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General Chat

Benjy23 said:
I listened to this. He seems to think Ile Atlantique is a 3 miler, which is interesting. Think most thought he shaped like needing to go back in trip rather than out in trip. Markets don't really support him either. But thought it was interesting.
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Danny also put forward Embassy Gardens as Willie's most suited to the NHC.
 
Stormez said:
I think this every time it happens, it’s ridiculous.

Don’t know if they still do but the football clubs without undersoil heating used to use heated fans under the covers. I know it’s a larger area but must be doable? Or just have the covers themselves heated? Like giant electric blankets!
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Trying to do some rough maths, the track at ascot has 4x the square meterage of a football pitch, and it's way less accessible just for management and power access. There's no way heated frost prevention would be economically viable Imo
 
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Hurricane fly said:
Can you explain to me like I'm 5 how to get these?
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On Friday, I placed an antepost bet on their machine and got a GBP5 freebet voucher to use the next day. I gave this away to a bloke who I normally talk to as there's no WH shops near my home. I don't know all the offer details but the voucher does state that only 1 voucher can be used per person only.
 
Stattler a mover in the XCC market. Another one to add to the list. Some race that.
 
HF. I just go into a hill’s shop and put a cash bet on the machine. I largely did some 50p ew lucky 15’s. The machine then offers you a free £5 bet that you accept. It’s printed out with your betting slip. Just keep going and they keep coming out. I understand that they are only available on certain days and have limited availability. Meant to be one person, but in practice doesn’t matter
get stuck in
 
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Lobos said:
Stattler a mover in the XCC market. Another one to add to the list. Some race that.
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It's effectively a veterans chase these days. I wonder if it'd be better if they moved it back to a handicap.
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
It's effectively a veterans chase these days. I wonder if it'd be better if they moved it back to a handicap.
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Should definitely go back to being a handicap IMO

Conflated is a grade 1 winner, finished 3rd in a G1 this year (1.25L beaten) and will turn up with a few other similar types to pick off an easy festival win.

Boring really?
 
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I think this is probably all your intention of turning it back into a handicap but... You wouldn't get (m)any of the quality horses running. And the Cross Country would become a bit crap again.

This year's race is about as interesting as it's ever looked imo. And far more so than back when it was a handicap.

The likes of Delta Work, Galvin and Minella Indo wouldn't be competitive in any other festival race these days. Conflated probably the exception who could still be in prize money contention in the bigger races but he's never ran Cross Country so just adds a bit more intrigue.

I'm all for the race as it is now to be honest. Although I do quite enjoy a veterans chase as well :beguiled:
 
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Benjy23 said:
I think this is probably all your intention of turning it back into a handicap but... You wouldn't get (m)any of the quality horses running. And the Cross Country would become a bit crap again.

This year's race is about as interesting as it's ever looked imo. And far more so than back when it was a handicap.

The likes of Delta Work, Galvin and Minella Indo wouldn't be competitive in any other festival race these days. Conflated probably the exception who could still be in prize money contention in the bigger races but he's never ran Cross Country so just adds a bit more intrigue.

I'm all for the race as it is now to be honest. Although I do quite enjoy a veterans chase as well :beguiled:
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It's only interesting because there are 4 horses that belong in better races that are clashing .... there is absolutely no hope for all but about 6 of the entries - that can't be good long term even if this renewal does get your juices flowing.

On the point about them not being competitive in any other festival race, I disagree - they have handicaps over all the distances. I would so much rather see a brilliant weight carrying performance by a former Gold Cup winner than one trot about and sprint for a bit at the end.

If they made it a handicap again this year, you'd have all the same contenders AND give a chance to some of the others that are lower down, like all the ones that do get their head in front in the trials.... it would only add more horses who can in the mix, how can that be a bad thing?
 
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Kevloaf said:
It's only interesting because there are 4 horses that belong in better races that are clashing .... there is absolutely no hope for all but about 6 of the entries - that can't be good long term even if this renewal does get your juices flowing.

On the point about them not being competitive in any other festival race, I disagree - they have handicaps over all the distances. I would so much rather see a brilliant weight carrying performance by a former Gold Cup winner than one trot about and sprint for a bit at the end.

If they made it a handicap again this year, you'd have all the same contenders AND give a chance to some of the others that are lower down, like all the ones that do get their head in front in the trials.... it would only add more horses who can in the mix, how can that be a bad thing?
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The first paragraph is probably true and fair. But relies on the G1 horses getting older and continuing to drop into the Cross Country. And the rest just making up the numbers for a day out. Agree it's potentially a problem though.

I'd also like to see this but do you actually think that would happen, it never did for these races when the cross country was a handicap. Are all handicaps actually open to them?

I don't think you'd have Conflated running if it was a handicap off a mid to high 160s mark. I'm not sure on the others at this stage but I doubt Gordon would be targeting the race the way he is if it was still a handicap.

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A Ltd Handicap might work. 140-165. With the 2 cross country races held at Cheltenham earlier in the season as qualifiers where you get a ticket no matter what your weight.

Although the best option would be to simply revert to a handicap for the smaller yards, lesser known horses.

Then Fuck the NH chase off and let the amateurs ride these top class veterans instead. They could have a penalty system also for previous grade one winners (within last 2 years or so) to bring the 150 (veteran handicapper types) rated horses closer to the top ones.
Then the other Novice chase races should also swell up a bit.
 
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Benjy23 said:
I don't think you'd have Conflated running if it was a handicap off a mid to high 160s mark. I'm not sure on the others at this stage but I doubt Gordon would be targeting the race the way he is if it was still a handicap.

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I absolutely think that's a great thing though, Conflated is easily good enough to still be trying to win a Championship race :indecisiveness:

The fact they wouldn't run him in it is kinda the point



Pretty sure Kevin Blake actually put together an excellent article on what they should do with it and that's essentiually where my opinion lies now :welcoming: I'll try find it!
 
Kevloaf said:
I absolutely think that's a great thing though, Conflated is easily good enough to still be trying to win a Championship race :indecisiveness:

The fact they wouldn't run him in it is kinda the point



Pretty sure Kevin Blake actually put together an excellent article on what they should do with it and that's essentiually where my opinion lies now :welcoming: I'll try find it!
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Aye, I do appreciate that is the point. I'm just not sure that change would be making the festival better as a whole.

The Cross Country in its old form was a race to go and get a pint and take a break during. It's only very recently become interesting imo. Might as well scrap it, as revert to a poor standard handicap. And I appreciate the specialist won't appreciate this view.
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Scrap it and get a veterans G2 Chase in :welcoming:

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It's quite clearly becoming a National Prep for Gordon and others are taking note and trying it.

Poor Edna Bolger
 
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