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Arkle 2018

I think he could well develop into the sort of class horse who could win at either distance at the festival, 2m or 2m 4. Like someone said, would be good to see him in a high class, quickly run 2m race before the festival.
 
I don't think he looks, jumps or races like a proper 2 miler. It's possible that the race will fall apart but it's very hard to see him keeping up with horses that competed in the Champion Hurdle.
 
I'm wearing Arkle tinted glasses when it comes to Finians but i genuinely think he'll be better in a fast 2 run mile race, until he learns to jump. I know that might sound daft but the slower they go, the worse hes jumping at the moment. When he went a stride quicker he jumped much better.
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
I'm wearing Arkle tinted glasses when it comes to Finians but i genuinely think he'll be better in a fast 2 run mile race, until he learns to jump. I know that might sound daft but the slower they go, the worse hes jumping at the moment. When he went a stride quicker he jumped much better.
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You can definitely make the same case for horses like Yorkhill and Thistlecrack....
Finian's Oscar is clearly a classy animal, I think that is hard to deny.... I just hope we get to see it.

The thing with him is, he's still a backable price ... I appreciate people fancy Footpad and Petit Mouchoir (as I do to...) but it isn't lke 12/1 is a bad price still!

There aren't many grade 1 hurdlers, unbeaten over fences that are 12/1 ... if he was fav at the moment, of course its a different story.

He'll never be a proper 2 miler in my opinion, will never contest an open company grade 1 over 2m .... but he has the class to compete in it, and some really talented horses can do that...
 
Just watched the race back a couple of times and I think I'm back in the confident camp.... I think they'll now know that he can't hot the front before the last... he went past Coo Star Sivola on the bridle and then Barry who was stalking pounced and tried to knick the race.... FO, giving 8 lbs has picked him up easily and I think he would have done over 2m, 2m4 or 3m....

In the Arkle, something will be classier than Coo Star Sivola and give Finian's Oscar a stronger pace to travel at, and he'll be asked to pick up and he will.... I actually believe the same about Altior! Altior gets asked for his effort and gives it and away he goes, but it isn't 'push button acceleration'. I think Altior would be a force over further, but we've never seen it... it is like he's had the opposite start to his career as Altior.

I hope both end up with the same result.... I'm obviously not surprised that he's been cut to 7/1 fav for the JLT ... but being trimmed to 10s for this to me is still well worth a go! The interview after still screams Arkle to me and I do think he could do it. Petit Mouchoir and Footpad are closely matched, but they've only beaten Brelade and Finian's Oscar would be odds on as well to put Brelade away.... so until we get a way to see them matched up, I think too much is being given to the fact that PM and Footpad ran in a CH.... albeit I am not knocking them at all, as I have backed both!

All isn't lost...as it was when I over reacted on first view this afternoon :triumphant:
 
Agree with all of that Kev.

All of the pundits I've listened to are saying he needs at least 2 miles 4f. I'm interested to see what Kevin Blake makes of it because he often spots things that other pundits don't.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
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.
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he Definitly did look a lot better going over at speed. Seemed very nervous and unsure the slower he went
 
Finians no Arkle horse imo , far to slow at his fences. Footpad or Petit would muller him with clear jumping round.
 
I think Finians is a clever horse but he is a horse who makes errors and is slow/deliberate when meeting fence on a poor stride, he doesn't adjust as quickly as other chasers, but he's only seen fences twice in public and has probably learnt alot, he'll be better now than he was a month ago.
If he gets 3 or 4 wrong in an Arkle he might find everything happening a bit too quick for him so for me the JLT is the better option, that said I'm not sure the Arkle will be a vintage renewal and the race cuts up these days so if he targets that he might scare a few away...
 
To win the arkle you need to ping the first few fences and then get into a winning pace.

I fear for finians.

I think the jlt is his best race, but I would not put the mortgage on him.
 
