Forum Replies Created
- Posts
Very classy animal in his prime. Six Grade1 wins says it all. To see him and War Of Attrition winging the fences down the back at Punchestown last month was a great sight.
His full brother Table Talk, won his bumper at Naas a few weeks ago. If he can achieve a fraction of what the King achieved I’m sure Tom will be very happy.
Cooldine is down to make his chasing debut in the first at Thurles tomorrow with the excellent Paul Townend filling in for Ruby.
Trip looks sharp enough for him but the ground at Thurles is usually quite holding so it should slow the speedier types up. Really think this horse is a fabulous chasing prospect. Could be the one for the Sun Alliance come March.
Fair enough Grass,
My memory is a bit sketchy, but I think they were planning on running the horse at the Punchestown Festival but they felt that his back muscles might still have been bothering him.
I hope the horse remains sound for the rest of the season because he’ll take all the beating in my opinion.
I won’t dispute the fact that Henry De Bromhead’s horses were running below form in the run up to Cheltenham last year.
BUT
Grasshopper, if we are to believe that the reason why Sizing Europe stopped to a walk at Cheltenham was down to a problem in the yard, rather than a muscle problem in his back, then why did they not run him at Punchestown in April when the yard was starting to hit form again?
Could be argued that he maybe had him in front a bit too soon but I don’t think he had much other option than to kick on before the third last. He was probably worried given the pedestrian pace early on that Jered would have too many gears for him.
Cousin Vinny holds an entry in a maiden hurdle at Navan on Sunday.
Cooldine also holds a few entries over the next week or so in beginners chases. Looks like Willie is going to be stepping it up a gear or so after a disappointing enough start to the season by his high standards.
I don’t see why people aren’t willing to accept Henry De Bromhead’s view on the race. The horse stopped like he was shot at Cheltenham and a muscle problem in his back came to light afterwards. To my eyes, and as the trainer and jockey have both confirmed, the horse just got tired at the weekend and blew up on the run in.
There was no shame in being beaten by Hardy, plenty of good hurdlers have been, and the word from the Dessie Hughes yard was that he was as good as ever at home. Unfortunately I couldn’t make Punchestown on Sunday but I’m told by people who saw Sizing Europe in the paddock that he was carrying a lot of condition and Henry himself stressed in the run up to the race that he’d need the run.
The form of his AIG win is still the strongest recent hurdle form out there and I suspect that he’ll be a lot shorter than 7/1 for Cheltenham after Leopardstown in either Christmas or January.
Think Davy said he would be going to Liverpool for the Beecher along with Operation Houdini but there might have been a change of plan in the meantime.
Exotic Dancer looked back to some sort of form at Aintree and it’ll be interesting to see if he can serve it up to Kauto Star. I think this race could be closer than a lot of people think.
Our Vic goes very well fresh but Pipe’s have not been running well but he did have a winner today.
Can’t see Mouse travelling War Of Attrition over for this. I’d say he’s much more likely to go to the Durkan. Hope Kicking King shows some of his old spark here. He just goes out like a light when he comes under any sort of pressure. Sad to see him running the way he does now because he was very classy at his peak.
He might not relish the hill like a Katchit or a Hardy Eustace but I don’t think he’s a complete bridle horse. I think a lot of us overreact when we see a Noel Meade horse winning on the bridle and we kind of assume that his horse wouldn’t find a lot if push comes to shove in future races. I suppose a lot of it is down to Paul’s style and his ability to fool people into thinking he’s got more horse under him than he actually does.
Reminds me a bit of Iktitaf this Jered. Remember a few years ago when he was all the rage earlier on in the season until the bubble burst at Leopardstown. He went to Cheltenham a forgotten horse but he was running a cracker in the Champion for Barry when he fell at the third last.
You make a lot of relevant points re. Jered Ian but I just don’t think we should be putting a line through this horse yet. He has to improve a lot to get up there, as you point out, but today was really his first run out of novice company and therefore he is likely to improve as the season goes on. I’m not saying he’ll win a Champion Hurdle but if he was to get his ground come March I could see him running a big race at a decent price. Paul (assuming AP rides Binocular) would be able to cover him up in a bigger field and a strong pace will suit him.
Lot to like about Trafford Lad’s win yesterday. Looks like a real contender for the Sun Alliance. With the exception of Breedsbreeze I haven’t really been overly impressed with any of the English trained horses that are prominent in the betting for that race. The 20/1 available about Trafford Lad is quite generous.
Siegemaster’s run can be ignored given that Davy reported that his saddle slipped so it was probably quite a decent effort to get as close as he did in the circumstances.
Cracking effort from a legend of a horse. One of the toughest and most consistent horses we’re ever likely to see. He’s a credit to Dessie Hughes, Conor O’Dwyer and of course the late Kieran Kelly.
A lot to like about Sizing Europe’s run. He’ll come on a great deal for that. Still think he’s the best hurdler around and he’ll be the one they’ll all have to beat come March.
Jered was probably a bit disappointing but I wouldn’t be giving up on him. He’ll win a few decent races before the season’s out. You won’t see the best of this horse until he gets his ground. If we have good ground at the festival he’ll be bang there, but I suppose that’s unlikely to happen.
Trafford Lad and Siegemaster clash at Punchestown (1:50) tomorrow. Interesting little race this. Trafford Lad was dissappointing on his chase debut (promoted from 2nd by the stewards) and Rare Bob didn’t do a lot for the form last weekend, but he should improve a lot for the extra 1/2 mile in this race.
Has to give 6lbs to Siegemaster though and this horse should relish the heavy going. Was well above average over hurdles, 4th in the 3 mile novice hurdle at Cheltenham, and is very well bred being a half brother to Our Vic and Commercial Flyer. Hacked up in bottomless conditions at Thurles last time out and Dessie Hughes thinks a lot of him.
Should be an informative race looking ahead to the Drinmore.
Don’t see how it isn’t relevant with respect Peruvian.
Surely we all want to see the best horse win every race and the best horse does win this race. No breach of the rules occur. At no stage does Hoopy interfere or hamper Venetia Williams’ horse and it’s not as if Jason McKeown takes the whip off the rider on the second. Donal Devereux was hardly going to be needing his whip either.
We’re all entitled to our own view and that’s what makes this game great, but I can’t see what the fuss is about here.
Couldn’t agree with Cunningham’s argument on RUK. Thought Ted Walsh put him right.
Jason McKeown broke no rules. King Harald was well beaten so any comparison with the Piggott incident in France has no real relevance. Best horse won the race in my opinion.
