Cheltenham Festival
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Have to say of the horses who didn't win, two who really impresed me were Zarkandar and Pearl Swan.
Zarkandar stayed on a from mile back and found an extra gear in the home straight. If anyone timed the finishes of every horse at the Festival, I'd be surprised if anything got up the hill better than Zarkandar.
Pearl Swan ran a mighty race I thought. He too looks an out and out stayer. He was off the bridle miles out and after a lot of pushing and shoving from Ruby, he finally started to motor close home. Don't think he'd have won, but he was making ground hand over fist on the leaders before falling.
If these two stay hurdling, they'll give Big Bucks something to think about.
Zarkandar stayed on a from mile back and found an extra gear in the home straight. If anyone timed the finishes of every horse at the Festival, I'd be surprised if anything got up the hill better than Zarkandar.
Pearl Swan ran a mighty race I thought. He too looks an out and out stayer. He was off the bridle miles out and after a lot of pushing and shoving from Ruby, he finally started to motor close home. Don't think he'd have won, but he was making ground hand over fist on the leaders before falling.
If these two stay hurdling, they'll give Big Bucks something to think about.
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I reckon Brindisi Breeze might give him more to think about - already proved he stays 3 miles on good and heavy ground and came up the hill superbly despite being in the van all the way around.
Maybe Zarkandar goes for the CH again but looks fiarly clear that he'll improve with a step up in distance. I wonder is chasing on the agenda for either Zarkandar or Pearl Swan? Aintree Hurdle seems an obvious target for Zarkandar, lightly raced this season, step up in trip will help and he won there last year (albeit somewhat fortunetely). Rock On Ruby to Punchestown or else put away for the season.
the thing with Zarkandar is that:-
the stable were in poor form
he had a set back before Xmas so didn't reappear til Newbury in February
he picked up the cough and didn't look great on the day
he is a 5yo (terrible record in CH)
he is a Triumph winner (terrible record)
Next season with a proper preparation, another summer on his back and more experience he will be much better suited to the CH. Hopefully the stable will be in better form too
meanwhile 6yos don't have a good record in the Stayers/World.. so that does not look his race
the stable were in poor form
he had a set back before Xmas so didn't reappear til Newbury in February
he picked up the cough and didn't look great on the day
he is a 5yo (terrible record in CH)
he is a Triumph winner (terrible record)
Next season with a proper preparation, another summer on his back and more experience he will be much better suited to the CH. Hopefully the stable will be in better form too
meanwhile 6yos don't have a good record in the Stayers/World.. so that does not look his race
Yes but despite all that, he still ran a good race and finished as though he'd just jumped in at the quarter pole. I'm not sure he has the pace to win a CH but certainly he'd have the class to be competitive.
yes sure they will have a proper go next season
I would put him away now and bring him back in the autumn
I would put him away now and bring him back in the autumn
The first impression I got from Zarkandar was the World Hurdle next year would be right up his street.
I've put £3 @ 40's on here hoping it will be matched, but if he does go the Champion I think he'd have a chance in that too.
I was there on the Tuesday and assumed he'd finished miles back because he wasn't mentioned at all by the commentator. It was only when I got back I realised how well he finished up the hill - gaining with every stride.
As you've said the Aintree race looks the natural race to go to, but I remember he ran quite flat there last year.
I've put £3 @ 40's on here hoping it will be matched, but if he does go the Champion I think he'd have a chance in that too.
I was there on the Tuesday and assumed he'd finished miles back because he wasn't mentioned at all by the commentator. It was only when I got back I realised how well he finished up the hill - gaining with every stride.
As you've said the Aintree race looks the natural race to go to, but I remember he ran quite flat there last year.
I know their in different ownership but just can't see anyone connected with the stable wanting to stop Big Bucks winning 5 in a row. Zarkander will be a great deputy if needed but otherwise I think it will be the Champion again next year then World Hurdle in 2014
Yes indeed he finished strongly and when you consider everything that was against him prep-wise it was a great effort
and as I pointed out there was an apparent track bias against the deep closers too so to run on stronger than anything he did well. If I owned him there would be only one race on my mind and I would put him away til the autumn
and as I pointed out there was an apparent track bias against the deep closers too so to run on stronger than anything he did well. If I owned him there would be only one race on my mind and I would put him away til the autumn
I wouldn't be convinced that a whole another mile would be his bag at all...finishing strongly over 2 doesn't mean that he'll stay 3 does it? as for the stats , i can't find a triumph winner in the last 40 years that has gone on to win the stayers, don't know about prior to that....no, their job is to try to get him to be able to lay up closer to the pace earlier in the race so he can utilize that finishing kick....far more interesting for the champion hurdle itself for me.The stayers is for a horse who can't find that finishing ability at the end of a champion, like oscar whiskey for instance(who stays 2.4 well but didn't get home over 3) zarkander has got that strong finish but needs to stay competitive earlier in the race, i think that will come over time and he's a big champion hurdle player for me.
yeah duffy spot on, cant see the Supreme supplying a challenger, Simonsig prolly chasing... Zarakandar big player with a full prep season
with regards to the world hurdle, the forgotten horse in all this might be fingal bay!
Zarkandar will never make a chaser!ever!
He's like Celestial Halo in that regard,cant believe they ever tried chasing with that horse,
it will be the same outcome were they ever to send him chasing,just my opinion.
2 and a half mile hurdle race at aintree is right up his street
He's like Celestial Halo in that regard,cant believe they ever tried chasing with that horse,
it will be the same outcome were they ever to send him chasing,just my opinion.
