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Looking forward to seeing Vinnie Roe’s progeny on the track. Can see him producing some nice late maturing types.
Speaking of Fairyhouse, the Drinmore on 30 November is shaping up to be a right cracker. Trafford Lad, Forpadydeplasterer and Tranquil Sea are all to be targeted here next according to their respective trainers.
Throw in possibles like Aran Concerto, Ebaziyan, Wins Now and maybe a Nicholls raider and you’ve got the makings of a great race.
Ratpack
I would agree with you in saying that most of our promising novice chasers will probably be sent to Cheltenham. However, I was merely saying that it would not surprise me if one or possibly two of our high profile novices swerved Cheltenham in favour of Fairyhouse.
Take Noel Meade for example. If Nicanor and Aran Concerto return succesfully and prove their potential over fences, it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise to see one of them kept at home for Fairyhouse rather than both of them running at Cheltenham.
There is a precedent for it. In 2006 both Justified and In Compliance ran in the Powers instead of the Arkle before dropping back in trip for the Swordlestown at the Punchestown festival.
Most connections will most likely be attracted by the lure of Cheltenham though. But I would not be getting too stuck into any of the fancy antepost prices about the Irish novices until the trainer confirms that the horses long term target is Cheltenham.
It seems a lot of the good Irish novices are kind of in between trips as far as Cheltenham is concerned. It would not surprise me if some trainers took what might be the easier option, and swerved the festival in favour of the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse over 2m4, and then either stepping up or dropping back in trip for Punchestown.
Definitely worth keeping this in mind if punting antepost.
BBC’s racing coverage really has deteriorated very badly over the past decade. The majority of their presenters/reporters, both flat and jumps, seem clueless.
The camera angles they use make it very difficult to follow the race. The Old Roan last week was a perfect example. They cut to a close up shot of Oslot after three out despite the fact there was several horses in behind who were still travelling well. McGrath failed to spot Exotic Dancer until near the last even though AP had barely moved on him. The sound effects are laughable. Why they feel the need to use them I don’t know. Channel 4 for all their faults are miles ahead.
Anyone know why Norman Williamson hasn’t been used by the BBC over the last few weeks? He was one of the only redeeming aspects of their coverage over the past few years.
Good performance by Tranquil Sea on his chasing debut at Cork. Jumped well and pushed out to win by a few lengths. Paddy Power make him their 12/1 favourite for the Sun Alliance.
Looks to me, a bit like Forpadydeplasterer, that 2 miles could be a bit too sharp for him, so it would be no surprise if he was targeted at the Sun Alliance rather than the Arkle.
He’s certainly with the right trainer if he is to be targeted at Cheltenham. O’Grady’s record at the festival is second to none amongst the Irish trainers.
Impressive performance by Jered. Certainly looks like he’ll develop into a serious contender for the Champion. AP could have some headache if he has to choose between him and Binocular if they both show up in March!
Morgiana could be a very informative race if that’s his next destination:
Punchestown 16 November 2008 MORGIANA HURDLE…..Entries……..
1P263- Aitmatov 206 Noel Meade 7 11-10 158
11226/ Brave Inca 570 C A Murphy 10 11-10
14165- Catch Me 206 (28F) E J O´Grady 6 11-10 147
2327U- Cork All Star 208 (57F) Mrs John Harrington 6 11-10 141
162P/4 Cuan Na Grai 42 Paul Nolan 7 11-10 135
/1204- Harchibald 205 (37F) Noel Meade 9 11-10 160
12220- Hardy Eustace 248 D T Hughes 11 11-10 160
25111- Jered 208 Noel Meade 6 11-10 155
2-0331 Raise Your Heart 31 Ms Joanna Morgan 5 11-10 137
/F110- Sizing Europe 250 Henry De Bromhead 6 11-10 167
1170-4 Five Dream 36 P F Nicholls 4 11-7 145
2121-F Pierrot Lunaire 21 P F Nicholls 4 11-7 157
21231- Won In The Dark 204 Sabrina J Harty 4 11-7 135
14-401 Megans Joy 42 C A Murphy 6 11-5 137Donegal, winner of a listed race for Andrew Balding at the Newmarket July meeting and only beaten a head by Conduit in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, was sold for 200,000gns to Bill Hennessy at the horses in training sale.
