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Do you think the Rucker’s might target Kicks For Free at the Foxhunters?
If you pushed me, I’d probably say no. Not the Cheltenham version, anyway – his rout at Cottenham three weeks ago suggested to me that he still possesses enough foot to be effective around the speedier tests Pointing and hunter chases can offer.
A nose defeat in the Coral Cup proved 2m5f around Prestbury Park was within compass, but 3m2.5f? Not sure. The Aintree equivalent may play more to his strengths, but even then not half as much as the Ladies Bowl over 2m7f at Stratford on Horse & Hound evening.
gc
I would guess that if they aimed Kicks For Free at a Hunter Chase it would be for the AGA Ladies Final at Cheltenham, but that seems unlikely. Their serious horses almost always get put underneath Burton, while this one appears to have been purchased solely to give Angela a few armchair rides in her dotage.
Will be paying my first visit to the Wiltshire course so hope it’s nice and sunny
No chance!
Racing again at Andoversford this Sunday with the guest of honour this time around being Imperial Commander.
Looks like a pretty decent card, despite the novelty of the majority of races being for veteran and novice (or senile and sh*t – depending on who you ask…) riders.
The entire Kadastrof won five over hurdles and six over fences, as well as finishing second in a Game Spirit when still a novice and starting favourite for Champleve’s Arkle – he has since carved out a fairly successful career as a jumps sire.
Battleship famously won the 1938 National as an entire and went on to have a near 20-year career at stud in America.
I for one happen to think that Roulez Cool is poor value. Yes, he may have over half a stone in hand on current ratings but: he has yet to prove himself beyond an extended 3m, he is out of Makounji who was best at 2m/2m5f, he only narrowly beat Drybrook Bedouin (who is 25/1) at Larkhill when holding a big fitness advantage, and he has reportedly suffered a recent training setback. At around 3/1 I would concede that he represents extremely poor value.
The aforementioned Drybrook Bedouin already has winning course experience and although he didn’t do much for the form last time out Larkhill wouldn’t be his track.
Half a length separated Baby Run and Turthen last year yet the former is about 6/1 and the latter (who won a Ladies Open in an incredibly fast time last time out) is about 20s – no prizes for guessing where the value lies there.
Gentle George has arguably more potential than anything in the field, but perhaps this is a year too soon…?
Actually my issue with today is different. Amateurs aren’t allowed to ride in the Grand National are they?
I would suggest that the likes of Marcus Armytage, Rosemary Henderson, Chris Bonner, Carrie Ford, Sam Waley-Cohen etc. would question that statement.
Back to the point in question, I have only seen the race once but the thrashing down the neck that Carberry gave her mount approaching the final fence was ugly in the extreme.
paulostermeyer
Re Kauto threatening Golden Miller’s record. Even in the unlikely event that Denman get’s beat this year there’s a young horse in Ireland called An Siorrac that will see that’s never going to happen
If An Siorrac ever wins a Gold Cup I shall eat my own foot.
I was really looking forward to making a debut visit to Whitfield on Sunday, but because of the rescheduling of meetings I’m required to work at North Carlton (with the tumbleweeds drifting across the Lincolnshire Showground……)
Bob Bell, who posts on here, is the man to ask about public transport to Points.
Horseheath’s a lovely track, usually pretty competitive fare. Cappa Bleu won the Mens Open at this meeting last year – the same connections have Sweden in the same race who is potentially quite decent.
Get thee to the middle of the track for the best view.
I’ll be missing it this year, but compensating it with a debut trip to North Carlton on Sunday.
Ei Ei was one of my all-time favourites and I remember his death as if it were yesterday. I still take no pleasure whatsoever from landing a sizeable Placepot that day.
Dark Ivy’s sickening fatal fall in the 1987 National was nearly enough to put my nine-year-old self off racing forever.
Sorry, completely forgot about this yesterday!!
Day 2 selections after 5 minutes of form study are:
Race 1 – Pounced
Race 2 – Diamondrella
Race 3 – Fleeting Spirit
Race 4 – D’Funnybone
Race 5 – Zacinto
Race 6 – Mastercraftsman
Race 7 – Da Re Mi
Race 8 – Mine That BirdGreat stuff Adrian. My 2007 jacket is getting a bit worn so I could do with a new one
I shall be attending, although not participating in, the Mascot Grand National at Huntingdon
Which reminds me of the occasions when Mackenzie, Selby & Harris have pulled no punches in their descriptions of unwilling animals, such as:
A complete dog, and hopefully will end up inside one
and
Deserves nothing less than a bullet between the ears
I’ve never seen too much in the way of boorish drunken excess at Stratford, but even at flagship meetings like the hunter chase ones in May, there always seems to be an above-average quotient of people milling round with a drink and friends before, after and significantly during races.
gcI’ll behave myself next year, honest.
