Wooly, I never meant to cause you any trouble, never meant to cause you any pain but I just can't see past young Purple Bay...Purple Bay Purple Bay...
It's a long, long time off the track. It's essentially a run to nothing to get him more relaxed for his chase return after this. Cannot imagine they'll be hard on him and although he battered everything in a Neptune hard held, he just needs a nice reintroduction today. It is sorely tempting but I think you have to know the risks and be comfortable with he fact he might blow up late on and/or get a very tender ride.
The only way he will get beat is by himself! If he pulls to much then he will get beat but as Barry is on board I am pretty confident he will be able to get him behind someone and get him settle he won't have to be even 90% to win this apparent Jerry McGrath was going to ride him today had Barry not been available if he had I wouldn't be as confident !!
If Simonsig can settle early then he will prove tough to beat. They might send Bob's Worth forward today and let Simonsig tuck in behind perhaps.
I'm on Simonsig too Woolly. In an astute piece of gambling I took 7/4 last night Not a big bet though
Questions for the race... What sets the pace? Will it be truly run? Does Purple Bay stay the trip? Is Simonsig the same horse he was 900 days ago? Will he settle? Is the jolly fully primed? Is Commisioned ok after his pulled up lto? Will he stay the trip? Royal Boy, is he fit and does he retain his ability? Bobs Worth, is he going to be running from the front? If it's a false pace, the Bloomfield horse Commisioned surely holds the advantage with flat form, and speed?
Nass I truly think they made the wrong decision sending Simonsig over fences - he was always such a slick hurdler and travels so strongly in his races, I'm sure he would have gone close in the Champion Hurdle. I'm sure they'll want a lead for him today and I would expect Nico to go on on Bobs Worth and make it a decent stamina test.
I think they made the right decision but the horse hasn't been sound. Had he been we could be talking about a QMCC history maker. It's a massive question today about him.
****ing terrible. I thought he'd gone wrong 3 out and was going to be pulled up, just went out like the proverbial light.
Nass, Nicky's equine-medical achievements are legendary - has he really given Broxbourne the transgender op ?
Will go to France today for my Saturday flutter, the Grand Prix d'Automne (Hurdle - Grade 1) over distance just short of 3-miles, going v.soft: 2:45 Auteuil - Hippomène (Stacks of stamina in pedigree, and will not be inconvenienced by v.soft ground either. Trained by top French jumps trainer, J-P Gallorini). SP should be around 7/1, although that's often hard to tell, coupled in PMU betting with outsider Dulce Léo, same owner).
Looks tough out there today, will play into the hands of Melodic Rendezvous in the elite hurdle. He won it off 150 2 years ago and at his prime over hurdle he was rated 163, only slipping due to struggling in the 2 grade 1s and then a poor novice chase season.
I liked ATR summary .... these have more questions to be answered than an episode of Mastermind . One to watch only for me.
Few across the card wagers Donny 2.20 Iveagh Gardens 13/2 Donny 3.30-Cousin Khee/Penhill Wton 3.15-Irving 11/2 Nass 3.45-Bendala Bleu 3/1
