Boston Bob

Its not ramping the horse but showing contempt for the AB.It was thrown in as a stocking filler by Gillespie to pad out his fourth day.A horse as good as BB has no place in a stocking filler.

Budd wish I had 32's lovely....and would wish I had the same and also he won't be out of place in the race...

But very difficult to have a decent conversation about the horse with all the ramping...trainer doesn't help...but difficult...still he said the neptune was the likeliest race so fair enough but agree with catch me on his view...but horse looks top class...

the boy - have you had a wager on the horse for the neptune???

Oddly yes.I had money on him for both but traded out of AB when I sobered up.Would lay more in AB but nobody sensible would back it.

The Albert Bartlett isn't a stocking filler anymore it is a race for future staying chasers and hurdlers who are running over a trip suited to them...Bobs Worth wouldn't of been out of place in last years neptune but connections chose the best race for the horse and what was suited to him...I have no doubt Boston Bob will not be out of place in the neptune that is for sure, we all know that, but what is for sure he and Fingal Bay would be better suited to the longer race and would be a penalty kick in it...

No one sensible would back it?? they certainly would if he was confirmed a runner I can assure you of that and I would be in the queue...

Anyways I'm impartial but glad you answered my question...

Harry,
why do you say they are for sure better suited to the longer race?

I take on board the point that this particular horse would have a big chance in either race and the AB could possibly be a weaker event, but I don't buy into this argument that the Neptune is a test of speed.
2m5f at Cheltenham is a real test for a novice and I think that is born out by the record of flat horses in this particular race.

Well interesting barnesy...I agree that this race isn't won by flat horses...

Budd my view is - this horse doesn't do anything very quickly and also isn't that fast over his hurdles either...as was the case on sunday again, as it was when he won his grade 1 he was under the pump a fully 4-5 furlongs out and then the stamina kicked in down towards the last on very attritional ground which he clearly likes...Boston Bob however put up a top performance all the same and giving away the weight he did marks him down as a proper Grade 1 horse unlike a lot of the other contenders in the market...

Personally I just feel the horse as I do with Fingal Bay will travel far better in the longer race and they won't have to do it as quickly either...the Neptune has generally been won by a horse with a turn of foot and to my eye all Boston Bob does is stay...that isn't to say neither him nor Fingal cannot win as both of them have shown themselves to be the best 2 novices this season but I will be looking to take them both on as do not feel either horse will get there ideal conditions (cut in the ground) come the race and thus won't warrant a decent bet at the likely cramped odds...but if by miracle it was soft I will be backing this fellow as do like him a lot...but no one knows the field yet and not a whole lot of quality may turn up and in which case he may end up a good thing, and the 7-1 now may look huge come the day who knows...

Just one other thing to add as well no 7 year old has won this race since the likeable French Holly won a weak renawal of the race back in 1998...2 out of the last 4 winners of the albert bartlett have been 7 year olds however...make what you will of the stats can't say they bother me to much but always of interest...

cheers Harry,you may well be right mate over 3m,but im sure both are capable of winning the neptune as well.
Be interesting to see if they end up in the same race.
Wonder if connections of the horses will be having a little chat!!??

Well if they do budd we will be in for a real treat and kind of hope they do as have had a decent bet on one for the albert bartlett this week and hope they both dodge it...yes obviously both capable and kind of like Boston more myself...seems to have one hell of an engine...

Any news on this fellow?? seems to be more a positive in the Albert Bartlett market but still no news, anyone heard anything???

not a dickie bird harry

mullins waiting til the deloitte has been run - whether he will tell us what his plans are I couldn't possibly

Yes the deloitte certainly is going to answer a lot of questions judo...Sous le cieux should hopefully get back on the cheltenham road or if he flops I'd say Bostons will be nailed on for the neptune...mullins will then tell the betting public what the target is...if he doesn't it will be disgusting...am sick of all these constant games, that is why I haven't got to involved this year as haven't been able to form a book...think we have got the winner of the albert bartlett though pal so don't want this animal to turn up in it and scupper my plans to have a good bet...we will know more after tomorrow I suppose...

you must let me know the winner of the Albert Bartlet mate

I could do with some top class tennis to take my mind off the festival tbh

Yes will let you know pal, like it a lot but cannot unload with this horse a potential runner ...need to know what bostons is doing as think he will beat anything the race has to offer and thus you can't bet with any confidence...I have to say pal I don't think I will ever bet again before I know what mullins plans are ante post...

