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Coneygree
Coneygree
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Not saying it wasn't , but missing it may just help him later in the season.
Just a thought . |
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Mark Bradstock said in a sky sports article the other day that the Lexus would be the more sensible route rather than King George if he didn't make the Hennessey.
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Yeh,Lexus is another Grade 1 race,and should suit him nicely.
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I don't get it... Was bradstock not watching him at kempton last boxing day when he won by ... 40LL and nearly every other horse had been jumped into the ground! Complete demolition job.
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Makes sense to me to enter both and then see how the ground is near the time.
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He would win both, hope he is healthy and well to take up the challenge.
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Mark Bradstock's brilliant eight-year-old, who looked so impressive on his return to action at Sandown in November, had been in the frame to run over Christmas in either the King George VI Chase at Kempton or in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.
But trainer Mark Bradstock's plans have been derailed after his stable star suffered what is believed to be slab fractures in both hocks, with the injury not thought to be career-threatening. Coneygree has been taken out of the ante-post betting for the Gold Cup in March and has gone to Newmarket for further veterinary assessment. Sara Bradstock, the Oxfordshire trainer's wife and assistant, said: "He is injured and will not run in the King George or the Lexus. The Christmas run is out. "I've just loaded him on to the horsebox myself and he on his way to Newmarket to be reassessed. "He is in no distress and walked on to the box sound. The vets at Newmarket will have a good look at him and we'll see what they discover - it will be a day or two before we have any news. "They'll probably scan him and we'll see what the extent of the damage is. "We know the engine is there, but the long legs that serve him so well on the racecourse are a little bit fragile. "Everyone knows I think the world of this horse, which is why we're being careful. "There will be no corners cut. He will be back, but at this stage I can't tell you when that will be." Coneygree missed an intended appearance in last month's Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury after he suffered a foot problem, but Sara Bradstock said the latest setback was unrelated. Coneygree's finest hour at Cheltenham saw him become the first novice to win the Gold Cup in 41 years, after Captain Christy in 1974. He was ridden by Nico de Boinville, who said: "Obviously it is very disappointing, especially for the whole Bradstock team at home and connections, as he has been such a superstar horse. "That's horse racing for you, it's what makes the good days worthwhile. "All I know is that he will miss the King George and he is off to the vets in Newmarket as we speak for further assessment."  |
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The Mark Bradstock-trained nine year old is reported to have made a full recovery from the season-ending hock injury sustained in his build up towards an an outing over Christmas in either the King George at Kempton or the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.
It was the second setback he had suffered in a truncated campaign after spreading a plate in the lead up towards a shot at the Hennessy Gold Cup just days after bolting up on his return to action in an intermediate chase at Sandown. Although plans are yet to be firmed up the three-mile Grade Two chase on October 29 has been earmarked as one of a number of potential starting points for Coneygree, who became the first novice chaser since Captain Christy in 1974 to win the Gold Cup. Sara Bradstock, assistant trainer, said: "He is great and is in very good form. He is cantering and has done a bit of jumping in the school. "He is having a summer holiday but we have just kept riding him as we don't want him to lose the muscle he has gained during his rehabilitation . "He has three days off then I ride him for a day. He feels great and in two to three weeks time he will come back into proper training. "It really all depends on the weather as to where we start him. We might run in the Charlie Hall if they get the rain up there at that point. "Who knows, we might go to Haydock (Betfair Chase) as we might be tempted by the bonus. "There is no point risking him as he is fragile enough as it is and he won't run on anything faster than the soft side of good. Hopefully we don't have a long Indian Summer." Despite having a lengthy absence to overcome connections are confident that he still retains the ability required to be given a campaign tailored around trying to regain his Gold Cup title at Prestbury Park in March. Bradstock added: "The vets are delighted with him and Nico (de Boinville) had a jump on him and he is delighted. There is every reason to be optimistic we still have the same horse. "There was talk of trying to get him back for this year's Gold Cup but there was no point in getting him back and breaking him as that would have broken him for good. "He is nine but he should go on at 10, 11 and 12 as he has relatively few miles on the clock. "It is lovely for people like us to breed a horse that can take on those of the likes owned by Gigginstown Stud and Rich Ricci. "I've told him that he has got to go win it again (Gold Cup) as I don't remember the last one as it was all a blur." |
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Thanks for posting that, Sonko
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Mark Bradstock's nine-year-old became the first novice in 41 years to claim the blue riband in March of last year, but has not been seen in competitive action since running at Sandown last November.
