Under The Spotlight: Episode 7: Boston Bob It has taken a while for me to get onto hurdlers but it does give us chance for a proper discussion at the perfect time- with Cheltenham just two weeks away. I had been waiting for the reappearances of Zarkandar and Spirit Son mainly, and the arrival of a Supreme Novice horse to capture the public, but was left with little to say with injuries to Spirit Son and the lack of a Supreme superstar. Zarkandar had a good thread along with the Betfair hurdle preview and post-race discussion, and that left me with one real novice hurdler who has impressed everyone more than any other horse- Boston Bob. The Graham Wylie-owned horse has been a revelation under the guidance of Willie Mullins, and having looked very promising on hurdle debut, he stepped up a level with a very smart 4 and a half length defeat of Mount Benbulben, whom many see as the likeliest winner of the Albert Bartlett at the Festival. Boston Bob showed a glimpse of what he was all about there, travelling well and really flying home with a strong finish to go well clear. He really makes an impression visually with the way he goes past them, and whilst it seems pretty clear that he will get 3 miles, Cheltenham is one of the stiffest tracks in the NH world and I cannot see why it will pose him a problem- playing right up his street when they reach the hill. However, whilst that performance was taking, it was surely last time out where we saw just what a horse he might be. Make Your Mark looks one of the most talented juvenile hurdlers Gigginstown have sent out all year, and unless he clashes with Boston Bob he ought to have a great chance in whichever race he goes for. On the day, they were 9/4 joint favourites and Boston Bob gave Make Your Mark 10lb, a huge amount in the context and as Make Your mark travelled beautifully all the way round, Boston Bob came screaming past him as the stamina kicked in and was an impressive winner in testing conditions. I have not seen a more impressive horse all year but I do think there is one horse unexposed who is going to give him an almighty race come Cheltenham, and whilst many will Iâm sure disagree, I have Monksland down as a huge improver for Cheltenham, as I think the ground is going to play to that horses favour and will be the ideal sort of Paul Carberry ride- sitting off a quick pace and looking to collar anyone who hits the front early. I think any talk of a Neptune hurdle being a penalty kick for Boston Bob is quite premature, even with the potential absence (sadly) of Fingal Bay. As I write this, Betfair has Simonsig as the new favourite for the race, and whilst he is very talented, Iâd much rather be on Boston Bobâs side of those two. When I look to draw a conclusion on Boston Bob, I canât help but think that whatever he does over hurdles, he looks a serious chaser in the making and suspect whatever he achieves in a fortnights time will be a prelude to an exciting career as a chaser, and as we saw with Sprinter Sacre last season, you can have a great engine but sometimes you run into one who is just sensational on the day, so it will be a fantastic race to watch. Please discuss the horse and indeed the Neptune Novices Hurdle as a whole as we start to tighten up the discussion as the excitement begins! Will the ground be against him? Is he more of a chaser? Is he simply a beast? I will have another episode on a specific horse and then that will leave 8 Episodes on set horses, and I will add some not606 very own âCheltenham Preview Eveningsâ, where I will discuss a number of particular horses in each episode as we look to compare and contrast some form before the big clashes happen in a fortnight. How does that sound? As always a pleasure- -Top
It's the form of that win against Mount Benbulben that has impressed me the most Toppy. He brushed aside a field of next time out winners with consummate ease. Fair enough Mount Benbulben hasn't run yet but that only enhances the look of the form for me in a weird way. Jetson won a big Irish handicap off 124 (off the top of my head) and Ipsos Du Berlais won next time out in a decent little contest. Mount Benbulben is the apple of Elliot's eye so to beat him so easily was mightily impressive. When he runs in the Albert Bartlett I genuinely expect him to win. I can't agree more with the future chaser comments. This horse is just going to improve and improve and improve for seeing a fence. Never has the phrase 'whatever he does this year is a bonus' been more apt. I'm expecting Willie's first real Gold Cup challenger in the future. Speed, stamina, handles all surfaces. Dream combination. Fantastic horse in the making. Even if he were to lose this year at Cheltenham I wouldn't be hugely disappointed because the potential is all there. But he won't lose so we'll not have to worry about that!
