Arkle 2018

[Kevloaf]

I would think that even more so he will end up here.

You would expect the family to carry out Alan Potts wishes, which we believe (and hope) were to run Finians in the more prestgious Arkle.

I could certainly see that “Alan always wanted to target the Arkle so in his memory we have done that”

Yes completely agree that could very well be played out. Rightly so IMO. It isn't like I haven't got some nice prices about the JLT either, especially when Samcro was a bigger price... but anyway, I've said my piece on it and in all fairness, I actually want to see him perform well before I get too carried away...

Need an improved round of jumping tomorrow

 

[Kevloaf]

I'm actually quite nervous about tomorrow..... not sure what can happen that'll make me happy.... if he wins it'll be relief and if he loses it'll be game-over for the Arkle.... unless I suppose he gets outstayed :highly_amused:

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

If he wins well it might prompt them to stay over two and a half.

However, if the Arkle was the race Mr Potts wanted to target, I'd assume CT will do everything to get him there, unless it's obvious he has no chance.

 

[Kevloaf]

Very difficult to be bullish about a festival win for Finian's Oscar after two performances .... someone lift me off the floor

*** I've only seen half the race on my phone though so I may change my mind

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Didn't exactly set the world alight but got going once given the whip. One thing I will say though, I can't be confident with Cooper on board, he's more nervous than the bloody horse!

 

[jkite16]

Cooper doesn't see any reason why he would go back in trip... For me, the turn of foot he showed at the end there would suggest he should drop back to 2m. Still not convinced he will win at the festival which is a shame seeing as he is heavily involved in my AP bets!

 

[Robante]

I'm very positive about Finian's Oscar winning at the festival! Albeit it only if in the JLT. Seems a stayer all over to me, and if you combine a stayer with that speed then i think you've got a machine on your hands. Giving 8lbs away with a sketchy round of jumping, headed before the last, he still had the engine to win. With Footpad and/or Petit Mouchoir likely to be at the head of the Arkle market, I think he would be vulnerable in that race with those two jumping accurately from the front at speed. The JLT looks his for the taking at this stage * edit * possibly got a little overexcited with that last statement... expect Sutton Place and Willoughby Court to prove worthy opponents by March if in this race

 

[Scooby91]

Cooper doesn't see any reason why he would go back in trip... For me, the turn of foot he showed at the end there would suggest he should drop back to 2m. Still not convinced he will win at the festival which is a shame seeing as he is heavily involved in my AP bets!

He'd he ridden too far back over 2. I think everything would happen too quick for him. By the time he clicks into gear the winner would already be gone imo

 

[ComplyOrDie]

I'm very positive about Finian's Oscar winning at the festival! Albeit it only if in the JLT. Seems a stayer all over to me, and if you combine a stayer with that speed then i think you've got a machine on your hands. Giving 8lbs away with a sketchy round of jumping, headed before the last, he still had the engine to win. With Footpad and/or Petit Mouchoir likely to be at the head of the Arkle market, I think he would be vulnerable in that race with those two jumping accurately from the front at speed. The JLT looks his for the taking at this stage * edit * possibly got a little overexcited with that last statement... expect Sutton Place and Willoughby Court to prove worthy opponents by March if in this race

Forgot about the 8lbs he was giving away, rookie error, probably didn't give him enough credit really, considering his inexperience on the race course over fences.

 

[Kevloaf]

He'd he ridden too far back over 2. I think everything would happen too quick for him. By the time he clicks into gear the winner would already be gone imo

He doesn't do anything in front, a bit like yorkhill? ... the stronger the race is run maybe the better performance we'd see .... as I said though, my confidence is shot right now ... but i need to watch it in full on more than a 1 inch screen

 

[KingSprinterSacre]

He'd he ridden too far back over 2. I think everything would happen too quick for him. By the time he clicks into gear the winner would already be gone imo

Spot on that imo. Id be very keen for the JLT but wouldn't be my idea of an arkle horse

 

[Robante]

He'd he ridden too far back over 2. I think everything would happen too quick for him. By the time he clicks into gear the winner would already be gone imo

Agree with that. If you think that MWTT tied in quite closely with Sceau Royal and North Hill Harvey it was a smart enough performance. All about the potential for him to get better as a jumper and the engine for me - how he picked up again when headed was really something to see

 

[ComplyOrDie]

No one believe he jumps better with a stronger pace though? He looks sketchy going slow, they won't be dawdling in the Arkle though.

