General Chat

[Yosser]

Welcome to our new members.
Hopefully most of you have something to say and add to the mix.
Absolutely delighted to note that one of you has already mentioned they can add to the weather chat :applause:

You will love me then Q, i work 10 miles from Liverpool so can give updates on the weather as the week goes on. Early forecast is pretty bad for Friday with some rain in the week. Saturday is like a monsoon on one weather app and sunny and dry on another. Currently dry and has been all night

 

[archie]

Aintree advance going (and weather) thread opened in the Grand National sub-forum.

 

[Deleted member 4957]

They've mentioned the flat for ADTS.

Yeah, now you mention that I do remember that being suggested.
If that's the case a chase career would be unlikely...

 

[Atlantic Viking]

What's the process for people joining now?

PHD in meteorology. Passing interest in horse racing optional.

 

[Eggs]

….Aintree weather watch; Tuesday; seemingly dry night and no rain first thing this morning. Sky looks a little threatening but also a bit of blue up there so difficult to know how things will go.

…despite a few threatening clouds, it’s remained dry so far today. There has been bits of sunshine but it’s quite chilly.

 

[robith]

I see Tony Calvin has quit Weighed In - I always enjoy his take and I know he's been ill, but man alive he seems to have taken that very light hearted ribbing Paddy Power gave him in their pre Cheltenham impressions video very personally. He sounded like depressed me aged 15 on that post fest podcast. I know he blanked at the festival, but if you're being paid to be a tipster, you need a bit of a thicker skin than that no? Seems to be a very disproportionate reaction?

Either way, I'm deffo done with that podcast - since Cahill left it just became very bloated, Ryle, Blake and Duke are all too inside the industry and it just becomes myopic arguing about minutae, at least Calvin felt like he came from the same planet as us. The tipping performance on it though is abysmal, not that you'd know as they all keep resetting their P/L.

I did however Kevin Blake's april fool tweet making reference to "racing in Azerbaijan" - has to be a pointed comment right, which I love

 

[HoldenTheReins]

I see Tony Calvin has quit Weighed In - I always enjoy his take and I know he's been ill, but man alive he seems to have taken that very light hearted ribbing Paddy Power gave him in their pre Cheltenham impressions video very personally. He sounded like depressed me aged 15 on that post fest podcast. I know he blanked at the festival, but if you're being paid to be a tipster, you need a bit of a thicker skin than that no? Seems to be a very disproportionate reaction?

Either way, I'm deffo done with that podcast - since Cahill left it just became very bloated, Ryle, Blake and Duke are all too inside the industry and it just becomes myopic arguing about minutae, at least Calvin felt like he came from the same planet as us. The tipping performance on it though is abysmal, not that you'd know as they all keep resetting their P/L.

I did however Kevin Blake's april fool tweet making reference to "racing in Azerbaijan" - has to be a pointed comment right, which I love

Has he though? I thought that was one of those shit April fools 'jokes'

 

[robith]

Has he though? I thought that was one of those shit April fools 'jokes'

It's his pinned tweet on twitter and he hasn't said it was a joke so I'm presuming it was real

 

[nortonscoin200]

…despite a few threatening clouds, it’s remained dry so far today. There has been bits of sunshine but it’s quite chilly.

The going on the Grand National course today is soft, heavy in places, according to the RP.


"The heavy ground is the lower section from Foinavon round to the back of Valentine's," said clerk of the course Sulekha Varma. "The sun is shining right now but the back end of this week has the potential to turn quite wet and the forecasters are saying it will continue to be unsettled. It sounds like we can expect some level of showers most days."​

 

[Lobos]

Based on the forecast you'd think Heavy will be in the description on the day. Going to be a proper slog.

 

[Big Bucks]

I see Tony Calvin has quit Weighed In - I always enjoy his take and I know he's been ill, but man alive he seems to have taken that very light hearted ribbing Paddy Power gave him in their pre Cheltenham impressions video very personally. He sounded like depressed me aged 15 on that post fest podcast. I know he blanked at the festival, but if you're being paid to be a tipster, you need a bit of a thicker skin than that no? Seems to be a very disproportionate reaction?

Either way, I'm deffo done with that podcast - since Cahill left it just became very bloated, Ryle, Blake and Duke are all too inside the industry and it just becomes myopic arguing about minutae, at least Calvin felt like he came from the same planet as us. The tipping performance on it though is abysmal, not that you'd know as they all keep resetting their P/L.

I did however Kevin Blake's april fool tweet making reference to "racing in Azerbaijan" - has to be a pointed comment right, which I love

How poor was that episode? Man that was so depressing!

I think it is legit he took that video bad and think he got a "bit"of abuse on twitter re his tips and all he brought to anything was constantly bringing up the weather, could well be more to it, but its how I read it, he couldn't take the criticism and light hearted humour video of a guy (which everyone else he took the P out of seemed to tske it the way it was meant?)

Very strange as I say could be more to it, but my interpretation without knowing full facts I will add, was he threw the toys out of pram over nothing.

 

[robith]

How poor was that episode? Man that was so depressing!

I think it is legit he took that video bad and think he got a "bit"of abuse on twitter re his tips and all he brought to anything was constantly bringing up the weather, could well be more to it, but its how I read it, he couldn't take the criticism and light hearted humour video of a guy (which everyone else he took the P out of seemed to tske it the way it was meant?)

