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The home of intelligent horse racing discussion

rory

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  • in reply to: Annie Power – unbeaten record #463876
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    Sir Ken

    won 17 on the bounce after being bought to race in the UK by Willie Stephenson, with the last of those 17 (one on the Flat) was his second Champion Hurdle win.

    Big Buck’s

    has famously beaten that record despite actually losing on his first 9 starts.

    In terms of horses who have gone unbeaten from day one,

    Bula

    is probably the best example, winning his first 13 races over timber (unraced on Flat/in bumpers), including the 1971 Champion Hurdle. He lost that record in a minor event at Newbury in October 1971, when failing by a neck to concede a stone to a horse called I’m Happy.

    in reply to: Reply To: Ruby Walsh #463561
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    ….should have pointed out that James Smyth rode an identical race on Tammy’s Hill at Down Royal in May 2012, almost lifting himself out of the saddle with his wild swinging of the whip. The only problem on that occasion was that he was nearly 10 lengths clear and going away at the time, earning him a 2-day ban for "striking a horse which was clearly winning".

    in reply to: Reply To: Ruby Walsh #463558
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    "027G Raymond Smith Memorial Hunters Steeplechase & The Stewards interviewed Mr J.J. Smyth, rider of Tammys Hill, placed second, concerning his use of the whip from the last fence to the finish line.
    Evidence was heard from the rider concerned.
    Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that Mr Smyth was in breach of Regulation 10 in that he failed to give his mount time to respond when using his whip.
    Having taken his good record in this regard into account, the Stewards therefore suspended him for one race day (23rd February)."

    Worth reviewing that race in which Smyth’s whip use from the last was ugly at worst and brutal at best. He has demonstrated an inability to use his whip correctly on a number of occasions, and shouldn’t be allowed to carry one as a result, imo.

    in reply to: NH horses out for the season #459126
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    Cloudy Copper?

    I don’t know for definite but he is missing from today’s trainer file in the Post and as far as I know the trainer hasn’t said anything publicly since he didn’t turn up for the Albert Bartlett. Typical O’Neill unfortunately. You can see why he and JP are a match made in heaven – shame he seems to have so little consideration for the general public who lauded him when he was a jockey.

    Hi Stilvi,

    heard today that Cloudy Copper had been sent back to Ireland after "having some problems", but will hopefully return at some point. Sorry I can’t be specific about the setback.

    in reply to: NH horses out for the season #458312
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    Thanks. Where was that lifted from?

    Gloucester Echo.

    in reply to: NH horses out for the season #458132
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    Cloudy Copper?

    I don’t know for definite but he is missing from today’s trainer file in the Post and as far as I know the trainer hasn’t said anything publicly since he didn’t turn up for the Albert Bartlett. Typical O’Neill unfortunately. You can see why he and JP are a match made in heaven – shame he seems to have so little consideration for the general public who lauded him when he was a jockey.

    From September 17th

    The Gold Cup and Grand National-winning trainer said Cloudy Copper’s chances of success would be improved by testing conditions.
    "He’s a lovely horse and he really likes heavy ground," he said.
    "He won his point-to-point on heavy ground in Ireland and won well at Exeter first time out for us.
    "He also won well in really soft ground at Kempton.
    "He then had a few injury problems, but we’re looking forward to him going chasing.
    "We think he’s a really nice horse to look forward to on really soft ground on stiff tracks.
    "He stays really well and hopefully he’ll make a really nice novice chaser."

    in reply to: NH horses out for the season #458130
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    "Won his 18th consecutive hurdles race at Newbury in December but unfortunately a small leg injury came to light soon after and we decided to put him away for the rest of the season. He’s been back in a week now, which is really a week earlier than I wanted but he’d got so fat . . . He’ll do six weeks of road work and start cantering in October.

    We’ll look to give him one run before he tries for a fifth World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, possibly in the Cleeve Hurdle in January, so long as the ground isn’t too bad. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t be as good as ever but we’ll see how we go with him and take our time."

    in reply to: Don’t commandeer ambulances… #445367
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    "Why would he ride back on a horse with a broken leg?"

    A very sensible question, and in light of Barry Connell’s complaint about the way in which his horse’s injury was dealt with, a rather ironic one too. Connell himself rode a horse called Ttipolovitch in a Listowel bumper a few years ago in which the horse broke down very badly on the home turn.

