Joncol is the biggest horse in this years National 'by some way' is a comment I heard on telly somewhere. I also watched a documentary about Paul Nolan a few years ago and i'm sure he said that he said they were hopeful that Joncol would become a National prospect
Maybe a plot horse ? Doesn't seem to have run to 'his best' for a while now and it seems funny that this is his first ever run in the UK.
This from Sky from January this year
Trainer Paul Nolan is determined to discover what is preventing Joncol from running his races like he used to.
Nolan is convinced there is something ailing his 2010 Irish Hennessy hero after he finished a well-beaten third to Quito De La Roque in the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles on Thursday.
"There is something catching him and he's not finishing his races," said the County Wexford handler.
"I wish he would gallop a bit more at the end of his races, but in his last couple of runs he's not galloping to the line.
"There's a physical issue and hopefully we will find it and there should still be a couple of races in him.
"I don't think it's all over yet with him - hopefully we'll get him back to his best form.
"There is some little thing catching him. We don't know what it is but it could be making a bit of a difference. He's putting in more mistakes than he used to do.
"Hopefully we can find something out there and iron out the problems and get those jumping errors to disappear."
and then from the Liverpool Echo on April 3rd
“We know he’s a class horse, but he’s had numerous problems. He seems in good health now, but in his last couple of races his jumping hasn’t been brilliant. We’ve had him checked out and I think we’ve solved his jumping issues.
“If his jumping had been better in the Hennessy Gold Cup (at Leopardstown in February) he would have finished a lot closer – he’s been jumping slightly to the right, but he schools straight as a die at home, he has never fallen in a race, touch wood, and when we put him over the Aintree fence at the Curragh he was brilliant.
“I’m hoping Aintree will light him up and that he’ll run a respectable race and give his owners a great day out. They are delighted to have a runner in the greatest race on the planet.”
I think he is a big price but I think the thing they have been struggling with has been that he has back problems. No way a plot horse though no longer good enough for Graded races and too high for normal handicaps so it is a case of try the long distance handicaps and see if that works or renews his enthusiasm. One of the outsiders I'm tempted to back myself still though as that was the case with last years winner pretty much although Neptunes was a fair bit classier at his peak.
What a Friend has that similar kind of profile.
I think he is a big price but I think the thing they have been struggling with has been that he has back problems. No way a plot horse though no longer good enough for Graded races and too high for normal handicaps so it is a case of try the long dis
Certainly not a plot, I think the trainers comments are very genuine. He's very well handicapped on his best form, and a big strong horse who could take to it. I'm not sure he's an out and out stayer though, 3m has looked his limit sometimes.
Certainly not a plot, I think the trainers comments are very genuine. He's very well handicapped on his best form, and a big strong horse who could take to it. I'm not sure he's an out and out stayer though, 3m has looked his limit sometimes.
Is a horse I like a lot and is well handicapped for sure but his issue is with his back so the big fences and steep landings are very much against him. I have a small stake bet on him as I can't rule him out but only a cover other stakes bet.
Is a horse I like a lot and is well handicapped for sure but his issue is with his back so the big fences and steep landings are very much against him. I have a small stake bet on him as I can't rule him out but only a cover other stakes bet.