Day one saw an unbelievable performance from Faugheen. A horse now proven over 2 miles. His jumping isn't great but his engine. Oh my word, his engine. It's a thing of beauty. The Weld horse in the bumper was superb as well. Two horses you can hang your hat on in the future. Day 2 features the staying novice races. It's more competitive than today's 2mile race if you look at the markets. For me Beat That will win. 2/1 available as he wrestles over favouritism with the Martin Pipe winner, Dom Poli. Very Wood, winner of the Albert Bartlett, is 4/1. For my pennies it will be Beat That who proves himself to be top class. He was all class LTO. The Gold Cup doesn't look great. On His Own, Boston Bob and First Lieutenant head the market. I'd favour Boston Bob but probably won't bet in the race. The Bumper sees Weld's Silver Concorde run against the Mullins battalion again. 5/2 is fair about the favourite but the horse I've backed is Shaneshill. He'll appreciate this track. I think he'll go very close. Black Hercules needs it softer to be seen at his absolute best so of those two horses I'd back Shaneshill today and Black Hercules next winter when he's jumping a hurdle on soggy, wet ground.
What a performance on Day 1 from Faugheen who it seems a good few of us were on at 4/5. Unbelievable performance. He's something out of the ordinary, 2 or 3 miles it makes no difference. Pure quality Look like I've the exact same 3 tomorrow Boston Bob as you Beat That 2/1 done me a lovely turn on the Aintree Friday on a great day for Mr Henderson, who provided me with 3 tasty winners. Think Don Poli is priced up on trainer reputation. Very Wood could be the main danger. If he wins this, that's another big nod of approval towards the unfortunate Briar Hill Boston Bob 3/1 is a horse who frustrates more than most. Won the same Aintree day as Beat That, I think if he jumps round tomorrow he'll win. Long Run needed a month of rain which he didn't get. Lyreen Legend looked a decent each way bet a few days ago at 10/1 but that's long gone. WP Mullins seemed pretty sweet on RTE regarding Boston Bob and I think at 3/1 he wins. Ballynagour's second today wasn't majorly impressive, but bearing in mind today's trip was too short for him, I think he done Boston Bob's Melling form no harm at all. Least confident bet of the day in the Champion Bumper. Shaneshill carried my coinage at Cheltenham and at 4/1 he'll do the same tomorrow.
Agree with both of you Beat That- Is a very classy horse and I cant see much giving him a problem. 17.30 Leopardstown- Long Run- 10/1 Some of you may think I have lost the plot but this a huge price for Long Run in what is a very weak renewal of the race. Look at Sizing Europe rolled baxk the years and found some of his QMCC winning form. It was only a year ago he was a good second to SDC. I know he hasnt been anywhere near his form but am willing to give him another chance at this price. The national didnt go to plan and his jumping was always going to let him down imo but he didnt get that far round so he shouldnt really feel the pinch. He did win a minor event @ kelso before the national so hopefully would have got the taste of winning back so am hoping for another Sizing Europe moment. 15.45 Ascot- Harris Tweed-2/1 Ran one of the races of his lift at Champions day and was so unlucky to be caught on the line. Distance and Conditions are all on his favour will go off in front and try to run the legs off the others and if given a easy enough lead- he will be very hard to peg back in this Group 3 race when the same tactic got alot of Gr1 horses in trouble
Have to be on Silver Concorde 2/1 in the bumper tomorrow, anything Weld sends out just seems to be primed to go. Everything look's in favour for him again tomorrow, I just can't see him being beaten here before having a crack at some nice flat races over the Summer. I also agree with stick that Very Wood 9/2 will take a fair bit of beating, proven around the track and that AB form look's solid enough to me so at the prices I will side with him. If Boston Bob produces the same effort as Aintree then you would imagine he will win, it's difficult to be over confident on him showing that level of consistency though I am in between whether he is a bet or not still.
Had two unlucky accumulators this week yesterday's 31/1 posted yesterday let down by Munich failing to score, a few bets today: Magical Roundabout 10/11 - win bet, Hannon has a great record in the race and I expect that to continue Dorry K - Ew bet as Stick expects money for it Accumulator - 18.5/1 Magical Roundabout 10/11 Beat That 15/8 Russian Realm 5/4 PAOK To beat Asteras 4/7
Am not punting at the moment Ron so don't worry, but would love to see him win. Is one of my favourite horses
Morning, troops. Morning, pilgrims. Morning, regular readers. Anyone going for a LONG RUN today?!? Iâve never been a fan of the Punchestown Festival from a punting perspective as in so many ways its little more than guessing given the time of the year that it is run and as a result so many of the runners are âover the topâ after a busy season. And of course you, and the yards, donât know who these animals are until after the race is run! One who has had a truncated term, and one who these comments don't apply to, though is Mr Hendersonâs BEAT THAT and I think he will take an enormous amount of beating today. Earlier quotes of 2/1 looked amazing to my eye and I take him to win today before next term having either the RSA or the World Hurdle his for the taking. Good luck all.
