Mourad RV. I watched Mikael closely this season for signs of a resurgence, but he looks like he still has a gear missing. Mourad is a game bugger when given the right sort of ride so it made sense today at those mad prices.
Here's my theory. Horses tend to start at shorter trips and then step up as required. The real top class horses have the pace for 2m or 2m4f so they don't need to step up in trip as novices. However, the slower types are stepped up to 3m straight away because they aren't good enough to hold their own at shorter. I think this is why the Arkle has historically been a far better race, both for potential Gold Cup horses and for good horses in general. Therefore, because the best horses can handle the shorter trips they run in the shorter races, and leave the out and out stayers to fight out the RSA. When the speedier types start to step up in trip they expose the RSA horses who lack that extra gear. This might give the impression that the RSA is a hard race in that the principals might disappoint afterwards. However, I would argue that the race isn't as tough as it is made out because the horses that run in it disappoint afterwards because they then start to face the better novices who generally run over shorter as novices, not because the RSA is a hard race as such. Obviously there are exceptions and that explanation is very generalised but I think it holds true to a certain extent.
Coat AND hat I think for that one Dan SOund theory Zen - odd exceptions like Denman but overall I think you're probably right. The Weapons Amnesty race was a pretty decent renewal
Just seen Mono Man likely to return in a 2 and a half mile listed race this week. Looks like he is Neptune bound. Which is odd, given that Simonsig is not 8/1 for that race and almost 14/1 for the Supreme on Betfair right now. Not convinced I'll be landing the hat-trick in this next Irish race- money has come for the fav and they dont often get the favourites wrong 3 times in a row in Ireland!
Got to laugh at the racing today, desparate events indeed. See that old rogue Mik D'Hag mugged Ruby and a few of you guys, madness indeed, very bad horse. Stevenage giving the yids a good match
He is entered in no less than 6 Novice Hurdles in the next few days. 3 are at 2m, 2 at 2m3f and the Sidney Banks over 2m4f. Not sure any firm conclusions can be drawn from that. Have you seen anything saying where he is headed Toppy?
Barry Geraghty booked for him in the 2 and a half mile listed event Zen Betfair seems to be telling that story in their AP markets too. Utterly bizarre, I thought he'd be a great addition to the Supreme if they had him fit given that he looked to have the beating of Colour Squadron on his only hurdle start.
