A super inaugural meeting and my thoughts on the stars on show and their Festival chances.
MIN- Yes
Put a decent looking field to the sword in convincing fashion. I guess it is still in the lap of the gods as to where he appears on the Festival card with The QMCC being the obvious race. What a belter that would be and simply knowing his wellbeing puts him ahead of Altior in my book.
FOOTPAD-Yes
Will almost certainly be the horse in just about every accumulator. He showed his class at the weekend. He simply cruised the whole way round and did not come out of first gear. The only question for the Arkle is will anything get him off the bridle.
SUPASUNDAE-Yes
A stayer with gears and I see very little in the way of serious competition from the UK. He broke a lot of hearts this weekend but hats off he is top drawer.
FAUGHEEN- No
He needed to bounce back with a win to be a serious contender to Beuvair Dair and while it was an encouraging run he came up a fair way short of his best. I have no doubt that he will be over in March but I think he is playing for place money.
SAMCRO-Yes
Most likely in the Ballymore but he would win the Supreme also if they chose that option. He is an exciting animal and there are no obvious chinks in the armour, he has it all. I cannot see them supplementing for the Champion as in his owners eyes this horse is all about next year when they will go chasing. He will scoop his novice pot with minimal fuss.
TOTAL RECALL-Maybe
He is rated 156 over fences but that should have a serious plus next to it. Entries for the Ryanair and the Gold Cup both look tempting and my personal call is that they will have a crack at the Gold Cup before going to Aintree. The horse has a serious engine but would probably just fall short at the Championship. If he does go to the Gold Cup he wouldn’t be a bad each way shout.
MONALEE-No
He was given a fine ride by Fehily today and that was the difference. He is as game as you like and kept pulling out just a little bit more. His likely Festival race is the RSA where he will most likely meet Presenting Percy and I don’t think he is quite that good. The runner up today, Al Boum Photo, could turn the tables on him and a couple of the home team, Willoughby Court and Black Corton could also have his measure. Nice animal though and he did run a belter in last years Albert Bartlett.
OUR DUKE-No
Cracked when the pressure was applied today and the test will probably be far greater in the Gold Cup. He needed to win today to back up his credentials.
KILLULTAGH VIC- I hope so
Had the race in the bag today and surprised a few people. He does have a scary way of jumping and that could find him out at Cheltenham. He is all heart and true battler but this was far from ideal as a prep race for the Gold Cup. Had he pinged that last fence I am sure the response would be a Yes. Y favourite horse in training but he scares the life out of me every time he runs.
DJAKADAM- Maybe
Yes maybe, if indeed they run him in the Ryanair. He jumped like the super horse he did out in front today and that sort of performance would give him a huge chance of what would be a well deserved Festival victory. It seems obvious to me that he should run there, he has no chance in the Gold Cup.
Finally a word on the bumper. It was a smashing field and Blackbow deserves a lot of credit in getting that whirling dervish over the line in front. RHINESTONE however lost nothing in defeat and I am certain he will reverse this outcome at Cheltenham. He is top of my list for the Festival bumper at this time.
MIN- Yes
Put a decent looking field to the sword in convincing fashion. I guess it is still in the lap of the gods as to where he appears on the Festival card with The QMCC being the obvious race. What a belter that would be and simply knowing his wellbeing puts him ahead of Altior in my book.
FOOTPAD-Yes
Will almost certainly be the horse in just about every accumulator. He showed his class at the weekend. He simply cruised the whole way round and did not come out of first gear. The only question for the Arkle is will anything get him off the bridle.
SUPASUNDAE-Yes
A stayer with gears and I see very little in the way of serious competition from the UK. He broke a lot of hearts this weekend but hats off he is top drawer.
FAUGHEEN- No
He needed to bounce back with a win to be a serious contender to Beuvair Dair and while it was an encouraging run he came up a fair way short of his best. I have no doubt that he will be over in March but I think he is playing for place money.
SAMCRO-Yes
Most likely in the Ballymore but he would win the Supreme also if they chose that option. He is an exciting animal and there are no obvious chinks in the armour, he has it all. I cannot see them supplementing for the Champion as in his owners eyes this horse is all about next year when they will go chasing. He will scoop his novice pot with minimal fuss.
TOTAL RECALL-Maybe
He is rated 156 over fences but that should have a serious plus next to it. Entries for the Ryanair and the Gold Cup both look tempting and my personal call is that they will have a crack at the Gold Cup before going to Aintree. The horse has a serious engine but would probably just fall short at the Championship. If he does go to the Gold Cup he wouldn’t be a bad each way shout.
MONALEE-No
He was given a fine ride by Fehily today and that was the difference. He is as game as you like and kept pulling out just a little bit more. His likely Festival race is the RSA where he will most likely meet Presenting Percy and I don’t think he is quite that good. The runner up today, Al Boum Photo, could turn the tables on him and a couple of the home team, Willoughby Court and Black Corton could also have his measure. Nice animal though and he did run a belter in last years Albert Bartlett.
OUR DUKE-No
Cracked when the pressure was applied today and the test will probably be far greater in the Gold Cup. He needed to win today to back up his credentials.
KILLULTAGH VIC- I hope so
Had the race in the bag today and surprised a few people. He does have a scary way of jumping and that could find him out at Cheltenham. He is all heart and true battler but this was far from ideal as a prep race for the Gold Cup. Had he pinged that last fence I am sure the response would be a Yes. Y favourite horse in training but he scares the life out of me every time he runs.
DJAKADAM- Maybe
Yes maybe, if indeed they run him in the Ryanair. He jumped like the super horse he did out in front today and that sort of performance would give him a huge chance of what would be a well deserved Festival victory. It seems obvious to me that he should run there, he has no chance in the Gold Cup.
Finally a word on the bumper. It was a smashing field and Blackbow deserves a lot of credit in getting that whirling dervish over the line in front. RHINESTONE however lost nothing in defeat and I am certain he will reverse this outcome at Cheltenham. He is top of my list for the Festival bumper at this time.
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. In the handicaps I'll be keeping an eye out for Liz Doyle's Last Goodbye. Off the bridle a long way from home today but hosed up albeit under a featherweight. Took another look at his run in the Novice Handicap at last year's festival. He finished 5th, 8 lengths of the winner but that doesn't really tell the story as the trainer intimated in her post race interview today. Was on and off the bridle throughout and was hampered by Foxtail Hill's fall and then massively hampered at the last yet still stayed on well up the hill. Has a quote of 12s for the Brown Advisory but I reckon it will be the Ultima. No price up yet but have requested one.
