Racing Thread

[nuros]

Yup I'm on too, go Adz!

[Karabiner]

You might have waited until I got back from golf before putting that up

[Tonibell]

Cheers, Adz. (And well done Paddy for standing me the full ten pounds).

[BorntoBubble]

Afternoon

While the Girlies are getting all excited about X Factor/Strictly and IACGMOOH, time to slip in the back door and make my last recommend of the year here.

On my travels I was told the stable were very keen on the chances of Highland Lodge for the Beecher Chase on Saturday.

It has always seemed to me a horse that promises a lot and threatens to have a big one in him, but has almost regressed over the last couple of seasons. However, he ran well LTO when not fully wound up for a race at Chepstow(hmm, I think I may have tipped the 16-1 winner of that. ). It was also his first time with the visor on which they feel helped him maintain concentration.

On Saturday, I am hoping the fences will play into his strengths as a generally good jumper. He should have very little weight, and he is rated a few pounds lower than his last win. At 8 he can still have improvement left in him, and he appears to go on any ground. Hopefully the visor will continue to help.

Whilst Aspell is riding these big races superbly atm, I would prefer to see Aiden on him, as he seems to have a better rapport with the horse. I don't see what else he would ride, based on recent performances, but Venitia may have something to say about that. We shall see nearer the time.

With several of the prominent names on the betting list likely to miss the race after recent exertions, I am liking the 20-1 on offer e/w, and have had as much as I dare on at this stage. Have a good week and GL.

Ads, cheers once again.

I have some at 20s if you need more? Also can i offer £20 E/W to TFT?

[exstream]

On.

[BigAdz]

Thanks for the offer B2B.

Got enough on at the moment. Plenty of 20s on board, but may ask a favour if final decs give us another opportunity. Cheers



As a footnote, for those of us living the Many Clouds dream that he can go the distance, I stumbled across a pleasing little stat.

The three horses that won the Hennessy, this century, carrying 11.6 or more, that ran in the Gold Cup that season have finished 121. Dream's on boys!

[simonnatur]

Some reading for the MCFC whose ranks seem to have swollen somewhat of late...

https://www.timeform.com/Racing/Articles/Ratings_Update_Can_Clouds_develop_into_a_Cheltenham_contender

[action man]

Thanks for the offer B2B.

Got enough on at the moment. Plenty of 20s on board, but may ask a favour if final decs give us another opportunity. Cheers



As a footnote, for those of us living the Many Clouds dream that he can go the distance, I stumbled across a pleasing little stat.

The three horses that won the Hennessy, this century, carrying 11.6 or more, that ran in the Gold Cup that season have finished 121. Dream's on boys!

were def meeting up at the festival next year!

[Karabiner]

Some reading for the MCFC whose ranks seem to have swollen somewhat of late...

https://www.timeform.com/Racing/Articles/Ratings_Update_Can_Clouds_develop_into_a_Cheltenham_contender

Lovely horse undoubtedly but worth remembering it does need softish ground.

[BigAdz]

Some reading for the MCFC whose ranks seem to have swollen somewhat of late...

https://www.timeform.com/Racing/Articles/Ratings_Update_Can_Clouds_develop_into_a_Cheltenham_contender

I remain amazed at how some of these guys actually get paid for working in the sport I love. If only!!!

So having just won the Hensessy at 7, and showing all the sort of traits as a "potential" Gold Cup horse, and a horse on the up, this muppet thinks she should bypass The Holy Grail to run in a race that he probably has 4 more years to contest, should he not be able to play at the very top table.

The National is a race won by horses 9/10/11, and the few 8 year old winners I remember never had pretensions to make it at the very top level, and were well handicapped "plodders".

I take on board what Ralph says, but he has yet to be fully tried on Good ground as a chaser, and he is proving more versatile than many thought. Most of those writing him off previously were those that thought he wouldn't stay. Those same people are  now knocking him because they now think that's all he is!

If he never wins another race, so be it, he owes me nothing, and fulfilled (nearly) all my hopes for him. The rest realistically will be a bonus, and with a chunk on at between 80s and 40-1, I'm happy to keep dreaming til mid March.

Think a meet is long overdue Mr Trigg.

[Omm]

Some reading for the MCFC whose ranks seem to have swollen somewhat of late...

https://www.timeform.com/Racing/Articles/Ratings_Update_Can_Clouds_develop_into_a_Cheltenham_contender

I remain amazed at how some of these guys actually get paid for working in the sport I love. If only!!!

So having just won the Hensessy at 7, and showing all the sort of traits as a "potential" Gold Cup horse, and a horse on the up, this muppet thinks she should bypass The Holy Grail to run in a race that he probably has 4 more years to contest, should he not be able to play at the very top table.

The National is a race won by horses 9/10/11, and the few 8 year old winners I remember never had pretensions to make it at the very top level, and were well handicapped "plodders".

I take on board what Ralph says, but he has yet to be fully tried on Good ground as a chaser, and he is proving more versatile than many thought. Most of those writing him off previously were those that thought he wouldn't stay. Those same people are  now knocking him because they now think that's all he is!

If he never wins another race, so be it, he owes me nothing, and fulfilled (nearly) all my hopes for him. The rest realistically will be a bonus, and with a chunk on at between 80s and 40-1, I'm happy to keep dreaming til mid March.

Think a meet is long overdue Mr Trigg.

Didn't get to watch the race on Saturday, just been watching it as my dad recorded it. What a fantastic race, glad I didn't see it in real time, think I would have had a heart attack, even watching it at no point did I think MC had the minerals to beat McCoy or the top weight, then all of a sudden he just the last in front, battles with McCoy and starts to get the better of him, pulling away. Great animal. Well done Adz hope you get the lot at Cheltenham. Will you be going to watch it?

[BigAdz]

Hi Scott.

Try to avoid GC day these days. TBH I love the opening roar on the Tuesday, have to go, as Roger has his formal box on the Wednesday. Happier being in the pub on the Thursday and Friday, even if they do have runners.

If MC is still in the frame, come March, I hope Roger has a runner on the Friday.....

[BigAdz]

Nice article on RUK about Highland Lodge for the Beecher. Interview with EL confirming this is the aim, and if he doesn't win this the rest of the seasons plans are pretty much defunct.

We are defo on a trier!


Edit. Just checked the final decs. Was feeling good looking down the list. Hopes were building. STOP...................

We have Andrew Thornton doing his best John Wayne, on board.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[Karabiner]

Andrew "The Anchor" Thornton and his cavalry-length irons.

Unlikely to come off at least looking on the bright side..


Any thoughts about Somersby's chances in the Tingle Creek?

[BigAdz]

Argh..

It's a toughie Ralph.

He has been rated at 164-166 for almost 3 years at his peak. If you look at the ratings for this, it would pretty much be good enough wouldn't it?!

He loomed up alongside Alf LTO and sure looked to have retained his ability, and come boxing Day, it could look top class.

 I pretty much think it's between the top four in the betting, with the two youngs guns a bit short for my punting delectation.

For me, it was an ew toss up tween sommersby and Oscar.

I have gone the Oscar route, as I was always in the "should have gone Champ Hurdle" route, and felt he was forced into staying as he was in an era of Hendo Hotpots at 2m. He has yet to run at 2mile over fences, and if he can stick with them along the Railways, he may outstay them up the hill.

Looking forward to it. Not seen a nice competitive TC for ages, like this. GL