Will go into training with Robbie Hennessy who will also train Sublimity this season. Could be high class over hurdles if he translates his flat potential to the jumping game.
Another decent flat horse, Houston Dynimo, runs in a juvenile hurdle at Newcastle tomorrow for Nicky Richards. Was only beaten 3L by Casual Conquest in a maiden last year and he could pick up a few races around the northern tracks during the winter if he takes to hurdling.
Very sporting decision by Coolmore. Nice to see them keeping more older horses in training rather than shipping every promising colt straight off to stud after their 3yo season, like they did a few years ago. Would be testament to Aidan’s immense skills as a trainer if he could bring the horse back to win at Ascot again.
He’ll make some National Hunt stallion when he eventually does go to stud. What price Yeats to sire a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner before 2020?
Jered is down to run at Down Royal on Friday. Has to concede weight to decent sorts in Cork All Star and Megans Joy though and both them have the benefit of a run. If he’s to have serious Champion Hurdle claims though you’d have to expect him to put those opponents to the sword.
He looked a horse with immense potential when winning on the bridle at both the Fairyhouse and Punchestown festivals. My concern about him would be that he is much better on faster ground and you are unlikely to get those conditions at Cheltenham anymore.
Noel’s poor strike rate at the festival given the quality of his runners would also be a worry. I am of the belief that Sizing Europe is the best hurdler around. His performance in the AIG was spectacular and he looked to be hacking along coming down the hill at Cheltenham before losing his action due to his injury. His reappearance in the Morgiana will be very interesting, but I just have a hunch that he might not be the easiest horse to keep sound, given that he is such a tall gangly horse and he can be quite clumsy over his hurdles.
I thought it was a workmanlike reappearance from Forpadydeplasterer. Got in close to one or two fences but he was clever enough to fiddle over them. He should jump better out of quicker ground. I don’t think he’s ever going to look ultra impressive in his races as he only seems to do enough when sent to the front. May not have the gears for an Arkle around Cheltenham but he has plenty of scope there’s definitely a few decent novice events in him. He improved with each run last season and would expect him to do the same this year.
Cooper reported after the race that he’ll be aimed at the Drinmore at Fairyhouse on 30 November where he’s likely to clash with Trafford Lad.
Venalmar, the second from last years Ballymore, and arguably the horse out of those four with the biggest reputation, is out for the season.
Pretty sure I heard or read somewhere that Willie Mullins won’t run Fiveforthree this side of Christmas and he will be given a similar campaign to last year with only a few runs before the spring.
Trafford Lad was a bit disappointing on his chasing debut but he looks to my eye an out an out stayer and will appreciate greatly a step up in trip. Goes for the Drinmore next at Fairyhouse over 2m5.
Two horses I am looking forward to seeing over fences are Cooldine who could well end up in the Sun Alliance come March and Tranquil Sea who holds an entry at Cork on Sunday.
Forpadydeplasterer (last years 4th in the Ballymore) runs tomorrow at 3:15 in a beginners chase at Punchestown.
This horse could develop into a serious contender for the Arkle if he takes to fences. The trainer has reported that he has schooled well and with Venalmar and Captain Cee Bee out for the season, and with Fiveforthree unlikely to appear before Christmas, this horse could well mop up plenty of the good novice chases on this side of the Irish Sea.
Jim may not have won himself many admirers amongst the English racing public with his actions in the run up to Epsom, but his skill as a trainer cannot be questioned.
He does not wrap his horses up in cotton wool unlike other trainers and horses like New Approach, Lush Lashes and Intense Focus have displayed remarkably consistent form this summer. Similarly to Mark Johnston, most of his horses are incredibly tough and game and will rarely be found wanting in a finish. Alexander Goldrun would be a prime example of this toughness.
He has also had great success as a breeder with the likes of Soldier of Fortune and Teofilo. He noticed the potential in Galileo as a stallion and his preference for that sire has been rewarded in spades.
I won’t deny that Jim needs to seriously improve his PR but the fact that Aidan O’Brien and AP McCoy speak so highly of the man underlines his ability as a trainer as far as I’m concerned.
Noel’s poor strike rate at the festival given the quality of his runners would also be a worry. 