STICK strikes again .. with the undercard selections .. great effort .. bu tI picked the wrong 2 .. hahahahaha .. hope other were more canny ..
I say the horse named after me has just won the 4.00 at Kempers Park at 14/1! I trust all the regular readers were on. Cor blinkin’ blimey I’m off for a march and a salute to the dear old ‘payout window’...
When posted this was 13/2, the money certainly came for him into 2/1 on the off, sure did go close. Had a bit of bad luck in running but came up just short
ATR just reported that Hurricane Fly will go for the 3 mile hurdle at Punchestown. Just logged on to watch this Greatrex horse in the Newton Abbot bumper - La Bague Au Roi. Lovely name for a filly
As impressive as Greatrex bumper horses are, you have to be brave to back an even money shot that's never run before. Won nicely in the end though
Regarding Hurricane Fly, it was amusing how much delight Matt Chapman took in stating that Faugheen would hammer him easy again, and you have to agree with him. I wouldn't want to be backing him in the 3 miler though, as I've always felt Hurricane Flys weakness even in his prime has always been stamina. Rock On Ruby and Overturn proved that in the CH a few years back. If the race is turned into a test of stamina rather than a slow pace with a sprint finish, Hurricane Fly gets found out. This is why HF has excelled so much over 2 miles in Ireland as in Irish racing they go slow then kick most of the time. But over 3 miles the race will not be decided by who has the best turn of foot, it will be decided by which horse stays the best. You add in that it will likely be spring ground this time of year, and HF is a proven mudlark. Then he has to be a massive lay at 9/2. Jezki has an entry, and he'd have a more realistic chance stepping up to 3 miles on good ground
Looks a hot little contest that - I expect the 2 sons of Yeats to appreciate the sounder surface and the form of the Hobbs horse looks pretty decent. One for watching with the old notebook out I think
It was always about whether she could beat the Bowen mare in receipt of 7lbs, and Greatrex is a master at getting them ready first time out. I truly believe the time to catch his bumper horses is on their racecourse debut.
Thanks for bringing up the Hurricane Fly 3m entry Oddy and interesting points Shergar. I know he has won many a race on turn of foot over the years but actually he has done it in soft ground and to me he isn't short of stamina. He was winning at 2m 4f in soft in his pomp and as we know, Solwhit went on to win a World Hurdle. I think given that he seems to lack a gear now on good spring ground against the top 2m horses, I understand Willie's thinking. 9/2 would be a pretty fair price if you think he'll stay but it has the sounds of a race that might throw up a surprise so I'd have to think about the race a bit more before deciding.
He did win over 2m4 with his preferred soft ground, though that still doesn't satisfy my stamina concerns, as it was a slowly run affair from what I can remember. I also fail to understand why changing distances is going to help a horse who's past his prime and on the downgrade. As he's still going to be past his peak whatever trip he runs over. He doesn't like good or better ground either, his form proves this so at 9/2 you'd have to be crackers to invest. Sorry Toppy I do however agree with you about the race potentially throwing up a suprise, as the 3 at the head of the market Jezki, Hurricane Fly and Rock On Ruby are all passed it Champion Hurdlers with stamina to prove. Dedigout is next in the betting, and even though he's got plenty of class, he is also a massive mudlark. Perhaps it could be Thousand Stars chance to have one last day in the sun, he ran well at Fairyhouse considering the ground was against him, so on the spring ground he could be the one to side with, as atleast he has proven stamina
The Fly has won several of his races in the months of April and May and mostly all were on good ground. A lot is always made of him and heavy ground but he's just been a class horse and one that at his best is effective on anything barring firm.
In his prime he could get away with good ground, though as he's aged he needs everything in his favour to win. Even Jezki was able to beat him at Punchestown last year on good, and Jezki never beats him in Ireland normally
