we are just days away from the biggest spectacle in our sport, and if I'm honest this forum has become boring!!! . What happened to the debate, the arguments. The my horse is better than yours and all the risk taking. Forget all the I backed it last year at 200/1 ante post multiples and who is the top tipster let's have some real debate and maybe some fun. I'll start us off. I reckon ruby will ride the fly to victory on Tuesday, Discuss
Atleast after the Gold Cup, AS will give us some perspective on the true ability of the horse. In other words Arkle would have given whoever it is 35 pounds and a beating On your point, Ruby has already cost himself a big championship race by choosing on sentiment. Back in 2008 when he wrongly chose Kauto over the unbeaten chaser Denman. Hurricane Fly has proven unbeatable away from Cheltenham, but he's always looked voulnerable around there, so I'd be suprised if he was to figure at 11. If the ground is bottomless he has a sniff, but id still fancy Faugheen regardless of conditions
But he stuck with him and look what happened. I'm sticking with my theory, and that's all it is. That he's not sure about Faugheen and that's why he's leaving it to the last minute to choose. Here's the question, what happens to Faugheen backers if he chooses the fly?
I really cant see him being on anything but Faugheen unless its soft. The forecast looks set fair for the next few days so I am pretty confident that he will be on the youngster. It is interesting though that he hasn't nailed his colours to the mast a long time ago, it really does smack that he doesn't feel the youngster has a lot if anything in hand over the Fly. He has matured a lot over the last couple of seasons and he will be on the one that he things will win, sentiment will play no part whatsoever and he more than anyone should know which is the one to be on. I agree with you about the "debate" factor but disagree with your example. You couldn't debate with that man as he was totally blinkered and obsessed.
Yeah he stuck with him, and got fortunate the following year that Denman was a shadow of his former self after his heart issue. Was nothing to do with good judgement. I actually hope your right and he does choose HF on sentiment, as I'm a big fan of Faugheen and will take advantage of the bigger price. Paul Townend is a jockey I would still trust in the saddle. Though I'd be amazed if it happened, all Ruby has to do is rewatch last years Neptune, and see the way Faugheen bounds clear up the hill. He has a seriously big engine, and nothing will stop him on Tuesday. If good is in the going description il even go as far as to say HF will not be in the first 4
The way I see it I've backed the fly, if ruby rides him, Faugheen backers will be running for cover,his price will drift and then maybe I'll get involved,As for the debate, he often made us very angry , but always made us laugh as well with his ludicrous theories. Doh!!!
Rose-tinted glasses. He was a complete twat, after 3 or 4 posts from him any thread would degrade to farce. Better off without him. Nothing stimulates debate like a contentious assertion - something along the lines of "that ****ing Irish dog Faugheen has only beaten trees and will never win a champion hurdle" usually does the trick
Shergar are you ageist. Who says an older horse can't win the champion hurdle. I remember tipping a five year old years ago and lots on here said I wouldn't happen.
Stick, I feel Ruby's delay has a lot to do with not wanting to upset the owners. If he says Faugheen is the one and something was to go amiss with him, then he'd probably feel awkward trying to get back on HF. Florida, it is not a case of being ageist, it is a case of being a realist. 11 year olds do not win Champion Hurdles. Without looking it up I think the last one was Night Nurse in the 70s. Even last year at 10 he found things to hot to handle. Yes he's beaten Jezki a few times in mudlark conditions, but he did the same in the build up to last years race and was still found out. Even at his peak he was found out by Rock On Ruby on good ground. Spring ground at Cheltenham has never been his fortes
florida, surely if Ruby didn't ride Faugheen it would make you more confident about your bet on the Fly
Certainly has the potential to turn the market on its head. Its a very good point Shergs makes about "playing" the owners, such a political game at times!
I'm just having a look now at the ages of CH winners and interestingly since Sea Pigeon in 1981 who won it at 11, no horse even aged 10 has won it, and in that time only three 9 year olds have won it. Hurricane Fly was one of the 9 year olds though
Do you think Ruby's worried about upsetting the Barclays shister. There is no sentiment where's ruby is involved, it's all about winners
Of course he is all about winners, and that's why he's trying to keep both parties sweet. Ruby doesn't want to make the choice if he doesn't have to. I'm not saying he is waiting for an injury, but these things often happen in racing so it's best to wait and make sure he has to choose before he does. He wouldn't want to have chose Faugheen a month ago and something happen to him or HF, as he then may have rubbed HFs owners up the wrong way. Ruby knows to keep riding the best horses he needs to do his best to keep all the owners he rides for happy
That's nonsense, if ruby chose Faugheen months ago and he got injured the fly jock would be jocked off simples. These stats that you come out with are a bit contradictory re kauto, Dennan
There not contradictory at all, Ruby and Paul Townend both know HF and Faugheen well, so whoever Ruby chooses, the other horse will get a jockey who's ridden him before. Connections of Denman forced Ruby to make his call early, as if Ruby didn't want to ride him they wanted another jockey to get some experience on him before the Gold Cup. You also have to remember that by drawing the decision out Ruby can trick the connections of HF into believing that it was a very tough decision when he chooses Faugheen. Imagine how much of a snub it would have been to them if Ruby had just flat out come out and said months ago that he wouldn't ride HF, a horse that he's won more G1s on than any other.
