really bad news this (especially as I am planning to go on Saturday!) I can't see him running as they are unlikely to want to take a chance on him. at least the race will become a betting proposition I suppose. hopefully there is nothing too much wrong with him though - thats the main thing
Couldn’t agree more. A horse like this you only run if he is 100% right. The ‘Tingle Creek’ in his absence though could become one of the poorest Grade 1 ‘open’ contests ever staged in this land. Being slightly cynical though I do have compliment old boy Hendo on the ‘gamesmanship’ he has employed in not revealing all until after the final declaration stage. Had he done so prior to this you can guarantee that the standard of opposition would have been considerably higher. If the ‘black aeroplane’ doesn’t make the line-up Captain Conan will have it much easier than if the ‘problem’ had been highlighted a few hours previously.
Will be gutted if he doesnt run as likewise steveo am going on saturday too. If you or anyone thats going fancies a forum meetup for a beer let me know.
Likewise and was excited to see him running but got bit more worried as I was reading further down the card
Taquin Du Seuil all day long for me - he will take this (and demolish Dodging Bullets in the process) so that the thick-headed owners will realise TDS is their Arkle horse, not Dodging Bullets
Tarqin du Seuil for me in the novice race too, thought he done very well to beat Oscar Whisky in a sprint the last day and I still can't forgive Balder Succes that fall 2 races ago when I had too much riding on him
Did anyone believe for one second this will he / won’t he saga over Sprinter Sacre. They tried to make it a ‘cliffhanger’ but he was never going to go and it has now been confirmed! As I said above I know it may be cynical but to my eye he was never going to run and the announcement wasn’t made until after the final declaration stage so as to present Captain Conan with a relatively easy chance of winning a Grade 1. Not saying the latter will win but I will say that his task would have been considerably tougher had the announcement about Sprinter Sacre been made on Sunday. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more. As for that Grade 1 novice chase. What does it say about the state of British racing if such a prestigious contest, and one of the best of its type outside the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals is being run for a total prizepot of £40,000?!? Totally disgraceful.
Not a damn thing new here, but it begs a repeat? UK & Ireland have bookmakers, who have never ever given enough back into racing regardless of all these sponsorships. France has the Pari-Mutuel, which ploughs back huge amounts into horseracing. Simple. Will we ever learn? If a punter wants the best prices on his or her fancies, then that's the price to be paid, i.e. masses of horse races with laughable prize money on offer. It's really tough for owners; they really do do it for love.
Agree with Stick no way will TDS and Dodging Bullets run againsy each other, it make no sense unless they really wanted to find out who the real 2 miler was. They've made it pretty clear that Dodging Bullets is their Arkle horse so TDS seems a certainty to head for the Jewson at this stage unless he runs and hacks up over the shorter distance and makes them think again. Tingle creek is now a fascinating renewal althouhg obviously lacking jumps racings superstar. Can we trust Somersby to run two good races back to back these days? Personally I'd be with Captain Conan and I don't think Barney is too far from the mark with his assessment of the SS saga this week.