Ye really looking forward to the tennis think novak is going to do the business and am very confident now he has got the aussie out the way, as feel he wasn't in any form and still won...that tourney was my main worry and don't feel the others are any better just that he had an off week...the 2nd and 3rd sets showed me he was starting to find his range...the break will do him good and think the others are in for a very long year...wonder what price you can get on him not losing any more than 3 sets in winning the next 3...think I will officially be his number 1 fan if he pulls it off...and he will

expect him to come on a bundle for the outing, could easily do the 40 + wins again - the boy is a beast! Yes, could do with the IW/Miami double header starting coz I am spending all my time trading on horse races and studying trends and form for Cheltenham and I could burn out and lose interest - prob take a break Mon to Thursday to freshen the brain. Was punting heavy today and yesterday so pretty tired now...

anyways look forward to hearing the good news for the AB race

Ye have to say judo am tired myself relentless studying of the form book...might give myself a break but so much to do and horses to get through...ye will be happy as have been waiting since he crossed the line at leopardstown...was going to put a thread up on the albert but extreme has put one up...but will be putting a little write up in when I believe the time is right...think I have found the right horse for this race...but personally couldn't put a bet up with a potential 9-4 shot in the market, crazy stuff...

yeah mate have to wait til you know the strength of the opposition or you dunno whether you are getting value

it will be here soon enough

Cannot believe there are still people who believe BB will run in AB.WM certainly doesnt.The AB is between Ipsos and Mount Benbulben

The boy - What has he said then????you obviously know more or is it your pocket talking?? Very bold to say the albert bartlett is between 2 with a likely big field of improving novices....

As a backer of BB at a big price for the Neptune,i would like to know the answer to that question as well.

Boston Bob
6g Bob Back - Bavaway
Andrea & Graham Wylie
He won a point-to-point and a bumper on his second start in England. He is a big chasing type who won his maiden hurdle at Navan before returning there in December to win a grade 1 novice hurdle. He put in a tremendous performance to win at Leopardstown at the end of January and we might give him another run in a staying hurdle before going for either the Neptune of Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham.


Budd this is from his own web page so unless theboyfromcoocooland is willie mullins in disguise we still don't know anymore....pocket talking....

What I will say though - I doubt it would've been written by him and can't see him running again either....


He will run in neptune for me - but that depends on sous le cieux who has to win or go close in the ultra competitive deloitte today....if he doesn't do the business I think then we can be so bold, and say he is a likely neptune runner...although as I have said before I think the albert would be, the better race for the horse...

I'm sure we will find out 3 days before the meeting...

so we need Sous Les Cieux to bolt in today and then go for the Supreme leaving the Neptune for Boston Bob? Hope that turns out well coz I'm on SLC today at Boyles opening 9/2.

yes that is another conundrum for us judo...how can you bet with any confidence...

will say - he has never been a positive in the betting for the supreme and being that is the only thing, we as punters seem to be able to go on, all we can do is try and read between the lines...although walsh did say, he was a horse that wanted further than 2 miles and he isn't far off the mark most of the time...

9-2 ew a pleasure sounds nice...hope he goes well as think he is still a serious prospect...today will tell us all about sous le cieux for the long term or whether that royal bond run took to much out of him....I wonder whether you will see the horse dropped out today...the first day he won over 2 and 1/2 miles it was on the back of a hold up ride...

the jury has been sent out to consider its verdict

Harry, hold up ride 1.17 today

well yes but wonder whether he will be held up in rear?? sorry should've been clearer...

no you were clear, but there is no telling whether it will be out the back, will depend on others

Well I can see pace with the top 2 (gigg runners) who like to be prominent...time will tell...looks a cracking little race in prospect...

dropped out harry

bad jump at the second or 3rd last cost the race

I have to say thought he ran a real good race just gave the leader a tad to much rope...but at least they still have a horse...

