what were my fellow forum members highlight of the festivel.i have two first of which was a bryan coopers three fantastic victories,a star in the making and could possibly take over from ruby walsh for the mullins yard in the next few years.my second favourite is the sterling tide given on that peach of a horse quevega.two fences fences from home she was in eight place and i had written her off but she gound plenty up the hill to score ahead of the french raider.very good festivel all round and it seems many of the forum members had a good festivel,forgetting day three!
I stupidly backed against him, but il put up Bobs Worth just for the sheer will to win that horse has. He looked beat along way out, but was so game to Geraghtys urgings. He is only a little horse aswell which makes his achievements at the last 3 festivals remarkable. The first since Flyingbolt to win 3 different races. For pure class though it has to be SS, and I can atleast claim to be one of the first to spot this beast as the next coming of Pegasus, after heralding his debut chasing performance as the best I'd ever seen
CUE CARD hands down. Quite probably the highlight of my time following this sport. Which is tragic tbf.
I think you'll find old boy Sir Barney Chuckles flagged up Sprinter Sacre as the Arkle winner shortly after he finished 3rd in the Supreme Novices Hurdle Highlight of the week for me was Hurricane Fly - I was heavily invested in him last year and the disappointment was huge. But I stuck with him as I felt he just wasn't right last year and looked in much better nick this time around. He showed the world that he is a true great.
Yes well said Oddy. And I backed him at 12/1 for the Arkle before he'd even jumped a fence. Get in line Sherg's. Loads of highlights this year. I only had a small saver on the New One so this sn't financially motivated but he blew me away. Champagne Fever was brilliant and it was the best Supreme I've ever watched. I was on Our Connor and that performance was ridiculous. I called him at the off as the winner after watching him jump the first. Best jumper of a hurdle I've seen as a youngster. I backed Make Your Mark at 20/1 each way so the build up to yesterday's race was exciting as hell and he came 4th so not the result I wanted but good profit nevertheless. Sprinter was incredible but he did what we expected so the surprise factor was missing. The actual highlights though were the reactions of AP and Geraghty after they'd won on Friday. Their first thoughts were of JT. Classy individuals. Nicholls after Salubrious. His first thought was of his head lad's recently deceased son. JP McManus after At Fishers Cross. Immediately talked of JT. Human stories. The low point is twofold. Make your Mark not being as well handicapped as I thought but he will win NTO IMHO. The second was the £970 double I placed on Quevega and Sprinter at 4/5 and 4/6 respectively before they ran on Tuesday only to realise the too good to be true 4/6 about Sprinter was because I'd backed him for next years Champion Chase! At least I've got interest until next festival.
Tipping him up to win the Arkle, and predicting he would go on to be one of the greats, are 2 completely different things. I spotted greatness from his debut effort over fences, and have backed him substancially on every start since
Highlight for me was bob's worth powering away up the hill. The distance he put between himself and the others was amazing at thatsstage of the race. Also for financial reasons it was poor old Jane mangan getting the flip and me getting a lucky treble. That last day had incredible drama and emotions and was sport of the highest order.
For me if Sprinter Sacre won impressively then that was always going to be the highlight. 19 lengths on the bridle...wow. I just hope there is a challenger out there somewhere. the others were Bobs Worth and Quevega both making up the ground towards the finish, the opening Supreme Novices Hurdle which had AP McCoy and Ruby Walsh battling out the finish and celebrating the rain on Friday which I just knew would mean victory for At Fishers Cross!
