I can't believe the weight thistlecrack is getting. I wouldn't be surprised if Colin's sister routed the lot of them. There would be pandemonium on here.
2.25 Newbury- 00 Seven- 10/1 Was entered for main race on Saturday and got taken out and put in this. Is a very smart chaser and has some of th strongest form in the field and is running off the same mark he has been the last race altho those races were the RSA (finished 5th) and the Topham (finished 4th) this a lot easier than that race and altho he has be 100% to win as this mark doesn’t leave a lot of room for errors.. He has 100% record when racing over hurdles and chases in class 2 races or below, he has won first time out so fitness won’t be an issue. I can see him to have been aimed at this race and it looks the money is coming for him too.
I’m not being facetious but as Thistlecrack hasn’t run over hurdles since April ’16 why, on earth, would you expect him to have penalties in this race?!? Don’t forget Colin’s Sister is penalised, people. Yes, she is receiving a pound from Thistlecrack but in reality she is 6 lbs ‘wrong’ with Mr Tizzard’s beast (if it were a Grade 1 Championship event). And gosh if it was a handicap she’s 22 lbs ‘wrong’ (perches of 174 and 151).
Well I’m on can I recommend that, for their health, certain forum members don’t look at the current issue of ‘Private Eye’. I must confess that I loudly guffawed when I saw the front cover in the old railway station newsagents earlier this morn. To use a ‘Sesame Street’ analogy the current edition of ‘Private Eye’ is brought to you by the word ‘actress’. Very funny.
It's an interesting race, wouldn't back either TC or UKWIMH at the prices, they should slog it out though, Thistle gets the weight and goes well fresh but first hurdle race in a while whereas UKWIMH is the hurdle king at the moment and has had a race already this season. Colin's Sister is the unknown and gets a chunk of weight and could pick them both off in this lesser type race, so at the prices I'd have a tenner on CS. But lumping on either TC or UKWIMH is stupid tbh. But should be a great race anyway
Yes, but was the best part of 2 years ago! The conditions don’t take these into account and you can’t go on penalising horses for things they did, comparatively, a long, long time ago. I actually think Mr Tizzard, who I moan about for other reasons, has found the ideal race here for Thistecrack. He’s nicely imposted and however he fares this ‘sighter’ should bring him on enormously for the bigger targets that lie ahead. I think he will win today but appreciate that this heat, provided he returns in full health, will not make or break his campaign.
Thistlecrack took his World Hurdle a full 7 seconds quicker than Nicholls Canyon (Harry 4.5 lengths back in third). Seven seconds on the same going. That's the Ferrari engine.
This is a cracking race and thistlecrack will have to be at his best today. If he hoses up then fine but not with my money. Colin's sister is an unknown but is improving.
If Thistlecrack has fully recovered from his tendon tear then he should have no trouble winning this. We won't get 5/4 in any other race outside the Gold Cup unless he is turned over today. According to Timeform, positive vibes are coming from the stable, so I think I would risk the 5/4 in the hope he is fully back on track.
Good old ‘Jacques’! Hope the regular readers got the cryptic clue. That looks £150k well spent to me. I’m still struggling to comprehend how those bookie chappies had Santini as the stable 2nd string!
She most definitely is NOT getting a chunk of weight. A win here would see her very short for the Stayers in March where she would be better in at the weights I believe (certainly with Thistlecrack).
That's my reason for backing her today. If she wins it blows the stayers/ mares hurdle wide open. Il be happy to lump on today and just top up after when all the value has gone. Despite what the stable says I'd be worried about thistlecracks long lay off.