All this talk of a fast run race in the Arkle will benefit FO but do they not run at championship pace in the JLT? He has been described as a future Gold Cup horse so they do know he gets a trip so why on earth would they want to run him and get taken off his feet in the Arkle?! Sizing John got stuffed over 2m by Douvan countless of times and as soon as they stepped him up look what happened. Pocket talk all this Arkle business I Think. Tizzard knows he needs a trip
 
Istabraq said:
I think Finians is a clever horse but he is a horse who makes errors and is slow/deliberate when meeting fence on a poor stride, he doesn't adjust as quickly as other chasers, but he's only seen fences twice in public and has probably learnt alot, he'll be better now than he was a month ago.
If he gets 3 or 4 wrong in an Arkle he might find everything happening a bit too quick for him so for me the JLT is the better option, that said I'm not sure the Arkle will be a vintage renewal and the race cuts up these days so if he targets that he might scare a few away...
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Could'nt put it better myself Istabraq , to me finian's does'nt seem to be comfortable when jumping with other horses upsides
but ., what an engine he has ,. Pocket talking i backed him originally for j.l.t & arkle
so either fine , but was leaning for arkle generally with multiple bets.
 
fitzy78 said:
All this talk of a fast run race in the Arkle will benefit FO but do they not run at championship pace in the JLT? He has been described as a future Gold Cup horse so they do know he gets a trip so why on earth would they want to run him and get taken off his feet in the Arkle?! Sizing John got stuffed over 2m by Douvan countless of times and as soon as they stepped him up look what happened. Pocket talk all this Arkle business I Think. Tizzard knows he needs a trip
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Because the Arkle is far more prestigious than the JLT? This matters to some owners.

Would you rather he ran in the RSA than Arkle Fitzy?
 
Id rather win a race at the festival than get outpaced in the wrong race. A top trainer and a jockey said recently a win is a win especially at the festival. end of the day we don't know whats going to happen. its why we all love this sport
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
Because the Arkle is far more prestigious than the JLT? This matters to some owners.

Would you rather he ran in the RSA than Arkle Fitzy?
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If the jockey I chose came back to me and said I can't see any reason why you would drop him in trip, and I have the fav for the jlt. With a strong fav for the arkle. I'd keep my options open to see who lines up, but if the race was today id go jlt.
Its his best trip and looks the likely race to cut up.
Footpad will mop up at 2m in Ireland, go short and I'd be worried.

Would you take any note that the yard sponsors are standout 12s arkle?
 
I wouldn't take any notice of the sponsors prices to be honest Scooby. If it was Paddy Power I might sit up and take notice.

I'm not denying that 2.5m, in fact probably 3m, is his best trip but the late owner and CT both mentioned the Arkle and that's where I think he'll end up.

Footpad was very good the other day but he's not the kind of horse who will scare off the opposition
 
Hopefully river wylde will prove me wrong but I think northill Harvey will beat him today.

Over the Irish see. I would expect tombstone to beat brelade who's been asked a lot of in a short space of time, but I expect brelade to have him off the bridle.
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
I wouldn't take any notice of the sponsors prices to be honest Scooby. If it was Paddy Power I might sit up and take notice.

I'm not denying that 2.5m, in fact probably 3m, is his best trip but the late owner and CT both mentioned the Arkle and that's where I think he'll end up.

Footpad was very good the other day but he's not the kind of horse who will scare off the opposition
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Especially if tombstone justifies favouritism over Brelade today ...

I don't think Tizzard will mind having a short one to beat either. Cue card contested that very hot looking Arkle and I'm sure they could have gone JLT that year?
 
Kevloaf said:
Especially if tombstone justifies favouritism over Brelade today ...

I don't think Tizzard will mind having a short one to beat either. Cue card contested that very hot looking Arkle and I'm sure they could have gone JLT that year?
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Its not tizzard sole decision though I wouldn't have thought. And if it was he'd want to be thinking very hard about getting a win/ choosing the right race for current connections

Tizzard, cooper and connections to make final call
 
Scooby91 said:
Its not tizzard decision though I wouldn't have thought. And if it was he'd want to be thinking very hard about getting a win/ choosing the right race for current connections
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I think it will be an open discussion and Tizzard will have a very big say in it.

They'll think hard about winning an Arkle...

I suppose until we know who takes over ownership and what there intentions are (might not care much for racing at all) it's a bit of a waste of time speculating for now.

What is the next target? Did anyone say?

I think it's more likely Cooper is jocked off than they care what he says haha
 
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