Great to see that race again, thanks Zenyatta. Harchibald was certainly one hell of a difficult horse to ride.........
Doesn't matter either way he wouldn't have got past Hardy Eustace. Check out his run at Punchestown after that. Took it up at the last on the bridle. In front over the last comes off the bridle and headed by Brave Inca oooops gone for him too early this time Mr Carberry. Couldn't win either way
I just remember the Christmas Hurdle when he cost me a four figure sum as the last leg of an acca! Suppose that is what you got with him though
The evidence for the type of horse Harchibald was is the Xmas hurdle CityHull mentions - he hit the front at the last, went clear and got caught by Straw Bear. As for his Champion, at the time I thought it was the most astonishing thing I'd seen at a festival but in time came to realise that Carberry probably did nothing wrong. For what it's worth, Rith Dubh was another screw, JT McNamara held onto this one for as long as he possibly could in the 4 miler before asking him for an effort 50 yards from the line and he got up by a head - had he gone 25 yards earlier the chances are he would have stopped. There's bound to be some footage somehwere....
Grizzly. Whenever Famous used to be pissed he used to send me the link for that race saying what a ride. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiqcJMF9mfY 3.40
I loved Harchibald - yes he was quirky but if you got him on a good day it was beautiful. I lumped on him for his last Christmas Hurdle at 7/1 and when he cruised past Snap Tie and Blue Bajan at the last it was a majestic sight. I know he had his detractors but he clearly played his part in what was one of the most dramatic champion hurdles ever - the mere fact that he came through cruising on the bridle and was still on the bridle with 100 yards to run is what made that race so exceptional. If you look at his 2 races prior to that Cheltenham epic, he readily accounted for Inglis Drever in the Fighting Fifth ("patiently ridden and held up behind, smooth headway approaching 3 out, led on bit after last, readily") and then got an absolute peach of a ride from Carberry in the Christmas Hurdle where Rooster Booster went off like a scalded cat and PC was coolness personified to chase him down in the last 100 yards ("held up and well off the pace, steady headway to go 3rd after 3 out, chased clear leader and 12 lengths down 2 out, 5 lengths down last, pushed along to lead final 100 yards"). Both are on youtube somewhere ..................... great to watch
The only each way proposition at Doncaster today is the bumper where we have 9 runners at the moment. All that have run thus far are distinctly average or worse. Donald McCain is a bit of a specialist in this sphere and runs two. One of which won well on debut but has subsequently run very poorly in a small field bumper up at Ayr. Today's ground is totally different from his first two runs and with the winners penalty I'd like to see him beaten and i think the horse that can do that is his stable mate and apparent second string, Spider Palm. AP Lane does quite well in bumpers and the lack of strong competition I think, lets him in with a decent chance of winning this race on debut. Each way bet at 6/1
Quite like the look of Aeschylus in that one Quel - his form behind Swing Bowler is starting to look pretty decent
He was the first I looked at Oddy and agree as he was going to be the bet last night but I was looking for something each way and he's too short at 10/3 so had to look elsewhere.
Newbury's th ebest card today although it's not looking particularly inspiring from a betting proposition. I liked Mahayogin in the first as an each way play but if the Henderson horse is as good as they think then i'm backing to take one of two place positions and win only a few quid and that's the best way to the poor house. I'll watch that race and kick myself if I've guessed right but not backed it. In the 2.20 I like Financial Climate each way. A two time winner and rated 120 this step up in trip looks like it will draw out a little improvement and if it does 10/1 looks like a good price for an each way bet. Running over 2m2f and winning on bumper debut signals him out as a potential stayer in my eyes and as such I'm thinking he'll appreciate every yard of the 2m5f today. He may be staying on past beaten horses.
I'm each way on Brilliant Barca here - plenty to prove after the all weather poor show but he is capable and a decent run would be a boost for Balder Success.....
Afternoon All, will be hard to get away from the favs today at most of the meetings so hard to find some value. Will be going for a treble at Newbury of Romulous D'artix, Charm School and Ballyallia Man. Elswehere I like the chances of Ability N Delivery at Lingfield, and Justazaippy at Doncaster.
Think it's a cert RV? Funny market for the first race. Gottany O's price is contracting all the time.
Man I love this stuff. Ten livelong years have rolled away, Since the twin lords of sceptred sway, By Zeus endowed with pride of place, The doughty chiefs of Atreus' race, Went forth of yore, To plead with Priam, face to face, Before the judgment-seat of War!
