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I haven’t read all the comments here but my view is that Denman did not necessarily look like he was going to win even without the blunders. McCoy looked worried, the horse was not travelling as easily as some have claimed and the pack was closing.
I think Denman might have laboured to a narrow success but he could equally as likely have been beaten.
McCoy may not be the perfect choice of jockey for Denman but I don’t necessarily think he cost the horse the race.
Starluck/Silk Hall
Baddam/Picture This
Watch My Back/Private Be
King Troy/Just Amazing
Rajeh/Moonwalking
Kangaroo Court/Red Admiral
Miss Overdrive/Grand CrusI greatly prefer the Jumps to Flat racing for the following reasons:
1) Including obstacles adds an extra dimension of skill
2) Including obstacles adds considerably to the excitement. There is very little to excite in a flat race, decreasing as the races get shorter. Watching a 5f sprint in which horses just bomb along a straight track and some go quicker than others leaves me quite cold.
3) The jumps races last longer so you get more action to enjoy and more chance for a "story" to develop. I well remember the day, for example, when Bonanza Boy won a race I saw (live) after being miles behind with a circuit to go. Flat racing is much less likely to produce such "stories" within the races.
4) Jumps horses careers are usually longer so that the public get to know them really well and even to love & cherish them.
I concur with your point about Tommo’s commentary on the Eider.
He called some of the horses in completely the wrong order which I concluded was because he was watching, and misinterpreting, the TV pictures.
Unfortunately there seems little prospect of any Cheltenham races being won by a horse preferring fast ground ever again. Their dream scenario seems to involve starting the week at Good to Soft and perhaps, if it can’t be avoided, finishing the week with Good going.
Anyone in a position to buy a horse to be aimed at the Champion Hurdle, for example, must surely steer clear of fast ground performers.
I think this approach is a shame – why can’t fast ground horses have their day in the sun when conditions suit them?
It seems unfair to apply the power we have to soften the going from Good to Firm or even Good when we don’t have the corresponding power to "firm up" Heavy or Soft ground.
I am not sure that L’Ami could have won the race.
I do believe, however, that the jockey of L’Ami made quite sure that he couldn’t accidentally beat his stablemate.
Beckster – you obviously have inside knowledge but nonetheless we have seen just the same races. My feeling (which may be wrong) is that he is neat and tidy but he doesn’t seem the sort who will take a length or two out of the field at his fences.
I’ve no idea what "he goes of ay stride" means so i can’t really comment on that.
I’ve watched Noland in all his runs over fences and I just have a question mark about his jumping.
He is usually neat and tidy but doesn’t seem to me to be comfortable standing off and producing a big one when required. Gingertipster said that Sam Thomas popped Noland over the last 2 fences but this is more or less how Noland jumps all his fences. I think he is not the bravest jumper and worry that this could cost him an important race or two in the future.
If you liked Imsingingtheblues don’t neglect Oumeyade who was just as impressive at Kempton.
He ran the same time carrying 6lb more and, according to the Post is eligible for novice chases.I haven’t read all of the posts so I’m sure I’m not the first to suggest that Kauto Star was not at his best at Cheltenham this year.
Although Denman impressed me, my feeling watching the race was that Kauto was a bit "out of sorts" that day.
