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Losing Cheltenham Festival horses to follow

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  • Losing Cheltenham Festival horses to follow

    1. Rule the World ...http://www.fatjockey.com/forum/showt...y-Mouse-Morris

  • #2
    African gold another one. Pont Alexander would be an obvious one but was very well beaten IMO ...

    Comment


    • #3
      Ive added

      Captain Conan - faded badly in last furlong but might be filling places behind sprinter next year if they go back to 2 miles...not much else.

      Gevrey Chambertin ...too bad to be true

      Boston Bob ...for horse WPM wasnt happy with and Ruby overlooked was running a cracker ( not certain he would have won though)

      Dynaste 16s now with Bet365 for King George ....considering Feltham form just too big.
      Last edited by Old Vic; 17 March 2013, 10:33 PM.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by mayo View Post
        African gold another one. Pont Alexander would be an obvious one but was very well beaten IMO ...
        Like African Gold alright ...would like to see PA win on something other than soft...

        Comment


        • #5
          Ian Ogg: Although support for Rule The World gathered momentum as the Neptune drew near, Mouse Morris' runners often seem to go under the radar as runners from 'more fashionable' stables take the limelight. Morris' last three runners in the race were this year's Arkle second Baily Rock (ninth at 100/1), First Lieutenant (first) and Grade One winner China Rock (fourth at 25/1) and there's every chance Rule The World could be better than the lot of them. More of a staying type than the winner, Morris expects him to be better with another year on his back and it would be no surprise to see him among the leading contenders for the RSA Chase in 12 months time.

          Ben Linfoot: You have to be wary of horses running on late up the hill to considerably improve their position, but David Pipe's Tanerko Emery looks worth keeping an eye on for the rest of the season judging by his County Hurdle effort. Held up at the rear by Jason Maguire, he couldn't go with them when he needed to improve his position in the middle part of the race. Yet, with too much to do from a winning perspective at the bottom of the hill, he picked up in great style and moved through the field on the stands' rail to almost nick fourth on the line. A step back up in trip looks an absolute must for him now, especially if we eventually start to get better ground and he'd be of real interest in a big-field handicap over two-and-a-half miles at Liverpool.

          Ben Coley: I agree with Mr Linfoot's noting of the Pipe horse, and will add Romanesco's run in the Kim Muir as another to add to the notebook. Purchased by Giggingstown prior to the Festival, it was no surprise to see Gordon Elliott's runner come in for support, particularly given the strength of his never-nearer second to National hope Colbert Station on his previous start over fences. A mistake at the first forced Nina Carberry to bide her time aboard the eight-year-old, who could be seen travelling noticeably well turning for home before another blunder at what was the final fence proved too much to recover from. That three-and-a-quarter mile race was a thorough test of stamina and the visual impression is that Romanesco didn't quite see it out. Granted better ground, though, he clearly gets three miles with a little to spare and a handicap chase on the final day of the Punchestown Festival could prove the ideal target. Wherever he goes, it's fair to assume his shrewd trainer will have identified the right race and having pulled well clear of the fourth at Cheltenham, I fancy Romanesco's turn isn't far off.
          Last edited by Lester; 19 March 2013, 08:06 PM.

          Comment


          • #6
            Another potential RSA Chase prospect for next year could well be Nigel Twiston-Davies' African Gold, a gallant second in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle behind At Fishers Cross. Progressive over hurdles, African Gold was seeking to complete the five-timer at Cheltenham but simply ran into a better horse under the conditions, the winner's form looking strong following The New One's triumph on Wednesday. There were plenty of positives to take from African Gold's performance and he once again jumped well, travelled fluently, and seemed to appreciate the step up to three miles, sticking on resolutely up the hill. He certainly has the size and scope to make a chaser and his straightforward attitude is certainly an advantage. Considering his trainer's refreshing attitude to regularly running his horses, African Gold could turn up to next year's RSA with plenty of experience under his belt, something which has proven a positive in that often-attritional affair.*
            Last edited by Lester; 19 March 2013, 08:05 PM.