Next week's West Yorkshire showpiece was mooted as a possible comeback target, but with the ground considered unsuitable, connections have decided to wait and the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 19 is now his most likely starting point. The trainer's wife and assistant, Sara Bradstock, said: "He won't be entered for the Charlie Hall. We've said all along he'd only go there if that was the only place he'd get soft ground. "Haydock is our main aim and the Charlie Hall is also pretty close to that. "He's in good nick, so fingers crossed we'll have him ready for that (Betfair Chase). "He's going really well, but obviously we're desperate for some rain so we can get him on the grass. He's only worked on the all-weather so far because the ground has been so firm." Coneygree is the 4/1 second favourite for the Betfair Chase with . Wetherby's clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson is not anticipating any significant rainfall between now and next weekend. He said: "The forecast is fairly dry, but it's not particularly drying weather. We have clear nights, so we're getting a heavy dew and plenty of moisture in the ground. "The ground is good, good to soft in places in the back straight and there is an odd shower forecast midweek. "If we have to water to maintain good ground we will, but I don't think it would take much." Im pleased he is not going to running at gaff track where the ground is always fast, hopefully he will be entered in the Hennessey. |
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Thanks again, Sonko
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Coneygree's participation in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday was given a boost after overnight rain in Yorkshire.
While the West Yorkshire track did not receive the downpours seen in some local areas, the three millimetres which did fall was gladly accepted. "It's very good news," said assistant trainer Sara Bradstock. "I've been told all along the ground is likely to be good to soft and if that is the case, off we go. "He'll be better for the run, but this race could have been framed for him to make his comeback. Clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson explained that while neighbouring villages saw more rain than actually fell at the track, conditions should be almost perfect for the returning stars, with Cue Card, More Of That, Definitly Red and Bristol De Mai in the mix. "We actually had five millimetres at Tockwith where I live just down the road, but the track only got three," said Sanderson. "Nevertheless, while I would have liked a bit more, it was gratefully received. "I've just walked it at noon and it is predominantly soft and good to soft in places. "I can't see it changing much to be honest. The forecast is settled for cold nights, heavy dews and very little wind through the day so not particularly drying conditions." I really want him to run in Hennessey at Newbury but i would imagine they will take betfair chase route. Shame the new sponsors didnt offer the same bonus. |
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Posted on here after the Gold Cup he had too hard a race for a novice and it would ruin the horse. Unfortunately I was right. One Gold Cup or a long career? Connections risked it for the former was it worth it or would he have won the RSA then a couple of Gold Cups in time?
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Very harsh and unfair eric morris. This horse has been plagued with issues all his life.
He had already been off the track for almost 2 years before his novice chase season so he clearly had issues already. He next run,8 months after the Gold Cup and after his summer break was in November of that year where he looked,jumped and travelled like a dream and won in a canter - there was nothing wrong with him then, he was 100% fine.He showed no ill effects whatsoever of running in the Gold Cup Since then its been stop/start again and again, but that would have been the case whatever route he had gone down in his novice chase season, We see horses every year who stick to the novice route but get career ending injuries anyway. Coneygree's problems have nothing to do with running in that Gold Cup |
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Beating Seventh Sky 25l at odds of 1/4 in a 3 horse race is not an indication the horse was performing under the same sort of front running pressure in top company that he faced as a novice in the Gold Cup.
That race clearly ruined him as has been demonstrated since. The harshness of that race is embedded in his mind he doesnt want it now. 123P beaten 15l by Cue Card before being beaten by Sizing John and Djakadam everyone can see he doesnt want it any more. It is a lesson for those that want front running novices to run themselves into the ground against seasoned chasers instead of staying in novice company to gain experience gradually not only physically but mentally. |
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His run at Punchestown was brilliant. If you think that was a horse who "doesn't want it" I would strongly disagree.
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The horse was off the track for 22 months between his novice hurdle and novice chase campaigns. That had nothing to do with with the Gold Cup but had everything to do with the fragility of the horse.
His run after winning the Gold Cup at least demonstrated that he was physically and mentally 100% fine at the start of the new season. Your claim that the Gold Cup " clearly ruined him as has been demonstrated since" cannot be backed up with any logic. Don Cossack didn't run again after winning the GC the following year but he was a third season chaser when he won. Our Duke was a top novice last year who avoided Cheltenham altogether yet he was tailed off when pulled up yesterday on his comeback run. The point is any horse can go wrong at any time. The 2015 Gold Cup was as much the cause of Coneygree's problems since 2016 as it was the cause of his problems for the 2 years before 2015...in other words zero cause. |
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As has been said,Horse is simply fragile.
If he were to turn up In march fit with soft in the going he will be a big runner. |
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Yep connections have ruined the horse running him into the ground as a novice making the running in a gruelling Gold Cup.
