Cheltenham Festival
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08 Oct 12
20:34
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31 Jan 09
Likely to start off over fences saturday at Chepstow.Jump season fever officially starting to kick in 
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You can taste it on the air!
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IN THE AIR
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Couple more that could be interesting in that race are Super Duty and Module.
A few grand old names like Fair Along, Arbor Supreme and Hold On Julio with entries on the card as well. |
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I really hope I'm wrong but I've just got a feeling Fingal will struggle over fences and not reach the heights he did over hurdles
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Interesting BBF. He is built for it certainly. If campaigned well, I think he can do well
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any reasoning as to why u think that BBF?
i think he'll be a much better horse over fences myself. |
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They are not wasting anytime getting him over fences. Could be a Gold Cup horse if all goes well.
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2m3 tomorow a slight suprise
poungach is no mug and fingal will improve for further,interesting |
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The new novice chases rules this season have certainly made things more interesting
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What are the new rules blue?
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Can't run in a handicap chase until either won a novice chase or started 3. I might be wrong.
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I'm sure Fingal Bay started off at Chepstow last season. Has anyone got any stats on how many recent Cheltenham winners started their seasons in early October. It kinda seems too early to start off if you have genuine Cheltenham ambitions.
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Very good point rnl. His early season form was exceptional and he cuffed Simonsig fair and sqare at Sandown. Post Xmas, he put up a very iffy performance to win at Newbury before he went wrong.
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Yeah, he started off at Chepstow last season in the Grade 2 novice hurdle at the 2nd October meeting (so the
equivalent will be run in 2 weeks time). He looked awesome that day. I thought he got progressively less impressive with each race last season, though I know many disagree. I'm not sure how many Festival winners start early but Countrywide Flame was running through summer 2011 (and then through the winter without a significant break) before winning the Triumph. I'd guess when it does happen it's more common with novices (but I may be prejudiced by my view that racing experience, some recent, is really important for many novices). |
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Resner - cue card won the race last year and was only beaten by sprinter sacre in the ankle so the race is a decent one for a Cheltenham hopeful
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Am a big Fingal Bay fan but I have a sneaky feeling 2m3f might be a bit short for him and he get could get beat today by Poungach.............still fancy him a lot for RSA but wont be putting any of my heard earned on him first time out over 2m3f.
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Simon, Cue Cards 2nd to SS is good form definitely and I do think he may prove even better over further this year, however it was a 2nd none the less albeit to a potential superstar. While perhaps having a race as early as October had nothing to do with that defeat directly, I have to say that there probably won't be many horses out this month that win the big races at Cheltenham.
Its a concern for me with Fingal Bay as I am interested in him with Cheltenham in mind as I think he could be that good, but its a long time to be on the go for some horses |
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early starts a positive imo.When he won the challow he ploughed through the mud but wasnt impressive at all,his cruising speeds his most effective weapon.
Start early on perfect jumping ground ,run 3times then put him away in the winter gluepot and bring him back for trials day then festivals at chelt and punchestown...easy |
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its possible that the triumph hurdle winner also runs today,time will tell.
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he does indeed tweedle....at Newmarket
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I dont think the trip is an issue, his PB was over 2m4f. Should be ideal today.
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Pretty good performace,jumped well.
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After a couple of sketchy jumps he seemed to settle and jumped well enough thereafter. Didn't give the impression that he'll be a showy jumper or gain yards in the air like some, but its early days. The overall result is nothing to write home about especially as the 2nd was giving weight, but hopefully he'll improve a fair bit for the run and experience.
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Jumped better as the race went on but it was a schooling session really - they only raced the last half mile. Pity about Poungach but these things happen. Fingal Bay could win a decent race at 2 and a half as long as there is a strong pace but I think he is a stayer and if he had made Cheltenham last year, he would have lined up in the wrong race.
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It was OK, no more, no less. He jumped quite nicely after the first 4 or 5, though not brilliantly. He won against a race fit, more experienced horse.
On the bare form it was a 125-ish performace. I'd expect him to come on 10+ lbs simply for the run and experience. It's a big open question as to whether he can find the further 20-30 lbs he'd need to figure in the RSA or Jewson. I have the impression the horse may not enjoy it very much, though he might just be lazy (or both). |
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strontium
12 Oct 12 22:31 Joined: 21 Sep 05 | Topic/replies: 2,810 | Blogger: strontium's blog Yeah, he started off at Chepstow last season in the Grade 2 novice hurdle at the 2nd October meeting (so the equivalent will be run in 2 weeks time). He looked awesome that day. I thought he got progressively less impressive with each race last season, though I know many disagree. I'm not sure how many Festival winners start early but Countrywide Flame was running through summer 2011 (and then through the winter without a significant break) before winning the Triumph. I'd guess when it does happen it's more common with novices (but I may be prejudiced by my view that racing experience, some recent, is really important for many novices). With that in mind Stront I would hazard a guess PJH may train him slightly differently this season? You would certainly hope so given his no more than adequate start today. Im hoping he'll improve a ton for it, though im not involved financially in anyway. I was just hoping to see a bit more so im thinking there is a possibility he could be trained a little different this season. His hurdles debut last season knocked spots off his chase debut. He jumped nicely though. |
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Don't know Sint but I worry about Hobbs as a trainer of top horses. It's certainly possible Fingal was totally undercooked today - he looked tired at the finish over a trip he ought to take easily in stride. Maybe he is being trained to pek much later this year? You are spot on about his hurdles debut, which was electric, v his chase debut today.
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*peak
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It's the only reason I can come up with Stront. He should have smashed the 2nd horse in receipt of weight. You would hope his next run is much improved in terms of performance. We're still in October so he could and should improve a lot for it.
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Thought it was a nice debut tbh - doesnt strike me as a horse thats going to smash anythin out of sight, always seems to just do enough! Was loads more in the tank imvho
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Was anything said about when/where his next race will be?
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Future Stars @ Wincanton or 2.5 Novices chase at PP meeting next
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Thanks - either of those should give a much better idea where he stands.
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Was happy with him today. Sketchy over the 1st 3, jumped really well could of done with a lead just idled in front. Wouldnt be quick enough for the Jewson for me, think RSA is his race. Find out more next time
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He skied a couple early on but better that than ending up on the deck. You could see he was learning as the race went on. I have a feeling he will beat a good horse by just as far as a bad one and ideally he wants a lead into a race. He did what was required today and I can only see him getting better. The trip wasn't ideal he had to lead the whole way and was never likely to be very fit. I'm certainly viewing it as a positive start to his career over fences.
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Thats exactly as I see it MM. Thought he looked a pretty natural jumper 9even with Johnson on board) and that was going to be the most important thing today I suppose.
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I thought that his jumping improved as the race went on but do feel he will need some cut in the ground which puts me off him as an antepost proposition.Defo needs a trip so the RSA is surely the only long term target.
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I think he'll mop up some small runner fields in the build up to Cheltenham, but have got a feeling he'll run into one or two too good in the RSA. Can't ask for anything more than a win on debut though.
Personally, I'm not a lover of when a horse just does enough to win, because there's always the risk of getting mugged on the line, and would like him to stride on with a bit of authority (unless you're Big Bucks of course) |
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I'm with you there WellC - it's a dangerous characteristic unless we're talking about a great horse (Big Buck's, Sea the Stars, etc).
Those that point out today's race wasn't run to suit make a good point. it will be interesting to see how he gets on when he gets a tow, especially in a race run at reasonable pace. |