Wow ! What just happened there. How on earth did Paisley Park win that giv8ng the others a 15 length start! 1000/1 in running
Love how they went to Ruby after 2 flights and he said Aiden Coleman might as well give up, now way Paisley Park can win God knows what next for Champ but the owner will surely give serious consideration to sending Sporting John to the Stayers Hurdle
No surprises Champ beaten there. Terrific performance from the winner given he gave the field about 20 lengths at the start too. Going to be an interesting scrap between Flooring Porter, Paisley Park and Klassical Dream at HQ.
Gutsy performance by Doireann to plug-on for second after leading for most of the way. In the end came up against a pretty smart winner.
In the televised Grade 2's then Lieutenant Henderson had a winner and a pair of runner-up berths. Sounds 'arf decent, when you first hear it, but the reality is probably something far, far different. The winner was Chantry House but he won a hardly inspiring Cotswold Chase and probably despite the '1' ended up doing his reputation more harm than good this afternoon. Never travelled, looked awkward and finished out on his feet. Has a lot of questions to answer going forward. Champ, like Klassical Dream on Thursday, got turned over at very short odds and the Stayers Hurdle now looks far more open as a result of these reversals. Champ simply beaten by a better horse on the day. Meanwhile, Balco Coastal couldn't benefit from Hillcrest's exit and looked no better than solid, at best, in his race. Wouldn't, to be honest, want to rush out to back any of them come mid-March. Iceo disappointed in the 4YO Hurdle but that event did see the performance of the day from Pied Piper. Awesome with a capital 'A' is my assessment. Sold, last Autumn, for 225,000 guineas by the mother of The Poison Prince. You would have to say she looks to have been short changed as if you put the son of New Approach through the sales ring now he would probably go for twice or even three times that figure! I did say I expected my old fave, Santini, to be beaten 25+ lengths but actually it was just 2 and a 'arf (plus the 4 lbs Chantry House conceded him). Didn't realise though just how woeful a race the Cotswold Chase would actually turn out to be. If the handicapper leaves Chantry House on 160 (he surely, surely, surely, can't raise the 8YO, can he?!?) then I'd envisage Santini also remaining on 154. I did want it nearer 150 but still workable for the GN because if the top weight is a mid to high 160's performer then Santini would probably carry something like 10 stone 10 lbs - or under 11 stone at any rate. Finally, Imperial Alcazar did it very smoothly in the novices handicap chase off 144 but life should be way tougher, next time, after that 10 length romp and in the 'lucky last' Fairy Gem increased her worth considerably by earning some black type. In fact come the evening of 18 March she could be extremely valuble indeed. Nudge, nudge, and all that... A nice days racing, overall, with Pied Piper the clear star. Meanwhile, away from Cheltenham it was cool to see the new combo (on racecards at any rate) of Roger and Harry Charlton have their first winner with Imperium at Kempton Park
Did you not get the hint from my post? Absolutely delighted for them, horse has so much ability but has had niggles. Jolly good punting day and so happy to see Paisley Park win like that.
As my avatar shows, Paisley Park is the one horse that i am truly smitten with and have backed him on many many occasions to both some very good wins and some disappointing lows, but Saturday was a day that will live long in the memory... To take the race on face value, and i did think Ruby Walsh went a tad early with his 'no chance' comment, as it was a 3m race in the end, and it made that run up the final hill at Cheltenham all the more pleasing for all of the PP backers & fans... To defend Ruby on his very early prediction, 'IF' Paisley Park decides to plant feet down for a couple of seconds at the start of the Stayers Hurdle come March then i think that the Ruby comment would be more realistic as I would not expect Paisley Park to tick off 16 or so runners going at a far quicker pace than the 4 horses put up on Saturday... It was a great race win, great story, and the reason why we love the sport like we do... So after writing him off to repeat his Stayers Hurdle win of 2019, which i had in my heart of hearts, it was great to see him put in a performance like he did... Do i think he will win the Stayers Hurdle 2022, no, but i will be shouting him on all the same...
