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Nice to see newyork in general agreement with my views on Frankel.A very good miler but greatness has to be earned.
If Canford Cliffs and Goldikova have been acclaimed as great milers, which they undoubtedly are, then Frankel simply has to be a great, even already. No argument.
NULTY,
If AP is 1/4 to ride Kauto, what makes u think he’ll ‘probably’ ride Kempes if he runs? Do u really think JP would deny McCoy the chance to ride one of the greatest chasers of all time as he goes for history? I doubt it.
Still think this race is Ireland’s to loose! Master Minded will need to be the horse many believe him to be to topple Big Zeb and Captain Cee Bee.
And, as Aido has said, don’t forget Zaarito
Im still not convinced Big Zeb is the safest of jumpers, so I’d always be prepared to take him on, and I believe Zarrito and Captain Cee Bee have more scope for improvement. That said, all 3 have jumping issues, I just think there is a lot more to come from Zarrito and Captain Cee Bee. Im still sticking with Masterminded though, we all know what he’s capable of, been there and has 2 t-shirts to prove it!!!
Masterminded is still tremendous value at 11/4, while Zaarito, a horse I love, needs to get to grips with the fact that ALL fences must be jumped!! Watch videos of this horse, he can jump, just has lapses of concentration, which I think can be sorted ( I hope!! ) At this point, it has an open look to it, but we all know here that on his day, Masterminded could blow them all out of the water if right.
Noel Fehily booked to ride Kauto Star in the King George!
Very happy indeed with that, far more suited to the horse than AP.
Sorry, I do know that jockeys have different styles, etc, but if a jockey is required to ride a top-class horse, surely you go for the best available?? I would’ve thought A.P. McCoy would fall into that category?! I think Noel Feehily is a smashing jockey, but he just isn’t in the same league as McCoy. As I write this, I believe Feehily may actually miss the race also through injury? If thats the case, has it been confirmed, and who’ll pick up the ride now?
Wouldn’t get too carried away with the form, personally.
Ignore Bincular’s run altogether for form purposes, and the winner was driven out to beat a horse who finished 12l adrift in last season’s Champion. Not to forget that Go Native won this far easier last season, and went off fav for the big one, but all he saw was Binny’s tail in the distance.You are forgetting one thing Reet, Starluck on a flat track like Newbury is a different propstion and doesn’t get the trip out in a fast run race at Cheltenham.
You know howm much I have supported Binocular since his first ever win but I if Peddlars Cross and Hurricane Fly turn up 100% on the day he’s going to be hard pushed to hold on to his crown.
Agree with you 100% on this. I think Hurricane Fly has already shown that when fully fit, he’s the best around. It’s just a case of fingers crossed, and pray he turns up ok on the day!! Some may laugh at me, but I cannot discount Go native based on one bad run last season. We must remember he beat everything put in front of him before his eclipse at Cheltenham, and as he won the Supreme the year before, we know he acts round there, there must’ve been something amiss with him, and Im prepared to forgive him. But at this point, I can’t see past the ‘Fly’ as the winner.
Maybe so mate, but wasn’t Imperial Commander ‘speedy’ enough to win a Ryanair Chase over 2m 5?? And although Im Irish, coming over to race aginst the best staying chasers in Ireland, is the easy route, as the best will be lining up at Kempton. As Ive said, nothing to lose
Going to Leopardstown with Imperial Commander may be the easier option for Nigel Twiston-Davies – however, I would suggest it is the more sensible one and dare I say, probably the more profitable one.
Imperial Commander’s Ryanair win was round Cheltenham: his favourite course – and more importantly, a left-handed one – which we all know, tends to bring out the best in him. Imperial Commander doesn’t win going right-handed – hence why Twiston-Davies is rarely tempted to take that route.
He finished sixth in last year’s King George ( beaten 72 lengths ) and only an outright optimist would hold any real hope of him troubling Kauto Star on his favoured territory.
I rest.
Maybe so, but as I alluded to before, surely Imperial Commander is a vastly different and improved animal from 12 months ago in any case? I do admit, I find it hard seeing Kauto beaten at Kempton, but even a respectable 2nd place would not be a wasted journey for Twiston-Davies & team, plus, don’t a bumper Christmas crowd deserve the chance to see their Gold-Cup Hero in the flesh? Not all can get tickets for Cheltenham!!!
