Seen a bit of it on here this week so...... I could tell you that Nass has seen the betslip but do you really think he would corroborate my story? Well done mate, good to see you posting and racing being the main topic!
Fair point from Chan on the prize money but it can't just be that can it? An injection of fresh ideas would be good IMHO.
Nothing to do with methods surely Odddy. Trainers like Olly Murphy have been over there learning from Elliott but does it do any good. For years the Irish sold their best horses to the UK. These days I think they keep them for themselves.
For Christ sake... Sums up my festival... Townend a bit of a coward on the horses I backed him on, not attacking fences, not going for gaps... The one race I don't he goes and shoves my horse about 20 times during the race and again on the run in
I was really underwhelmed coming into the meeting but I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Winning helps I guess. What I would say though is that it has stretched too far. Someone said earlier in the week that the Boodles has ruined the Triumph and that is true. The mares novice races are not necessary or have a mares day, I dont know but it all feels a little diluted. To the last we go and my biggest bet by far of the meeting on LANGER DAN. I have actually backed him four times now adding a bit more when I had good wins. It wont hurt me if he loses and looking at Skelton this week he probably will. Had to have a couple of savers #; Dallas des Pictons was one of my very few ante post bets but he failed to get in the Pertemps! Floueur because I was convinced Joseph would win a handicap this week. I need Gentleman de Mee to run first five for a place yankee in the four handicaps I selected this week. Good luck to anyone who needs a winner in the last to get them out of trouble.
But it hasn't been just the "top notchers" winning all week has it? Look at all the handicap victories from Jeff Kidder, Heaven Help Us, Mrs Milner, The Shunter, Mount Ida, Belfast Banter and then the 2 winners for Gavin Cromwell. De Bromhead, Mullins and the ghost of Gordon are at the top of the Grade 1 tree but there have been plenty of races they haven't won but the Irish "second tier" has mopped up (with the exception of Vintage Clouds and Sky Pirate).
I can't ask for much more today but I have Gentlemen de Mee 14/1 e/w for the last race, I'm content for a place.
Apart from the horse racing of course, isn't it a shame that Rachel couldn't enjoy the massive applause she would have got from a packed grandstand for her outstanding achievement
Horse ratings in the UK are ludicrous, did anyone ever think Cyrname was the best around? You just look at the handicaps in the UK all season that the Irish have come over for, Chatham Street Lad was so well in. The problem is top to bottom, you’ve got horses like Cyrname et al rated too highly, everything else below is. our mare got a mark of 95 this week, she’s done f all in her races and in Ireland she’d be rated 70 against better quality animals who have the correct marks. She wouldn’t win a handicap off 95 ten years ago, these days she probably could run well if everything else is actually a 75 rated horse on inflated marks.
Look at where those horses were bred and I bet you will find that they were largely sellers to UK trainers in the past. The Irish have also been much smarter in getting tied in to the French breeders and trainers. If you did a tour of all the Haras you would find that all their top progeny are earmarked for the Irish market on fixed long term arrangements.
I’ve had every afternoon off and enjoyed it to a degree but it’s not the same. Very poor of the authorities to have the championship race on at 3.05 every day when I’ve had to collect the boy from school at 3.15. The Gold Cup tested me today but luckily only a 5 min walk. Had a good first 2 days punting wise, mediocre yesterday and a shocker today. I have the Pipe lurker in the last at 33s to restore parity. David Pipe has had a shocker in his ol man’s race but surely one day he’ll find one good enough or well enough handicapped.
Last throw of the dice ........ Langer Dan and Leoncavallo ....... please,please, I'll take anything!
I wasn't doubting you backing it at all, just not letting that open goal go, as I know you would do the exact same thing Been my best festival ever, I don't post any bets up here during the week ever over the past few years, messages are just lost in translation as there is a huge overflow of new and existing posters coming to give their tuppence, so I just read and have the craic around all of that, important not to take everything too serious. Life is far too short.