            Comment


            • #7
              Mouse Morris may have left Cheltenham last week without a winner, but his three contenders, Baily Green, Rule The World and First Lieutenant, all performed with credit, finishing second in their respective races. Looking ahead to next year, Rule The World, the horse that finished second to The New One in the Neptune Novices' Hurdle, could provide Morris with his best shot of securing Cheltenham glory, the RSA chase an obvious target for a horse that looks destined to come into his own over fences. The Willie Mullins-trained Pont Alexandre was supposedly the week's Irish banker, but it was the progressive Rule the World, a Grade 2 winner on his most recent start, that fared best of the Irish contingent, travelling strongly and keeping on well in the closing stages without being able to match the explosive turn of foot shown by The New One.*

              For a horse that has already shown he is effective over three miles, the sedate early gallop was probably against Rule The World, at least in comparison to the winner, who will probably be aimed at the Champion Hurdle such is the speed he displayed. That makes his effort in coming second appear even better than on first inspection and the lightly-raced six-year-old is surely open to further improvement. Morris has proven that he knows how to target a horse at Cheltenham and should Rule The World display an aptitude for fencing he will be many punters' idea of the RSA winner come the Festival.
              Last edited by Lester; 19 March 2013, 08:05 PM.

              Comment


              • #8
                Despite tasting defeat, My Tent Or Yours still looks more than capable of making an impact in top-level events next season, the Champion Hurdle surely his ultimate objective should connections spurn a crack at chasing. In the short term, his strong-travelling style is likely to be seen to great effect at Aintree, where he is likely to hold exceptional claims in the Top Novices' Hurdle, a race won by Darlan last year, while, looking further ahead, he ought to be difficult to beat in any race where the emphasis is on speed, the Christmas Hurdle an obvious mid-season target next term. His response to pressure, particularly on testing tracks against top-class opponents, remains his Achilles' heel, this not the first time he has found less than expected off the bridle, but with another year under his belt, and the chance to mature over summer, My Tent Or Yours will provide a formidable challenge for the very best hurdlers.
                Last edited by Lester; 19 March 2013, 08:05 PM.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Interesting from Phil Smith...

                  It is not often that a horse finishing sixth in a top race catches one's eye but I was very much taken with the run of Goulanes (145 in only his second chase having been slightly hampered). I am sure he is a horse with a future.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    a few more from Graham Cunningham

                    Very good morning all. I haven't delved through every replay as yet, and there are obviously loads to choose from but I would defnitely put in a good word for Meister Eckhart, O'Faolain's Boy and Creevytennant. Meister Eckhart stayed on strongly after pressing a hard pace in the Coral Cup. He had a hard race but seems to be thriving at the moment, while O'FB played fourth fiddle behind At Fishers Cross in the Albert Bartlett but jumped and travelled like a horse with a big future over fences next year. Creevytennant didn't attract much attention after being pulled up in the Foxhunter but he did really well to be bang there until the swing for home considering that he jumped violently right at most fences. He definitely needs to go right handed and given that he might well be dropped to a mark of 130 after this I'd be very keen if Fergal O'Brien takes the option of switching from hunter chases to handicaps.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Donn mcClean www.donnmcclean.com

                      Super Duty

                      Super Duty did really well to go so close in the Kim Muir considering he forced the pace throughout in a race in which it probably paid to be held up. The other three of the first four home came from well off the pace.

                      Donald McCain’s horse jumped accurately in the hands of Derek O’Connor. He was still going strongly in a share of the lead with Becauseicouldntsee at the top of the hill, that horse seemed to be going better over the usual third last down the hill but Super Duty got the better of him into the home straight and looked the likely winner when he jumped the last (the usual second last) two lengths clear. He probably just idled in front though and allowed Same Difference to join him up the inside as they bypassed the last fence. He did battle on really well up the hill, however, and he only just went down by a head, which wasn’t a bad effort even on the face of it, considering he was giving the winner 12lb including Ryan Hatch’s claim.

                      As well as possibly not advantaged by being right on the pace throughout, Donald McCain’s horses were a little out of sorts all week, a lot of them were stopping quickly and were well beaten, including some of the big names, and that makes this effort potentially even better.

                      Super Duty is only seven, this was just his fifth chase, he was a high-class novice hurdler last season and there should be a fair bit more to come from him as a staying chaser. He seems a better horse on better ground – as his trainer has maintained all season – and, second to Simonsig at Aintree last year, when he would have finished even closer but for a bad mistake at the second last flight, he would be of interest if he goes there again, for either the three-mile-one-furlong handicap chase, the race before the Grand National, or the Mildmay Novices’ Chase. Horses who have been beaten at Cheltenham actually have quite a good record in that race, and McCain loves to have winners at Aintree. Longer term, he has proved he stays in excess of three miles really well now on his last two runs, so he could be a Hennessy horse next season, and he could make up into a Grand National horse in time. Ballabriggs won the Kim Muir off a mark of 140 the season before he won the National for McCain.

                      14th March 2013
                      Last edited by Old Vic; 23 March 2013, 03:31 PM.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Marito is worth noting now after his run in the Jewson Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. Setting off at the rear, he travelled well and moved closer up the home straight first time, and he continued to travel strongly down the back straight. Only ninth coming to the top of the hill, he crept into the race down the hill and had improved into fourth under Ruby Walsh over the third last, still with running to give.

