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Cheltenham Festival

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dawks
15 Jan 11 17:37
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Date Joined: 05 Nov 01
| Topic/replies: 79 | Blogger: dawks's blog
Thought this one ran really well today, and is probably still overpriced for the Champion,
although I except it would be difficult to lead all the way.
Kept on well even when passed, and I can see this one going close in March, may help Peddlars by setting such a strong pace, Binocular obviously the one to beat, but this one was only a few lengths off today
and it was first run for a few months

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Replies: 20
By:
resner not lesnar
When: 15 Jan 11 17:45
Be interested to know how the stable rate Overturn in comparison to Peddlars. Thought he kept on very well for second. Couldn't see him winning the Champion Hurdle but would certainly ensure a true run race
By:
flushgordon
When: 15 Jan 11 18:26
peddlers rated at least 10lb better
By:
Steeplechasing
When: 15 Jan 11 20:36
Had a little bit on him last week, along with Soldatino, as the two possible shock results in the CH.  He looked a real battler today - better ground and Cheltenham's undulations will suit him well
By:
aka
When: 15 Jan 11 21:55
Yes, the better ground particularly would help. Very good run today from Overturn considering the ground was a bit softer than ideal and the fact he has been off since the summer.

Showed enough perhaps to suggest that if he is sent off to make the running in the CH, he may prove marginally more potent in that role than Celestial Halo was in the 2010 renewal. That is an ominous thought, given how all the other runners bar Binocular were pretty much stretched by the pace of the 2010 race. In other words, Binocular was just about the only one in the 2010 race who looked like he would be able to cope well with a still faster pace than Celestial Halo set. I think that is an indication of just what a high standard he sets.

The comparatively fast pace set by Overturn today clearly helped Binocular. It could be a similar story in the CH, if Overturn runs. Though if Overturn is able to set a very fast pace, it might also suit PC and wouldn't necessarily harm Menorah's chances. HF also looks to have the class to go with that kind of pace, though that is more of an unknown at this stage until we see him in an end-to-end gallop on a stiff track.

My main thought though is just how good Binocular looks when he gets a fast pace, both in his hurdling and in his ability to travel so well off that pace. Overturn ran the finish out of two good horses today, KK and Starluck. He got nowhere near exposing Binocular's limits. Binocular was as imperious today as he was in the CH last March. On that form, it will take some horse to race the finish out of him next March.

I need to look at the times more to assess the exact going today. But clearly the softness in the ground was no problem for Binocular on this occasion. That may be an indication that while good ground clearly suits the horse, his win in the CH last season might not have been down solely to the advantage he got from racing on a drier surface. I think he strengthened up a lot last season (and possibly learned to settle that bit better)and that factor contributed a lot to his good run in the CH last time and to the excellent performance he put in today.
By:
doogs
When: 16 Jan 11 11:53
Official Ratings are PC on 162 and Overturn at 159, not much between them. For his first run back, on ground that was softer than he would have wanted thought Overturn ran a blinder. 

After being lucky enough to visit Donalds back in October he said then that it was more than likely both PC and Overturn would go for the CH which is why I backed him at 80's a win and 9's a place on here (also backed PC at 16's).  McCain thinks an awful lot of Overturn but said PC was a machine and unbelieveable how good he is, he is very sweet on the horse.

If there's better ground come March Overturn is more than capable of running a big race only negative is he's not run at the course before.

On another note, he also said at the visit he liked Ballabriggs for the GN and would run him over hurdles to protect his mark until the weights come out - so far so good [;)]
By:
GT
When: 16 Jan 11 21:45
donald is a cracking trainer, but thought him or owner were a bit greedy with Overturn in the Autumn...
By:
abbott
When: 16 Jan 11 21:50
dont think so GT. The horse was thriving and once he had shown he was finished they gave him a break. His run yesterday confirms they didnt go overboard.
doogs the way ballabriggs came into the race on the homebend last season at the festival had teh looks of a Grand National winner.
By:
Steeplechasing
When: 16 Jan 11 22:04
Mmm, was most impressed by Ballabriggs at the Festival and at Wincanton last time.  But after looking like he'd skate up in the Kim Muir, he hit the wall and barely held on so I'd need some convincing about his stamina, though guts and jumping are already proven.
By:
abbott
When: 16 Jan 11 22:05
To be fair Katchiturian had them all going and I think the jock got a bit nervous and went after him to soon. If he had held on a bit longer I think he would have won with a bit in hand.
By:
Steeplechasing
When: 16 Jan 11 22:06
You're still a mad Katchaturian supporter mate!
By:
abbott
When: 16 Jan 11 22:10
LOL i was just looking at the Skybetchase for him in 2 weeks.
By the way when I was I noticed Silver By Nature's new mark. Think Haydock on Saturday is the target and he should take some beating with the stable starting to come into a bit of form.
By:
GT
When: 16 Jan 11 22:11
how much has sbn been dropped, abbott?
By:
abbott
When: 16 Jan 11 22:18
The racing post have him in at 149 a drop of 7lbs. On bare form thats not overboard but knowing the problems that Lucinda and the team have faced over the winter trying to keep the horses fit I feel this is an over reaction.

He seemed to be going well leaving the back straight in the welsh national but didnt really pick up for me hes been lacking fitness and with the trip to Micheal Scudamores yard his recent run and at long last the snow dissapearing up north he should be spot on by Haydock
By:
GT
When: 16 Jan 11 22:20
correct abbott,got to be a big pot waiting for that horse imo
By:
abbott
When: 16 Jan 11 22:25
Agree GT just not sure what race. After Haydock I would be inclinded to not go back there in Feb and aim him at either the William Hill or the 3m5f race at Sandown at the end of the season. The Grand and Scottish National are other possabilities but either way Id like to see him miss that haydock race he won last year to protect his mark for a bigger race in the spring.
To keep him ticking over id send him over hurdles in Feb.
By:
GT
When: 16 Jan 11 22:45
the scottish national..if the conditions came up similar to when Grey Abbey won it...
By:
GT
When: 16 Jan 11 22:46
geoff would love to win the SN..as he was just touched of for it many moons ago...
By:
abbott
When: 16 Jan 11 22:53
I know just not sure we will get that ground. Infact I would be very surprised.
By:
abbott
When: 17 Jan 11 16:49
SBN misses the Peter Marsh Must be going for the 3m5f race he won last season.
By:
doogs
When: 19 Jan 11 12:06
Fm McCains blog on Bangor Races website :-

In terms of rating these two horses, the first question someone bright asked me after the race at Kempton is, “Which horse will Jason (Maguire) ride in the Champion?” A bright question as, with 8 weeks to go, a lot of things can happen in the meantime.

In a move that brought out the “Has the world gone mad?” in me (I must be getting older), the handicapper has seen fit to officially rate Overturn a pound higher than Peddlers Cross. Now, I am only a trainer, but I struggle to understand how Overturn (beaten 3¾ lengths by Binocular) can be rated higher than Peddlers Cross (who beat the same horse by 7 lengths). An interesting scenario that will, of course, not cross the minds of these two special horses!
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