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Yes I think Ted & yourself sum it up perfectly well. Long Run to some looks an extremely tricky ride but to anyone who knows anything about race riding its clear to see Sam makes it look this way. And I would also say Sam has lost some of his ability you only have to look at his ride in the Hennessey. Long Run yesterday should have won the King George with ease. A polished rider like a Walsh or Geraghty can find a rhythm, balance a horse, see a stride at a fence & ultimately deliver the horse to win. The whole way up the run in Long Run was flicking his ears running around. He gets totally unbalanced by the rider at the last two fences and its to Long Runs credit he stood up & ultimately got back in front. Sam actually drops the reigns at one point on the home straight.
Despite all of this I was pleased to see him win for himself, the horse & his family. They bought the horse for days like yesterday and fair play to him because despite being a way behind the pros he’s now won a Gold Cup & 2 King George’s. I will say this though that Long Run deserves a huge amount of credit he has never finished out of the first three in his career and he has never fallen despite being in the deep end for a long time now despite only being 7.
There is no issue with many about Sam riding the horse but a lot including myself believe Long Run would have achieved much more with a pro on his back. Anyone who thinks differently doesn’t have a clue what they are talking about. The usual reply from these types of people is "It’s his horse he can do what he wants with it" which in fact never really has been disputed. Sam has never been the problem it’s the clueless opinions that seem to surround this very good but under achieving horse.As for Dickie Johnson he may have broken the farcical whip rule but if you can’t see that it was a brilliant ride in defeat you are also clueless.
Camelot & Beauty Parlour would be my picks atm. Imperial Monarch also interesting I agree Darren
I’m a huge fan of Maybe and feel she could be a really special horse. I think she is one of the most uncomplicated classy fillies I’ve seen at 2 and with further development she should be able to land the Guineas. I would also put a word forwards for Discourse who imo is the stable’s best 3yo filly by some way. Really impressed with her also and is value at the current prices.
Personally feel that although you can compare Camelot and SNA they are very different horses. They share the same sire and they both won the Racing Post trophy. I do however feel that SNA always looked a pretty fragile horse whereas Camelot looks a very well put together horse and a bit more powerful if that makes sense. Also worth saying this years Guineas is looking a weaker renewal and is pretty likely to be run on softish ground which I don’t think will hinder Camelot at all. Rattling fast ground would really put me off the horse over a mile but everything seems to be falling into place for him to give a very bold run.
I’m also a big fan of Born To Sea and despite getting beat by Nephrite I’ve always had a lot of confidence in him as a potentially smart miler. If he’s going to be doing anything it’s going to be over a mile there is no way he will get much further. He has the Urban Sea blood combined with speed from Invincible Spirit and it would be fantastic if he could win a classic this season. He’s not going to be winning Derby’s so I’m guessing John Oxx will have him primed for the race at Newmarket.
Of the rest I feel Top Offer is an unknown he could be anything but he will need to be very good to win on the back of one run. It’s far from impossible he can win and Roger Charlton clearly rates him very highly but there’s not much juice in his current price and I wouldn’t be surprised if a better price may be available on the day. Abtaal looks to me the better of the french runners. I feel he will come on a lot for his first run and would be surprised if he didn’t reverse the form with French Fifteen. He was a superior horse at 2 imo and I feel he will also be as a 3yo. Power would be the other horse I have a lot of respect for and seems to have been slightly underrated. He’s been extremely consistent unlucky not to have remained unbeaten at 2 and is open to more improvement. He won the Coventry very well and despite showing plenty of speed to win over 6f he will love races over a mile this season. He’s very tough has a lot of class and probably should have won the Dewhurst for me.
