In seriousness I do really like Minella Missile, but I think he’s going to be a much better chaser next season. Also Uncle Bert will be interesting next time out!
Yep, all very much to look forward to with those mentioned, some nice picks. What was the actual story with Rock Danse? I take it you were trying to win, or was there a nudge, nudge, wink as our Barney would say? The Tony Martin runner most likely was a case of bad ride by the inexperienced jockey, money was down and I'd say they were dissapointed not be collecting. Cat out of the bag and jockey hit with the ban deals an ever bigger blow. The McManus runner is interesting Gil, and he did appear to be handled tenderly enough. Will likely go off short enough nto. Minella Missile was good too. Is he a rangey animal? Felt he looked a little smaller and robust than the others but has an engine there for sure. Only downside for me is will his trainer be able to propel him onto even better things or fade into obscurity of handicaps around the Fog in Ffos Las? While slightly more obvious I was taken by Fact Or File. Travelled and jumped as good as you would hope on debut over Fences today. American Mike was primed and didn't miss a beat either but going forward I think the beaten fave could be slick over the intermediate trip. Something like the Turners in March maybe?
Burdett Road top contender for performance of the weekend? Most seemed to be laying him for sport sighting the conditions as problematic. Not sure how well the form will pan out so early but he showed a nice kick off up the hill to mark him down as a serious horse.
Having just caught up with the racing I think Nemean Lion has a decent handicap hurdle pot in him based on his Greatwood 5th. Carried top weight and spent 2/3s of the race tucked away. Then made an eye catching move to get on the heels of the leaders down the hill. Scruffy at 3rd last, momentum halting mistake at 2nd last and then wrapped the top rail at the last. Beaten 9.5 lengths overall. Brush up the jumping and he has some scope of 140
JPR One for me - not exactly „under the radar“ material but I thought he looked a natural over fences and was very unfortunate not to win. 33/1 for the Arkle seems fair
Minella Missile is a nice size of a horse for me, not over big but looks like a staying chaser with his frame. As you say, it could all go Ffos Las with him, but what is reassuring is that he went off such a big price on debut, so clearly he’s not a flashy type at home. He could just be a very progressive horse.
Worst possible result when you look at it from an owner’s perspective. We have only come second in a race we could have won and his mark is blown. At least we now know we have a racehorse.
"SwanHills, post: 17131074, member: 1013726"]A bit more blurb on this subject: [/QUOTE] Flagship Uberalles had previously carried the colours stars and stripes silks of Michael Krysztofiak and his wife Elizabeth Gutner. Explaining their decision to sell, American Krysztofiak said: “A lot of it came down to the amount of travelling we had to do. The last trip we made to the Tingle Creek was especially tiresome. An opportunity occurred to sell the horse and we decided to take it. We have had a lot of success with Flagship, but we have been brow-beaten by some hostile press coverage, and that has taken a lot of the joy and fun out of it.” Source: "Irish Examiner"
