Backstage

I think Barbers Shop is being aimed at the Foxhunters as well, which is interesting.

Backstage is unbeaten this season in point points, Elliot is keen on keeping him low-key on the handicap side of things, horse always cruises in the national until hes brought down, Elliots very very optimistic about his chances already

He'll be one of the better horses in the race thats for sure, he actually has form at the course. I've had a wee punt at 14's which may appear quite generous come the day. Having one more run in a ptp as a prep for this.

Any news on Roulez Cool? Was being aimed at this until injured last season.

glad to be of service mate, derek o connor will be 100 % on him at cheltenham too which is a major plus as not only is he a top top ametuer jockey hes also last years winning jockey in this race. From what I've heard anyway this is elliots main plot horse this year, he openly said carlito brigante was very well handicapped in previews last year

Plot in a non handicap?

The Foxhunters isn't a handicap though....

just because its not a handicap doesnt mean its not a plot mate, theres not much people who would think of placing this horse towards the foxhunters, running him in point to points, imo thats clearly a plot

take what you want from it i live down the road from navan racecourse which is elliots local track and theres been plenty of whispers about this being a plot for the foxhunters

He has mentioned this plan in his stable tours, so it's been no secret to be fair. I managed to get on a wee while back at 14's with Sta@n J@mes, as they are going 4places if you fancy an ew punt.

iv got 20s 16s and 14s all e/w

Well done on gettin 20s and 16s ew m8






On a horse that has never been bigger than 14s since the bettin opened! pmsl

i think youl find ringing ladbrokes up for getting a price after his first ptp win paid dividends ya muppet

Some prices those, never saw anything bigger than 14's once the layers priced up the horse.

You are correct GI MAC - there has never been anything bigger than 14s available

Strontium

The following info was in the Weekender last week:

A keenly awaited return to action is that of Roulez Cool, winner of the 2010 Stanford Cup after being brought down when sent off joint favourite at Cheltenham previously, but not seen since.

"He suffered some damage in his hind quarters and the cure was rest, so we gave him last season off" explained owner/trainer RW-C.

"He has only recently started back in training and while we would like to take him to Cheltenhma it is only 50/50 that we can get him ready in time."

"I wouldn't be worried about going straight there - we won the Aintree with Fox Hunters twice with Katarino on his first start of the season"

Thanks GI Mac. Might be a fair price if he does turn up.

Money today for it,  did it win a ptp?

No but it is entered in a p2p at the weekend

Tinahely Open

1st  BACKSTAGE (FR) K E Power Gordon Elliott MPR & Capranny Syndicate

Excellent news, think this might go off favourite on the day.

Will have to be a poor Foxhunters if Backstage is to win it.

A real contender for the Foxhunters is My Flora,declared at Newbury on Wednesday. This is the highest rated mare since Mrs.Be in 2005. Formidable at Stratford in its last point,will take a lot of beating this year.

That race at Stratford was a poor race, although she won well, the form means nothing compared to some that will line up in this.

If she wins tomorrow - she deserves to be fav imo

Anyone think they can get Chapoturgeon qualified in time - v interesting recruit to Hunter Chases IMO

Am I right in thinking that 2 1st or 2nd between now and the race gets him in?  If so 33/1 looks HUGE

Chapo running in a Hunter Chase at newbury this afternoon.

Zemsky was 14s on here a day or so ago....now into 8s any reason??

Chapo absolutely hosed up at Newbury today and the (rules) form looks quite solid.

Well that burst the My Flora bubble. Back to the drawing board. Chapo looked most impressive.

He did, especially given it took him a while to get going and start jumping. Cloudy Lane was also going really well until he blew up a bit and/or got outpaced. He'll clearly benefit from the run and the Foxhunters C&D.

Pleased I took a chance on Chapo after watching that.  Just ordered my Wetherby's betting guide and cant find previous years but I reckon he hits most of the stats - I think formerly high-rated NH horses do well and 8 is a pretty good age

3 miles at Cheltenham think maybe not a stat in his favour, but g/luck with cracking price if on at 33s.