    Despite the injury being a severe one, Connell did, in fact, remain in the saddle after easing down so that the stricken horse could carry him home, before being mercifully dispatched by the vet (the poor horse, I should add, not Mr Connell, who wasn’t even pulled up by the stewards for such an appalling display).

    in reply to: Aegean Dawn #419512
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    Bit of info re: the Walford/Alner setup here:

    http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/repo … th-destiny

    in reply to: Aegean Dawn #419511
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    Not knocking Aegean Dawn per se – plenty of people thought the handicapper had made a huge mistake, and that he deserved a mark nearer 130 than the one he started on, but there’s an enormous gulf between "useful" and "top class", and that’s the simple point I’m making. I hope he does well for Robert Walford, and I’m delighted to see Paul Murphy giving him a chance with both Aegean Dawn and Carole’s Destiny.

    in reply to: Aegean Dawn #419475
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    This horse is entered In a grade 2 novice chase at Wincanton on Saturday.

    Looked potentially top class when winning its first 4 races, beating very good opposition on the bridle before it finished 16th in the Coral cup at Cheltenham. Not seen since.

    Obviously had his problems and is now back with Robert Walford where he started before moving to Nicky Henderson.

    Has the talent to be a top chaser but fitness not assured

    Thoughts???

    DEEMAN

    He hasn’t actually gone back to Robert Walford – it was Robert Alner who originally trained him, fwiw.

    I’d also argue that he never looked a potential top-notcher, merely very well handicapped, winning off a mark of 114 at Cheltenham on debut for Henderson. The runner-up that day has improved out of sight since.

    in reply to: Michael Hills #419358
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    I believe the limit for drivers (breath test) is 35 micrograms per 100ml, whereas that constitutes the upper limit under BHA rules. The lower limit is less than half that, at 17 micrograms per 100ml. While jockeys can’t really complain about falling foul of the rules, it’s quite a jump to suggest that a failed test is a sign of an alcohol problem, for all that alcoholism has long been a major problem within the sport.

    in reply to: Michael Hills #419357
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    If it was still in his system from the night before then he has got a problem.
    Never ceases to amaze me how nothing his ever really said about what is surely a problem in jockeys.
    It would be interesting if the BHA ever published figures about how many jockeys they breath test on a daily basis and what readings they get.
    Does anyone know what limit they work to. Is it the same as for the Road Traffic Law.

    http://newrules.britishhorseracing.com/ … 48&depth=3

    See part 5.

    in reply to: Michael Hills #419246
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    Channel 4 and RUK gave the statements they did, not because they were looking to "sanitise" anything, but because they were going on an official statement by Michael Hills himself that he was giving up his rides because he was unwell. They could have corrected that impression when the stewards’ report came to light, but I can understand the desire not to undermine Hills on what was to be his last day.

    in reply to: Answer this horse racing question then ask the next #418939
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    2)
    Only four men have owned the winners of the Kentucky Derby and Epsom Derby. Name them, their horses, and the years. Also for an extra point one of them is distinct from the other three – for what reason?

    a) Michael Tabor – High Chaparral* 2002/Thunder Gulch 1995
    b) John Gabreath – Roberto 1972/Proud Clarion 1967/Chateaugay 1963
    c) Ahmed Salman – Oath 1999/War Emblem 2002
    d) Paul Mellon – Mill Reef 1971/Sea Hero 1993

    Tabor has owned shares in several Derby winners, but High Chaparral was the one who won in his colours. He is the only one of the quartet who had the horses racing under his name, rather than that of a stable/business – Galbreath owned Darby Dan Farm, Ahmed Salman’s winners were under the guise of the Thoroughbred Corporation, and Paul Mellon’s Sea Hero ran in the colours of Rokeby Stables.

    in reply to: Answer this horse racing question then ask the next #418935
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    1)
    Three owners have seen their colours carried to success in both the Epsom Derby and Breeders Cup Classic (one twice!). Name the owners, the horses and the years.

    a) John Galbreath owned Derby winner Roberto (1972) and BC Classic winner Proud Truth (1985).

    b) Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum owned Derby winners Nashwan (1989) and Erhaab (1994) and BC Classic winner Invasor (2006).

    c) Princess Haya of Jordan owned Derby winner New Approach (2008) and BC Classic winner Raven’s Pass (2008).

    in reply to: Carruthers #418414
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    Starters have not been told to ignore jockeys, but the rule states that a jockey should only shout "no sir" in an emergency situation, and not simply because he’s unable to take up his intended position. In my view, Matty Batchelor could have jumped off perfectly well on Carruthers, albeit much further back in the field than he’d have wanted, but took a chance that by stopping his horse going forward (he clearly takes a tug), and shouting to the starter, he’d be able to effect a false start and get another chance. That may well work with less experienced starters than Simon McNeill, but is clearly a breach of the rules, and McNeill was correct to let the others go.

    I’ve got plenty of sympathy with the views expressed that the current 3m start is not satisfactory, and it’s probably the case that this wouldn’t have happened had they started 100 yards further back, or indeed filtered in from the hurdles track (as suggested by Ruby Walsh), but that’s a slightly different scenario.

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