Nass: Seem to remember your fondness for Sandown's Grand Military Cup day, hope you do well today. Went once to this meeting long ago (Sandown and Kempton being my 'local' tracks after the demise of dear old Hurst Park), and remember one or two of the military and amateur riders still 'hailed a taxi' at some of the fences. Certainly are a bit more polished nowadays. Sandown really is a wonderful racing venue, one of the very best IMHO. Doubt if I'll have a plunge today, still looking around at the form.
I am a big fan of these two days racing, not going this year as I don't want to see the outlaws!! That and four days of the festival would possibly send me over the top! Sandown for me is one of the best, much better than its up itself cousin Ascot, but not quite Cheltenham. There is something very special about Cheltenham.
Nass: Do agree, Cheltenham is absolutely special. As for today, in the last at Sandown (17:10) the favourite Valco De Touzaine really should take all the beating? That's about all I fancy today.
GRAND CRUS WILL MISS CHELTENHAM a source close to the horse said, 'he's **** and had no chance anyway so why does anyone care?'
If only they would let Quevega take her chance in the World Hurdle, surely she would slaughter that lot.
She's still entered in there Nass - after a nice schooling session on the Tuesday I'm convinced she'll turn out again on Thursday
I disagree that she would slaughter them. She has a fair bit to find on ratings and has to prove she'll stay a fast run 3m. Be great to see her line up but I'd be staggered if she did.
Mr Mullins said in his 'Weekender' stable tour that Quevega wouldn't be going anywhere near the World Hurdle next week. Does beg the question then why has he kept her in it?!? Would imagine though that she'd only go if something very unexpected happened in the Mares event - like her refusing to race or if she unseated the Ruby boy at the first!
Wait till Thursday morning .................. "She's come out of Tuesday's race in great nick and is absolutely thriving. She doesn't have many miles on the clock and we'll let her take her chance"
Oddy, even if she did turn up I think she'd be playing for 3rd at best. To my eye the front 2 from the Cleeve are miles ahead of everything else in the World Hurdle.
Look what she did to VLV over in Ireland last term. She is only rated 9lb less than Oscar Whisky and that is despite taking in a totally different sort of schedule, one that makes her very hard to attribute a handicap style mark to. She has won over the trip, in fact she is unbeaten over the trip and if she has doubts about staying the trip then Oscar Whisky would be best getting in his horse box to get up the hill! Take a line through the non stayer that is KGL and you can't say the Cleeve is a particularly strong race, in fact you would say that Quevega would have beaten her by at least as much over the trip if they had met. Take them on
Really wish connections would take that stance, Nass, but it would continue to appear that they just don't want to preferring a 5th, and potentially in the future even 6th or 7th, Mares Hurdle win rather than the money and kudos of winning a Grade 1 at the Festival. As I've said personally I don't think Quevega would beat either of the 1-2 from the Cleeve in the World Hurdle. I may be right, I may be wrong, but until they take the plunge and go for the big 'un we will never know. Which I think is actually a great shame.
Quevega only runs if she falls,runs out or is brought down in the early stages of the mares hurdle. Anyway,just an apple for me...want to be streamlined and svelte for next week. Cheltenham is not all about great racing...theres good sex to factor in as well.
Some of those promotion girls standing around the place in their jodhpurs certainly do it for me .......................
I see that old boy Sam Waley-Cohen gets some ‘match practice’ for Cheltenham by riding Mr Henderson’s big hope in the decent ‘Listed’ bumper tomorrow at Sandown Park. Could be the start of a mega week for the forum’s favourite Corinthian.
First cock-up from the "talent" on show at Sandown didn't take long. Ridiculous card of racing,only surpassed in ridiculousness by the Shergar Cup.
