Arkle 2018

[Scooby91]

Hed have to win this to have a winners chance in the arkle

 

[Kevloaf]

Hed have to win this to have a winners chance in the arkle

Yes. I agree. Part of me wants him to run Sunday and hack up ... part of me wants him to stay over 2m4f so I don't know my fate until March :highly_amused:

 

[Innoko]

Would be a decent race IF they all stand there ground.

Finians to win this, giving weight, would probably mark him down as fav come March.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Sad news that Alan Potts has passed away, just 3 months after his wife passed away.

R.I.P Alan.

Whilst it's not at the forefront of my mind is does make me wonder if any targets will be affected by this!

 

[Scooby91]

Sad news that Alan Potts has passed away, just 3 months after his wife passed away.

R.I.P Alan.

Whilst it's not at the forefront of my mind is does make me wonder if any targets will be affected by this!

Terrible news RIP.

 

[Kevloaf]

Great that he managed to see his colours win a Gold Cup. Had some brilliant horses, Sizing Europe my favourite.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Great that he managed to see his colours win a Gold Cup. Had some brilliant horses, Sizing Europe my favourite.

Sizing Europe was the first horse I thought of too tbh!

 

[BigChaang]

Terrible news , sorry to hear that , been a crap month personally for losing good friends .

 

[Scooby91]

Yes. I agree. Part of me wants him to run Sunday and hack up ... part of me wants him to stay over 2m4f so I don't know my fate until March :highly_amused:

I know exactly what you mean kev, I was exactly like that. Now I want to seem main horses tested so I know where I stand.

 

[archie]

Bunk Off Early came back in later than the others as he was given extra time to recover from his colic operation. He looked on good terms with himself 2 weeks ago but they say he won't be back on track until around Christmas. There was talk about sending him chasing but he's only 5 and he was almost on a par with Melon before his problems so he'll almost certainly come back over hurdles, possibly in a handicap because the only other option seems to be a G1.

BOE coming to hand quicker than expected and the chasing option still open. It would be quite something to see a Zebedee jumping fences.

 

[Kevloaf]

BOE coming to hand quicker than expected and the chasing option still open. It would be quite something to see a Zebedee jumping fences.

That's great news. The puns write themselves for spring like leaps

 

[ComplyOrDie]

BOE coming to hand quicker than expected and the chasing option still open. It would be quite something to see a Zebedee jumping fences.

Good to hear Archie, good luck with him

 

[Kevloaf]

D.Jabon on the SportingLife podcast 'Cheltenham November Meeting' preview says he very much thinks he will get to the top over fences and is an Arkle horse. They kinda swayed him in to speaking about the Arkle by saying that was the price but it was fairly similar theme...

 

[Scooby91]

D.Jabon on the SportingLife podcast 'Cheltenham November Meeting' preview says he very much thinks he will get to the top over fences and is an Arkle horse. They kinda swayed him in to speaking about the Arkle by saying that was the price but it was fairly similar theme...

Interesting that he said that footpad is rubys ride, and he came in for the ride because ruby was out and before because ruby chose Nichols canyon. Ruby claimed the ride in the champion hurdle.

 

[Scooby91]

The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was a classy hurdler, finishing fourth in the Champion Hurdle in March, and got his career over fences off to the best possible start with an 11-length verdict.

Bromley, racing manager for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said:*"It was lovely to see. It wasn't a total surprise as the horse has got great form over hurdles and he was always going to be a nice chaser. The manner of it was great.

"It will be up to Willie (where he goes), but I imagine he will be campaigned between two and two and a half miles and then see where we go. It will fit around with what else he has got.

"I was pleased Daryl (Jacob, retained rider) got the chance to ride him as he rode him in most races last season as he was always the second or third string in the Grade Ones in the Mullins yard. When Ruby (Walsh) had a sore hand, it was nice Daryl could go and ride him.

"Whether he will get back on him is another thing as I imagine he will be first choice in that division now.

"He will stay in Ireland until March I imagine, as that is Willie's normal style. He will be entered in races over two and two and half and we will see what his other horses are doing. He is a very exciting horse."

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Yes. I agree. Part of me wants him to run Sunday and hack up ... part of me wants him to stay over 2m4f so I don't know my fate until March :highly_amused:

Looks like you won't know your fate until March then Kev as Finian's Oscar goes for the 2m 4f Steel Plate Novices Chase, against William Henry, MWTT & Coo Star Sivola.

FO has fitness advantage over William Henry and I'd fully expect him to take this race.

 

[Scooby91]

Looks like you won't know your fate until March then Kev as Finian's Oscar goes for the 2m 4f Steel Plate Novices Chase, against William Henry, MWTT & Coo Star Sivola.

FO has fitness advantage over William Henry and I'd fully expect him to take this race.

I'd exoect him to win this over this trip. Exoect William Henry will travel like the best horse though before finians kicks in to gear.

 

[Kevloaf]

Looks like you won't know your fate until March then Kev as Finian's Oscar goes for the 2m 4f Steel Plate Novices Chase, against William Henry, MWTT & Coo Star Sivola.

FO has fitness advantage over William Henry and I'd fully expect him to take this race.

I'm obviously no where near as confident now that Finian's Oscar will end up in the Arkle. I know Colin Tizzard shared the opinion, but Potts was the driving factor and ultimately called the shots which is why I was so confident which due to absolutely unforeseen circumstances has reared its head.

All isn't lost for this to be the race still, and I'm not backing down ... But I'm sure everyone can agree this may change things.

In terms if winning races, as I've said, I did believe he'll be better over further so I would also expect a win on Friday ... with an impressive and improved round of jumping hopefully! The engine is already there.

 

[Innoko]

I'm obviously no where near as confident now that Finian's Oscar will end up in the Arkle. I know Colin Tizzard shared the opinion, but Potts was the driving factor and ultimately called the shots which is why I was so confident which due to absolutely unforeseen circumstances has reared its head.

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.

 

[Hurricane fly]

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”