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Such a trappy renewal with question marks hanging over almost all.
Annie Power is probably the right price at 9/4 getting the weight but I’d always be concerned it’s going to happen too fast for her – even when winning easily against inferior mares she’s often clattered one or two.
I really fancied The New One two years ago and was gutted when he was shuffled back by Our Conor’s tragic fall. I’ll be happy if he wins but he’s going to hit a flat spot and then can he pick up in his third Champion Hurdle..
If My Tent wins Hendo has pulled off a training feat for the ages. But I can’t back a horse off a 2-year break.
Camping Ground is surely not quite as good as his rating, and can he deliver anything close to it on much better ground anyway? Beaten off 150 in the Imperial Cup last time over 2 miles. He did beat Lil Rockefeller though on NYD and it’s hard to see why the latter would turn it around at the shorter trip.
Peace & Co another enigma. Looked a complete nutter in the Bula but his Sandown run did have glimmers of promise and he probably wasn’t suited by the slow trip. Hargam has beaten too often by too many different horses for my liking and I prefer Top Notch who’s been a bit in and out but is much the same horse as Identity Thief on Fighting Fifth running and just might reverse the form with a stiffer test. But all 3 have the 5yo stat to contend with.
Nichols Canyon is solid but I don’t know, just a bit uninspiring! I may end up backing him on course but despite winning a raft of Irish G1’s a lot of those races are a bit soft.
So far then I’m ignoring the 5yo hoodoo and I’ve thrown a few quid ew at Top Notch and had a small win bet on Peace & Co – I just have a feeling he may give Nico de B a big run tomorrow and at 20-1 I don’t have to have too much on ;) I may have something on Nichols Canyon tomorrow or I may just leave it….
Polly Peachum a much better horse on decent ground in my view and she has half my stake. The other half has gone on Aurore D’Estruval – largely on the basis of her good form at Wetherby and Newcastle when trained by John Quinn. There aren’t many in this field that would aspire to being second in a Fighting Fifth. Now with Reb Curtis, whose season has been rather stop-start but she’s had a few winners lately and I’m hopeful Aurore will be back to something approaching her best. Her 9th behind VVM at Ascot was when the stable couldn’t buy a winner and I think she’ll go better here.
VVM is far too short in my view – I don’t think she’s an Annie Power, may be more of a Glen’s Melody and if that’s the case she’s beatable – something will surely do her for toe.
Min might hose up but he’s where he is on hype and home reputation primarily. I’ve done Yorkhill and Tombstone to small stakes – hopefully something will make it a strong pace.
God’s Own is a sound ew bet at 25-1 in my view. Looks like the ground is coming right and was the only one to give Un De Sceaux a race in last year’s Arkle.
Agree with the Davy Russell comment. Very strong and would never be put off if he was up.
Funny you say that but I was at Leopardstown one Hennessy day about 10 years ago and Tony Martin had one with Russell up in the 2m Hcap Hurdle that was about a stone well in and backed accordingly. Came their cruising at the last and Davy put it on the floor in Annie Power style. I suspect the groan was heard in Dublin city centre.
Found it… Psycho!
Farewell Flakey Dove. Suspect the days when the likes of the Prices could homebreed a Champion Hurdle winner are sadly gone forever.
The trouble is that if you want to run your horse at Cheltenham and Aintree and/or Punchestown, there’s no profit in bottoming your horse or getting it badly handicapped by running three or four times beforehand.
The Spring Festivals are where people want to win these days. If we want more at other times of the year then we need better incentives – a better autumn festival than the Paddy Power meeting and to beef up Kempton as well.
I ticked pro because I’m not anti but really I guess I’m ambivalent to foxhunting. I like the diversity that hunter chases bring to the NH scene but I’m not sure that pushing the relationship further is in the interests of racing, as opposed to the interests of the hunts e.g. to have the kind of Countryside days and Hound parades. As someone of a moderately leftist persuasion there’s nothing that grates on me more than the kind of political lecturing that goes on at Point to Points during election years. In what other walk of life would folk feel they were entitled to quote politics at paying customers? It really is bizarre. My response was to more or less skip the ptp season in 2015.
Aagh. Did My Murphy in the Paddy Power but deserted him today
The money went down on Ballycasey & Folsom BlueGreat news but surely something must have changed for ARC to do a complete 180 over this issue as they were so sure it was not a viable concern when they closed the course.
