Forum Replies Created
- Posts
I backed Twist Magic and accept it was one of those things, just as falling at the first or the last fence is (and I have had plenty that have done that).
Of course I’d like a run for my money, but as I’m sure many have said, starting is all part of the game and if a horse down tools at the start, or mid race, it’s the same thing. I know a lot of bookies returned stakes on King Johns Castle in the National, but at the odds he was, and the profile of the race, it was a P.R. exercise, rather than them wanting to play fair.I totally agree. Refusing to give evidence or to co-operate in an investigation is not a sign of guilt and if they haven’t got enough evidence to charge a jockey, then how can these men be banned?
My one concern with Elusive Pimpernel is that he only has 16 days to recover from the race. It’s the same with Canford Cliffs, he still ran a good time yesterday and is going to find it hard to produce another effort in 14 days time. I am not going to have a bet in the race, but I reckon one of the fresh horses will win.
Haafhd and Kings Best both did it in fairly recent years and I’m guessing in years gone past, a trial was regarded as essential. While training methods have improved and horses are gotten fit at home and with racecourse gallops, it doesn’t mean they can’t win after running in one. Though in the case of Canford Cliffs, it probably won’t be running in the Greenham that stops him.
now that it seems that the craven meeting and indeed the silver trophy day at cheltenham will never be televised again,theres no reason why some of this racing cant be move to a sunday when people who work for a living can actually watch it.
that kind of makes sense, except you can’t have all the meetings on a weekend, so there are always going to be the odd good untelevised race midweek.
Not read his book, but is there any inference in it that he’s marking time to an extent now before embarking on a training career? I’ve genuinely no idea whether it’s part of the life plan short- to mid-term to take over at Andrew Parker’s, for example – anyone?
gc
He certainly doesn’t rule out training horses, obviously he’s always been about them and he talks a lot about having his own ideas about how he’d do it etc. I think he’d find the whole getting and entertaining owners difficult, but with he in-laws behind him, then you could see him training a smallish string of theirs plus any other owners he got on well with in the past.
Does Parker actually train out of a Raymond Green owned yard? It would be hard on him to lose his job though, just to give Murphy a leg up.Bloke couldnt train ducks to swim
Who, Meehan? I think that’s a bit harsh, he’s done ok so far hasn’t he? So his best 2 year olds don’t train on to be good 3 year olds, but he’s not the only trainer who’s had that problem. He’s won enough big races with older horses though to suggest with the right horse he’s more than ok.
Interestingly, O’Regan not up on any of Howard Johnson’s horses today. Stable using Renwick, Hughes and Mania.Could the latter be in line as the new first choice stable jockey?
He was missing more and more rides for the yard in recent weeks at meetings he was at, so I guess this is not too much of a surprise.
I think St Nicholas Abbey should win (if he turns up), but I was taken with the run of Elusive Pimpernel. What he beat, I don’t know and time will tell if the form is worth much, but I don’t see it being out of the 3. Of the rest, Johnston can’t be ignored and if he thinks Awzaan will stay, he has to be listened to. Attraction didn’t have the pedigree, but she did.
Of the bigger priced animals, I quite like Xtension ew, but a lot can change between now and then.Thought it was really interesting that Merigo was only his 51st winner of the season. Either he needs a new agent, or he’s lacking in motivation. Having listened to him before he rode a horse of ours this season, I suspect firmly it’s the latter.
I recently read his book (written 3 or so years ago admittedly) and even there you can see that being evident. He seems happy riding the Johnson horses and when he can for his in laws plus the odd outside ride, but I guess at 35, with a relatively new wife and family, he’s at that winding down stage of his career.
One win doesn’t make you great and one loss doesn’t make you poor. Murphy is a very good jockey. His style has become more about relaxing horses but that doesn’t mean that’s all he can do. Like Spencer and Hughes, because that’s how they ride best, they end up on a lot more hold up horses. But I’ve seen all 3 ride from the front and win, just as I’ve seen great "clock" jockeys or guys who supposedly ride brilliantly from the front win with hold up horses.
I wouldn’t have thought Sheikh Hamdan was too impressed with Arcano’s preparation as it ran for the first time in his colours having been left with Meehan
I don’t quite understand. Arcano has always been with Mr Meehan, and was bought by Sheikh Hamdan after the July Stakes,
before
the Morny… so how "first time in his colours"??[/quote]
I was just about to point this out.
To say it was just a fitness issue is simplifying things and we’ll know more after it’s next run. There could be all manner of reasons he lost like he hasn’t trained on, didn’t get the trip, the Morny form was not all it seemed, the best 2 horses on the day beat him.
I’m always wary when trainers (or racing managers) like to get their excuses in first and maybe that was the case here. I guess time will tell, but he won’t be the first "superstar" 2 year old who never quite reached the heights.I’m glad you cleared that up, as I was sure there was a limit 15 years or so ago. Can horses in Ireland still switch back to bumpers after hurdles runs like they did or has that loophole been closed? I remember Hourigan doing that a lot.
I thought it was a pretty poor race and wouldn’t expect any of them to turn out to be much good. He’s a nice honest horse, but he’s not top class, indeed this year’s staying novices (maybe Long Run apart because of his youth) mean that the connections of Kauto, Denman and Imperial Commander can still be looking to next year with lots of hope, rather than fearing the next batch. Indeed they’ll get more trouble of last year’s bunch (What A Friend, Carruthers, Joncol and Cooldine).
I think The Nightingale’s record left handed meant he was up against it on Thursday and the fact Mad Max may have finished in front of him in the Arkle anyway but for that bad mistake 2 out. Osana ran a good race that day, but never looked like the winner and he seems one of them horses who keeps finding one too good.
Its probably not a great grade 1 but I will be backing Bergo to go on this good ground and based as much on some decent runs last year as his chase form this.I think it’ll be Zaynars race. The way the Henderson horses have been running this week and the extra distance all point to him. I can’t have Khyber for similar reasons as I couldn’t have Imperial Commander, He is best fresh (I know the Boylesport win was only a month or so after his Greatwood, but maybe ther others weren’t right that day). I also think as a 10-12f horse on the flat (I know he’s out of a Shirley Heights mare) this will stretch him a bit.
A real shame, but if we have train and run horses these things will happen. While I am a racing fan it sometimes makes you think about it and not just steeplechasers.