Camelot and Born To Sea to battle it out but I think Power & Abtaal could well be in the mix.He’s a monster. Barry just tried to give him an easy enough race he could have asked him to go on and would have won by a fence. He’s sat there cruising in front doing everything in his comfort zone and as soon as Barry shakes the reigns up he soars clear up this dreaded hill he apparently struggles to get up. Cue Card ran a stormer and plenty of people thought he had the 2nd best piece of form in the race and it proved correct. Al Ferof was a touch unlucky that he dived at one but this is jumps racing and personally I don’t think he would have got any closer than CC. I think Ted Walsh’s comment about his wind op was a bit of a silly one. Are there many horses in training that haven’t had one!? Anyway whatever happens I hope he can stay in one piece as he will dominate races over 2 miles. I don’t know if Aintree is the next stop or not? Maybe Punchestown? Wherever he goes he’s a pleasure to watch and the ultimate chaser in every way. Proud to have spotted him so early and stuck with him throughout.
Can’t jump well enough at a fast pace. That is why they are going to the Jewson. He is a future staying chaser not a 2 miler.
Good jumpers are those that take lengths out of their opponents at a fence. Master Minded, Denman, Kauto Star & Sprinter Sacre all do this. Horses that slow up to fences, lose momentum and pop over are not good jumpers. The ones that can continue going at full speed glide over accelerate out of a fence have a huge advantage. The thing is with Sprinter Sacre though even though one day like any horse he could make a mistake, so far if he meets one wrong he just fiddles over it without touching a twig. I don’t know how anyone with any racing knowledge could say he looks like he’s going to fall. He is going to jump this Arkle field into the ground. It’s looking like a small field as well if Kid Cassidy goes Grand Annual & Bog Warrior 1.01 not to run he may just have 5 or 6 rivals. That would be another big advantage imo.
Oh dear chaps look at what you are typing and have a think about it. The best jumper of a fence since Master Minded and you think he will fall. Get a grip he’s the best jumper in the field by miles.
Lol these two crack me up tbfh.
Back on topic how can we see the tactics playing out? I can see Cue Card & PC kicking on from the front. SS just in behind with Al Ferof creeping through the race from off the pace. Have to say I can’t see AF out of the three unless he gets terribly outpaced but he should be ok. It will certainly be run to suit. I’m hoping SS will come off the corner in front and stretch clear but if anything goes wrong Al Ferof the most likely to pick up the pieces. Should really be 2nd fav.
Henderson has no Triumph horse. The Irish never win the Triumph. Saddler’s Risk ran ok & you could see Cheltenham suiting. Babymix was better than last time but couldn’t be too confident he can reverse form with Grumeti & Pearl Swan who to me look to have the best form on offer at Cheltenham which is another bonus. I think all things point to Grumeti which is nice as I’ve fancied him since his debut. His run today was very pleasing and connections hope it will bring him on. Jumps very well and described as a well built and strong 4yo which I think is important. I also think the better ground in March will suit.
In regards to Minsk hyped up Triumph horses generally don’t win the race. Can’t have him on my mind. Nice to see Dildar, Une Artiste, Grumeti & Saddler’s Risk running tomorrow. Should give us some indications on the Tiumph & possibly the Fred Winter.
Grumeti still the one I like a lot. Can see Hobbs’ horse going well. Not sure about Lyvius tbh but interested in Une Artiste if she has another run soon. I don’t know why but I like something about her and feel she will come on a lot for the run at the weekend. Dildar would be the same if he wasn’t terribly overhyped and underpriced..
Nobody has made much of a deal of it in the press but the wind op has been known since the start of the season. Possibly due to the fact at the time everyone was talking about Peddlers & Al Ferof. Here is a link-
Sprinter Sacre wins the Arkle
I stand by this. Truly an exceptional talent and has risen above even my lofty expectations. He’s the real deal and Nicky Henderson said something worthwhile for once early on in the season when he described the horse as "frightening". I couldn’t agree more. Monster. I thought he would be making performance’s like that in the future at Newbury but not after 3 runs as a 6yo.
How can Peddler’s Cross be the price he is I have no idea? On chase form he has won 2 Mickey Mouse races as he should & then got slammed at Kempton. Don’t get me wrong I’m a fan of the horse and he’s the highest rated hurdler but he’s not run up to anywhere near his best since the Champ Hurdle. People must have a lot of faith to back at that price because any other horse would not be 3/1 based on his recent form. I can’t see how he is shorter than Al Ferof tbh. He has a great record at the course & a really nice profile for the Arkle but surely underpriced.
