• HELP US - Become a Patron - Fat Jockey is a horse racing community focused on all the big races in the UK and Ireland. We don't charge users but if you have found the site useful then any support towards the running costs is appreciated ... a small donation each month would be a huge contribution. Become a Patron!

General Chat

yes it could be that , does Gordon have any other BANC candidates ?

Gordon said after his run at Tramore he wouldnt be cheltenham grade 1 standard, so wouldn't worry too much on that front

Where's Jamie codd at nowadays?
 
Gordon said after his run at Tramore he wouldnt be cheltenham grade 1 standard, so wouldn't worry too much on that front

Where's Jamie codd at nowadays?

May have improved since then and if he wins Kerry National they could have a rethink possibly. It does obviously depend on what else steps forward for him. Interesting though.
 
Long odds on but Aurora Vega did it very well again. She does look like she's inherited some of her Mother's ability and could yet match the heights of her brother. Looking forward to where she goes next.
 
May have improved since then and if he wins Kerry National they could have a rethink possibly. It does obviously depend on what else steps forward for him. Interesting though.

Was only a week ago Lobos, obviously could surprise them throughout the season, but I'd like to think gordon has his campaigned already mapped out
 
Ziggy shortened into 9's NHC with both B365 and Sky and into 16's with both those firms for BANC.
 
Was only a week ago Lobos, obviously could surprise them throughout the season, but I'd like to think gordon has his campaigned already mapped out

Hope so but JK's comments after the race will be taken into account.
 
Just watched race, he’s beat a 140 rated horse today and I know distances can be exaggerated in small fields but he’s hosed up.
There was a time the NH Chase was a 20 runner cavalry charge, not the case these days, likely be 8/9 runners all with proper pilots on board, it’s a race that’s totally changed in recent years, Ziggy looks an early high class candidate…
 
Long odds on but Aurora Vega did it very well again. She does look like she's inherited some of her Mother's ability and could yet match the heights of her brother. Looking forward to where she goes next.

She has a half sister waiting in the shadows meant to be a bullet compared to AV.. I’m holding off on Aurora for now just to see if she gets a mention in the 1st stable tour and if she’s one for this season or next.. unclear at the minute
 
She has a half sister waiting in the shadows meant to be a bullet compared to AV.. I’m holding off on Aurora for now just to see if she gets a mention in the 1st stable tour and if she’s one for this season or next.. unclear at the minute

Maybe she'll be aimed at Bumpers ?

Sounds very much like AV will be going Hurdling sooner rather than later.
 
Ziggy shortened into 9's NHC with both B365 and Sky and into 16's with both those firms for BANC.


….but PP/BFSB surprisingly holding the 12s, perhaps they know something. I only watched the race back and was surprised he was 2nd fav in a 2 horse race, evs was decent.
 
….but PP/BFSB surprisingly holding the 12s, perhaps they know something. I only watched the race back and was surprised he was 2nd fav in a 2 horse race, evs was decent.

Worth noting they were standout 20/1 on rwf for nh chase two years ago and were wrong so not the same situation as with facile last year and even IEP this year for example.

I don't think Ziggy is the nh chase horse but I can't figure out why and I don't have a bet on any horse in the race anyway so it doesn't really matter!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eggs
….but PP/BFSB surprisingly holding the 12s, perhaps they know something. I only watched the race back and was surprised he was 2nd fav in a 2 horse race, evs was decent.

The runner up had just won that valuable handicap at the Galway festival, decent horse with big race experience…
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eggs
Maybe she'll be aimed at Bumpers ?

Sounds very much like AV will be going Hurdling sooner rather than later.

Patrick Mullins said: "I went around thinking I don't want her to whip around at the starting tape or duck out at a doll or something stupid but it was very straightforward and she did it great. She is improving and we're hoping to get blacktype with her.

"She was sharper today, was more in my hands and I'd have preferred if she relaxed more but I think will continue to improve.

"Willie might want to go jumping now but I'd be hoping she would go for a Listed bumper. I don't think she'll jump fences so may we should stay bumpering this season and go hurdling next season - that's my argument anyway. She's not big but is wide and strong.

"It has been a super summer, riding Annie Power's son, Quevega's son and Agusta Kate's daughter is due out at Ballinrobe on Monday."
​

Up in the air it seems
 
There's a listed mares bumper at Gowran at the end of September. Always a target for Willie.
 
The runner up had just won that valuable handicap at the Galway festival, decent horse with big race experience…

Question for you (and anyone else) - how much value do you assign to two runner races irrespective of the opposition? I haven't seen sz's yet as I'm currently on holiday, but I'm thinking back to jonbon Vs Calico as well and I am expecting there will be several more in the UK this winter based on current field size trends.

For me, I tend to write them off as fairly unreliable evidence of anything other than wellbeing just because they are normally so different to what the horse will experience in other races (particularly big handicaps/graded races).

​​​​​
 
Question for you (and anyone else) - how much value do you assign to two runner races irrespective of the opposition? I haven't seen sz's yet as I'm currently on holiday, but I'm thinking back to jonbon Vs Calico as well and I am expecting there will be several more in the UK this winter based on current field size trends.

For me, I tend to write them off as fairly unreliable evidence of anything other than wellbeing just because they are normally so different to what the horse will experience in other races (particularly big handicaps/graded races).

​​​​​

Yeah I do agree.
For me it’s how the race is run, they seemed to go an OK gallop, Ziggy breezed upsides 3 out and we t clear fairly easily though, and this is always the danger, the runner up knew he was beat and was eased.
That said, they were racing to between the last 2 fences, so Ziggy won the race from 3rd last to approaching last.
I’ll ignore RPRs and winning distance, but visually it looked a good performance against a good yardstick…
 
  • Like
Reactions: Odin
There's a listed mares bumper at Gowran at the end of September. Always a target for Willie.

Take that in and then go Hurdling. She'll be 6 turn of year so that'll work. The Mares he's ran in the Cheltenham Bumper have all come out later than AV so I'd think a Novice Hurdling campaign after that listed race would be in their minds. She does look very good. Built like her mother as well.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Guard duty
Pretty sure you can't run in the bumper as a 6 y/o starting next year anyway so has no choice but to go hurdling if they want to run her at the festival
 
Pretty sure you can't run in the bumper as a 6 y/o starting next year anyway so has no choice but to go hurdling if they want to run her at the festival

Plus if she ran in the listed race like Augusta Kate did then she couldn't have another Bumper run for 6 months until the Cheltenham Festival itself . Just wouldn't work. She looks certain to go Hurdling. Very sensible getting her out early for racecourse experience I'd say.