I will say although he got beat walsh gave him a lovely hold up ride got him really settled just the winner got to much of a lead....and the mistakes were vital like you say...one thing I did like however, was how well he rallied after folding so quickly last time...

yet more questions to answer though...

hope you got out in the run judo or pre race...

I'd think SLC has to go for the neptune after that if he comes over at all. Stayed on very well and wasn't stopping, but doesn't look to have the pace for the Supreme. I understand why Ruby settled him at the back after his last race, but that tactic didn't really work either - however if he's ridden mid-field (blinkers maybe?) he still has potential.

yes harry I always put lays in and amazingly got matched at 1.72 to green evenly - never looked like winning to me

i have been doing that a lot lately and it has been working nicely

You're heading for the aftertiming thread Judo.

fack off am I

harry asked me if I got out so you can pack that **** in right now

I won't be putting you there - it's a childish thread - but I don't think they care about subtleties like that.

Harry knows full well I trade my prices in everything, we spent two weeks chatting about in running stuff for hour after hour on the Australian tennis - we are both massive tennis traders - so he knows full well I will have put in some lays so anyone wants to call that after timing can phuck off

he never asked you on the deloitee thread Judo!!

well done judo...have to say place layed that cash and go thought the ground might be against him although he folded quite quickly after travelling well, so maybe all wasn't well with him...

Stront totally agree on your earlier comments although disagree the tactics didn't work as thought the horse saw his race out much better...he was never a supreme horse for me but think they should repeat the tactics in the neptune as the pace will be much more in his favour and they will be coming back to him...free running sorts like him need settling in order for them to progress and reach there full potential and if they had continued the front running tactics I don't feel it would of done this horse much good...a tad more cut will also help him although he travelled well today on it...don't know what was wrong with him the last day....

you have to hand it to walsh and mullins for getting the horse to settle, brilliant stuff and they still have a horse to go to war with.... he will get better this horse...

I was just pointing out on there that the horse traded remarkably short in running (actually matched at 1.6 ish)

and I didn't even know I got matched until I went back and looked and was surprised to see green next to the winner - the horse never looked like it should have traded anywhere near odds on. Or do you think it did look like it was gonna get there? Coz I don't

phucking replying to you coonts has cost me getting on pre race

was gonna say they are going to gift this to Last installment, bet he gets a soft lead, easy back to lay

missed it

calm down boys judo said he backed the horse earlier in the week at 9-2 so thought he may of traded...

lets put the other stuff to one side and chat about the nags...

good to row though

no,im surprised someone did,same as you.

gifted a soft lead

Hes been the best staying novice chaser all season imo

brilliant jumper that last installment

Anyway back to boston bob??

What do you think they will do now???

or do you think it won't bother them and they will run 2 ???

Especially when he saw off Lambro at the second last.

Judo - I apologise, I didn't intend to suggest you were aftertiming, just that some might see it that way. Personally I don't care whether people do anyway.

Harry - back to the horses. You make some excellent points about SLC. I agree Ruby did a great job settling him at the back but ultimately it appeared to cost him the race as the leadwer got too far ahead. that would be a dangerous game to play at the Fetival - some horses will come back to him, but maybe not all. Of course now they know they can settle him early they can start to work him in to the race earlier, and the Neptune is longer so he have an extra 20-somethign seconds to do it. Plus they'll have learned a lot today, so it's a valuable race for him.

i think if they want to win the Neptune they should run BB in it,irrespective of SLC running as well.

What will they do?
Really dont know.