 

[Robante]

No one believe he jumps better with a stronger pace though? He looks sketchy going slow, they won't be dawdling in the Arkle though.

Possibly - he appears to be a slowish jumper to me on what we've seen so far so would the Arkle put too much pressure on his jumping and not suit? Or would he jump better at pace? Would like to see him pitched into a decent 2m race next and the picture should become a lot clearer. Willougby Court likely to go at a decent clip from the front if in the JLT which would set things up perfectly for him imo

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

No one believe he jumps better with a stronger pace though? He looks sketchy going slow, they won't be dawdling in the Arkle though.

That's how I see it CoD. In both races he has jumped much better when they actually start racing. 2 miles should still be the plan imo

 

[Scooby91]

That's how I see it CoD. In both races he has jumped much better when they actually start racing. 2 miles should still be the plan imo

They go a good clip in the jlt, especially vautours race look at the last 3 winners, amazing how many fall / make a mistake 4 out.

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

Just listened to the trainer interviews and Colin Tizzard mentioned the Arkle again post race, so that's a relief. He also said he'd improve for a fast run race.

Arkle still odds on favourite as his target imo

 

[ComplyOrDie]

That's how I see it CoD. In both races he has jumped much better when they actually start racing. 2 miles should still be the plan imo

I look at Faugheen, and yes, I know he's a hurdler, but he has the turn of foot for the 2m game, that's why he is arguably the best 2m hurdler around, you need a turn of foot over 2m, whether jumping hurdles or fences and like Petit Mouchoir, Finian's Oscar has that turn of foot, although this is another reason, that despite what Willie says, Footpad will go for the JLT, but that's for another day ;-)

 

[Scooby91]

I look at Faugheen, and yes, I know he's a hurdler, but he has the turn of foot for the 2m game, that's why he is arguably the best 2m hurdler around, you need a turn of foot over 2m, whether jumping hurdles or fences and like Petit Mouchoir, Finian's Oscar has that turn of foot, although this is another reason, that despite what Willie says, Footpad will go for the JLT, but that's for another day ;-)

I don't see finians having an immediate turn of foot off a high cruising speed. I see him ridden and gradually finding another gear when there's horses immediately around him. He will stay on to the line but Genuinely think The winner will already be gone.

I see it like arctic fire against faugheen in the champion hurdle .

Iv backed him for this and the jlt but i cant see him winning the arkle at all if footpad / petit mouchoir line up.

 

[horseflyuk]

Just listened to the trainer interviews and Colin Tizzard mentioned the Arkle again post race, so that's a relief. He also said he'd improve for a fast run race.

Arkle still odds on favourite as his target imo

Full quote from after the race

"He's very smart this one, it was a messy race again and he was a little bit brave. I knew Barry was going to try and pounce on me if I didn't jump the last.

"He picked up well, though, and he's plenty of boot, he's two out of two (over fences) and can only get better.

"Unfortunately things have dried up for me in Ireland so to get on good horses like this, I'm very lucky."

Tizzard said: "He looked like he'd lost it, but then he jumped the last on a long stride and stayed on beautifully.

"He's opened up more doors today as that was a slowly-run two and a half miles so you would not rule him out of the Arkle.

"He was waiting for it to happen last time, but Bryan was more positive today. He jumped better than at Chepstow. In the end he's won quite cosily and he always has something left in the locker.

"Nothing fazes this horse and afterwards he was hardly blowing. He's a beautiful creature and you've got to remember he was giving 8lb to good horses."

Looking to options at the Festival in March, he said: "The JLT is attractive at this stage, but a fast-run Arkle might as well and that is the more prestigious race. I think with how he quickened up, he could be an Arkle horse but we don't need to decide that yet.

"Everyone connected will love that and it's magical moment for everyone concerned."

Joe Tizzard added: "He's a horse we hope will grow into a Gold Cup horse, but he doesn't need to be running over extreme distances. He showed a cracking turn of foot off the back of two out. It was a lovely performance."