So with no time like the present, I've just decided to stick this month's Yankee now.
First of all - thank you to everyone who has contributed to the chat this month - turns out keeping tabs on everything as the captain was much harder than I first thought, especially now the discussion has migrated to the various race threads rather than being contained in one place and with so many sources/stable tours/race entries starting to unfold.
For info (and potentially of use to future captains), the following horses seemed to hold a lot of support and were brought up numerous times - made the shortlist - but ultimately not made the final cut this month.
Manlaga - Triumph
Mangetout - Triumph
Stayers - The Yellow Clay
Stayers - Ballyburn
Gold Cup - Lecky Watson
Gold Cup? - Gaelic Warrior
BANC - Gameofinches
In the end I have selected four horses that I
*think* should at least give us a run in the relevant races if all goes to plan. In each case the yard has at least mentioned the target race in the stable tour. I've avoided any novice or juvenile hurdlers purely due to the lack of evidence on their level of ability in the UK or target race. hopefully there is still decent prices around on those races in the next month or so when we have potentially seen a few of them run.
October 25 Yankee Selections:
Derryhassen Paddy - BANC - 16/1
Ran a cracker in the A.Bartlett after very few runs. Yard say he is amongst the best they have had. Yard has also had good record in the race (and at festival overall) from few runners. Full of promise. Fingers crossed he makes the grade.
Lossiemouth - Mares - 2/1
General consensus was that most people wanted her in a yankee at the current price. If she turns up she wins? Potential that plans change but Willie has other C.Hurdle horses and she is comfortably the best mare in training. Change of course to the New not a problem.
State Man - C.Hurdle - 7/1
Stand out value for me at the current prices. Should have been a dual winner of the race. Question marks over a lot of others. Age potentially slightly against him but not yet convinced by any of the novices coming through. Last year was a freak race - Mr Consistent.
Majborough - QMCC - 6/1
Willie has mentioned the race as an early target. JP
REALLY wants to win the race. Bar the mistake at Cheltenham he would most likely be unbeaten last season. Was dominant at Punchestown.
