@OddDog find the thread that I said Shishkin was turning into a rogue. I just pre-empted it slightly.
Time for them to retire Sceau Royal - he owes them nothing and just simply hasn't got the pace any more.
Put a line through Emitom's run - never travelled a yard. Funny run by Crambo - finished like a train in the end. Two well handicapped Irish horses by far the best though.
Yes, I see what you mean, Pilgrim, poor ride indeed. You know, I have no complaints with Gavin Sheehan's ride today on my Saturday pick, very calm and cool effort. However, I do get fed-up frequently, because so often the horse I have selected for the day seems always to run way out the back, most times in last place. Since most are nowhere near as good as Parc D'Amour, they usually have very little chance for even a podium finish. Quite frustrating.
Well done Charlie Deutsch. He really is the best jockey around, nice hands and rides the horses very sympathetically.
You are not the only one who has a feeling. Sometimes I wonder why most of my horses come out so far back, I agree that someone has to come out last, but I would appreciate a more prominent ride more often. Gavin Sheehan has at least brought the horse close to the rails and not overly wide (I always think they go down lane five), which is something I don't like at all. Anyway, happy with my 33/1 for Stayers, I hope Fergal listens to the owner (I don't really know who makes the final decision). The way the horse finished, with the huge weight he gave to the two horses in front of him, he deserves to run that race.
From Racing Post: "Crambo 5/1 Connor Brace Fergal O'Brien Towards rear of midfield on outer, edged left and ridden 2 out, still plenty to do when bit short of room just after last, switched right and in the clear inside final furlong, ran on well and went third towards finish, eyecatcher."
I discovered the following statements made by the horse owner prior to Saturday's race: From myracing: Chris Giles, owner of Crambo, is no stranger to success at the top table, and he thinks his runner on Saturday is a proper Grade 1 horse. Interviewed by the Racing Post, he is convinced Crambo will land the £125,000 Betfair “Serial Winners” Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (2.20) at Haydock Park Racecourse today and will then shorten massively for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Crambo destined for better things Giles is a joint-owner with Jared Sullivan, a partnership who also owned Grade 1 winners Zarkandar and Silviniaco Conti. Giles feels the six-year-old could be a top stayer and said: “I think the world of him and in terms of scope and size he’s quite like Paisley Park. He’s a lovely looking horse and quite compact. “I love his attitude and the way he travels. He’s a beautiful jumper and it’s a struggle to find faults – he’s definitely one of my favourite horses. He’s versatile but he won the EBF Final on really quite heavy ground, so the juice in conditions at Haydock should suit him. He’s had excuses for both of his Grade 1 flops and at Aintree he was hampered at a crucial stage of the race. “You wouldn’t be frightened of anything in the current division if you owned an up-and-coming horse. Fergal would probably have favoured going the Pertemps route this season but fortune favours the brave and you’ve got to grasp the nettle.” He added: “About two or three weeks ago I backed him at 33s for the Stayers’ with Sky Bet, but I was limited. I’m thinking about trying to get another £250 on him each-way because he’s going to be 10s or 12s if he wins on Saturday.”
I see that the handicapper has, this morn, raised Crambo 3 lbs (to 142) following his run at the weekend.
Sorry, didn't scroll that far up!!! I see that a couple of bookie chappies are quoting Crambo for the Pertemps Final. On those quotes he's actually the 2nd fave for the race (behind Icare Allen). Not really cricket when he hasn't even qualified for the race!!! To my eye 16/1 not the greatest odds as more variables, than usual, associated with this ante-post bet. He's got to qualify for the race, if fit he's got to be pointed at the race (rather than the SH) and then he's obviously got to win the thing as well. All this (and more) considered I'd want more than 16's re Crambo and the Pertemps Final.