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He reached his peak as a novice and won the gold cup so it was obviously the right decision to run him back then. He was a mature horse at eight years old and a brilliant and reliable jumper.
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Ruined the horse by winning a Gold Cup?
Ironic to say the least. Most would happily retire a horse on the spot if that were the price of winning a Gold Cup. And it should not be forgotten that he ran one of his best ever races last May at Punchestown; right up there with his best performances. |
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Could have won far more Grade 1’s with dis haarse if he was given time mentally over fences. His run behind Djakadam just reminded him of the slog that he was introduced to too early as a novice and was an underperformance and the start of his decline.
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"His run behind Djakadam just reminded him of the slog" Are you claiming to be a horse mind reader?
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Ruined the horse by winning a Gold Cup
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The difference with this horse is he gains his confidence by front running and fights off all-comers. If he had a different running style it would not have affected him so much mentally being beaten in Ireland and forcing himself to did as deep as possible in the Gold Cup.
If you view a Gold Cup win as worth winning while runing the horse as a novice then thats fine. You are seeing the results of it now. If he had run in an RSA (he’d have won by a fence without having such a hard race) then gradually built up against the seniors the following year he could have picked up many Grade 1’s on the way and be going for multiple Gold Cups instead of being a one season chaser. |
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If he had run in an RSA (he’d have won by a fence without having such a hard race) then gradually built up against the seniors the following year he could have picked up many Grade 1’s on the way and be going for multiple Gold Cups instead of being a one season chaser.
Pure conjecture and complete guesswork. He could have had a gruelling race in the RSA and been exactly the same horse now, but without a Gold Cup on his CV. He could have picked up an injury at any time. Most peoples dream when they buy a horse, is that one day it will win the GC. |
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And when he won the GC he made the running and didn't see another horse. If he had run in the RSA instead wouldn't he have gone off at the same pace? So maybe you think the extra furlong of the GC was the game changer.
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If they'd have been given this scenario at the start of his chasing campaign they'd have said, thank you very much we'll have some of that.
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Extraordinary theorising eric.
"If he had a different running style it would not have affected him so much mentally being beaten in Ireland" Haven't heard anyone else advance that one. His run at Punchestown was absolutely superb - one of his best ever runs; possibly his best ever, given the ground was not ideal for him. To attribute his two poor runs this season to that defeat is very strange. |
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Lots of excuses coming out for the horse now from connections. They cant have it both ways they have had their glory day. The horse started his decline in Ireland and it has continued imo.
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The horse started his decline in Ireland and it has continued imo
But you have been saying the Gold Cup was the reason for his decline, and that was nearly 3 years ago. And he had been injured for almost 2 years before his Gold Cup. So isn't it true to say lots of excuses have been coming out for 6 years now because basically he's an unsound horse and they should thank their lucky stars every day that they ran him in that Gold Cup. |
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Think connections are running out of excuses now, one more run then retirement please.
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Exactlt IS
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Another setback,out for the season.
One last go next season they say,as horse still showing plenty of enthusiasm. I really hope they can get another season. As Sarah Bradstock says....thank god we never listened to those people a few years ago, we would be talking about a RSA winner and not a Gold Cup one. |
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love the horse, hope he gets one more pop at it.
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Traditional campaign-
Denman 24 runs (14 runs after RSA Chase) RSA Chase winner Gold Cup as full chaser, 4 runs: 1 win, 3 seconds Hennessy, 3 runs: 2 wins, 1 third Prize money £1,141,347 Gold Cup as a novice- Coneygree 15 runs (5 runs after Gold Cup, PU in last 2) Gold Cup as a front-running novice, 1 run (missed next 2): 1 win Hennessy, 1 run pulled up Prize money £520,223 |
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Denman's first Gold Cup was also brutal against Kauto but he had a year after the RSA developing his strength physically and experience mentally to deal with it. Full career afterwards as a result.
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You fail to mention that Coneygree was a fragile horse before he won his Gold Cup hence him missing a season after his novice hurdle campaign but that doesn't suit your agenda does it?
The fact is Coneygree has always been made of glass and running and winning that Gold Cup made zero bloody difference to that. |
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There is a reason top novice chasers don't normally run in the Gold Cup. Nobody created that situation, it isnt an agenda it is a case of just looking at facts. Some choose not to ignore past history as a guide. They won a Gold Cup well done. As an owner there is no doubt most would go for a longer campaign to maximise a horses career and chances of winning more top class races. If anything Coneygree demonstrates the price to be paid.
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So the only reason Coneygree was injury prone was down to running in the Gold Cup as a novice in your eyes despite the fact he missed a whole season injured before running in that Gold Cup.
Absolute ballacks |