Just a bit of fun for a slow Monday morning. What do fellow forumites consider to be the best performance of the weekend? I'll kick things off with Raya Star. Alan King's 6YO Milan gelding took the valuable listed handicap hurdle at Ascot in tremendous style carrying top weight of 11-12 off a mark of 149. He was given a patient ride by Wayne Hutchinson and was delivered at the last to swoop past good horses to whom he was giving a stone and more and he will undoubtably come on for this. I immediately thought they would have to look at a graded race for him now and Alan King has confirmed that the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle over 2m4f could be his next target. What impressed me most was the authority with which he won - this looked a very strong race on paper and although the likes of Ile De Re, Ted Spread and Cape Express disappointed, Raya Star was chased home by well handicapped and fancied types in It's A Gimme (8/1), Claret Cloak (8/1) and War Singer (8/1). Which horse gets your vote and why?
It has to be Silvianico Conti (sp?) who sluiced up in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby. He was up against a good field of experienced runners but he made them look very moderate as he took off down the home straight to win with a good amount of style. He looks like he could be a horse to be with on the flatter tracks and he could easily be one to side with in the King George (which is beginning to look very tasty).
Agree he could be one for the King George Nass, I just felt the Charlie Hall fell apart a little bit as a race so he didn't get my vote (or am I being harsh?) Will we see a King George type in the Haldon Gold Cup tomorrow?
The performance of the weekend, in my view, was a human rather than an equine one– namely Mr Henderson for his handling of Roberto Goldback. On his debut for the forum’s favourite trainer Roberto Goldback picked up a paycheck of some £56,270 – more than he had ever done, in any one race, in 29 contests for other trainers. This previously exposed 10YO looked a revalation on Saturday and rolled back the years as he jumped well, travelled smoothly and then quickened away decisively at the ‘business end’ of the heat. A first class training performance and an amazing bit of race placement from Mr Henderson. A couple of months ago, some may recall, a popular, handsome and charming forum member tipped up Roberto Goldback for the 2013 Grand National and I’m sure that long-term that remains the objective.
I think that is a shade harsh, even if you say that Wayward Prince is the horse to draw the form through, it would put SC well up in the 160s with the degree of comfort that he won with. To sum that up, the winner of tomorrows race would have to put in a performance around a stone better than we have seen to be on a similar level. If Cue Card decides to jump and run properly he will be a horse who can make that mark, but like a few on the list tomorrow, he has something to prove. I wasn't a big fan of SC over hurdles, I remember seeing him at Ascot beat two rogues and the world thinking he was the next big thing. However he is a different horse over fences and his jumping really impressed me. Hence him getting the vote.
That was pretty jaw-dropping Sir barney, he won with consummate ease and does indeed look like a Grand National type. Surely it will be hurdles races now though to protect the old handicap mark?
You may well be right, Oddy. I’m sure that connections will be waiting somewhat apprehensively to see what Roberto Goldback’s new mark is.
Has to be Silvinaco Conti for me. Also interesting to see Tidal Bay winning a big race again. I suspect he'll only run for the prizes that Big Buck's doesn't go for but he could be a useful cash cow for the stable now he seems to have got his attitude back again. The king George won't be the same this year for obvious reasons but those aside it is shaping up to be a cracker. It will be interesting to see what challengers come over from ireland. I see Sizing is in the betting but I hope he dopesnlt go for it as I stiill have doubts about him getting the trip and would prefer him to go for the Tingle Creek and then other 2 mile chases in the run up to trying to regain his crown.
There was talk of him going for the Hennessey Dan - would be right up his street if it came up soft but with a chase mark of 166 you'd be looking for a Denman-esque performance
Agree with SBC where Nicky Henderson is concerned though SC was an impressive winner too...Nicholls already has his doubts about being as good going right-handed however ! I have a work colleague who is a part-owner of Edgardo Sol and he runs in the Haldon Gold Cup and I am sure to learn if they expect him to win or not over the next 24 hours !
Can't argue with that. I had to choose 5 from 6 of Gerraghty's rides and I dropped this one because I thought it couldn't win. I know I'm a useless tipper but I'm not that bad. Must have been some training achievement.
Well done Oddy for doing a thread like this, top man... I dont really get to watch much racing over the weekend because of work and what ever so by the time it gets to monday ive sort of forgotten to look back at what did happen... All i can say is that the win for Tidal Bay seemed a bit of a shock but having read a little bit about it Ruby gave the ole boy a wonderful ride... Une Artise seemed to be a cosy winner... Also Silviniaco Conti seemed impressive, and confirmed by a few of the earlier posters... And one that i picked out for Cyc's comp Rhymers Stone - took a gamble on it as it was in a 'Newcomers Open Flat Race', but that coasted to a very good win. Plus i had a bit of money on it at 9/1, which is always nice... I did put My Tent Or Yours in my tracker after what Barry Geraghty said on the ATR thread but it seems that he had to work a bit harder than was maybe expected... Still one to keep a eye on though...
I thought he would hose up red - was cantering all over them round the final bend. But having pulled AP's arms out the whole race he didn't really find that much when push came to shove - but did enough to win. He probably needed the run and would have spent alot of energy through pulling so hard, so still a nice performance to win. He should come on a bundle for that and if he learns to settle he looks a serious horse.
Yeah, thats true Oddy... As i can watch the replays on ATR it is one that i have caught up with... As you say will come on for that run and if settled early could or will be hard to stop later on in the season...
If I may shoehorn Friday into the weekend then the performance of Bonisland was a stand out. Nothing else impressed tbh except for Wise Dan. SC beat absolutely nothing.
SC did not beat nothing...if he had beaten nothing he would have been a 1/5 fav ...not 11/10 against ! I saw Wise Dan's win and can safely say Frankel would beat him hands down also !
Has been raised a whopping 12 pounds by the handicapper following his Ascot romp and therefore Roberto Goldback’s new perch is 162! Ladbrokes have installed him as the new 16/1 favourite for the Aintree marathon but it will be quite hard for him now off such an impost. In fact as there are now only a few 3 miles+ horses rated above him you would have to wonder if Mr Henderson will now go down the Graded route with him. A sphere that, following Saturday’s win, he would not look out of place in. Maybe even the CGC me wonders (don’t forget this time last year the 2012 CGC winner was deemed to be not much more than a 4 miler plodder).
Ouch 162!! That's a real hike. I'm not sure he's a grade 1 horse but maybe something like the Argento Chase might be within his scope?
