[hooper27]

Good race reading Aragorn, it is the form to follow and its why i backed CCB at xmas and An Cathaoir Mor the last day because horse that get that close to Zaarito deserve to be followed

[hooper27]

25s still available in bruce
Bit surprised with money today on it

[hooper27]

Do you just look at results and not look for unlucky horses who would have done a lot better if things were done differently. To say Zaarito doesnt have Cheltenham form is ludacris.
99% of ppl who analysed that bumper will tell you how bad a ride Russell gave it, the amount of ground Zaarito made up to finish third was very very impressive.
Zaarito goes on any ground too mate.
CCB was friendless at xmas too, no money for it were there was the first day, last min gambles are the shrewd ones

Your discounting the improvement that Zaarito has since then and has still left in him

Im a fan of CCB backed it at xmas imo both have massive potential Zaarito moreso, hopefully

[hooper27]

Reverse the form with CCB?
Look back at the race if Townend was allowed to try everything to win that race it would have easy. Strict orders to get the horse round that day and not kill it.
CCB was backed from 5s into 4s before the off, after Xmas Harty wanted to give it a break after its 2 runs.
So unless you have info it was half fit Id say ur very wrong there. I know it was along break but with no bounce factor in the next the long break never effected a best fresh CCB.
An Cathaoir Mor frankin both there form shows that race was of high quality again proving CCB was not half fit.
Both horses had plenty of improvement though not just CCB

[hooper27]

So your the reason its trading at 22/1 at the mo…..well for your sake I hope you did get on 27s.
Was going to top up on the 33s again but missed it, Im still hoping a local indie will give me 33s though.
I have plenty on at this stage too though an average of 90 on the machine that Im very happy with

[hooper27]

An Cathaoir Mor a boost to Zaarito as I knew it wud be

[hooper27]

I dont think Zaarito will be brought to Cheltenham, far more likely that a domestic campaign is planned. He took along time to get over his Chelt bumper experience

Is this your opinion or is this what the stable/owner have intimated? Think the Arkle would be perfect for Zaarito, he is a much more mature looking horse now than the one that last came over and ran in the Bumper and is more likely to get better ground over at Cheltenham than in Ireland.

ZAARITO
8 b g Tiraaz – Coppenagh Girl
High-class bumper horse who didn’t reach the heights expected of him over hurdles despite winning a Punchestown maiden on his second attempt. Rated 130 over hurdles, he has switched to fences in a bid to realise his full potential.
"He ran a great race to finish third in the Champion Bumper two years ago but it took a lot out of him and I don’t think he was ever quite 100 per cent last season. Hardly a typical chaser as he’s quite slight and not big, but he’s taken to fences well and deserved his win at Leopardstown over Christmas having given Captain Cee Bee a fright at Naas previously. Has plenty of pace for 2m but stays further and will take on the top novices in the Irish Arkle or the Moriarty next time. Whether he’d go to Cheltenham this year, I’m not sure as there are plenty of quality alternatives for him in the spring. Could yet prove top-class"

As I think we agreed Cheltenham will depend on Irish Arkle, which im pretty sure he’ll go for as there is a special mention of plenty of pace for 2m.
As an 8yo I dont think they could not go to Cheltenham if and when it hacks up in the Irish version

[hooper27]

True it is a concern. One msitake I mentioned was hurdles and it just wasnt a hurdler.
Besides the 2 mistakes chasing its jumping has been very fluent and if you look back at first race which was ran at a very good pace it gained a lenght or so at other jumps which is a must over 2 miles.
First mistake was a bad fall but it was a learning experience.
To get too close to the last vs CCB was more down to Townend not asking for a big jump and im sure under orders to get the horse round.
No mistakes at Xmas but didnt have to jump the last at speed.
If, as I hope and believe, it wins the Irish Arkle then it has to go to Cheltenham anything outside the top 2 and Aintree would def be the better option

[hooper27]

Without reading through all of these posts (so sorry if you have already discussed this horse), what do you guys think of Zaarito?

He was quite impressive over Christmas at Leopardstown and could be overpriced at 33-1 with WH. Ran Captain Cee Bee to a head when 2nd at Naas in December. Admittedly that was Captain’s fist run for a long time but its not bad form.

Does anyone know what his festival target is likely to be?

I’ll convince you more on Zaarito.

Bumper form was top class, dont think anyone would argue what a stinker Russel gave it in the Champion bumper.

It was never a fluent hurdler and Murphy mentioned a few times how he couldnt get to the bottom of the horse and the sleepless nights it gave him. I would disregard his hurdle form for this reason.
But at the same time it was cruising all over a very well backed and hard ridden Copper Bleu when falling at the last in Punchestown festival.

His form this season makes me think we are finally seeing its true potential. Cruising on its debut when falling 2 out, a novice mistake which is a good learning mistake eventho I would put some blame with jockey.
Crusing again while Captain Cee Bee was in full drive got too close to the final fence and was only asked after the final fence to pick up which he did but mc coy’s class won out that day. If Townend had went earlier or had not got so close to the last I have no doubt it would have won and easy too.
Leopardstown was a stroll cruising to victory.

The repetitive use of cruising is for a reason, this horse as a serious gears and its turn of foot from bumper days has yet to be seen since.

Will be single figures after it hacks up in Irish Arkle later this month

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