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To Win 'Any Race' 2019

I spent about 3 months trying to get him into one of our Yankees for the Ryanair.

He’s one of my favourite horses in training (not sure why though) and I think he’d be perfect for the Ryanair. A relentless gallop over 2m 5f would be right up his street rather thank Take on MB and PP in the GC over a trip further than he’d want.

The reason he went RSA last year was because the owner had an antepost bet for his horse in that race of a large amount. This year, the trainer will hopefully be able to get Monalee in the right race - and that race is undoubtedly the Ryanair.
 
That reason alone MOM is the reason I'd go any race. We have no evidence to suggest the owner wouldn't want him in the gold cup.

Let's say Percy gets an injury, 2nd in an RSA looks attractive to take a shot at the Gold Cup.

I agree with you in the main though, he was my strongest fancy for the JLT all year and very little changes moving forwards. If I knew he was going for the Ryanair I'd start having decent each way bets.
 
Last year, Henry said that the RSA was the obvious race for him. His pedigree says stayer and he didn't lose the RSA through not staying.

The route to Leopardstown is often via races over less than 3 miles so starting in, say, the Clonmel Oils would be no indicator of which way he'd go. Even going to Leopardstown would leave the options open for Cheltenham and it's the way I'd go if I had a horse that might go to either the Ryanair or the Gold Cup (which I do).

As it happens, there's every chance that the Ryanair could have greater depth than the Gold Cup this season, especially if you discard no-hoper Might Bite.:devilish:
 
You're right he didn't get outstayed in the RSA and is not bad form.

I assume you feel he's more likely to line up in the Gold Cup than Ryanair at this stage?

That's how I feel although I'd fancy him more over shorter.
 
Looking at the stats, I think that the most likely Gold Cup winner is one of last season's novices. If you discount Footpad on the basis that he'll stay over 2 miles (just my view), the highest rated novices with Gold Cup/Ryanair pretensions were:
165 Presenting Percy
159 Al Boum Photo
158 Monalee
158 Terrefort
157 Kemboy
155 Death Duty
155 The Storyteller
.
.
153 Shattered Love (plus mares allowance)

All of those have potentially 10lb improvement which would give them a squeak and only PP is Gold Cup or nothing.

I'd have Monalee as a reasonable fit for the required profile but, because you can train and run a Ryanair contender and a Gold Cup contender in exactly the same way up to Christmas, I wouldn't want him (or the others) in a single race market unless I was building my own book for the race.
 
It is hard for me not to feel like the Ryanair still ends up as the race the horses "not good enough to win a Gold Cup" run in, rather than a race they're aimed at.

After Christmas, when decisions have to be made and trial races happen (and inevitably defeats) it changes peoples targets. I would hazard a guess for Monalee that he'd be beaten at 3m post Christmas and have his sights 'lowered' for the race he'd actually have a etter chance in (as it'll likely be weaker).

Kemboy then... right in the mixer! Only 2 lbs lower than Al Boum Photo who was my biggest fancy of all of his last year and they are closer ratings than I'd have anticipated! You must be excited to go to war with him this year!!!
 
Kemboy is 50/1 for the GC at the moment and probably about right this far out. However, he is still only 6 and, with just 6 runs over fences, could have improvement left in him. As they say, the dream is still alive although my preference would be the Ryanair this season and Gold Cup the next.
All up in the air with all of them until they reach the track this season.

Willie has never won the Gold Cup (or Champion Chase) so it would be quite nice if he broke that duck soon. I'd say that Bellshill has a chance this season.
 
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Kemboy is 50/1 for the GC at the moment and probably about right this far out. However, he is still only 6 and, with just 6 runs over fences, could have improvement left in him. As they say, the dream is still alive although my preference would be the Ryanair this season and Gold Cup the next.
All up in the air with all of them until they reach the track this season.

Willie has never won the Gold Cup (or Champion Chase) so it would be quite nice if he broke that duck soon. I'd say that Bellshill has a chance this season.

Bellshill is a great mention. Ran brilliantly all last season, and beat some GC runners in his last run before the break. Probably have to get him in the books.
 
Bellshill is a great mention. Ran brilliantly all last season, and beat some GC runners in his last run before the break. Probably have to get him in the books.

Agreed.

Good shout that Archie. I’m a fan of the horse.
 
[Bellshill] If you go back the season before he had a 10L beating of Balko Des Flos too on his chase debut. Triple Grade 1 winning hurdler too.

20/1 isn't a wild price but certainly warrents a second look. I actually hoped he'd be a bigger price but on reflection that'd be ridiculous... he clearly is in with a chance. I can't imagine they'd consider anything other than the Gold Cup with him though?
 
Scooby (or anyone else for that matter...)
Do you know anything about De Bon Coeur?
Quite high up in the "Any Race" market with Hills @ 5/1

Looks to have great form in France, but has she been bought by anyone in UK/Ireland?
 
Scooby (or anyone else for that matter...)
Do you know anything about De Bon Coeur?
Quite high up in the "Any Race" market with Hills @ 5/1

Looks to have great form in France, but has she been bought by anyone in UK/Ireland?

I wouldn't waste your money Leman, quote from the RP: "France's champion hurdler, De Bon Coeur, will be out of action until next spring due to a pastern injury.

The five-year-old daughter of Vision D'Etat was a brilliant winner of the Grade 1 Grande Course de Haies in May for trainer Francois Nicolle, cantering home 16 lengths clear of the runner-up Bapaume.

