Hope this doesnt sound patronising but Wierd Al was with Ian Williams, great perfomance from him. Thought TFR jumping was a sketchy at times
Unfortunately I missed the race, even more unfortunately I did manage to do my conkers on Poquelin. I'll catch a tape of the race tonight - whilst probably a surprise to many there's never been any doubting the talent of the winner though I have to say some of the quotes for the Gold Cup would appear an overreaction...
Grizzly - the quotes will be down to the new trainer as much as his performance mate, although he jumps from fence to fence very well
Just seen the prices re Weird Al for the 2012 CGC! Stan James are as low as 12/1, I say 12/1! Am I totally missing something here?!? Is this not the worst value in the history of worst value?!? He’s rated 30+ pounds below Long Run (although this may decrease a few pounds following Wetherby) and in the 2011 renewal pulled up when miles behind. Was also beaten a distance by Diamond Harry when racing off bottom weight in the 2010 Hennessy. Yes, Weird Al put up a ‘nice’ display on Saturday but that was a million miles away from CGC form.
He looked good but it is perhaps a reflection that the opposition were not as good as we thought. Time For Rupert should improve for the run but i still think, as i did before the RSA, that he doesn't have the class for a GC. He looks more of a grinder to me and that fits in with what TopClass says on the 'Spotlight' thread about his apparent preference for slower ground. That fits in with what i think about him. Whilst Weird Al looked good at the w/e i suspect that visual impression may flatter him slightly.
I was a little disappointed with Time For Rupert, I was hoping he would win. I didnt have any bets, as I'm not a fan of Paul Webber's ability as a trainer, personally if I owned the horse I would move him to a better trainer. TFR showed so much ability as a novice, and in my view would have won the RSA, in the hands of a decent trainer. Weird Al was impressive, don't forget he was unbeaten before last years Hennessy, where he clearly ran way below form, but he showed his class yesterday, giving TFR 3 pounds, and still prevailing. The first 2 did pull 28 lenghs clear of Chicago Grey in 3rd, who is a good horse aswell, so maybe the form is strong
I see where you're coming from Shergar. I think the loss of Diamond Harry was a blow because i think his presence would have enabled some more definitive conclusions to be drawn from the race. As it is it is possibly, and perfectly logical, to argue either way. Nicholls agrees with me that Poquelin was beaten before stamina became an isssue so he might be one to bounce back. His effort was too bad to be true. Perhaps he needed it, perhaps he is a Cheltenham specialist, perhaps he wants 2m4/5f? Lots of questions marks around him in my mind but maybe not one to right off at this trip right away. In his favour i think the ground was a bit slower than he would have liked. Seemed a bit tacky and consequently testing when he'd prefer quicker.
Zen....Poquelin to me has never been a top class horse, the only reason he's running over 3 miles, is because PN doesn't have the same ammunition he used to over the longer trips. So regardless of wether he ran below form, I don't think he would have troubled the first 2. Diamond Harry would have certainly made things interesting. The form of last seasons Hennessy is still difficult to access, particularly as the first 2 haven't run since. The win was off bottom weight, so I wouldn't be getting to carried away about the winner's ability, until I atleast see him with a proper weight on his back. I wonder where Nick Williams will send him, maybe another tilt at the Hennessy
