’t call it the performance of the season. Ashley Brook was a candidate to bounce, and probably did. He also showed too much fizz and set off too fast.
Well Chief also got tired near the finish, as he was entitled to do, and all going well should be able to produce more at Cheltenham.
Hello,
Fantastic performance.
Just a niggling doubt, does anyone think WC’s performance would be hampered in any way if there were a particularly large field in The Champion Chase ??
Just that large 2 mile fields going flat out appears to cause problems aplenty at Cheltenham…
Not being critical here, just a discussion point..
(Edited by doyley at 3:18 pm on Feb. 13, 2007)
regards,
doyley
It’s an interesting point, but I think a slightly larger field would possibly suit Well Chief a little better. His running style I feel is adaptable in the sense he can make the running if he really needs to, but is best produced relatively late off a good pace, which is what he would surely get in the QM.
It’s hard to see anything but himself beating him. I am a big fan of Voy Por Ustedes, but he’s more than half a stone at least behind Well Chief. I really don’t think any of the rest will get close to these two.
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Doyley
Can’t really see a big field being a problem myself.<br>Apart from the fact  there usually isn’t one – top class 2 miler chasers are pretty thin on the ground – Well Chief is versatile and experienced enough, (And probably has enough in hand), for it not to be a problem.<br>Add to that that Timmy Murphy is possibly the best in the business at giving a horse a quiet ride, away from any likely trouble, particularly at this meeting, then there wouldn’t seem much potential for disaster.
Do either of you, or anyone else for that matter, see anything getting close (or beating) Well Chief?
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Can’t see him being beaten, myself.<br>Apart from all his more obvious attributes, the way he has been campaigned this season suggest his connections weren’t entertaining an angel unawares, and have trained him specifically for the big one.
<br>But then, of course, there’s always the dreaded bounce!:) ÂÂÂ
(Edited by reet hard at 5:53 pm on Feb. 13, 2007)
Quote: from Salselon on 4:54 pm on Feb. 13, 2007[br]Do either of you, or anyone else for that matter, see anything getting close (or beating) Well Chief?<br>
I think if the ground came up soft (highly unlikely) then Nickname would be a threat. He’s looked very impressive in Ireland this season but obviously he needs give underfoot to show his best form.
However, if Well Chief reproduces his form from the 2004/2005 season then the rest of the field are running for second place.
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