The winner of 11 of her 13 career starts, De Bon Coeur has suffered a hairline crack to a a pastern and joins stablemate Alex De Larredya in missing the Grand Prix d'Automne at Auteuil in November."

Can't imagine her return to action would be at Cheltenham if I am honest.
 
I wouldn't waste your money Leman, quote from the RP: "France's champion hurdler, De Bon Coeur, will be out of action until next spring due to a pastern injury.

The five-year-old daughter of Vision D'Etat was a brilliant winner of the Grade 1 Grande Course de Haies in May for trainer Francois Nicolle, cantering home 16 lengths clear of the runner-up Bapaume.

The winner of 11 of her 13 career starts, De Bon Coeur has suffered a hairline crack to a a pastern and joins stablemate Alex De Larredya in missing the Grand Prix d'Automne at Auteuil in November."

Can't imagine her return to action would be at Cheltenham if I am honest.

Thanks COD - I wasn't about to pull the trigger - just didn't recognise the name
Would always be dubious about potential French raiders a week before the Fez, let alone 6 months out.

However, If they had transferred to UK/Ire and in good order - that would be a different matter!

Thanks :encouragement:
 
I actually think the 13/1 Monalee any race is pretty appealing IF you are of the feeling that he will be more likely to run in the Ryanair over the Gold Cup.

Like has been said I think his early season targets will revolve around the Gold Cup trials that often product a fair amount of Ryanair runners. There's no real way around that so there's the likely possibility that he could win one of these trials and if that happens then it would surely be the Gold Cup he lines up in. Add in the fact it would appear that HdB and the owners haven't always been on the same wavelength regarding the horse...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Any worries about Monalee going in any race other than RSA are dead judging by Henry De Bromhead there. "After seeing the reaction of (the owner) to suggestion of JLT I don't think you'll be seeing him there! He's in terrific form and runs next at Leop at Christmas touch wood."</p>— Johnny Ward (@Ui_Maine) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ui_Maine/status/939870262681579520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">10 December 2017</a></blockquote>
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The Any Race safety net for the sake of 3 points appeals for me. Obviously anyone thinking he's more likely for the Gold Cup then the 33/1 on offer there is by far the better option. For me it's how strongly you feel he will go for either race.

I actually think he'll come over for the King George this Christmas (and he appeals at 20/1). HdB often brings horses over to England and i'm certain Balko des Flos will line up at Leopardstown, as he did last season. That may mean little to the owners who will i'm sure make the call but I can see him lining up at Kempton between the 2 options myself.

(and for what it's worth I think he will more than likely line up in the Ryanair and having the beating of anyone who lines up (within reason)
 
I actually think the 13/1 Monalee any race is pretty appealing IF you are of the feeling that he will be more likely to run in the Ryanair over the Gold Cup.

Like has been said I think his early season targets will revolve around the Gold Cup trials that often product a fair amount of Ryanair runners. There's no real way around that so there's the likely possibility that he could win one of these trials and if that happens then it would surely be the Gold Cup he lines up in. Add in the fact it would appear that HdB and the owners haven't always been on the same wavelength regarding the horse...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Any worries about Monalee going in any race other than RSA are dead judging by Henry De Bromhead there. "After seeing the reaction of (the owner) to suggestion of JLT I don't think you'll be seeing him there! He's in terrific form and runs next at Leop at Christmas touch wood."</p>— Johnny Ward (@Ui_Maine) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ui_Maine/status/939870262681579520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">10 December 2017</a></blockquote>
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The Any Race safety net for the sake of 3 points appeals for me. Obviously anyone thinking he's more likely for the Gold Cup then the 33/1 on offer there is by far the better option. For me it's how strongly you feel he will go for either race.

I actually think he'll come over for the King George this Christmas (and he appeals at 20/1). HdB often brings horses over to England and i'm certain Balko des Flos will line up at Leopardstown, as he did last season. That may mean little to the owners who will i'm sure make the call but I can see him lining up at Kempton between the 2 options myself.

(and for what it's worth I think he will more than likely line up in the Ryanair and having the beating of anyone who lines up (within reason)

Good post.

My liking for the horse is obvious so I won’t say anymore on him but I really believe he would be perfect for the Ryanair. The way it is run and his relentless galloping nature makes him perfect for the race. I’ve backed him for the Ryanair already but was looking at going any race too.

13s any race is good enough for me. What bookie is that?
 
Not sure if this one has been mentioned but....

Champagne Classic - 20-1 William Hill - Last seen over 3m hurdles at Punchestown and the form could hardly be better, beating Penhill, Tin Soldier, Monalee, Al Boum Photo, PRESENTING PERCY!, Moulin A Vent & Bon Papa.

Think chasing is the plan and could well be an RSA type or even one for the 4 miler.
 
Not sure if this one has been mentioned but....

Champagne Classic - 20-1 William Hill - Last seen over 3m hurdles at Punchestown and the form could hardly be better, beating Penhill, Tin Soldier, Monalee, Al Boum Photo, PRESENTING PERCY!, Moulin A Vent & Bon Papa.

Think chasing is the plan and could well be an RSA type or even one for the 4 miler.

Think a couple have mentioned but no harm in bringing it up again, like you, I think the price is very generous given what CC achieved over hurdles, already added to my ever growing portfolio of 'Any Race' bets but may well go in again as the price is somewhat tempting.