[nighthorse]

I see they used a tape start for the Topham, with the usual hoo-hah and dummy throwing by the starter just because a couple of horses weren’t quite tight up to the main bunch

I just don’t see the point over 2 – 3 miles or more. There will always be some horses who are happiest bowling off in front, and others who are best kept at the back of the pack till they settle. They should trust the jockeys more to place themselves where they’re best suited.

Obviously that point of view doesn’t apply when a horse is actually trying to hide behind the rails like in the 4.20 Novice Hurdle

[nighthorse]

She looks a nice little filly (is she little or is it an optical illusion?)

Actually, she’s got a pony-ish look about her, but that might be cos of her furry little face Obviously didn’t fancy the clippers much!

Good luck with her

[nighthorse]

I’m so glad someone has finally seen sense over the National start. The carry-on with pedantic starters freaking out cos a horse had a whisker over the tape was ridiculous, and the false starts very upsetting to the horses.No wonder some of them got fed up and wouldn’t go in the end!!! And don’t even get me started on the National that never was – I thought the starter should have been shot for that one!!

If the rough line-up start is good enough for Cheltenham, it’s good enough for the National.

[nighthorse]

I know I am a relatively uninformed newbie compared to most on here, but surely the chances of a short odds, highly-fancied horse being substituted from the reserve list and upsetting the odds must be virtually nil.

Considering that, of the 40 horses who make the final cut, a large percentage of them are regarded as almost no-hopers at 100-1 or more, then the chances of a really good horse being left lurking on the reserve list must be nil. Any substituted horse is going to be one with a very remote outside chance (a la Foinavon) and not going to affect betting odds at the top of the tree.

So the idea that a brilliant horse might suddenly pop up and bo**ox things up is very, very far-fetched and not worth worrying about, isn’t it?

Or is there something here that I am not getting?

[nighthorse]

Must be so difficult breeding for NH potential, as by the time you realise you’ve got a Desert Orchid or Denman in your stable it’s all far too late, they are testically challenged!

[nighthorse]

I am starting to think that Choc really is a bit too whip-happy after seeeing him laying into VPU just after the last fence in the QM chase.

Master Minded was already a dot on his horizon, and there was no catching him, and the horses behind weren’t close enough to warrant that sort of walloping. I’m surprised nothing was said, but probably everyone was looking elsewhere

I just caught sight of it in the background so maybe my eyes deceived me?

[nighthorse]

Oh dear Zoso Inglis Drever too old, and what else did you say? Master Minded too young wasn’t it?

Did you also, by any chance, say Katchit was too small?

[nighthorse]

OMG! What are they feeding these 5-y-olds? First we had Katchit (and Punjabi) and now we’ve just watched Master Minded cruise up at a almost a canter !!

What a horse! A priviledge to watch that performance (with my mouth hanging open)

[nighthorse]

HI

OLD BENNY
VERASI
GOLD MEDALLIST
MASTER MINDED
KNIGHT LEGEND
WICHITA LINEMAN
MIGHTY MATTERS
RUSSIAN TRIGGER
BEAT THE BOYS
BIG EARED FRAN

[nighthorse]

To say a horse is too old at 9 is ridiculous.

Native Jack at 14 was not too old too jump round nearly 4 miles of fences on Tuesday and make 2nd, and Red Rum didn’t need a zimmer frame to win 3 Nationals. I know they’re chasers not hurdlers, but really!!!!

[nighthorse]

I am not 100% sure, and maybe I’m wrong (I’m sure I’ll soon be told!) it means an expensive highly-bred horse.

As an example, Desert Orchid was not a "classy" horse, and (dare I say it?) the great Arkle. That’s how I understand it anyway.

[nighthorse]

I may have already received an answer to this but, I must confirm.

Big shoulder/chest – small hindquarter = ???

Small shoulder/chest – big hindquarter = ???

Speed or stamina?

This is with regards to thoroughbred yearlings/2YOs.

Thankyou in advance!

Generally speaking, they all need a sloping shoulder and deep chest to be a good ‘un. This is often not in evidence in yearlings as they tend to look a bit "up at the back end" when they’re this age. I think you need to be an experienced horseman to tell how they are going to develop.

As for hindquarters, sprinters have big bums! For evidence of this google yourself a pic of an American Quarterhorse!! lol

For jumping potential they used to say look for the "Jumpers Bump" (steeply sloping quarters above the tail), but there are plenty of superb jumpers out there with a fairly flat top-line and high set tail, so that is not set-in-stone by a long way.

There have been loads of horses with "perfect" conformation and breeding which have not had talent as racers, and a fair few "funny-lookin-fellas" which have been very good horses. I think the ability to spot potential in a youngster takes half a lifetime amongst horses to acquire – and then some!

Hi Sean, looks like while I was writing all that you said a lot of it for me! But you reminded me that Red Rum was (IMO) a typical example of a flat horse in conformation – and we all know what he was best at!

[nighthorse]

Hi Katchit. I too am interested to know exactly how you are connected to the little guy. Are you directly responsible for his care?

Here’s wishing him a well earned break Do be careful if you turn him out with other, bigger horses – he just might bully them!!

[nighthorse]

15 hands? That’s incredible! Sooo cute – and sooo clever and tough! And he’s still only a baby – I can see him becoming the next "nation’s darling" or "housewives favourite". Hopefully we’ll have him for years to come

[nighthorse]

Just how small is the amazing Katchit? I asked on another thread with no joy. Have googled all over (even know his birthday now) but cannot find out how many hands high he actually stands. Someone must know Please?

Today my only winnings came from a pony ( darling Katchit) and an equine OAP (14-y-o Native Jack in the Cross-Country, 2nd @ 40/1). Small and old is beautiful!

[nighthorse]

Pasco (Cork All Star)
Kruguyrova (Ring the Boss)
Straw Bear (Katchit)
Fundamentalist (King Harald)
Kilbeggan Blade (Royal Auclair)
Harry Tricker (Crackaway Jack)

[nighthorse]

Thanks for all the advice. Had a tiny profit from my Lucky 15 at Taunton yesterday, but if I’d listened to my "gut" it would not have been so tiny!!

River Indus in the 16.50. kept calling me, but I chickened out cos there were so many more fancied horses . He came in at 17/2, but I would have had him at 16/1 when I placed the bet. It was the only race out of 4 that I didn’t have a placed horse.

Must get more brave

[Author]

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