Wow....well done to Navajo Pass..Donald McCain interviewed beforehand saying love being the underdog and laughing...they pulled that off.
I think Nicky Henderson will be OK with that. Has to run him at Sandown and hope he comes on a ton for this race to have any chance in the Champion Hurdle
Be interesting to see how First Flow goes here - should show how big the gap is between handicapping and true Grade 1 company. Waiting Patiently for me though - come on Hughsie, ride him on the pace, don't drop him in too far behind and pounce between the last two fences.
2 miles is too sharp for Waiting Patiently..2 miles 4 plus for him..looked like they were going just a shade too quick for him. Brilliant from First Flow..winning machine. David Bass booted him in to some of those fences and he jumped great..
Henderson saying straight to the Champion Hurdle with Buveur D'Air. Royale Pagaille now best-priced 12/1 for the Gold Cup and as low as 9/1 in places
4th and 3rd today. Buzz de Turcoing just outside the first 3..thought at one point it was nailed on .
Lovely to see Fergal get another graded win, Silver Hallmark jumped very well and I do think he could run a massive race at a festival, I expect they will go for the Marsh though! Royal Pagaille was very impressive, Oddy was certainly correct about him, but given he is a second season chaser will they throw the dice and go for the big one at the festival? Given the owner has Monkfish in the RSA and he doesn't look short of pace, I would think its a good opportunity to step up to the top race in the calendar. Great to see a bold ride winning the Clarence House, not sure the form is worth much but it was a lovely ride and the horse jumped beautifully for the jockey.
Nass the sight of David Bass throwing First Flow at those fences was spine-tingling. That’s what NH racing is all about - absolutely fantastic. A great day’s racing and you can only say well done to all the ground staff
Well done with your winners today, some superb tipping. Oddy i must say your input has been a breath of fresh air this past few weeks, excellent work. It's good to see racing appears to be coming to the fore long may it continue.
Interesting to read Brian Hughes comments about the ground being more soft/good to soft in the Clarence House Chase at the off and that they were hoping for soft/heavy ground. Politologue has been eased in the betting for the Champion Chase and what now for Defi Du Seiul who didn't look like he finished of his race? First Flow performed at a very high level on ground most people would have thought wasn't soft enough for him. For me it was the race of the season so far with 8 runners. The big guns turning up but being done by an improving horse. Great credit to First Flows' jockey David Bass who was so positive, put the faith in his horse and took on the fences with his mount. It was a brilliant race to watch and thoroughly entertaining.. Chacun Pour Soi is a red hot favourite for the Champion Chase but you wouldn't put it past First Flow to serve it up to him at Cheltenham..the horse is on a big winning streak.. Can anyone think of a better race so far this season?
Whilst there have been quite a few races this season which looked really tasty on paper beforehand, many of them failed to live up to expectations. But the Clarence House certainly delivered and hopefully it will encourage connections to have a go at these Grade 1 races, even if their horse isn't right up there on official ratings. Breathtaking to watch. In fact I'm going to re-watch it this morning
Not sure I agree, it was a disappointing race in behind with WP being outpaced and Defi being mediocre. I enjoyed the jumping up front, FF won nicely and Politilogue ran his race but I don’t think it was a classic and it’s a symptom of the times in the UK, everyone is saying that they won’t come up to standard against the Irish runners. Same was said after the Tingle Creek, King George and the Kauto Star. I think it’s really hard to name the race of the season so far in the UK, I enjoyed yesterday and I also really enjoyed Frodon in the King George. Funny old season.
Dave Bass is, of course, one of Nicky's boys. Learnt everything he knows from the great man, He's certainly riding great at the min and the question must be is he now in line to get a really, really big job???
Ultimately yes, WP and DDS disappointed but approaching the 2nd last both could have got into it being stout stayers and I found myself trying to gauge whether the gap was closing. As we know, it didn't, but that added to the spectacle of the race for me - wondering whether the front 2 had gone too hard and might be vulnerable close home. Sir Barney - the old Ivy Grower is having a good season, what?