I could write a lot on this horse too Toppy but I'd be repeating most of what you've already said What I would say is that I'd be completely sold on him in the Albert Bartlett as I do think stamina is his absolute forte. I know the Neptune's takes some getting but you also need Champion Hurdle speed to triumph. Istabraq and Hardy Eustace are evidence of this and but for the presence of a wonderhorse in the shape of the 'Hurricane' Peddlers Cross would also further this up. That's what brings me to Simonsig who has a fair bit of hype around him but to my eye he looks pacier than BB... Lest not forget Denman got downed in this race by a speed horse in Nicanor and if Boston Bob's half as good as Denman he'll be some horse. I'd have him down as cast iron in the Albert Bartlett but to be honest Simonsig looks like he'll be a right challenge in the Neptunes, especially should they not go hell for leather. He'll defo make a serious chaser the way he jumps and looks the sort to develop into the mould of a Denman-esque chaser in time.
Agree with everything said, especially with Beef. Boston Bob is all over a RSA and Gold Cup horse for the future. Simonsig is all over an Arkle horse. That might be the difference under conditions. If they both run I have an exceptionally strong position on Simonsig so will certainly cover on Boston Bob should he run. In the Potato race he would surely be nailed on because stamina and relentless galloping look to be his strength.
As one of the ex-Howard Johnson horses sent to Willie Mullins, Boston Bob was always likely to be "under the spotlight" one way or the other. For years I used to wonder why Graham Wylie persisted with sending all his horses to HoJo when the vast majority seemed to under-perform. I think I concluded that Wylie was good at paying a lot of money for horses that just weren't very good. In light of what his horses have done this season it has to be said that the Wylie horses were not fulfilling their potential with HoJo and I wonder if Wylie sees it as a blessing in disguise that Johnson was banned? As regards Boston Bob, it's impossible not to be impressed with his last victory at Leopardstown, giving weight and an almost contemptuous beating to pretty much the cream of Ireland's middle-distance novice hurdlers. My only concern would be that all his runs in Ireland have been on going with plenty of give and it is likely to be much, much quicker at Cheltenham, which again supports the theory that he could be susceptible to a speed horse in that heat. Not sure what the "official" view is in terms of his breeding and action - will he be inconvenienced by faster going?
The theory is that he should appreciate quicker. That is certainly what Walsh/Mullins have been suggesting. The worry would be that he seems to stay so well that you would think he might be vulnerable to something with a bit more pace, but not necessarily though.
Good write up TC. As a backer of Rocky Creek I am keen for Boston Bob to head for the Neptune, the fact Simonsig appears to be headed that way might push connections towards the Albert Bartlett. Better ground and a further half mile at proper racing pace might actually bring out improvement in the horse....
Nice write up as ever Zen-I likes Monksland chances to place in this but Noel Meade has a pretty bad record at chelts so that puts me off a little-I dont know how meade puts up with tha langer carberry in the saddle-I read his autobiography and the amount of times he lied to his trainer and injured himself either on the piss or going hunting is redicolous-then i read this week he got injured in an skiing accident and broke his collar bone-what kind of tool takes a couple of weeks off to skiing in the middle of the jumps season jeopardising their chance to ride at chelts!!!
Bet365 go 7/2 NRNB and BOG so not a lot to lose if you fancy him there. However, like you I will be at the very least covering my Simonsig stake, and probably a little more, should he head this way, but I'll be piling on should he go for the Potato Race.
Another very good write up young Toppy Enjoyable read indeed. I am soooo hoping Mr Mullins sends this lad to the Neptune as I am on Sea of Thunder at long odds EW for the Albert and him being out would assist me no end! Boston Bob looks to be 'one' of the many Irish bankers! They are looking extremely strong again and Boston will take all the beating in whatever race he is sent to. He jumps extremely well as does Sea of Thunder, you can ignore his last run in terrible ground and concentrate on his unlucky run at Cheltenham, looked to be winning by 10l plus until over jumping the last and slipping over, did not fall however which is a bonus.
TopClass, I'm a great admirer of Boston Bob's resolution and stamina, but I don't see a great quality in depth in either the Neptune or Albert Bartlett. He undoubtedly is the horse to beat-whichever race he goes for. However, I don't necessarily see a great future for him as a chaser- he would be around eight years old, even if he started his chasing career towards the end of this year. I much prefer horses to go novice chasing earlier than that. Most of the horses in those two staying races tend to be six or seven years old in the main, and their record thereafter in trying to reach Gold Cup standards is dire indeed.
