Cheltenham Festival
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Am very interested to discuss this one in more detail as his name appears up and down this forum as one for the Ten To Follow and on original race threads as a potential winner of plenty of the bigger races.
Is it just me, or is he not a classic example of a second-season novice set for a really testing season ahead? Before I go any further I would like to state up front that I love the horse and actually had him in my Ten To Follow last term. He is a beautiful jumper, he is relatively versatile regarding trip and ground and seems hardy and honest. Those characteristics obviously make him a horse to take seriously.
However, I can't help but feel he will struggle to win championship races (he's never really looked quite good enough in my opinion) and very few horses can win the big handicaps off a mark of 164. I think his defeat by Noble Prince at the Festival underlined his limitations to a degree and would point to the fact that he has never been tried at the highest level before, which is a little odd if connections really do harbour ambitions of winning races like the King George.
I suppose I am most interested in which races his supporters actually see him winning this season?
Is it just me, or is he not a classic example of a second-season novice set for a really testing season ahead? Before I go any further I would like to state up front that I love the horse and actually had him in my Ten To Follow last term. He is a beautiful jumper, he is relatively versatile regarding trip and ground and seems hardy and honest. Those characteristics obviously make him a horse to take seriously.
However, I can't help but feel he will struggle to win championship races (he's never really looked quite good enough in my opinion) and very few horses can win the big handicaps off a mark of 164. I think his defeat by Noble Prince at the Festival underlined his limitations to a degree and would point to the fact that he has never been tried at the highest level before, which is a little odd if connections really do harbour ambitions of winning races like the King George.
I suppose I am most interested in which races his supporters actually see him winning this season?
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I would like to see him drop down to 2m and front run personally.
I think the old roan chase at Aintree over 2m4f would be the ideal first race for him and cant think of a likely challenger to give him a race. Maybe Poquelin, Sommersby or Tartak?
When I was at Aintree 2 horses stood out in their looks one was Big Bucks, and Wishful Thinking the other, Im not saying I'm a paddock judge but in my opinion this horse is going right to the top.
Hi Tom. I agree. I adore him myself, suspect 3m+ will be his trip, suspect he may finish higher than 164, but do not think he will be winning the very best G1s.
2m all the way with this fellow imo!
can't see it happening though
can't see it happening though
I had him down as a horse who could run over further rather than shorter, backed him antepost for the RSA last year. Perhaps if they are going to aim Capt Chris at the KG and longer races they will go shorter with Wishfull Thinking to avoid clashing?
i seem to remember and this is off the top of my head so may not be 100% accurate one of nicholls horses french un maybe rebel du maquis running all over wishfull thinking it was at a right handed course wincanton possibly ,think he was giving wish thinking weight as well before he came down at the 2nd or 3rd last, this one may be well handicapped this year and obviously has a stack of ability and if he has improved he could be worth noting .
Robinson Collonges. Wishful needed a stiffer test IMO than Wincanton against Robinson, who was a speed horse at that point.
WT could win the Queen Mother just like Sizing Europe did last year. Stays a bit further but can put them to the sword jumping from the front like he did at Aintree. QUALITY horse and just begging Hobbsy drops him back to 2m. On at 33/1 e/w pre-Punchestown and 25/1 e/w recently.
So much to like about this horse just hope he at least gets a chance over 2m.
So much to like about this horse just hope he at least gets a chance over 2m.
Probably campaigned over shorter if Captain Chris is aimed at King George I'd have thought?
i've read that hobbs hasn't ruled out a run in the tingle creek
I was saying this last year,thought he had arkle written all over him...Hopefully Hobbs will see the light and go for the Queen mother.
He's an exceptional horse but I doubt he can concede almost a stone to Jessie's Dream, who should get in off around 11 stone if Wishfull Thinking stands his ground.
Have to agree Booster, re Jessies Dream - I think he'll have a really productive season.
The 42 on here though suggests he won't run in the PP - if he is then I'd be all over that price!! Maybe they're lining up a Hennesy bid off 151?
The 42 on here though suggests he won't run in the PP - if he is then I'd be all over that price!! Maybe they're lining up a Hennesy bid off 151?
Isn't Wishful rated 164?
Tough ask against the usual bunch of unexposed horses in a PP (not suggesting for a second Wishful Thinking is fully exposed
)
Tough ask against the usual bunch of unexposed horses in a PP (not suggesting for a second Wishful Thinking is fully exposed
)
Cheers for the heads up Rhinestone, I wasn't aware that he was out.
Hopefully he'll be ok for the Festival, I've had a little 40's for the Gold Cup
Hopefully he'll be ok for the Festival, I've had a little 40's for the Gold Cup
thought the PP would have suited him down to the ground myself, has the RSA won but didn't quite stay as well as the winner.
Thanks. Saved me some money. As Jessie's Dream won over 2 miles 4 furlongs in his Grade 1, I wonder if they might try and win The Racing Post Chase over an easy 3 miles first time then go to The Ryanair. Definitely doesn't stay well enough to win a Gold Cup from what I've seen.
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