That's the 2 runs yes he wasn't 2nd behind de bon Coeur he literally ran the same race as the arkle and badly dissapointed when he was upped to that grade.
He's done exactly the same over fences beat a few limited horses then gone and done that.
And he's just gone and beat a limited bunch in ireland (if you agree footpad wasn't right)
He's just about to go up in grade again. Which is where well see if he does the same And get beat by something else as well as Altior.
I don't want to get into a long debate about this, neither of us really think Altior will be beaten, but it is price related and I'm on Saint Calvados at 50/1 (as highlighted here before he ran). IF your point is that Sceau Royal has a better chance in the QMCC than Saint Calvados, I'm not saying that is incorrect - I am saying, I'd much rather have 50/1 Saint Calvados than 25/1 Sceau Royal right now.
That doesn't mean I don't think Sceau Royal is a good bet, or that he wouldn't shorten... what I did want to pick up on was that you seem to be totally disregarding Saint Calvados for reasons that aren't very strong in my opinion.
The first is stepping up into 'top company' and flopping. One of those races was a HURDLE, and therefore I don't see how it is a stick you can beat him with when talking about a horse that is quite clearly superior as a chaser? (you may argue that but I think it's clear cut). The other race Petit Mouchoir clearly spoiled him, and therefore you have to put a line through the race. You are happy enough to forgive Footpad, because you assume he wasn't giving his true running... why does it have to be one or the other? I think Footpad didn't give his true running first time out this season, and Saint Calvados didn't give his true running in the Arkle.
IF the point you are making, is that when he goes up in class again, and one horse heads him, he'll crumble - then you may well be proved right in time. If he compeltely folds when Altior runs past him in the Tingle Creek, then the 50/1 bet I have in the CC will feel effectivly feel like a win only bet. There is also the very real possibility that he is "too one dimensional" and can be spoiled... which would be another negative - however, 50/1 I don't need too many positives.
You did say "on decent ground" you wouldn't be bothered about x,y and z - again a fair enough point... but (and this is the easiest part I know) at 25/1 Sceau Royal you can pick holes is. 1. He has to overcome his injury and prove he's the same horse. 2. No real form other than winning the Sandown race that fell apart a bit. 3. Calvados beat NHH 39L versus 11L for Sceau and NNH beat SR earlier in the season too.
The whole point was that you said on "all known form he'd have finished 2nd in the Arkle".
We don't know that and I don't see where you're getting that from - if it is on a line through Brain Power, then you are saying Brain Power beat Saint Calvados on merit in the Arkle... so we come back to that race where you haven't acknowledged SC didn't give his true running.
Probably rambled on too much there... :highly_amused: as it's only a minor quible about a hypothetical that we'll never know haha