I see that it's being reported that the former Cheltenham Gold Cup and dual King George VI winner dear old Long Run will in all likelihood have just one run before the big âun at Aintree this term. Adding to this revelation, old boy Sam Waley-Cohen, the forumâs favourite Corinthian, stated, âWe are going to be taking it very quietly, and he's very unlikely to run before Christmas.â In 2013/14 Long Run had 4 outings prior to Aintree but this was largely down to needing to get his perch down and thus achieving a manageable impost in relation to the rest of the field. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more. This time around though Mr Henderson and the Mr Waley-Cohenâs will mastermind just one objective and with better luck in 2015 one of the biggest fairytales in sport might just occur next April. The racecourse would certainly need a new roof as punters cheers would send the old one orbiting. Ho-ho-ho. What a reception my old fave would receive though. And people wouldnât stop cheering for months. Long Run was Loving Aintree with a capital âLâ last time prior to losing his footing at the 9th and you can guarantee that Mr Henderson will ensure that enthusiasm remains come âtapes upâ time. Such a commitment from wonderful and quite brilliant connections and his previous fervour over the big fences makes the 40/1 currently available with old boy Victor look most appealing. Get on, troops!
I think the nation will be positively giddy next April with this possibility and the new Royal arrival .
And don’t forget, Dex, next April will also see us just a month away from the truly glorious sight of seeing Mr Cameron returned to office for another 5 years. Giddy times indeed!
Mr "Shivering Jellyfish" Cameron will by that point have been dragged so far to the right in an effort to appease the lunatic fringe in his own party, that he will be indistinguishable from the dangerous idiot Farage. Tragically, however, the British electorate may just be stupid enough to vote for a package of isolationist Little England nonsense, so you may be right about the Jellyfish getting re-elected. Worrying times.
The 2015 GN election will be an even stranger one than normal as in all likelihood what happens in as little as 40 key marginals will decide the whole thing. In 575-600 seats, unless something monumental happens between now and polling day, you can say now who will win the seat with total certainty. The % share of the vote nationwide really means next to nothing and for that reason although UKIP may get as much as 15% across the whole electorate the way our electoral system works they ain’t going to achieve anything more than 10 seats at the absolute maximum (and probably will get much lower). For that reason Mr Cameron really doesn’t need to ‘appease’ them that much. If we lived under proportional representation things may well be different but we don’t. I actually live in one of the key marginals and canvassing has already started between the only 2 parties who can win that seat. Last time out the dreaded Liberals won by just over 2,000 but I’m full of hope this will be reversed next year. You can guarantee that Conservative big wigs and Liberal grandees will be beseeching the town come next May and there is even talk of Mr Cameron himself turning out (certainly a more appealing prospect than Cleggover who stunk the place out in 2010)!
To say Long Run lost his footing at the 9th is being extremely kind to the animal. My take was that it was one of his low jumps for which he is renowned. It was a horrible fall and he was lucky to escape serious injury. I wouldn't take 40/1 on him getting round if he lines up next year. Hopefully his connections will see sense, he owes them absolutely nothing after all. Philip Hobb's Chance to Roy would be the one I take from last seasons race. Made a mistake when reasonably well placed early on, got shuffled back to last and involved in all sorts of carnage as a result. Got himself back into contention on the second circuit and then got mullered again by Mr Moonshine jumping the 3rd last. Immediately off the bridle thereafter but stayed on gamely for 6th. With a better passage he's a lot better 40/1 shot IMHO. The other one I'd give an honourable mention for is Rocky Creek currently available at 33s. My worry with him is that the trainer wants to start him off in the Hennessy. He ran very well in this last year and I can see him being competitive again. If he wins that his mark may well become prohibitive.
I was employing spin equivalent to that of ‘New Labour’ under Tone there, perhaps. Yes, was a horror looking fall. Long Run though did amazingly run just over 3 weeks later at Punchestown and the fall obviously left no mental or physical scars as he ran very well to be beaten just a handful of lengths in a Grade 1. Ended the term in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris at Auteuil in may when an honourable 9th. Re that latter race it had 1st prizemoney last year of over £318k and I do wonder this time around if UK stables will target the heat big time with some quality animals. I’ve always liked Rocky Creek but would personally prefer him in the Hennessy rather than the GN. Only currently 5 lb higher than the perch off which he ran so well in the Newbury race in ’13.
I hope the forums favourite Corinthian manages to stay in the old plate in the GN until the winners enclosure. His Cossack like evacuation today in front of the Liverpool stands was no doubt a dress rehearsal for his victory dismount next April but did he have to have a dry run mid race? We'll forgive him and put in down to natural impatient and impetuous enthusiasm from a born entertainer,inpirational amateur pilot and all round good egg.