Very strange as I say could be more to it, but my interpretation without knowing full facts I will add, was he threw the toys out of pram over nothing.

deffo, he repeated in another tweet that the video led to "untold piss taking " - I mean it couldn't have been more genteel imo, then said he'd address it in a column that never came. That is certainly how it looks outside in. Very strange

 

[Exar Essay]

I see Jade De Grugy has been awarded an RPR of 147 for her Fairyhouse win. I think that’s the best weight adjusted novice hurdle performance of the season by a horse not named Ballyburn.

 

[Lobos]

I see Jade De Grugy has been awarded an RPR of 147 for her Fairyhouse win. I think that’s the best weight adjusted novice hurdle performance of the season by a horse not named Ballyburn.

It does seem a little high but it was a very competitive race and I can see plenty of winners coming out of it.

 

[Aff The Bridle]

deffo, he repeated in another tweet that the video led to "untold piss taking " - I mean it couldn't have been more genteel imo, then said he'd address it in a column that never came. That is certainly how it looks outside in. Very strange

Hi guys, feels good to be on board.
I thought his initial reaction to the video was that he was kidding on he was upset by it, but then his actions which followed, fairly points in the direction that he was mighty pissed off. Sure he drew a black at Cheltenham, but seems as though he has took it badly.

Clear as day as well that he hasn't got much time for Daryl Carter on Racing Only Better. I don't mind TC on Weighed In but wouldn't really follow his tipping.

 

[Bollinger]

Has anyone got a link to the interview with Noel George about Il Est Francais that was published today in the Racing Post that they could post here maybe? Thanks to anyone in advance.

 

[YoungHustler]

Has anyone got a link to the interview with Noel George about Il Est Francais that was published today in the Racing Post that they could post here maybe? Thanks to anyone in advance.

[FONT=__utopia_47a2b9]George is banking on the "intelligence and talent" of Il Est Francais as he switches from a successful first attempt over British fences to the very different jumping test of Auteuil in the Prix Murat, a key trial for next month's Grade 1 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, France's version of the Gold Cup. [/FONT]
[FONT=__utopia_47a2b9]Il Est Francais is unbeaten in two outings over fences at Auteuil but will be tackling the outer course for the first time, meaning he will have to negotiate the biggest obstacle on the track – the Rail, Ditch and Fence or 'Juge de Paix' – for the first time. [/FONT]
[FONT=__utopia_47a2b9]"He’s a very special horse and I think he’ll adapt again," said George, who oversaw the six-year-old's final piece of work on Tuesday and will put him through his jumping paces in a schooling session on Wednesday. "He’s schooled a lot over the French obstacles and before Kempton we only schooled him once over the English-style fences."[/FONT]
[FONT=__utopia_47a2b9]George said: "When I rang Francois Doumen before we went, he told me that if I trusted my horse to adapt, I should go for it. He’s an intelligent horse and a very talented one so hopefully we can get the win on the board on Saturday and then it’s all guns blazing for the Grand Steeple."[/FONT]
[FONT=__utopia_47a2b9]Il Est Francais only made the switch from hurdles to fences in the autumn of his five-year-old career and thus is still a novice in British and Irish terms, though he is obliged to race in open company in France, where age-restricted races at three and four are used to develop young jumpers. [/FONT]
[FONT=__utopia_47a2b9]In the Murat he will not only have to readapt to French-style fences but must also carry a Grade 1 penalty for his win in the Kauto Star as he takes on race-fit opposition including stablemate Gallipoli and the talented Gran Diose from the Louisa Carberry yard. [/FONT]
[FONT=__utopia_47a2b9]But George is anything but defensive when it comes to his expectations about whether Il Est Francais will be able to overcome those potential pitfalls, and believes he has his stable star fit enough to get the job done.[/FONT]
[FONT=__utopia_47a2b9]"Personally I don’t like going to the races when the horse is not ready," said George. "I think horses work on their morale and he’s 90 per cent ready to go. In the Grand Steeple you need to be at 120 so you don’t want to leave too much work for yourself. [/FONT]
[FONT=__utopia_47a2b9]"France Galop very kindly opened Chantilly racecourse and he worked over the Prix du Jockey Club course. He worked very well and that’s put him spot on for Saturday. He did his last bit of work on the sand this morning and went very well."[/FONT]
[FONT=__utopia_47a2b9]George and joint-trainer Amanda Zetterholm passed up the chance to go for the Turners Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and have selected the Murat over a trip to Aintree to give Il Est Francais some match-practice over the Rail, Ditch and Fence. [/FONT]
[FONT=__utopia_47a2b9]George said: "I don’t think it would be an issue if we went straight there but if you’ve got the option to go over it [the Rail, Ditch and Fence] beforehand, you’ve got to take it. I think he should be fine. He likes to come into his races fresh. That’s why we’ve aimed him at this race, as it gives him six weeks until the Grand Steeple."

Asked for his impression of the Turners – won by the Dan Skelton-trained Grey Dawning – George said: "They went very fast but I think our horse has the cruising speed to lay up with them.[/FONT]
[FONT=__utopia_47a2b9]"I think the novice to take out of the festival for next year is probably Fact To File. But we’re more focused on the Grand Steeple at the moment and we’ll worry about that when the time comes."
Reflecting on how quickly Il Est Francais adapted to the very different demands of Kempton, George revealed he has sought expert advice from the man who trained Nupsala, The Fellow, Algan and First Gold to win five King Georges at the track. [/FONT]

 

[Eggs]

….i’ll keep the Aintree weather updates in the Grand National Going thread.

 

[FredFlintstone]

Could anyone advise what website is the quickest to update the BHA entries?

 

[Benjy23]

I'm sure there was discussion around heavy ground and National finishers recently? 9 or less is 5/1 with Hills... Might appeal to some.