Is it not safe to assume that Imperial Commander is a better animal this time round? Anyway, after winning a Gold Cup, and now the Betfair Chase, I dont think the entry fee will be a problem!!
Kempton was never Best Mates track, but he did win a King George, and I really dont think Imperial Commander has anything to lose. If he wins, we’ll say, gamble came off, if he loses, we’ll say, sure Kempton isn’t his track!!! We should be applauding Twiston-Davies for not being afraid to take on Kauto Star at his favourite track, this is what the sport is all about.Ah Aido1, your Corinthian spirit does you credit.
I see where you’re coming from but, let’s be honest here – Imperial Commander should be aimed at The Lexus, where he has more than a serious chance of winning, instead of trying to take on the three mile speedsters round Kempton on a cold and frosty afternoon.
Of course, there is the possibility that Nigel views the race as a pre Cheltenham public gallop for his Gold Cup hero.
Maybe so mate, but wasn’t Imperial Commander ‘speedy’ enough to win a Ryanair Chase over 2m 5?? And although Im Irish, coming over to race aginst the best staying chasers in Ireland, is the easy route, as the best will be lining up at Kempton. As Ive said, nothing to lose
If Nigel Twiston Davies is serious about sending Imperial Commander to Kempton on Boxing for a second tilt at trying to win the King George, then he really does need to have a word with himself.
The horse ran abysmally last year and I can see no reason why a fast run race round the sharp Kempton circuit should suit him any better this year.
A complete waste of a journey and entry fee, in my opinion.
Is it not safe to assume that Imperial Commander is a better animal this time round? Anyway, after winning a Gold Cup, and now the Betfair Chase, I dont think the entry fee will be a problem!!
Kempton was never Best Mates track, but he did win a King George, and I really dont think Imperial Commander has anything to lose. If he wins, we’ll say, gamble came off, if he loses, we’ll say, sure Kempton isn’t his track!!! We should be applauding Twiston-Davies for not being afraid to take on Kauto Star at his favourite track, this is what the sport is all about.Not sure the pace was that strong really, and – with the ground going against him – Nacarat was looked after rather more than he would’ve been on firmer. Still ran a blinder in the circumstances though, and looks to have improved from last season.
Imperial Commander ran an OK race (for a Gold Cup winner), but the proximity of the others hardly sets the world alight. God knows how good Tidal Bay could be, if only he could be taught to jump.I think its more of a case of teaching Tidal Bay to race from the start to finish, bad jumpers dont win Arkles in my opinion. Hes a complete nutcase, who will probably tail himself off next time out.
Although he ran a cracker today, wouldnt Tidal Bay still fall into this category? Or is there a category called ‘Complete and Utter Rogue Who Has Loads of Ability, But Only Puts It In When It Suits Him’??!!!!
Can’t help with Irish ratings but BHA figures can be found here.
http://www.britishhorseracing.com/resources/media/ratings/
Master Minded now 173. Think he was 186 at his peak with them. Whether he actually ran to that at any stage is a moot point.
Cheers mate, and I agree 100% with you, I think too many people got carried away with one visually stunning performance.
Has Mastermindeds rating dropped significantly? Surely it must of? What website gives ratings on all National Hunt horses in Ireland and the UK?
And if the ‘eagle-eyed’ stewards are so good at their jobs, how did they not notice he was carrying over-weight when he weighed out???
That was the point i was making Aido! The only feasible reason is he weighed out heavy! Either that or the "Kickback" was a bit clumpy today in the fog! You never know what gets washed up on that beach!
Sorry mate, I must be a bit slow today!!! I live and learn
You don’t think carrying too much weight, thereby reducing the horse’s chance of winning, should be an offence, Hippo Joe?
I dont think anyone has actually addressed the real point ‘Hippo’ is making. How on earth has he put on weight during a race, when common sense says, if anything, he’d lose weight? And if the ‘eagle-eyed’ stewards are so good at their jobs, how did they not notice he was carrying over-weight when he weighed out???
I dont think its an offence, unless he is actually deliberately concealing weight somewhere, in which case, he would be cheating, and should get a year. Unless thats the case, there is no way it can be judged to be an offence.