Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Thoughts on this horse please. Where should he go for the rest of the campaign??? You either look at him, right now, and think (i) he really has got nowhere to go and is going to be incredibly hard to place, or (ii) he’s got an absolute plethora of possible options and is therefore mega exciting. You, as they say, pays your money and takes your pick. A 151 rated hurdler he has now been given a perch over the big ‘uns of 148. Has to date won a bumper, 2 novice hurdles (including at Grade 2 level) and a novice chase. Claimantakinforgan has also ran at the last 2 Cheltenham Festivals finishing 3rd in the Champion Bumper and then 5th in Supreme Novices – beaten 2.75 and 5.25 lengths respectively. And that ultimately is where you would imagine he will run again in 2019 all being well. Where he goes though is anyone’s guess. It could be (will be qualified for the handicap chase route, incidentally, after 1 more run) – (i) The Arkle. Currently 33/1 although was readily brushed aside by both Lalor and Dynamite Dollars over 2 miles at Cheltenham 9 days ago, (ii) The JLT. Currently 25/1 and has to be an option after not having the pace to cope with the above 2 horses last time over the minimum trip. A step up in distance could bring about further improvement, (iii) The Grand Annual Handicap Chase. Quoted at 20/1 and would obviously benefit from a step away from the very top league, or (iv) The Festival Plate. Could be a double plus as Claimantakinforgan may enjoy the drop in grade and step up in trip. They would be the obvious targets but my own pick would be to give him 1 (or maybe 2 would be needed) ‘nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more…’ runs and as a result lower his perch to the 145, or lower, mark and then he is qualified for the novice handicap chase at the meet (now a 0-145 event and as a result has been made a total ‘cheaters charter’ of a race. Now even more so than the ‘Pertemps Final’ in my opinion) . Off that sort of figure I couldn’t see much getting near Claimantakinforgan. Now, at this stage, I can hear my regular readers hollering (either that or the voices in head are back), ‘That will never happen his trainer has the straightest bat in our sport’. And they are unquestionably correct so I’m sure it will be up to the owner and designated saddle monkey to conspire in secret without the great man’s knowledge – hey, just like that rogue of a vet did a few years ago. What, what, what, what, what, what, what?!? Another alternative would be to go down the ‘Buveur d'Air route’ and return the gelding to hurdles after 2 runs in novice chases. Given some of his form 151 does not look particularly harsh at all (this would open up the County Hurdle and Coral Cup as options) or maybe they would tilt at the old windmills and go for the Champion Hurdle itself! Bold, with a capital ‘B’, plan and all that. So by my count that’s 8, I say 8, possible Cheltenham Festival targets for Claimantakinforgan! I’d opt for the novice handicap chase (after a bit of nudge, nudging, etc…) route but what would you do???
JLT too - might as well try him up in trip in novice company. To be honest I think he needs another year, not really filled out his frame yet (as opposed to me) and I think he will make a fine second season chaser and could be one for next year's Ladbroke Gold Cup (formerly Hennessy). Go easy with him this season, keep his education going and maybe try and pick up a nice pot or two on the way.
Am really intrigued by how he runs next time (or perhaps that should be how he’s asked to run). Claimantakinforgan obviously isn’t going to get into the 0-145 race at the Festival if he romps home by 25 lengths but a defeat worthy of a 3 lbs lowering in his perch and hello! he’s in – draw stumps and wait for March and all that. Must confess my roguedar is flashing uncontrollably right now. Next time will obviously tell us a lot more about whether it’s the very top table or the handicap route connections pursue at the ’19 Festival.
I would either stick/revert to hurdles but not aim high and not win or aim to get into that novice handicap you mention. If I was happy with his jumping I'd go for the latter. Then as Oddy says
Surely the grand annual is the obvious- will be a step down in grade ran over 2m is usually at a rapid pace which will suit him and as it his fathers race he will surely want to win it! (Something he does more successfully than David pipe )
The conjecture is both interesting and seemingly endless ... I’ll ask the owner when I next see him in the pub .. I’ll be back Sir Barney !!
No idea where he goes. 3rd in a Champion Bumper and 5th in a Supreme means I'll pay close attention wherever he turns up in March.
Saw in the ‘Weekender’ yesterday that they have announced that they are to have horses trained in Ireland (no possible trainers mentioned). Not sure if this is a step up in the operation or if they will simply be re-routing new horses that would have gone into training with someone like the Lieutenant, Alan King or Dan Skelton. Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how Lust For Glory fares stepped up to Listed company at Newbury on Saturday. Can see it be the natural race on her way to Grade 1’s.
They see lust for glory as this seasons BIG chance to win at the festival - this is their short term aim - a festival winner. They are looking forward to taking on the Mullins mate in the first at newbury in Saturday - nudge nudge ...
Claimantakinforgan set to be sold next month then as part of the Grech / Parkin dispersal sale. 29 animals will go under the hammer in total and over a third of them are unraced under rules. Some smashing prospects will be up for grabs, team. Here’s the full catalogue should you be interested - https://issuu.com/_goffs/docs/grech___parkin_digital_catalogue?e=30849840/69230084 Claimantakinforgan could be difficult to place as he will, very shortly, no longer be a novice over fences but providing he recovers from injury the ability is unquestionably there. I would have thought he’d go for a 6 figure sum.
Is being sold, at Goffs, tomorrow then. Any predictions on what the old boy will go for??? Very difficult to predict what he will reach but I’ll estimate £120,000. Here is Claimantakinforgan’s sales pages - https://www.goffsuk.com/GoffsCMS/_Sales/173/723.pdf?a=1
100k to Anthony Bromley, the sale topper though is INTERCONNECTED to PHIL Kirby for 620,000 which is a staggering world record for a gelding.
A truly staggering sum for a horse who in it's only race came second to one that was comfortably seen off by the JP horse (with SBCs favourite name) who got comfortably despatched by City Island in the Ballymore.
Have just read it is Phil Yates that bought him - he must really want to spend his inheritance coz at this rate he won’t have anything left!!
