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Thanks everyone. It’s lovely when it all works out as you picture it in your head! Adaay didn’t stay and Dutch Connection either didn’t stay or wasn’t fit enough. That was tremendously game from Toormore though. He has been called some names (by his trainer sometimes!) but you can’t fault his courage in seeing off Dutch Connection there.
The Belardo ride was not great, but Doyle was on a tricky horse who didn’t want to run in a straight line when initially asked to quicken. Still, you imagine he would have been involved in the finish if allowed to race a little more handily.
In an act of SEO warfare, the Coolmore-approved Aidan O’Brien Fansite now hosts a long, poorly-written history of the business entitled ‘Inside Coolmore’.
This appears on the first Google results page for queries like Black Horse Inside Coolmore.
I’m glad he’s going to make it, touch wood. Present View was always a very nimble jumper and a true star for the Snowdens. Hang tough!
Proportionally, Godolphin have had much greater success with outside trainers in the last few years. It’s staggering that they leave their in-house trainers in charge of millions of pounds of horseflesh. These Guineas scratchings are probably just the tip of the iceberg – we’ll never know how many potentially smart sorts come through their operation without ever making it to the racecourse.
Sheikh Mohammed must cringe and brace himself for bad news every time his phone rings with Chaz Appleby or Big Saeed on caller ID.
Is Silviniaco Conti also a likely runner? What a smash-up it’ll be if all these horses take part.
Johannes Vermeer and Hit It A Bomb both ruled out with setbacks. JV may also miss the Derby.
Could this be a last throw of the dice from BetVictor? After years of ever-worsening results, their market share has shrunk so far that they are directly competing with the second tier firms like 888, Betway, Betbright and co.
I think you would be a little naive to see anything especially moral or principled about BetVictor assuming ABP status. They have seized the opportunity to pounce upon vacant high-profile advertising partnerships in an effort to revive their fortunes. Although they are well-backed, this seems quite a gamble: the extra ABP costs and their hugely increased advertising expenses could cripple them if turnover does not improve.
I hold a difficult opinion on Becher’s Brook, just as I did about the ‘Granit Jack fence’ that Cheltenham ripped out (wrongly imo) a few years ago.
Surely the point of obstacles like these is that they are unusually difficult to jump. A drop on the landing side is rare on a British racecourse, so horses must meet the fence well and gain balance quickly on landing. A higher rate of falls (and thus more fatal falls) is inevitable at a difficult fence. Either accept the danger and put the onus on trainers to introduce a drop fence to their schooling grounds or rip the fence out.
I think difficult fences are a good thing. The premier racecourses in the country should have the stiffest fences and obstacles that present unique challenges. It would be hard to justify the prefix of the Grand National if there was not an inflated element of risk. I believe a National winner should have to clear a course that rewards them for being in the top 5% (if not 2%) for jumping ability.
The fact that Buywise* completed the course this year suggests that Aintree have already given way too far under pressure and Becher’s will be sanitised even more in the next safety review.
* a nimble horse but one with pins in his back legs that compromise his ability to get height over a fence
Amended due to non-runners
19:40 Wolverhampton – Batts Rock NAP
16:10 Ayr – Highland Lodge
14:10 Chelmsford – Sound Of Freedom
15:00 Ayr – Cloudy Dream17:20 Ayr – Oldgrangewood
14:25 Ayr – Bristol De Mai NAP
17:35 Bangor – Twist On Ginge
16:45 Ayr – Reaping The Reward
13:50 Ayr – Smooth StepperI’ll throw Marinero into the mix.
He is one of the most unexposed novice chasers around with plenty more sure to come as he tackles marathon trips. He’ll need to win a decent pot to handicap himself into the race of course, but he has shown glimpses of his staying prowess when the handbrake has been let off around three miles. He was entered in the National Hunt Chase and Irish National until the final declaration stages so Gigginstown and Tony Martin clearly view him as a potential National type.
A liking for good ground is also a good thing for a National prospect nine years out of ten.
Now I just need someone to quote him!
Highland Lodge anyone?
If Jimmy Moffatt has kept him sweet since his Aintree win (and the bullish pre-National talk hints he has), then there aren’t many better-handicapped horses in the race. It’s hard to forgive all those years of woofiness so quickly but I’ll be hoping he earns his moment of Wayward Prince style redemption.
Royale Knight and Goodtoknow were my next best with their form working out nicely.
14:25 Ayr – Bristol De Mai NAP
19:40 Wolverhampton – Batts Rock
16:10 Ayr – Highland Lodge
14:10 Chelmsford – Sound Of Freedom17:20 Ayr – Oldgrangewood
15:00 Ayr – Cloudy Dream
17:35 Bangor – Twist On Ginge
16:45 Ayr – Reaping The Reward
13:50 Ayr – Smooth StepperGutted. I’ve already got my ticket for Discover Ascot raceday later this month and Shalaa’s appearance would have made the day extra special.
How much of a trial will the Greenham be now that it’s being run on the AW at Chelmsford?
Probably a better one. You’d prefer to run your Classic prospects on a high-quality all-weather track instead of Newbury’s quagmire. The result will be more relevant to the 2000 Guineas too.
Sausalito Sunrise is rated over 160 and Hobbs has a slew of nice prospects coming through from bumpers. Sternrubin will be going chasing and he has a very well-handicapped hurdler in Wait For Me. None of those are superstars but I’m sure Hobbs will continue his annual winner churn and ride out the period of transition without too many worries.
Wishfull Thinking was an odd horse. He produced some amazing weight-carrying efforts, but could run a stinker when facing much easier tasks! Hobbs said the horse had more breathing issues than a chain-smoker so his longevity is a credit to the yard.
I lived in Liverpool for three years but the rowdy wastrels who turn up in April always kept me away from the National meeting.
Old Roan Chase day was my favourite. You get a clued-up friendly National Hunt crowd, the course is not overly busy and you get to see a nice mix of races – the Old Roan, the veterans’ chase and the 3m novices’ chase always being good events. The annual appearance of Monet’s Garden adds value to your ticket price too!
Even then, the course charges some ridiculous prices for sub-standard food and drink. I regret buying the soggy £8 fish and chips alongside my muggiest mug punts. £7 for a racecard is obscene too.
