2022 Ballymore Novices Hurdle

[Benjy23]

I'll add that to the 7 reasons why not to write him off that I mentioned yesterday

You'd have thought after all these years we would have stopped trying to second guess Willie by now

I don't think anyone is second guessing and ruling him out of the Ballymore now. Ironically I think a fair few on here were second guessing Willie and ruling him out of the Supreme last week! Think that's now swung to a healthier discussion on which race is more likely

[Quevega]

I don't think anyone is second guessing and ruling him out of the Ballymore now. Ironically I think a fair few on here were second guessing Willie and ruling him out of the Supreme last week! Think that's now swung to a healthier discussion on which race is more likely

I agree with the first sentence, and this was why I've got involved. It seemed absurd that people were so convinced he was going to run in the ballymore.
Totally disagree on the healthy discussion though
I think it's affected some peoples mental health for sure.
And to counter the Patrick Mullins (regularly spot on ) quotes
Willie was quoted as saying this in one of the stable tours.

Looking at him in the parade ring, one would think he's a chasing type. However, we're going hurdling this season. Being able to win bumpers at Clonmel and Punchestown during the last campaign probably means he'll be able to compete over shorter trips.

I think Willie was probably spot on as the performances have shown.

[Altior]

... and after his bumper debut at Clonmel:-

Patrick Mullins said: "It is a great family, and the Mannings' bred him and own him. He is a big, big baby and that's why I was quite keen to take a lead for the first bit and get him to settle and relax. To look at him he is a three-mile chaser on soft ground.''

Feels like we're clutching at straws somewhat though.

Quick some request Dysart to win the JLT in 2023 and Gold Cup in 2024

[Quevega]

Quick some request Dysart to win the JLT in 2023 and Gold Cup in 2024

And someone also request him to beat "straw clutcher" (great name for a horse) in a forecast for the 2024 Gold Cup.
Think you'd get a decent price on that, 250-1 or something.

[Craigy14]

I disagree about him being a boat. His p2p time was one of, if not the quickest on the day, and Grand Jury posted similar too in his p2p. GJ has then gone and won a bumper and hurdle over 2m.

I think the two quickest horses finished 1-2 in the Lawlors and the boats were in behind. Someone said the head wind was very strong in the race, this could well have exaggerated what made it look like they were boats, as this could have blunted their speed, though I'm not sure on how much effect this has, but I imagine it has some, at least.

I think Ginto would place in a average renewal of the race, which is what it's looking like being anyway. He could well win it if Dysart Dynamo or Gerri Colombe don't turn up to the race as well.

Gordon has a line into the English leading contender (in the market anyway) so far with form through Gringo D'Aubrelle so I don't think he'd be too worried about that one.

Yeah post race Elliott has said to a few people about how testing the conditions were, including the strong head wind.

Coupled with how stiff a finish at Naas is, it points to a staying performance by Ginto imo.

He may end up here but because of the style of his victory, it is probably why Elliott was non-committal to this race when he’d showed very good staying qualities to win.

It’ll obviously be up to Hollow Games to show what he’s got now or he could end up in a handicap as someone suggested post Lawlors.

I reckon Elliott will throw bucket loads at the handicaps this year and leave a handful (5/6 at most) for the Graded hurdles.

[Benjy23]

I agree with the first sentence, and this was why I've got involved. It seemed absurd that people were so convinced he was going to run in the ballymore.
Totally disagree on the healthy discussion though
I think it's affected some peoples mental health for sure.
And to counter the Patrick Mullins (regularly spot on ) quotes
Willie was quoted as saying this in one of the stable tours.



I think Willie was probably spot on as the performances have shown.

Healthier may have been the wrong choice. More balanced maybe...

[Lobos]

DD 4/6 Supreme 6/4 Ballymore. Lobos Bookmakers.co.uk

[Lbur4288]

I've posted a bit in my diary which may be of interest to some with regards to this race.

[Lobos]

I've posted a bit in my diary which may be of interest to some with regards to this race.

Charge !!!!!.....

[RoadToCheltenham]

Gerri Colombe entered over 2m7 at Thurles on Sunday...

No entry over 2m4 at Navan on Saturday so looks like GC for the Bartlett. Might mean Robcour keep Journey With Me at the Ballymore trip?

[Dandrew99]

Gerri Colombe entered over 2m7 at Thurles on Sunday...

No entry over 2m4 at Navan on Saturday so looks like GC for the Bartlett. Might mean Robcour keep Journey With Me at the Ballymore trip?

Isn't the 2m4 at Navan a maiden hurdle?

Just to throw an alternative into the mix, didn't Gordon use this race for The Storyteller on the way to the Martin Pipe?

[ToniC]

Isn't the 2m4 at Navan a maiden hurdle?

Just to throw an alternative into the mix, didn't Gordon use this race for The Storyteller on the way to the Martin Pipe?

The storyteller didn’t run in the pipe. My memory isn’t good enough to tell you whether it was an intended target or not though.

gordon used it for Torygraph and Dortmund park before they ran in the Bartlett though. Paul Nolan used it for discorama before the pipe.

[Odin]

Isn't the 2m4 at Navan a maiden hurdle?

Just to throw an alternative into the mix, didn't Gordon use this race for The Storyteller on the way to the Martin Pipe?

This is a stonking good find and yes. TS won it on way to being an injured non-runner when fave for MP.

[Dandrew99]

The storyteller didn’t run in the pipe. My memory isn’t good enough to tell you whether it was an intended target or not though.

gordon used it for Torygraph and Dortmund park before they ran in the Bartlett though. Paul Nolan used it for discorama before the pipe.

He was 4/1 favourite for the Pipe before he got injured, so relatively safe to say it was an intended target.

All credit to Saxons diary there by the way.

My point isn't that it means he's going for the pipe, my point is that it doesn't necessarily mean he's going for the Bartlett.

[isitmarchyet]

Anybody know much about the Henderson horse Walking On Air? Running tomorrow at Newbury in the same race Gallyhill started off in last year before he was stepped up to 2m3 a month later. Obviously things didn't pan out with Gallyhill, but just one that caught my eye as a potential shortener in a massively open race. 50s available.