Booster,you must have a fair bet on SR for the Arkle,cos without meaning to be rude,you are way off in your comments re SR and FR.

Finians was not quite top class over hurdles? (maybe maybe not) but that hardly makes him exposed. I expext he traded at about 1.5 in the Grade 1 Challow before a combination of a mistake at the last and the horrendous ground beat him, and at Cheltenham he patently didn't stay.

But like Forpadydeplaster he always looked like he would be a better 2m chaser (imo anyway) and thats why I made him my early pick for the Arkle - and although I don't like to blow my own trumpet my antepost Arkle record is rather senstaional

hey uncle....i mentioned him firse on the "arkle early ramblings thread"

booster you have backed SR for the Arkle imo and now attack is the best form of defence, vacating the Spirit River thread where your argument was not working to post here instead. I do agree Finian's needs to prove it against better horses but think he shows a desire for fencing and ease of jumping at speed that I look for in an Arkle horse and this could make a big difference in his fortunes but he will need to show a kick in an Arkle. Spirit River on the other hand shows stamina traits and will hopefully cure his jumping issue as he will need to jump much quicker in future.

I have to tell you, I was absolutely thrilled with FINIAN'S RAINBOW on his chase debut at Newbury on Friday — I really do believe he is the business.

He rubbed a couple of his fences but that’s what a real good chaser will do, the likes of Big Zeb and Moscow Flyer do that —  but he's not frightened to take a fence on. It’s the sign of a special one because to win big a horse has to have a crack. This boy got himself into trouble and got himself out of it at a couple of fences and that is what impressed me.

He was very good over the last, flew it, and although he’s a horse that will get further than two miles, the lesser distance early is often the way to go with a potential stayer, it’s keeping down the mileage. Remember, my Gold Cup winner Kicking King was second in the Arkle. I can’t look that far ahead but that’s what you always hope for. The season will tell it’s own story.

indeed i did type that so must have deleted source in error.

It sounds to me like you're the ones who've backed Finian's Rainbow and are trying to justify and the last time I looked. Eric Morris, I was also winning the argument on the other thread too. I'll return to that thread in a minute but to call a horse an Arkle winner with a victory in a 3 runner flat track novice against a summer jumper who finds zero off the bridle and another who Paul Nicholls described as "not a speed horse" in his Racing Post stable tour suggests that daydreaming may be your favourite pastime.

When the whips were up in the Ballymore he found nil and I can't see how he was 1.5 on any exchange as he was well beaten before the straight. Wasn't you trying to back it, was it?

Kirk, not sure what you mean about attack being the best form of defence as I thought we were having a discussion on the relative merits of the 2 horses. Making an assessment of Finian's Rainbow's form and stating the facts about the horses he beat and was beaten by over hurdles is all part of assessing his chance. I've been backing horses since Last Suspect won the National and, like others, get it wrong more than right but have seen many others come and go in that time who didn't read the form but followed the herd by reading Spotform or Templegate or (like yourself) jockeys' blogs. The only way to profit is to go against the crowd as you're betting against them not the bookies.

Best Mate and Azertyuiop were previous winners of the race Ghizao dominated and Ruby could well be right er him being the next Well Chief.

Very dangerous game, backing the last good performance you've seen, like Ghizao. Of course his price has contracted but he had his ground against horses who want spring ground and the run of the race, making all with no challenge to his lead.
I'll give anyone a voice on a topic like this and love debating it and someone once said to me that you need to be looking the other way when everyone's looking one way and I'd say the time to back him is not now. I'd rather take Captain Chris from that race but don't really see him as an Arkle winner.
Still not had a bet in the race but you know who I'm with.

Captain Chris is the horse I rate 2nd best for the Arkle at this stage and you wont see a better Arkle trial than the Cheletenham race all season imo. Ghizao loves Good to Soft which is what he will get on Cheltenham tuesday. Has all the credentials and Ruby is a great judge, if he mentions the Stewart/Johnson horse as a potential Well Chief and based on what I have seen that is good enough for me.

I am expecting another development on the Arkle front however from another horse who will be a big player imo.

Well having just watched the Chelts race again I can see what they mean, he travels really well, jumps really well and has a stocky build can see him being a weight-carrier / conceder in time. Early days but this is after all an antepost forum.

Also think he will come on again, as will Captain Chris, from the last run. Would be interesting seeing him up there in the Arkle with Finian's Rainbow travelling in behind him then the big question will be answered, does Finian's Rainbow have a kick in the best company to try and go past him up the hill. Ghizao has already shown he loves going up there over fences.

Bring on Chelts, I wouldn't want your 33-1 now and that's on my own life. Good for all you arbers though but I'm just a punter who backs what he sees not what he hears.

That's a fair question but the price isn't going to contract today, is it? The horse could have injured itself yesterday so I'll wait and see if anything comes to light. The price will only change if it's stablemates disappoint or it's declared to run shortly so no need to panic.

Sr price for the RSA shortened after yesterday on here,not a lot,but shorten he did,maybe i aint the only one that thinks thats where he will go.

See Steve Mellish agrees RE FR and SR,only an opinion of course,but it does seem you are somewhat out on a limb Booster.

To be honest, I had intended to back him yesterday morning but had a meeting at 9 o'clock and some personal business to attend to after so was overtaken by other things but, as I say, I now don't need to panic as he's not going to shorten is he?

What have I called anyone for backing the horse they fancy? Absolutely nothing. I have, however, put his form into context both over hurdles and fences and no one else has bothered to do that, just requoted things they've heard. Good luck if you've backed it but not for me.

Fair comment

Booster,
i have looked at his form over hurdles and fences and come to the conclusion that 2 pretty good performances at Chelt in grade 1 company over hurdles at further than 2m,and a very good debut over 2m over fences is fine when loking at a potential Arkle winner.