Magpie
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2027 The Prices on Offer
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…..a few for the notebook from SL;
Well-backed in the lead-up to the Festival and subject to a drift before the off, Mighty Park was one of the talking horses from the Mullins yard.
It was a big ask for a gelding who had only won a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse to step into the amphitheatre of Cheltenham and he was in awe of the hustle and bustle, remaining gentlemanly but starstruck. Physically, Mighty Park did not present like a horse ready for a Supreme - think Gold Cup type in three years, instead. Dwarfing the other horses, he looks to stand at near 17hh and fits the classic 'unfurnished, raw' description. Simply said, this gelding will be a beast in one or two years when he fills into his frame.
Taking keen hold in the early stages, Mighty Park travelled well for a long time before weakening tamely to finish a well-beaten ninth of ten completers. Add him to the notebook and wait for the novice chasing campaign.
It was a tricky week for punters and paddock-watchers alike, with seemingly obscure results and plenty of hitting the bar.
In the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, there were two clear stand-outs in the paddock – Act Of Innocence and Zeus Power, from the Joseph O’Brien yard. The latter didn’t know what price he was and strolled round the paddock with the quality and presence of a true Grade 1 horse; powerful and strong. Winner of a maiden hurdle at Thurles and a novice hurdle at Navan, the five-year-old gelding didn’t have the form to match with the best in the field but his prior experience – five previous starts – appeared to be a benefit.
The in-running comments are a difficult read for the race itself. He was hampered early, lacking for running room before the third-last fence before hitting top gear up the hill, charging home for a three-and-a-quarter length third behind the classy King Rasko Grey and Act Of Innocence.
This wasn’t a fluke of a performance: keep an eye on Zeus Power going forward.
We tend to focus on the horses towards the front of the field as ones-to-follow out of the Champion Bumper, but unseasonably good ground could factor in improvement for some further down the field.
Gordon Elliott’s Broadway Ted was undoubtedly a stand-out in the paddock. He’s not the most aesthetically pleasing – all angles and gawky teenager, but fitness was not in any question. The form of the yard, however…
As a two-time winner on heavy ground, both at Ayr and Leopardstown, it was a vast change in going conditions for the gelding and he failed to get involved, despite making some late progress with four furlongs to run. Sean Bowen could find no further effort and he weakened back into seventeenth, beating only four home.
Get some rain in the ground and we’ll see a different horse.
If we could put White Noise up from the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, we would – what an impressive mare – but it feels churlish not to find something a little more under the radar for next season.
When Jackie Hobbs walked into the paddock at Ascot in February 2025, she looked like a catwalk model at Paris Fashion Week. She had a look of quality, moved well and simply knocked the eye out – but it hasn’t quite worked out how we would have expected. She’s fallen short in Group company on multiple occasions (beaten in the Aintree mares bumper and the Listed mares’ novices’ hurdle at Haydock) but has shown her class with multiple victories in lower level competition.
Her form tells a story, but we’re not convinced they’ve reached the bottom of Jackie Hobbs yet. She didn’t catch the eye in the paddock at Cheltenham; across the board, we felt that the Harry Derham runners had looked sharper earlier in the year and she fell into the same category. Yet arguably Jackie Hobbs put up a career best with a fifth behind White Noise, enjoying the strongly run race to make late ground up the hill.
Is she a Grade 1 winner in the waiting over hurdles? Probably not, but there’s more to come from this mare and it’ll be interesting to see if she’s put over fences next season – she has the athleticism to make a strong transition.
Mighty Park (Willie Mullins)
10 March - Cheltenham - Supreme Novices' HurdleWell-backed in the lead-up to the Festival and subject to a drift before the off, Mighty Park was one of the talking horses from the Mullins yard.
It was a big ask for a gelding who had only won a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse to step into the amphitheatre of Cheltenham and he was in awe of the hustle and bustle, remaining gentlemanly but starstruck. Physically, Mighty Park did not present like a horse ready for a Supreme - think Gold Cup type in three years, instead. Dwarfing the other horses, he looks to stand at near 17hh and fits the classic 'unfurnished, raw' description. Simply said, this gelding will be a beast in one or two years when he fills into his frame.
Taking keen hold in the early stages, Mighty Park travelled well for a long time before weakening tamely to finish a well-beaten ninth of ten completers. Add him to the notebook and wait for the novice chasing campaign.
Zeus Power (Joseph O’Brien)
11 March – Cheltenham – Turners Novices’ HurdleIt was a tricky week for punters and paddock-watchers alike, with seemingly obscure results and plenty of hitting the bar.
In the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, there were two clear stand-outs in the paddock – Act Of Innocence and Zeus Power, from the Joseph O’Brien yard. The latter didn’t know what price he was and strolled round the paddock with the quality and presence of a true Grade 1 horse; powerful and strong. Winner of a maiden hurdle at Thurles and a novice hurdle at Navan, the five-year-old gelding didn’t have the form to match with the best in the field but his prior experience – five previous starts – appeared to be a benefit.
