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Stayers Hurdle 2018

Kevloaf said:
Beer goggles so far off my radar i wouldn't like too comment decisively yet. UNWIMH beat the rest easily and readily enough but I'd expect Nichols Canyon isn't too worried in his box.

Line through thistle, if he did revert to hurdles I'd not Eden take this race into account ...
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I fully expect Thistlecrack to come on for that seasonal debut, be a little bit worried UNWIMH was beat, but he was giving weight away to all and over 3m that must tell a story.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
I fully expect Thistlecrack to come on for that seasonal debut, be a little bit worried UNWIMH was beat, but he was giving weight away to all and over 3m that must tell a story.
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I wasn't expecting that
Harry ran a he'll of a race to be fair.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
I fully expect Thistlecrack to come on for that seasonal debut, be a little bit worried UNWIMH was beat, but he was giving weight away to all and over 3m that must tell a story.
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Scooby91 said:
I wasn't expecting that
Harry ran a he'll of a race to be fair.
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How much weight was he giving the winner? Is Harry a moral winner?

Of I wasn't already firmly in the might bite camp there is no way you'd be able to be confident on thistle despite the fact he'll clearly come on for the run
 
I'm disappointed with both Thistlecrack and UKWIMH after that. Neither will be part of my bets for Cheltenham.
 
Looks like 25/1 avail for Beer Goggles... that tempting enough?

I don't want to have lost faith in Harry as he ties in closely to NC and I've effectively got them coupled!
 
Kevloaf said:
How much weight was he giving the winner? Is Harry a moral winner?
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I think it was 3lb Kev, not exactly loads, but enough over the course of 3m to have an effect. The winner had been racing enough this year to be fully fit also, UNWIMH will also come on for that I suspect, though I am firmly in the Nichols Canyon camp anyway, so happy enough to see his defeated there!
 
Kevloaf said:
Looks like 25/1 avail for Beer Goggles... that tempting enough?

I don't want to have lost faith in Harry as he ties in closely to NC and I've effectively got them coupled!
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Snap, as single bets go, but majority of my multi's have NC in! Again, even if he wins this weekend I won't be taking it all too literally as it's his seasonal debut in a tough looking race.
 
UKWIMH was giving 5lbs but I'd have still expected him to beat Beer Goggles on those terms. Especially as he'd had a run at Aintree a few weeks ago.

It's easier for me to excuse Thistlecrack's defeat than UKWIMH.

I've had a rethink. I might back Thistlecrack for the Stayers and hope that he just blew up today.
 
I may be just trying to find excuses for Thistlecrack, but having come back from a 300+ day lay off and from injury, to then lay up with the pace (unsure on the sectionals) over hurdles when he has been trained to take on fences which are usually a lot slower, to say he only didn't stay the final 2f at worst wouldn't be a massive shock to me.

As much as we know he has been back in training, we don't actually know the specific date he was back training and we don't know the level of training he's had to date, with a view to a long season, I can actually total excuse this run from him today.
 
What about the chances of The New One for this? A festival winner who isn't quite good enough for the Champion Hurdle. His record in grade 2 races is brilliant and he'd be one of the classier horses of he turned up here.

Surely Nige isn't going to try and win a champion hurdle again.
 
Scooby91 said:
Thistle crack at even money is Christmas come early today. Glad iv got him covered for this as i guarantee people start hyping him up to come back for this race at some point.
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Based on the price Thistlecrack went off, there will be a lot of Christmas presents going on the credit card after that. Watching the race back after the second last, he was very tenderly ridden as I'm assuming he either blew up, or the jockey was told not to go after him after a long lay off. One thing is for sure, few would have convincingly predicted both Thistlecrack and Harry getting beaten.
 
Thistlecrack was short of work that looked obvious, older horses take alot more recovery time from injury that young uns, I don't believe for one minute Tizzard would either want him or had the ability to get him 100% for any pre Christmas race.
As long as nothing negative (health wise) comes back I would be disregarding this run and focus on what progress he makes over the next 15 weeks before writing him off for any Cheltenham target.

Harry ran a good race but you have to hand it to the winner, he went a decent gallop, dictated the pace and when pressed battled on gamely for a deserved win, not a performance I'd put down in the 'freak' catagory...
 
Istabraq said:
Thistlecrack was short of work that looked obvious, older horses take alot more recovery time from injury that young uns, I don't believe for one minute Tizzard would either want him or had the ability to get him 100% for any pre Christmas race.
As long as nothing negative (health wise) comes back I would be disregarding this run and focus on what progress he makes over the next 15 weeks before writing him off for any Cheltenham target.

Harry ran a good race but you have to hand it to the winner, he went a decent gallop, dictated the pace and when pressed battled on gamely for a deserved win, not a performance I'd put down in the 'freak' catagory...
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King George is still the target and the post race comments suggest he just got tired and was lacking condition.
 
JackieMoon33 said:
King George is still the target and the post race comments suggest he just got tired and was lacking condition.
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Yeah makes sense Jackie, will obviously come on for that but Kempton is under 4 weeks away and that might come around a little quick too...
 
Istabraq said:
Yeah makes sense Jackie, will obviously come on for that but Kempton is under 4 weeks away and that might come around a little quick too...
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Yeah I'm not sure I'd be ploughing into him at Kempton given it could be a great lineup. I'd expect a better showing but it may be we have to wait until later in the season to see if the old Thistlecrack is back or not.
 
Thistlecrack hasn't beaten a top horse who was on top of his form. Neither has he come out on top in a battle.

Apples Jade v Nichols Canyon on Sunday will be interesting. I've said for a long time that I'd send AJ to the Stayers because, in reality, NC is the only one to beat in March.
 
archie said:
Thistlecrack hasn't beaten a top horse who was on top of his form. Neither has he come out on top in a battle.
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I get your drift but it's hard to knock his King George performance when slamming a Betfair Chase winner in Cue Card who had put 15l between him and Coneygree in that race.
Thistlecracks next performance is crucial for his future...
 
Cue Card was miles below that standard in the KG. Tea For Two is the marker for that race.

The real summary of Thistlecrack's standard is his defeat by Many Clouds.
 
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