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I appreciate that this side of the Irish Sea we hardly live in a micro tropical climate but I can't imagine the Leopardstown ground being anything other than soft/heavy in early Feb, how many UK based trainers will want to risk their festival horses being bottomed out in a deep ground slog 5 weeks before Cheltenham ?
Not that it did the Irish horses any harm last year of course....
If FM is right, and we started having these 'big clashes' before Cheltenham, would people see that as a positive or a negative to the "Cheltenham experience".
I think it's impossible to say it doesn't add to the season as a whole, however I can't help feeling I'd be a tad underwhelmed if BVD goes over to Ireland, swots Samcro aside and we've had an entire season 'wasted' with Samcro when he's going in to Chelt for that very specific race as a clear 2nd fav...... and even if BVD went over and Samcro swotted him aside, I can't imagine I'd be as excited as I was without a bet on it!
Or worse still, something that was expected to have a chance gets firmly chinned and connections have a re-think.
I’m thinking specifically about novice heats here, if a few think they’re inferior to a hotpot they might go for an alternative race (handicap ?) and an Arkle, RSA or JLT become virtual walkovers.
That said the Arkle has already become a race contested by only a handful and won convincingly by hotpots in recent years...
It can only add to the season. I'd like to see the best race against the best far more often. Imo there is too much racing which allows connections to swerve a race for a softer option if they are that way inclined.
The greatest sport is built on rivalries. Imagine if Samcro was beat a short head by BD at Leopardstown, the build up to Cheltenham would be at fever pitch.
I don’t disagree FM but there is a risk the reverse will happen.
In years gone by Cheltenham was seen as a Championship meeting where the best Irish horses came over to compete against the best UK horses, I know the clock has moved on but there is a danger Dublin could complicate the Championship status of some races.
Trainers/owners will have the final say I guess....
UK Trainers barely send anyone over for Punchestown, because they prefer Aintree and don’t think the three are doable, so I don’t think we will see loads of horses going over for the Dublin festival as they would still
Be asking them to do 3 festivals in 3 months just in a different order.
If FM is right, and we started having these 'big clashes' before Cheltenham, would people see that as a positive or a negative to the "Cheltenham experience".
I think it's impossible to say it doesn't add to the season as a whole, however I can't help feeling I'd be a tad underwhelmed if BVD goes over to Ireland, swots Samcro aside and we've had an entire season 'wasted' with Samcro when he's going in to Chelt for that very specific race as a clear 2nd fav...... and even if BVD went over and Samcro swotted him aside, I can't imagine I'd be as excited as I was without a bet on it!
The part about "season wasted" is only true if you think Cheltenham is the be all and end all of NH racing.
At Samcro's experience level, a few easy pots this side of Christmas probably wouldn't teach him much, if he was to race BDA + even lose, he would improve as a horse, and the return bout wouldn't be nailed on to happen the same way. It would just mean the two horses have actually had a top level race in preparation, rather than a walk in the park....like BDA did last year and Hendo admitted he thought he was still undercooked.
Hurricane Fly- why do you UK trainers think this, but Irish trainers don't? They run their horses in the 3, and have been in general winning more races?
I do agree to an extent though, the Sprinter Sacre situation a few years back did show, it can be tough on them.
I just think nowadays, the Irish, especially Willie Mullins, is training is horses 100% for the 3 meetings---starting slower with them than even before (always an slow starter) and giving them less racing this side of Christmas.
If Samcro is staying over hurdles, the only 3 feasible races to start in are the Istabraq (Tipp early October - too early?), the WKD (Down Royal early November) or the Morgiana (Punchestown mid November).
There are far more opportunities in beginners chases and given his history you'd say he'd be ready to go mid October. I wouldn't back him in the CH with stolen money until he's declared for a graded hurdle.
The part about "season wasted" is only true if you think Cheltenham is the be all and end all of NH racing.
At Samcro's experience level, a few easy pots this side of Christmas probably wouldn't teach him much, if he was to race BDA + even lose, he would improve as a horse, and the return bout wouldn't be nailed on to happen the same way. It would just mean the two horses have actually had a top level race in preparation, rather than a walk in the park....like BDA did last year and Hendo admitted he thought he was still undercooked.
To be honest I'd streams by what I said.
They're potentially keeping Samcro over hurdles for one race ... and one race only. If he does pick up pots before then, so what? It's delaying him going chasing and it'll be am underwhelming season for me if he is swotted aside.
I don't think he'd grey swotted aside mind you, but anything but a won has wasted a season over hurdles.
This next bit isn't specific to you jack bit also don't like the reasoning to keep him over hurdles because of the wealth of staying novice chasets Gigginstown have. The pecking order is Samcro number 1, the rest a clear 2nd! They have no issue running multiple horses in races either so I don't expect that to have any serious sway on Samcro and his target
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