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Agree with all this [stilvi]. Racing coverage needs more banter and more honest analysis. It’s always been hamstrung by an unwillingness to say the things any regular race-watcher can see when watching a race.
Saphir du Rheu clearly didn’t run his race today but increasingly of the opinion that he has been overhyped and possibly might be better at a stiff 2.5 miles anyway.
Ten years ago Nicholls had the pick of the French breds. He had Andy Stewart waving a big chequebook, Gobshite Findlay was on a roll and the Barbers were bringing nice sorts through from Ireland. The winners were flowing.
In the last few years it’s been clear that first Henderson and now Mullins have cornered the French market and PFN doesn’t have a big owner splashing the cash. Andy Stewart has bought next to nothing since his son got injured.
I wonder what happened with Highflyer? IMHO that’s a big factor.
Besides, quality of racing is not necessarily an indicator of the racecourse quality. Personally I think Ludlow’s configuration is appalling (too sharp, too flat, uninviting and soft fences), but that course does quite well from the fixture list.
Your views on Ludlow are interesting. The chase course is moderately sharp I grant (but not actually as sharp as people seem to think). The hurdles course is not sharp at all, a proper galloping track which is why Nicky Henderson has been happy to run the likes of My Tent or Yours and Punjabi there. Oh, and the prize money puts many top courses to shame.
I like Leicester as a jumps course. The chase course at least often provides decent ground when everywhere else is bottomless. And as others have said the beef rolls are second to none.
The only reason I don’t go that often is the shocking traffic on the ring road.
Really not sure that Yorkshire really needs another flat course. I’d rather Wetherby focused on providing quality fare over the jumps.
The RP has a hyperbolic headline about bumper crowds expected, which turns out to mean much the same as the usual crowd for this meeting when it was over the sticks…
My main bet was Broadway Buffalo and gutted to see him run out of 5th at the death. What a great win for a small yard though. I suppose it makes sense that the skybet should be a good trial for this.
It’s all part of the theatre, and rightly or wrongly, racing is probably benefited more than it is disadvantaged by the National being treated as special.
And just watching the re-run, what a star Ruby was. He must have been disappointed but first to try and help avert any further problems. Class.
Classy national. So glad Balthazar King got up but it’s increasingly clear to me that having neutered Becher’s the Canal Turn and its funnelling effect is now the problem fence.
Really sad loss. Thought he had loads of potential when winning at Cheltenham in Dec but always looked to be going a stride too fast today. Sad for all his connections. RIP little horse.
