Forum Replies Created
- Posts
Mr Miller
For the last time :o
Baracouda will not run in the Champion Hurdle as the Doumens and JP know he is not fast enough !!!
RB is a certainty if he is in the same form as last year
He did not get the trip in that ground . Look at how he made ground though – had the race been over 2m at Aintree he would have won in a hack canter
It was notable too Maurice that just before the race that Williamson talked of one danger only to RC namely RB .
I agree that unless something unfortunate happens to the Booster between now and ther ace or he is brought down that place only is best for any others
(Edited by Ardross at 2:02 pm on Dec. 3, 2003)
Steve – if Baracouda was fast enough then he would have run in it last year .
The Doumens know that he is not quick enough – a parallel is Sagaro probably the best stayer for 50 years but constantly exposed over shorter trips e.g never siighted in the 1974 Arc .
In the Champion he would probably stay on into third
Even more evidence that Bernard is bonkers – I would not lay the horse at 13-8 let alone 13-2
Whilst I agree that sentimental betting can be a ticket to the poor house I will also always have a soft spot for the Booster – having been one of the first of Mo’s followers on this horse . I was at Cheltenham that day and backed In Contrast . I just could not believe the Booster’s performance that day under top weight . I was just as impressed by his Bula win when he carted Johnson to the front and found more and more up the hill .
At present I can’t see a serious challenger . As Maurice pointed out that performance last year would have won two of Isty’s three champions
The only Irish horse I thought was interesting for the Champion was the ill fated Nobody Told Me . Much as I admire Solerina her style of running is just likely to set up things for the Booster . Judging by yesterday’s performance Intersky Falcon does not like being restrained he emptied very quickly .
As for Back in Front I accept entirely that he is being aimed at the Champion . His scraping home against Sacundai and Solerina was not impressive however and even if over the top being beaten by Quazar leaves him masses to find with the Booster .
What else ? Well Sporazene is going to have to improve his jumping no end if he is going to take a hand . It is all very well having a double handful after a moderate pace like yesterday but if he makes mistakes like that then jumping at real speed could easily see him on the deck .
As for Rhinestone Cowboy his jumping will have to improve too and the really striking thing wa sthat when subjected to real racing pace over hurdles he was off the bit miles out . Apparently he is also aimed at the Bula .
There is in fact no serious threat to the Booster if he is in the same form as last year – he could be named the winner at the top of the hill let alone four out . To make so much ground with no effort to come from close to last to third in that Champion when they were going like the clappers and still hacking is a racing memory in the Arazi class .
I agree wholeheartedly with Mo . RB will win unless he has gone very seriously backwards over the summer
As far as the QEII is concerned it will depend on the ground . If it is at all soft ROG will turn up. They do not want to risk HW being turned over by Gossamer which on very soft ground is more than a distinct possibility .
If it is good ground or better I think we will see HW
I find the crabbing of Hawk Wing very hard to understand . Sir ivor was beaten four times bewtween the Derby and washington International . Yet posterity can see that there were valid excuses for all those defeats and he is rated one of the greats of the 20th century .
Whatever ROG has doen since they believed he was a gallop short on gUineas day and HW did finish like a rocket – oK six lengths in the final furlong is an exaggeration but had he been drawn on ROG’s side there would have been only one winner .
Since then he has raced twice on unsuitable ground and been second in the Derby and won an Eclipse . Then after being ill he comes back clealry short of fitness and fails by a short head to beat Godolphin’s best horse by far after his own pacemaker has shot him in the foot .Watch that race and his earlier races . he did not pick up on Saturday and was plainly out cold at the end
I hope he will be given the chance to show his real potential and that saturday has not bottomed him. If the ground was good and they both were to run in the QEII – I do not believe that it is a foregone conclusion that ROG would win .