Agree a dangerous game to play stront but walsh will be more cute and am sure he will execute the timing just right as he always seems to at the meeting...agree tactics court him out today but it was a trial and cheltenham is another day and a different trip which I think will suit...whether he is good enough we don't know yet but must be respected...like you say it was a valuable learning curve for the horse...the neptune is looking a good race quality wise...

Has Mullins made any comment abut SLC after that?

not that I can see pal...others may know more

punters don't know what to do now?? no money in the lay column in either race...

mullins needs to say soon...16-1 a bit big on sous le cieux me thinks

Interesting opinions as ever lads, but for all that SLC ran a nice race, much more encouraging, I didn't think it screamed Cheltenham winner.

Gut feeling is that Cash And Go ran well below-par, as did Captain Conan (but he already looks desperate for a fence), and I can't see an ultimately well held second to that rag winning what looks like being a good Neptune.

Think BB must run in it now for team Mullins, although wouldn't be surprised if SLC made the journey as well for the same race.

He probs won't say much for a while, and even if he does I wouldn't treat it as gospel.
I would have thought that SLC is most likely going for the Neptune now, and I think he thinks that this is his 2nd best novice after BB. It has no option for the Albert Bartlett and seems to be too slow for the Supreme so will surely take the Neptune route. Will he run both his big guns in the same race? Dunno.
Much as it pains me to say so, I feel that the longer race is now a narrow favourite for BB :(

Having backed Mount Benbulben for the Albert Bartlett, I'm very much hoping Boston Bob goes for the Neptune.

I am not overly worried that he'll switch to the AB though. I think if he does, that was always likely to have been the race he would have gone for, because I can't see Mullins sidestepping a more suitable race on the basis that he has Sous Les Cieux for the other. He just doesn't look good enough to me, and I'm sure Mullins will not be swayed one way or the other just to have a runner in each race.

Agree tom he may not be good enough but picked up well from a long way back...don't think he is a forlorn hope but agree he has something to find but he is a 16 shot...

pipe bet going odds on the albert on boston...difficult one this with like you say sous a likely neptune runner and like you say he has no albert runner - interesting, am glad I haven't got to sweat it out...

I think Boston has a great chance in whichever race he goes for and I imagine they'll pick the most suitable race for him and slot SLC (and others) in accordingly.

Depends what ruby thinks tom I'd say...if he thinks sous is good enough I'm sure he would prefer 2 winners...

I would be very worried tom if Bostons runs in the albert bartlett...think he would be my banker of the meeting should they chose to go that route

I would be too - think he's a beast.

As I say, am hopeful that they think the Neptune is the more suitable race for Boston Bob, as I do think they will run him in the race they think will be best for him. I really don't think Sous Les Cieux will force their hand on this one.

I took the 9/2 with Hills after his last race to win a race at the festival.

Can see him being shorter in either race on the day. From a selfish point of view i hope he goes for the AB because  it looks like an easier race.

He certainly looks like the stables number 1 novice hurdler

AB id like to see him in but i reckon they'll go Neptune

Would love to see him in the Neptune!

Snap,only one to beat in Neptune and its not Fingal Bay.

Does anyone know if mullins wrote anything in the racing post today on the horses target??

Tom Segal was on The Morning Line yesterday and he was asked about Boston Bob and suggested they would be going for the Neptune and he also felt he was different gravy to Fingals Bay.

Have read Patrick Mullins at 2 previews and he is adamant BB will go for the 3 miler with MYM and SLS goin for the Neptune

Hopefully Willie tells him fck all and he's guessin

If he was certain why Boston Bob still/was decent price on here.
Boston Bob will win Neptune if sent there end of,more prestige than Albert Bartlett ffs.

I fully agree, though i can never understand why all these big stables are so deliberately vague about their running plans. When, by now, they must know in their own minds what's running where.

interesting patrick mullins saying that...mullins should just come out and say, instead of racing people having to look at the betting markets...albert bartlett would be bostons for the taking imo

All the moeny for the AB tonight - bein backed well in

Tell me about it Just come out and say where he's goin ffs - they surely know at this stage!