The in-running comments are a difficult read for the race itself. He was hampered early, lacking for running room before the third-last fence before hitting top gear up the hill, charging home for a three-and-a-quarter length third behind the classy King Rasko Grey and Act Of Innocence.
This wasn’t a fluke of a performance: keep an eye on Zeus Power going forward.
Broadway Ted (Gordon Elliott)
11 March – Cheltenham - Weatherbys Champion BumperWe tend to focus on the horses towards the front of the field as ones-to-follow out of the Champion Bumper, but unseasonably good ground could factor in improvement for some further down the field.
Gordon Elliott’s Broadway Ted was undoubtedly a stand-out in the paddock. He’s not the most aesthetically pleasing – all angles and gawky teenager, but fitness was not in any question. The form of the yard, however…
As a two-time winner on heavy ground, both at Ayr and Leopardstown, it was a vast change in going conditions for the gelding and he failed to get involved, despite making some late progress with four furlongs to run. Sean Bowen could find no further effort and he weakened back into seventeenth, beating only four home.
Get some rain in the ground and we’ll see a different horse.
Jackie Hobbs (Harry Derham)
12 March – Cheltenham - Ryanair Mares' Novices' HurdleIf we could put White Noise up from the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, we would – what an impressive mare – but it feels churlish not to find something a little more under the radar for next season.
When Jackie Hobbs walked into the paddock at Ascot in February 2025, she looked like a catwalk model at Paris Fashion Week. She had a look of quality, moved well and simply knocked the eye out – but it hasn’t quite worked out how we would have expected. She’s fallen short in Group company on multiple occasions (beaten in the Aintree mares bumper and the Listed mares’ novices’ hurdle at Haydock) but has shown her class with multiple victories in lower level competition.
Her form tells a story, but we’re not convinced they’ve reached the bottom of Jackie Hobbs yet. She didn’t catch the eye in the paddock at Cheltenham; across the board, we felt that the Harry Derham runners had looked sharper earlier in the year and she fell into the same category. Yet arguably Jackie Hobbs put up a career best with a fifth behind White Noise, enjoying the strongly run race to make late ground up the hill.
Is she a Grade 1 winner in the waiting over hurdles? Probably not, but there’s more to come from this mare and it’ll be interesting to see if she’s put over fences next season – she has the athleticism to make a strong transition.
Exar Essay
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Ah, thanks for the info. I was always under the (mis)apprehension that they were half siblings if they shared a sire and damsire.They're only considered half brother/sister if they share the same dam
EnvoiAlien
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Ooo I'd have the check the damsire bit, I just see they didn't share the dam which is what its based around to the best of my knowledge, the oracle will be home soon so I'll run it past her
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Yeah did it well enough, wasn’t a steering job and had to be asked to win it but did it comfortably and put the race to bed nicely
Great spot and cheers for getting your mate to request that @ComplyOrDie
ComplyOrDie
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Was OK wasn't he, without being spectacular. Probably a far cry from being a Supreme winner, but fully expecting him to improve plenty for a hurdle.
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….Spinningayarn met trouble in running in AB but still stayed on up the hill for 5th. He was mentioned in a few preview nights and given what Elliott said in his last stable tour, I don’t think there’s any doubt he’ll be chasing next season;
‘He's a fine stamp of a horse and will make a lovely novice chaser next season. I liked what I saw from him at Punchestown and I'd say he might go to the Albert Bartlett now.’
Of the Elliott horses he was the AB highest finisher, I’d think the BANC a decent target at this stage, 66-1 with PP cash-out seems reasonable.
‘He's a fine stamp of a horse and will make a lovely novice chaser next season. I liked what I saw from him at Punchestown and I'd say he might go to the Albert Bartlett now.’
Of the Elliott horses he was the AB highest finisher, I’d think the BANC a decent target at this stage, 66-1 with PP cash-out seems reasonable.
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Killiney
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Danman
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Think we need to throw a decoys out there !….cut to 40-1, somebody must be watching
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….25s now 365, only 20s with PP. Still 33-1 Hills without cash out option.
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Hurricane fly
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My 0.5pt e/w has tipped the scale no doubt….cut to 40-1, somebody must be watching
Exar Essay
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Must admit, Eggs, I liked the case so had a bit of 66's.….cut to 40-1, somebody must be watching
Following your approach, I have been trying to find Willie's best 3 mile chaser for next year, given it isn't immediately apparent. I think it could be Your Proof. Daryl Jacob seems very complimentary about the horse whenever asked. The form of his maiden isn't quite stacking up, with Kings Bucks and Minella Emperor failing at the festival, but he did it well enough. I'm slightly concerned about his absence and am hoping for an Aintree entry, but haven't heard anything about an injury.