The bumper just got interesting. The Crawford's have been tearing up the UK bumpers this past few weeks. Gilt Shadow runs in the Irish Champion Bumper after a rubbish run LTO. I did say to myself at the weekend after their bumper double a I'll be backing their next bumper that runs in a big championship. Blackmail was well fancied for the Cheltenham bumper but ran poorly. If you like Moyle Park then Blackmail has to be of interest today at 10/1. Patrick Mullins was very open when talking about Outlander and Briar Hill and basically said he didn't know which was better but would have looked a fool not opting for the Champion. If there's nothing between the two the Outlander is going to hammer this field.
Have had a small e/w on Happy New Year 20/1 in the Punchestown opener, he's certainly up against it but if he's on song his front running tactics may prove difficult to reel in..hopefully! Very speculative bet. Goodluck all.
Unlucky Boris. Thats the first time she's ever run well after a break which put me off but ran a cracker. May well come on for that run as well.
I noticed she had never went close off a break but with the drop in weights, her record at the track and her record with the 5 pound claimer I overlooked it. Looekd seriously well handicapped on that listed Ponty form behind Mince with a lot of much higher rated fillies around her.
She's definitely on a fair mark but wouldn't say she's ridiculously well handicapped or anything. I always take the form of front runners with a pinch of salt so I wouldn't necessarily say she's as good as the 3L defeat suggests. Thoroughly admirable front runner though and she should be winning races this year now back with Mike Murphy.
Had a great day at Punchestown, weather was lovely and was a fantastic day's racing. Even managed to get handed a complimentary free ticket for the reserved enclosure whilst queuing up, must be my good looks! I've been to this festival on quite a few occasions but never have seen crowds around the parade ring like it was yesterday to see Sprinter Sacre! He got the most fantastic reception and kudos to Nicky for having the nerve to take in another Festival with him in such a short space of time. He'll deserve his summer hols more than most now (SS that is, not the trainer!). Hopefully he'll be back again next year. I've little doubt he wasn't at his sparkling best yesterday but huge credit to the 11 year old Sizing Europe, 4 years his senior and the only horse we've seen yet make a semblance of a race of it with the aeroplane. He enhanced his reputation yesterday and I'd say Cheltenham's 19 length defeat was very harsh on him after slipping on the bend. Other observations: Moyle Park, was very, very tenacious and looks like a horse with speed and stamina. Tend to see most top bumper horses as 3 milers nowadays but this guy's definitely got some toe and maybe just keeps it for himself... Jezki got a well deserved day in the sun and maybe just Cheltenham's not his track... Mount Benbulben, like many others is a horse whose carried (and lost my hard earned) before and of course run amok when free of this burden to win by an easy 22 lengths at 14-1 .... Sizing Machine is surely going a win next time out- 5 or 6 seconds in a row now it is... Highlight was of course Sprinter Sacre, gorgeous horse. Well worth the trip to see.
Packed around the parade ring beefy wasn't it, I strolled over after the race and thought i'd get close as usual but I was 5 or 6 rows deep back! Cracking day had.
Good shout Toppy, was between him and Another Cocktail, fell on the second. Knew that Johnston horse was a monster lay.
Was indeed STH, never seen it like that even for the great Kauto Star when he was at Puchestown or the twice he was at Down Royal! Only time I'd compare it to was Leopardstown Champion Stakes day for Sea the Stars...now I'm not a massive fan of flat racing but just had to make the pilgrimage for that race and there was almost a nervous tension in the air whilst he strode round the ring before the race. That was something else, it really was... Yesterday I got a place at the pre-parade ring after the preceding race was over but it of course was then swamped by owners and jockeys in advance of Sprinter Sacre coming out, by time I left it to get to the parade ring it was about 3 or 4 deep Great day. Read in paper was over 18,600 in attendance which they said was a record but I think they meant record for the first day attendance, as I know today's (Gold Cup day) is generally even busier from making the journey several times to watch my namesake run!
I think they meant record opening day attendance also. Was good to see SS there because he may never be back over, ya just never know..certainly a big draw though.
Gassin Golf getting smashed up, 5/2 Call Me Bubbles will do for me, very taken with him last time, straightforward and he really quickened up when Townend went for him, should have too much speed for Gassin Golf.
bada bing the champ strikes again i thought 11/8 was a massive price but a drift to 7/4 was ridiculous. Take it to the bank pilgrims.