Always was going to be AB. Jst look at his horses and you can pick where they go. It's easy

Run him in the AB and get him a victory at the course, after all Willie did say, as do all other trainers "anything he does over hurdles is a bonus". He's not quick enough for the Neptune and has already been touted for chases next year. Take the money and run Willie! And he won't beat Monksland anyway ;)

Had a chunk on at 7/2 with SJ NRNB earlier! But having seen the money today, I' ve just had a bit more with Hills at 9/2. Extra point worth the risk IMO. Looks certain to be going AB now.

Friendless on here for the Neptune. AB looking more likely.

yep a big move - looks like decision has been made...glad i held fire, but will be taking all the 3's...thankyou

i think you are reading too much into very few pounds being matched. there's all sorts of smoke and mirrors at this time of year.  was only two hours ago long run was reported as "uneasy" in gold cup market.

The 'few pounds' matched? Not sure about that.... Some big movement with the fixed odds boys today. Why 3/1 Harry?! Still 9/2 with Hills five mins ago.

Great news for Simonsig backers too!

that's because nrnb is a completely different market. for the sake of £14 you could clear the lay side in albert bartlett now.

Patrick keeps saying on various preview nights that he think Boston Bob will run in the AB and said so again tonight. Maybe that's the reason for the recent support?

yes tempted by hills catch me but still wary...but happy to accomidate at 3's nrnb as he will be short come the day...just matched at 6 for neptune...

Agreed dxb. But I think the shortening of SLC for the Neptune on here is very informative too

If Boston Bob does go for the AB then Mullins must be confident Sous Le Cuex will have a chance in the Neptune and judging by his last race, staying on over 2m 2f and the RP comments in the form analysis...I'd have to agree, looked to be crying out for further...it's already starting to contract

yep good cash for sous le cieux in recent days

indeed. good point. it has reached a sad state of affairs when we are trying to second guess minutiae market moves to work out which horse runs in which race. why these big stables can't be more open is beyond me.

Yep, couldn't agree more! They clearly hold SLC in the highest regard, but I don't think he'd ever win a Supreme. Really think they are making the right decision if this is what they do.

ye agree he isn't a supreme horse...

dxb yes awful stuff when all second guessing trainers is the only way to go...but at least nrnb is in and if he doesn't run no harm done.

Have a very small £10 on simonsig @ 24 on here

Out of interest, anyone know if Benefficient is heading for Neptune? Real stats horse for the race so had some 25/1 NRNB and £10 win @ 32.00 on here but friendless??!!

Not certain which race Benefficient goes for but he is certainly not a no-hoper.

this ante post carry on isnt for me,looks like i've lost peddlers cross and boston bob (had him backed for the neptune) in the space on a couple of hours. only a matter of time before Grands Crus will be lost to the gold cup as well. physically sick.

Thats the way it goes sometimes with ante post,yer have to take it on the chin.I have BB at 32 on here for Neptune,so if he goes AB i aint happy,but thats antepost,i will be getting results on prices in other races.

has mullins said that Boston Bob is going for the AB then?? anyone??

willie oesn't say anything to anybody

however patrick has been mentioning boston bob going for the Albert Bartlett in all of the preview nights

Budd just hope if Boston goes Tatlock route,hope they dont switch Benbulben?

Stevo1, interesting you should say that because Davy Russell mentioned Benbulben going Neptune and fancied it too. It was in one of Davy's many preview nights.

Smart but he talks bollox some of quotes read if true? Fickin comedian by all accounts!
He would tell you anything for few bob?

By James Pugh 6:05PM 6 MAR 2012

Boston Bob was a 5-1 chance for the Albert Bartlett with Totesport on Monday but he was half those odds with the same firm on Tuesday.

But Mullins told racingpost.com that he had not yet decided which race Andrea and Graham Wylie's seven-year-old would contest.

"I haven't changed my stance," said Mullins. "He's well and I won't be making my decision until much closer to the time. It's too early."