                        He was starting to pick up well having been brought to the near side coming to the second last, he was only three lengths behind the leaders and shaping to mount a challenge, when he hit the second last and came down. Ruby was yet to really go for him and, while he may not have beaten Benefficient, he might have gone close and the pace did rather collapse up the hill – Changing Times and Module stayed on from behind Marito at the second last to get involved for places – so you have to think there was a good chance he would have finished at least second or third.

                        The German-bred gelding is young and still lightly-raced with significant scope for progression. He hadn’t been beaten far by Texas Jack and Lord Windermere on his previous run in a Grade 2 contest at Leopardstown, when he had had to make the running, and he looked better suited to this much more patient ride in this better race. The Powers Gold Cup may come a bit soon for him after this, especially after quite a heavy fall (and Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins probably have that race in mind for Arvika Ligeonniere anyway), as may the Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree, although he would be worth considering if he was allowed to take his chance in one of those. He could be a horse for Punchestown, and he could be an under-rated horse going into next season. Three miles should be within his range next term.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Meister Eckhart

                          Meister Eckhart had to give best to his stable companion Medinas on the run-in in the Coral Cup, but he ran a huge race to finish second. Crucially, Alan King’s horse was up with a really fast pace throughout in a race in which it was a significant advantage to be held up. The other four of the first five horses, along with Meister Eckhart, to jump the second flight faded to finish ninth, 11th, 22nd and 23rd.

                          Originally racing in a share of third and travelling fluently, Meister Eckhart went into clear third with a quick jump over the third fight, and he was never out of the first three thereafter. He continued to edge closer to the pace on the final circuit and he eased to the front after a quick jump over the fourth last at the top of the hill. He was still going strongly coming down the hill, and was travelling just about better than anything coming to the second last, with the possible exception of the returning Fiveforthree, and he was still able to kick on into the home straight.

                          He just wasn’t quite able to get clear of his pursuers coming to the final flight and, while he was still able to just get the better of a protracted duel up the hill with Fiveforthree, he couldn’t hold off Medinas who came past them up the inside.

                          In the circumstances, this really was a big run. The manner in which he was able to keep on up the hill after expending so much energy through the early stages of the race was hugely impressive. Also, this was just his second run of the season, just his second for Alan King and just his fifth run over hurdles. He should come on again for it and he has been raised just 4lb, to a mark of 147, which is more than fair. He has form on heavy ground but he seems better on a sound surface – he ran a cracker in last season’s Albert Bartlett when he was the only horse who could really go with Brindisi Breeze at the top of the hill and he was still in second over the second last before weakening into fifth – and he would warrant serious consideration now at Aintree if he were to turn up there for the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle. He should get three miles in time but for now two and a half miles is probably his optimum. Longer term, he could be a decent novice chaser next season.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Terminal

                            But for Boston Bob’s final fence fall, there would have been an Irish clean sweep in the RSA Chase. The main focus has rightly on the first two, Lord Windermere and Lyreen Legend – although there is a suspicion that Lord Windermere won with a little more in hand than has generally been appreciated – and the faller but, as such, the performance of the other Irish-trained horse, Terminal, in finishing fifth may have gone a little under the radar.

                            Held up in last place in the early stages by David Casey, who was riding him for the first time, Willie Mullins’ horse travelled okay but they just seemed to be going half a stride quicker than ideal for him on this ground, the first time he has encountered anything better than heavy ground over fences, and a slow jump at the fence going away from the stands didn’t help. He seemed to warm up after that though, and he started to get into it on the outside down the back straight before he made a significant mistake at the ditch at the top of the hill just as the pace was increasing. He was on the back foot after that.

                            He was outpaced as they picked up coming down the hill and he lost touch with the front group, but he started to stay on from the third last and he ran on really well up the hill to finish fifth, not beaten far for third. With a slightly better round of jumping he may well have been placed.

                            This was just his fourth run over fences and it is interesting that he was backed in the morning, given that Willie Mullins had the overnight favourite Boston Bob. He beat Tofino Bay over three miles on heavy ground at Navan on his previous run, he is obviously all stamina, and he would be of interest now if he took his chance in the Irish National a race in which novices can do well, as long as he recovers from his Cheltenham exertions on time. The slightly slower pace that they will go in that race should suit him, and softer ground – as seems likely at present – would be a positive. He is only six (just one horse younger than seven has won the RSA Chase since Florida Pearl in 1998 anyway) and, longer term, he should be an exciting staying chaser next season.

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