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Nice write-up Jimbob, and very glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks Willie about the note on John Barry. I was out of internet connection all weekend, so haven't kept my promise to catch up with the news!
Also, this thread may have to carry on without me for a bit, as I am off to Bosnia on Friday for a month (working) and I don't know when I'll have internet again - and I don't suppose the Weekender will be available in Sarajevo, either!
So I hope all you pointing/hunter chase fans will keep this thread going up to its usual high standard . I will have a new email also in Sarajevo, and when I know what it is I will let you chaps know so you can shock my work colleagues by passing on bits of news, if you'd be so kind. It's a bit odd thinking I am going to be out of the loop, so I hope the websites and messages from you lot will help.
All the best, and signing off for now - if the RP provides a sub to access the Weekender (or enables me to buy it on line) that won't be so bad.
Good luck all - see you in March for the Foxhunter preview! _________________ UNEXPECTED WINNER 2009 FLAT 10 TO FOLLOW COMPETITION!
Nice write-up Jimbob, and very glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks Willie about the note on John Barry. I was out of internet connection all weekend, so haven't kept my promise to catch up with the news!
Also, this thread may have to carry on without me for a bit, as I am off to Bosnia on Friday for a month (working) and I don't know when I'll have internet again - and I don't suppose the Weekender will be available in Sarajevo, either!
So I hope all you pointing/hunter chase fans will keep this thread going up to its usual high standard . I will have a new email also in Sarajevo, and when I know what it is I will let you chaps know so you can shock my work colleagues by passing on bits of news, if you'd be so kind. It's a bit odd thinking I am going to be out of the loop, so I hope the websites and messages from you lot will help.
All the best, and signing off for now - if the RP provides a sub to access the Weekender (or enables me to buy it on line) that won't be so bad.
Good luck all - see you in March for the Foxhunter preview!
report in Horse and Hound from Larkhill Kings Troop point to point said 9 started and only 2 finished. the 2 that did finish were the 2 that ran in Golden Button at New Year. watch out for form guide next year!!
With the hottish favourite (Ballyverane Oscar) a non-runner, this looks pretty wide open to me. I've picked out "possibilities" (and no doubt the winner will come from one of the others!) Going is heavy, distance is 2m4 (4f shorter than points).
Bally Wall is pretty lightly raced, and the top amateur Derek O'Connor gets the ride. He beat Andytown in a point back in 2007, dead heated with Lydon House in 2008 and beat Top Twig in 2009. He totals 5 wins out of 11 starts in points, and he has won on heavy. A lack of success under Rules, however, (2762), may indicate he is just not quite good enough for this, although the opposition isn't particularly strong. My reservation would mainly be about the distance. All Irish points are run over 3m, and 2m4, even on heavy, may be too sharp for him.
Boxer Georg benefits from a recent run (5th behind Rudi Trucker in a Thurles hunter chase 28 January). He may have come on for that, and Willie Mullins knows what he's doing. But he's won only 1 point, and he hasn't had much experience. A possible.
Castleview Mills joins the party with two recent wins in points, but has run only 4 times in total so far, once under Rules (3rd in a Novice Chase at Clonmel in 2008 - so course form of a kind). He does handle the heavy, though.
George Travis is trained by Enda Bolger and ridden by J T McNamara. He is coming back into form, but has not won under Rules in 9 outings. The yard and jockey are respected, though, and he got round the Punchestown banks in 2007, coming 9th behind some of the usual suspects (Never Compromise, Headsontheground, First Down Jets). He can't be ruled out.
One More Bottle, who I backed at Thurles (u/r) may be worth an e/w look at a price. He is ridden by Mr J Barry, who takes 7lb off and who was spotted as a good pilot by Willie10 - see earlier post. He had been hurdling (not very successfully) up to last season, when he won one point on yielding out of three runs, the other two under Rules (7 and u/r, as noted).
My bets
Early prices
Bally Wall e/w Betfair 6.6
One More Bottle p/o Betfair 4 _________________ UNEXPECTED WINNER 2009 FLAT 10 TO FOLLOW COMPETITION!
Rangitoto, 5-y-o by Old Vic/Kendo's Dream(Presenting); won a Gelding's Maiden with ease at Carrigtwohill last Sunday. Owned by Paul Barber, one of the last horses to be bought out of Tom Costello's yard before he passed away. Too soon to say, but maybe worth keeping an eye on.
Rey Nacarado (my previous "spot") hasn't been doing too well over here, with a couple of unsuccessful runs over hurdles. But we'll see how he developes. _________________ UNEXPECTED WINNER 2009 FLAT 10 TO FOLLOW COMPETITION!
No time to post an analysis, but Robber's Glen, one of my favourites (5th in last year's Cheltenham Foxhunters), is out today in a hunter chase for the first time this season. Probably trying to qualify once again for Cheltenham. At the price he would seem a decent (small) e/w.
Of the others, JHJ's I see a Star is an 11/4 favourite, but on balance, other than Robber's Glen, my money would be on Take the Stand, an old warrior with vast experience.
Off now to catch my flight! _________________ UNEXPECTED WINNER 2009 FLAT 10 TO FOLLOW COMPETITION!
