Does anyone else think IL DE RE could be interesting over hurdles this season and maybe, took a while to come to hand over hurdles this season but at the end of the season was transfered to Donald mcCain yard and has won both chester Cup and Northumberland plate something overturn I think didnt manage to do, if they can brush up on his jumping (sure they will) the horse has certainly got the engine on him, well beaten in the imperial cup off 124, there is plenty left to work with and even though he is entered in the long distance champion at Royal Ascot, but maybe he could be a player in the gretwood hurdle before progressing into maybe the bula and champion hurdle, it would be a massive rise in the weights, but not totally out of the question, think he could be a massive handicap blot in the Gretwood hurdle

However, a flat rating of 105 and a hurdles rating of 123 suggests he could be exceptionally well handicapped over hurdles.

Since that flat rating is based on 27 races it seems unlikley he'll improve enough to be a Grade 1 hurdler. Another issue might be trip - given he stays 19f on the flat will he want 3m+ over hurdles?

No idea if he's staying over hurdles or going chasing but Trifolium would be my dark horse at a big price (100 on here).

Cheers - I've thrown a tenner on it @ 100 just for fun.

Decent shout - I'd assumed he'd be about 1/3 of that price.

Took most of the money between 140-160 wen it was announced thinkin hed be in to around 40 but shocked he is still at 100 tbh

Nothin between himself, Cinders and Darlan - he is 100 when they are 20 give or take!

Can't ever call myself a shroodie, but I reckon he could continue to develop nicely as a Hurdler, but Champion winner might be a step too far. Hopefully 1000 stars will turn up for the race at Tipperary so we can really see what he's capable of. Trainer has no made no secret of the fact that he has schooled very well over fences, and they will make the call to stay over Hurdles or not after Tipperary. In my heart of hearts I can see him taking the races that the Fly avoids in Ireland but not a lot more. Definitely one of the most interesting outsiders though.

I agree that Champion Hurdler is a huge ask, but he won a competitive Galway Hurdle comfortably enough (Davy's near-balls up excused) giving weight all round off 145; that's a solid foundation for progressing on and he really looks a progressive type like you say. Travels well and jumps slickly and like you say, I'm excited to see how he copes up against Thousand Stars this weekend. I also don't think the 2m division is very strong at all this year with the principles, HF excepted, all much of a muchness for me. G'waaaan Rebel Fitz!

I've had a few quid on Rebel Fitz as does appear to be improving fast.  We'll know more on Sunday, but has to beat 1000 stars at the weights to be considered.

What has happened to Spirit Son. I am in hibernation during the flat season, so don't pick up a Racing post until now.

God,i did not know that.
What a tragic shame for connections,NH racing and us fans,and most of all of course for the horse.
He could literally have been anything.
So sad.

Willie Mullins said Thousand Stars was badly in need of the run wen interviewed before hand in France


Rebel Fitz doesnt like heavy ground

mfw






05 Oct 12 17:02
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29 Dec 02
| Topic/replies: 8 | Blogger: mfw's blog



What has happened to Spirit Son. I am in hibernation during the flat season, so don't pick up a Racing post until now.


OUT WITH INJURY AGAIN THIS ONE LIKELY TO FINISH HIS CAREER.

Good looking field for the Fighting Fifth, with reigning champion Rock On Ruby reappearing and with the first three home in last yeras Supreme and the Triumph winner also entered it should at least tell us if last years novices/juveniles are up to challenging the established stars.

I find it difficult to understand why Rock On Ruby is 3rd favourite to 2 horses he beat out of sight last year. Hurricane Fly will never win a Champion Hurdle again, too old and can only be held up so Rock On Ruby will probably have left him behind on the run to the 3rd last as per last season. When they tried to ride him up with the pace Go Native was cantering all over him when he fell yet for some reason he's around the 5-1 mark. Zarkandar won a Wincanton handicap where the form looks anything but strong and would probably go for the World Hurdle if he were in any other stable. He won the Triumph 2 years ago but on several form lines Rock On Ruby holds him comfortably. How those 2 horses can be priced up to turn last year's form around beats me and Rock On Ruby's general form at Cheltenham is tremendously solid at a very high level.

Booster -Think the main reason Hurr Fly and Zark are above ROR in the betting is that a lot of people have heard their trainers
state that their horses weren't 100% on the day and didn't have a smooth preparation. Some also believe that ROR was advantaged by
the way the race was run. Personally don't particularly buy into most of it. Main concern with ROR is will he be the same horse this year as last. The Int hurdle should be quite revealing .

Personally don't see ROR winning again. Good horse, don't get me wrong, but gets beaten on a fairly regular basis, and do feel he got a superb tactical ride last year. Overturn was only a few lengths down and whilst he's an admirable horse, a repeat performance in my view would not be enough. Don't have a clue what will win but at this stage, ROR isn't for me.

the thing is ROR stays further and has the speed,so whatever the opposition do his jockey can adapt.he could go on earlyish or take it up later.
looking at the race this year,you have to fault Ruby and AP,and they wont be doing that again,so its possible they will be a lot closer,but if any of them aint gonna be as good next year,i would say it would be them, not ROR.
If hes gonna be beat it will imo be either Zarkander or if he comes back as good as he looked like he would be,Grandouet.
Still,early days and we aint seen a lot of the contenders this season yet.

Difficult with HF. Mullins has said he wasn't right, had an awful prep, and i was fortunate to speak with a connection that night who said Ruby asked him 3 times and 3 times he didn't respond. Maybe he was past it or maybe he just wasn't right. He could surprise us and given 3 prep runs beforehand, would be interesting

As said on probably more than one thread, Zarkandar for me.

PFN has always thought him CH material. Last year he clearly had problems hence why he way only ready in time for the Betfair, which he duly won at a time when his horses were struggling. Apparently coughed afterwards, that might be hearsay, but many paddock judges commented that he did not look good prior to last year's CH, and considering that he ran a remarkable and eye-catching race.

Some have assumed that because of this he needs a trip, and maybe elsewhere he does. But the 2M at Cheltenham, especially in a fast run race is exactly what this fellow needs. I think btw the same applies to ROR. I actually backed him for this year's renewal after that race.

After that it was a mistake taking him to Aintree especially after being ill and after the fall I left him alone having originally planning to drip bet him through the summer.

His run at Wincanton, which is a fast track in comparison, proved his wellbeing to me and I went in again. Ok it was only a handicap, but giving lumps of weight away and in part making the running I thought it an excellent performance.

Clearly the acid test is the Bula where he will face both ROR and Grandouet. Grandouet also has a setback/break to overcome and clearly is a talented horse. If he hadn't of been brought down he would have likely beaten Zarkandar at Aintree as a 4yo, but to my mind was beaten easily at Cheltenham. Grandouet won the race last year but just think Zarkandar will always prove stronger up the hill. ROR has done nothing wrong at Cheltenham, and has great festival form and it would be wrong to discount him. But its all about opinions but I just fancy Zark to turn round last year's form

We have a number of mouth watering chase to look forward to over the coming weeks, but the Bula will also be potentially right up there