2 and a half mile hurdle race at aintree is right up his street
Viva Pataca
16 Mar 12 18:52 Joined: 16 Dec 07 | Topic/replies: 997 | Blogger: Viva Pataca's blog
Maybe Zarkandar goes for the CH again but looks fiarly clear that he'll improve with a step up in distance. I wonder is chasing on the agenda for either Zarkandar or Pearl Swan? Aintree Hurdle seems an obvious target for Zarkandar, lightly raced this season, step up in trip will help and he won there last year (albeit somewhat fortunetely). Rock On Ruby to Punchestown or else put away for the season.
16 Mar 12 18:52 Joined: 16 Dec 07 | Topic/replies: 997 | Blogger: Viva Pataca's blog
Maybe Zarkandar goes for the CH again but looks fiarly clear that he'll improve with a step up in distance. I wonder is chasing on the agenda for either Zarkandar or Pearl Swan? Aintree Hurdle seems an obvious target for Zarkandar, lightly raced this season, step up in trip will help and he won there last year (albeit somewhat fortunetely). Rock On Ruby to Punchestown or else put away for the season.
I agree completely with all that judo has stated. I said on another thread ( the ROR one I think ) that Zarkandar was clearly the best horse in PFN's eyes and that 16s was a fair price for next year. A chip away over the coming months for me on this horse.
Also agree that should now be put away. Was obviously a sick horse after the Betfair and apparently looked as if feeling the effects prior to the CH. Get the feeling that Zarkandar may be a horse that won't take too much racing and his Aintree run last year was no where near as good as Cheltenham. Put him away now, 2 races in Autumn and then a CH prep ideally 4-6 weeks prior to Cheltenham - easy this training lark!
Also agree that should now be put away. Was obviously a sick horse after the Betfair and apparently looked as if feeling the effects prior to the CH. Get the feeling that Zarkandar may be a horse that won't take too much racing and his Aintree run last year was no where near as good as Cheltenham. Put him away now, 2 races in Autumn and then a CH prep ideally 4-6 weeks prior to Cheltenham - easy this training lark!
all about opinions...i thought Pearl Swan dogged it out the back and only got going when the others began to tire...wouldnt be in a rush to back it in future
in my humble opinion theres a bit of class about zarkander, while his buddy pearl swan is a bit ordinary.
Gonna be a good year for the 2m hurdle division i reckon.
As well as this years lot,we should have Spirit Son,Grandouet and Oscar Whisky will step back surely.
Zarkander will be a big player.
As well as this years lot,we should have Spirit Son,Grandouet and Oscar Whisky will step back surely.
Zarkander will be a big player.
i thought pearl swan would nearly have won and didn t back it,francomes comment thart he,d have finished tenth was laughable ,i,d like him to name the 9 to finish in front of him without the fall
No doubt Zarkander's finish was impressive but if they ran (they wont) him and Pearl Swan over 3 miles early in the day BB would have them for breakfast.
So much for chipping away at Zarkandar for the CH. Now Tom Segal has suggested it, all the books bar one now have him at 12s - bet they didn't take a cent on him either
I would prefer the CH for Zarkandar and no 5yo has ever won the World Hurdle that I can recall.
6 is by far the best age for first time winners of the World Hurdle, just about impossible for a 5yo. Asked before if anyone knows but very interested to know what the plans are for Smad Place after his remarkable effort?
king said smad place will be going chasing next season. not sure if he will have another race this year!
His run made Bourne look a good thing but he ran poorly. Smad Place finished behind Voler de Vedette rated 154 plus mares 7lb so did he improve on his handicap mark of 157? Thousand Stars and Oscar Whisky were rated higher but didn't stay. Big Bucks only does enough so I'm not sure about the race.
I agree with the OP's musings about Pearl Swan in particular as he looks like he'll thrive over a trip, though I'm having difficulty remembering a 5yo that has made an impression in the stayers' division over the years.
If it's ever gonna happen, I think it's very likely it'll be something with plenty of jumping experience from France.
When he nailed Grumeti earlier in the season, he was totally outpaced when the gallop was cranked up, and it was only over the last 2f, when meeting the rising ground that he grabbed it and showed a real resolute attitude.
Watching the Triumph again...he quite clearly struggles to go a decent gallop and is a strong stayer, and as already mentioned, he would not have won, but would have been placed - again, he showed plenty of grit.
However, an extra mile is a big question, as well as defying a very viable stat about immature horses in Championship races, especially over longer distances.
Finally, Mysilv won the Triumph and finished runner-up in the Stayers' Hurdle, though she wasn't a 5yo at the time.
If it's ever gonna happen, I think it's very likely it'll be something with plenty of jumping experience from France.
When he nailed Grumeti earlier in the season, he was totally outpaced when the gallop was cranked up, and it was only over the last 2f, when meeting the rising ground that he grabbed it and showed a real resolute attitude.
Watching the Triumph again...he quite clearly struggles to go a decent gallop and is a strong stayer, and as already mentioned, he would not have won, but would have been placed - again, he showed plenty of grit.
However, an extra mile is a big question, as well as defying a very viable stat about immature horses in Championship races, especially over longer distances.
Finally, Mysilv won the Triumph and finished runner-up in the Stayers' Hurdle, though she wasn't a 5yo at the time.
Does anyone know what they plan to do with Brindisi Breeze next season?
In answer to my own question it seems they intend on going chasing with Brindisi Breeze next season - which is a shame as I think he would have been an interesting challenger to Big Bucks. However this makes him a good prospect in the RSA.
No doubt just like every other year the bookies will find some good thing to beat BB again. The so-called classy one failed miserably this year. Some say that BB will be beaten some day but he may eventually retire unbeaten. No doubt like most horses he has had days when not at his best but he was so far ahead of the opposition he nevertheless still won. Last week the people seated in the stands rose to applaud him long before he crossed the winning line. Roll on next year for more easy money.
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