I think this one will be too good for these. He's been a decent horse over the years & always runs well. The Likes of Take A Stand are capable of showing up well but he maybe a better horse in the Spring & contesting the big races at Cheltenham later in the season. _________________ SBH Comp 2008 - Runner Up
Top jockey John Mathias and trainer Dai Rees, from Clarbeston Road, are in unstoppable form at the moment and the opening day of the new point to point season at Erw Lon was to be no exception when taking both divisions of the maiden races.
John, last season’s Area Champion male jockey, is now employed full time by Dai Rees after completing his education at Pembrokeshire College, gaining a National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. He’s making sure he’s grabbing every opportunity with both hands.
Strong handling
Dai’s first division winner Rith Bob was sent off the even-money favourite, and the fall three out of Princess De Rome and Rhys Hughes made life easier for the mare who began to tire and wander badly between the last two fences. It took strong handling from Mathias to get her home with a fast diminishing lead of three lengths in front of Isobel Thompsett and Leprechaun’s Gold.
Good odds
The second division winner, French purchase Rimini, proved the fastest and the best value with 5-1 available on some bookmaker’s boards. The ex-Evan Williams inmate Cool Cliché, now trained by John Llewellyn and ridden by Isobel Thompsett, had been sent off the 4-5 favourite, and was leading coming into the last. Cool Cliché held every chance, but Mathias was ready to pounce, putting Rimini into the lead at the line by a length, a further length back in third was Young Brave and Ben Brisbourne.
As your in Bosnia Jen I doubt you made it to Erw Lon!!
John Mathias rode a 20-1 winner at Fontwell on Sunday for Dai Rees and well worth keeping an eye on. Tidy jockey. I know a few guys with horses in Rees's yard and they say he's a very level head young lad. Hope he gets a few winners this season. _________________ "Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is." Danny Blanchflower
On balance Bob Hall looks the one to beat if fully tuned up for his first outing this year. I will go angainst him with Oppsmylord who is capable on his day but the same applies about fitness for it's first outing after a long break. _________________ SBH Comp 2008 - Runner Up
Aftertiming, I know, but I did back Vicario in the Hunter at Bangor on Friday - but it doesn't count as it wasn't on here!
On a more serious note, have a look at this (from the JumpingforFun website):
TRAINERS REMINDED ABOUT CHRISTIE’S FOXHUNTER QUALIFICATION AND ELIMINATION GUIDELINES
Cheltenham Racecourse today reminded trainers of the qualification criteria and elimination guidelines for horses being aimed at The Christie’s Foxhunter Steeple Chase on Friday, March 19.
The race closes on March 2 and all entries must have finished first or second twice in Hunter Chases under rules, or won two open point-to-point races, or won one open point-to-point race and finished first or second in a Hunter Chase since December 1, 2007.
If more than 24 horses are declared to run, priority will be given to horses which have run in Steeple Chases and Hunter Chases under the rules of racing. On this basis, horses that have qualified through point-to-points can still run in a Steeple Chase or Hunter Chase up to and including Friday, March 12, to enhance the chance of gaining a place in the final field. The BHA Head of Handicapping will assess the order of elimination, but does have the right to guarantee a place in the line up for one ‘wild card’, should he so wish.
Simon Claisse, Cheltenham’s Director of Racing and Clerk of the Course, said: “We are particularly keen to stress the rules regarding elimination, as with a safety factor of 24 there is every chance that the field will have to be reduced to that number at the overnight stage.
“Trainers who have an entry which has qualified via the point to point route are strongly advised to run the horse in a race under rules to maximise the chances of being in the final field for the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase at The Festival.”
As usual, it looks to me a bit complicated for my feeble intellect, but I think what it basically says is that if you have a live one which risks being balloted out, run him/her under Rules rather than in another point, because that will give you a better chance......
So those who stick to pointing precisely because it is pointing, are again penalised for one of the top races. I also think it is laughable that Smith is able to give one "wild card" to a horse which has not otherwise qualified, just on his say-so. That seems outrageous, given that last year when it looked as if Cappa Bleu might be balloted out, he admitted he knew nothing about pointing.
You don't learn about a horses' long-term prospects/quality over just one half-season, and I bet he has other things to do (like messing up the weights for the Grand National)......
Oh, and if you look at the Rules of Racing, balloting out isn't really a ballot at all, it is based on the notional ratings the handicapper would give horses.
Oh dear......And I thought last year there was a move to get more genuine pointers into these top races, as opposed to ex-handicappers based in Rules yards.
On a lighter note, if Here's Johnny is declared for Tuesday's hunter at Folkestone, I might have a bit on.......Hasn't been out under Rules for over 700 days, and I haven't looked up his point form (if any) yet, but Dartnall knows how to get one fit, and Guerriero is a good pilot. _________________ UNEXPECTED WINNER 2009 FLAT 10 TO FOLLOW COMPETITION!
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. I will have a new email also in Sarajevo, and when I know what it is I will let you chaps know so you can shock my work colleagues by passing on bits of news, if you'd be so kind. It's a bit odd thinking I am going to be out of the loop, so I hope the websites and messages from you lot will help.