Does this decision give Folkestone any cause for hope?
LOL, I would argue that ARC did everything they could to make it unviable then held a gun to the County Council’s head to try and get a lucrative deal to develop a part of the property – ie land that the council owned. A standoff ensued and whilst the clock ticked down on the lease ARC were still required to maintain the course. Anyway one way or another it has been resolved and I guess the detail of how – i.e. who conceded what, will emerge in due course.
Sorry, I tend to speed read! Graysonscolumn, do you mind giving your thoughts, as a rider of many years (3 Day Eventing/Dressage) I find it very interesting to think someone can be fast tracked through to that sort of standard. I remember years ago there was a TV programme about ‘fake’ or ‘real’ performances, whereby Tim Stockdale the showjumper taught someone who had never ridden before to showjump against professionals, and then it was analysed by professionals as to who was the fake and who was the pro. They picked the ‘fake’ only due to the fact they were too correct in their approach and had no natural self defence against any untoward movement of the horse. I feel that even if VP starts (and will obviously be well mounted), that the qualifications given to the Foxhunter could not have possibly been done with this sort of use in mind.
Faking it – a great show. A friend of a friend was on it learning to be a rap MC – it was immense..
Did Firebird Flyer & Black Thunder so a case of what might have been; FF could be seen being held together throughout the race; they just might have held on to him a fraction too long.
You saw before Christmas how Reb Curtis’s team were affected by a bad batch of feed – knocked them out for 6 weeks, but they’ve got over it quick enough.
Wouldn’t be surprised if something similar has happened down at Ditcheat.
^ Yes, broadly agree with this on breeding; the huge books, the focus on one sire line, the immediacy of judgement have all been damaging, but to be fair breeders must also share the blame.
I’d imagine you would have access to the paddock although it’s invariably wedged at the Festival and Gold Cup Day is the busiest of the lot. Unlike other meetings I usually just give up on the paddock for most races – it’s just too much hassle getting around – although it remains to be seen what effect the new stand will have. I recommend watching a race from the centre course – it’s quieter and you get a different perspective – you can get a cup of tea without a big queue too.
As for parking, you can of course park on course (extra cost) but it will be slow getting out.
For some reason it seems to rain on GC day more often than any of the others too :)
Don’t let this put you off – the festival is brilliant – the last day I missed was Kicking King’s Gold Cup.
Glad Richard is finally and deservedly going to win a title but he wasn’t called Deckie in the mid 2000s for nothing! I remember one particular one at Uttoxeter on one of Hobbs’ – four letters beginning with ‘S’ IIRC were miles clear and having asked it at the last couple he went to pop it and the horse didn’t know what to do.. The groan could probably have been heard in Derby.
Ahhhh, I remember that one well – Uttoxter on Sunday, October 3rd 2004. The horse was Saby, and I was standing right next to the last when the near-spill occurred. This taken from a review of the meeting that I submitted to neigh.co.uk at the time:
<em class=”d4pbbc-italic”>4.15 NOVICES’ CHASE (E) 2m
========================
<em class=”d4pbbc-italic”>
<em class=”d4pbbc-italic”>The field had been halved through falls by the fifth fence, but the most dramatic event was saved for the last fence. SABY, three out of five over fences this summer, picked off long-time leader GABLA two from home and it seemed a matter of “how far” from thereon in. However, he overjumped at the last, pecked, and slid onto his hindquarters, compelling Richard Johnson to perform heroics to keep the partnership intact. The horse was effectively on the floor at least once, so it was an incredible recovery all told, although those who frequent this forum and are of the opinion that Johnson has lost his nerve where presenting horses correctly at the final fence will have seen nothing in this incident to change their minds.gc
That’s the one! I must confess I’d forgotten he kept the partnership intact..
Glad Richard is finally and deservedly going to win a title but he wasn’t called Deckie in the mid 2000s for nothing! I remember one particular one at Uttoxeter on one of Hobbs’ – four letters beginning with ‘S’ IIRC were miles clear and having asked it at the last couple he went to pop it and the horse didn’t know what to do.. The groan could probably have been heard in Derby.
The money went down on Ballycasey & Folsom Blue