Friday's Meetings Newmarket Flat 7 Races 1:10-4:45p.m. Goodwood Flat 7 Races 1:25-5:00p.m. Musselburgh Flat 7 Races 1:35-5:35p.m. Punchestown Festival(E) N/H 8 Races 3:40-7:40p.m. Cheltenham(E) N/H 7 Races 4:35-8:05p.m. Newcastle(E) A/W 7 Races 5:37-9:00p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Today’s one to avoid 14:20 New please log in to view this image 5 - Diego Ventura @ 17/2 14:35 Good please log in to view this image 5 - Tattersall 19:30 Chelt please log in to view this image 13 - Go Go Geronimo @ 8/1 Win good luck
Fascinating clash between State Man and Constitution Hill later today. State Man had struggled earlier in the season but looked right back to his best in the Champion Hurdle before tipping up at the last. CH has blotted his copybook the last twice and connections will be hoping for a clear round. He'll certainly get every assistance from the saddle . Two very good mares getting 7lbs from the principals but barring mishaps it ought to be between the big two - famous last words
Constitution Hill out with the washing. His fluency has gone and I can't help thinking it has been trained out of him with all this schooling over fences. I'd say retire him and treasure the memories.
That was too bad to be true though wasn't it. Whatever about him getting beat a few lengths, he was beat a half a mile out today. State Man did his part and won well on the front end, good ride and he's as solid a yardstick over 2 mile as you'll likely see. Not sure what the future of CH is from here but I do feel that from being a potential superstar he has now somehow ended up among the mediocre of the Champ hurdle winners. Can't all be superstars and I guess that fault lies with us in hoping that they are. Still a very good horse in his own right.
As the old saying goes..."It will either kill him or crown him" let's hope the latter if that is the path taken.
The difference between Mullins and tHenderson for me, is that Mullins seems ill afraid to run them instead of wrapping them in cotton wool. You could say CH has gone soft, Molly coddled.,
Nice win by Bellum Justum yesterday. Before the race Balding said he'd been into the pies over the winter and had needed his (disappointing) run at Newbury, which was his first since August. He said he was still overweight and needed this run. Well he may have, but it was a terrific staying performance that saw him grind down the favourite Silver Knott. He seems to love top of the ground and if it stays this way races like the Coronation Cup and the Hardwicke look obvious. It remains to be seen if he's good enough for races like the KG or the Arc. Though inbred 3 x 3 to Green Desert (a champion sprinter) he traces back to the dam of those Clive Britttain warriors Luso, Needle Gun and Warrsan.
Agree entirely. A few fresheners in smaller races would have done his confidence and jumping no end of good. This concentration of top NH racing around 6-7 weeks at the end of the season should be looked at.