Pos     Dist     HorseView Comments     Rider     Price
Race Analysis

    Won Since
    Placed Since
    Ran Since - Not Placed

BACKSTAGE (FR) Tara (H)

1         BACKSTAGE (FR) 10yo     Codd, J J 12st 0lb     1/2-1/3F
B G PASSING SALE (FR) - MADAME NATHALIE (FR) Owned by: MPR & Capranny Syndicate Trained by: Gordon Elliott
      rcd 5th/6th, gd prog from 3out, chall 2out, rdn & ko best from last
2     2½L     HANGOVER (IRE) 10yo     Jenkins, J A 12st 0lb     4-6/1
BR G PRESENTING (GB) - NATIVE WOOD (IRE) Owned by: Sean Gallagher Trained by: Sean F Gallagher
      alw pr, went on final cct, jnd 2out, no ex late
3     1L     JAMADIEL (IRE) 11yo     Slevin, M T 12st 0lb     5-7/1
CH G KADASTROF (FR) - PETAL DUST (IRE) Owned by: Mrs V Shaw Trained by: S. Slevin
      ww in rr, gd prog final cct, eff to chall 2out, no ex from last, ko
4     4L     PARSONS PISTOL (IRE) 10yo     McKeown, J P 12st 0lb     6-8/1
B G PISTOLET BLEU (IRE) - PARSONS HONOUR (IRE) Owned by: Robert Bagnall Trained by: Noel Meade


Won again today

Do you know if he'd be ridden by Codd at the Festival? Big plus if so.

Will be Jamie Codd or Derek O Connor imo

either would be a great plus in a race like this

Foxhunter Chase favourite Backstage remains firmly on course for next month's Cheltenham Festival following his sixth victory in the point-to-point sphere this season at the weekend.

Gordon Elliott's 10-year-old came home in 10th position when a leading fancy for last year's Grand National and while a return to Aintree is on his agenda, his primary target is the Foxhunter Chase, for which he is a best-priced 6-1.

He continued his prolific campaign with a victory at Ballydarragh on Sunday and Tim Palin, racing manager for part-owners Middleham Park Racing, is excited about his Festival prospects.

"He did it well at the weekend, as he usually does in that grade," said Palin.

"This time 12 months ago the Grand National was Plan A for him, but this season the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham is his Derby.

"Hopefully he can run well there and then go back to Aintree, where he should still get in the National on a competitive weight.

"It's always difficult to know what they've achieved in these point-to-points, but personally I'd like to think he's running to a mark of around 130.

"If he can run up to that sort of rating at the Festival, then he should be competitive.

"The horse should be going there full of confidence and we're looking forward to it.

"I think he goes there with as good a chance as anything else in the race."

Zemsky out for the season

With that news, I now want to back Chapoturgeon at 10s with SJ, but with fixtures being called off all the time, how likely do you guys think it is that he'll qualify in time?

ttt due to new developments

41.5 With regard to Hunters' Steeple Chases (run during 2012)

41.5.3 no horse may be entered for or start in a race if

41.5.3.1 in the period starting on November 1st, 2011 and ending on December 31st, 2011, it has run in any race apart from a Hunters' Steeple Chase which was run in Ireland on or after October 1st, or
41.5.3.2 on or after June 7th, 2009, it has won a steeple chase which was not confined to Amateur Riders, which had a penalty value of £20,000 or more and which was run under the rules of a Recognised Racing Authority, or
41.5.3.3 on or after June 6th, 2010, it has won a steeple chase which was not confined to Amateur Riders, which had a penalty value of £18,000 or more and which has run under the rules of a Recognised Racing Authority, or
41.5.3.4 after September 30th, 2010 it has been placed first, second or third in a Grade 1 or Grade 2 steeple chase.

Elliott said this morning: “We’ve known for a little while that he was ineligible. I’ve not considered other races at the Festival yet. I’ve got to talk to the owners.”

Nice work from the betfair ambassador!

Do you get your money back? If he's not allowed to run entries shouldn't have been took for him then

Paddy Power refunded already, must have a good case to be refunded even on here as the horse could never have been entered in the race

I actually laid Backstage on betfair a few weeks ago, what happens to that bet, it seems to have disappeared from my account?

all bets voided then?

will there be a RF if you backed other horses in the AP market?

BF have posted a thread on what they've done.

It was a plot for the Kim Muir all along, the foxhunters was just a ruse.  Honest...