Morning all. Today's lucky 15. All from Ascot, 2,35.Musical Comedy. 3,10.Solar Magic. 3,45.Harris Tweed. 4,45.Russian Realm. Good luck to all.
3 horses go to post for the Grade 1 Racing Post Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday - Hurricane Fly, Jezki and Steps To Freedom. That's a disgrace in anyone's book - €120K to the winner and €2K for finishing SIXTH
Willie thinks bumpers should be confined to Amateur riders only and therefore Ruby will always be last in the pecking order for rides in them here. In Britain Pros are allowed ride in them so he allows Ruby to take a spin in the Chelt festival there but the Amateur lads get their pick first notably Paddy will take what he believes is the best albeit it doesnt always go the way he plans either as Briar Hill and Shaneshill proved recently.
Must be Mullins' stopping every single trainer in the UK or Ireland from entering horses to 'protect' the Fly But seriously it is a shocking turn out indeed. We've seen it far too much this season on both sides of the Irish Sea for whatever reason. You'd think some of the novices would have even given it a bash to get place money at least.
This real good ground is filling me with even more confidence in Boston Bob. I feel that's what makes the difference to him. Conversely in his novice hurdle days the feeling was soft was best for him but all his best runs have been on nice, spring ground. He'll bounce off this ground and he won't be beaten!
Watched the re-run of yesterday's Punchestown action this morning and Faugheen was mightily impressive. Granted some of the oppo might have been over the top but he thrashed them on the bridle. Mullins has an absolute embarrassment of riches (Ricci's) for next year. Given the ammo he has I think he should look to push the boundaries of what is possible in the sport. So if you're looking in Willie ( I see Jim Bolger often comes on here) may I suggest Faugheen for the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup (Ascot) double. Madness maybe and I would add I've been digging in the garden in the lovely sunshine for a couple of hours without a hat on! Anyway onto today's action I reckon the Geraghty chap will have a good day today; Beat That obvious claims, First Lieutenant tried in blinkers on good ground, an unexposed Henderson horse and Gift of Dgab. Little win L15 on them. In the first I'll take an ew on Mrs Mac Veale @ 33s. Good luck all.
Chicken and tomato baguette, packet of hula hoops and a banana all washed down with a bucket of water. Anyone else heard the rumours that Sam T-D was days away from accepting a retainer from a few of Mr Henderson’s owners (not all the owners at Seven Barrows by any means and it was certainly done independently of the trainer)?!? That could have led to the amazing scenario of Mr Henderson having to accommodate 4 ‘stable’ jockeys in 2014/15 – Sam W-C for Daddy Robert, McCoy for McManus, Sam T-D for his retained owners and Barry Gerraghty for ‘the rest’! If the above is true, and it looks highly believable, then I don’t know how that puts Gerraghty’s future position or indeed his mood re the rumours that he would have lost a lot of rides had Sam T-D signed up. Some of these owners have horses in other barns (Mr Nicholls included) so Sam T-D would have also got a foothold in them. It looks like Mr Nicholls, last week, either had to move or lose re Sam T-D’s future services.
Afternoon all, Silver Concorde my bet today in the 6:05 7/4. Backed at Cheltenham and fancied to follow up. Am swerving the big race, 5:30, as looks tough with a good case to be made for a few . If I had to pick one it would be Boston Bob as Mullins was bullish in a recent interview. Good luck all.
A small bowl of soljanka, a large salad and a glass of highly artificial orange juice. Sir Barney, good to see you back posting after the old Easter break. I don't understand all this kerfuffle around Sam T-D to be honest - it's not as though he's the next Ruby Walsh or anything. Ref Gerraghty, is he also starting to feel the tug of the homeland and wanting to spend more time on the Emerald Isle, like Ruby?
Oddy, the pull of home must be strong for Gerraghty but I doubt even that could compare to the thrill and distinction of riding for Mr Henderson. And he gets paid as well. Who would possibly want to leave Seven Barrows?!? Only a certifiable lunatic. I’m not one to get carried away, unlike some on here, by NH saddle monkeys but certainly feel Gerraghty is at the moment riding better than ever and talking of certifiable lunatics in my book you would have to be one to choose Sam T-D (who isn’t even the best Sam double barrelled riding) over Gerraghty. I thought Gerraghty at the weekend once again exposed McCoy’s ‘talents’ in the old Whitbread and was surprised that after 2 hours of extolling the latters ‘greatness’ CH4 suddenly went all quiet re McCoy after the finish of that contest! Made a mockery of all that ‘oooooooooooooooooh there’ll never be another one like Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Peeeeeeeeeee’ rubbish that Mick Fitzgerald repeated about 50 times.
