Boston Bob

Swagger - Unioniste would only run in the Jewson if it was testing ground. He really needs the 3 miles. If Dynaste goes for the RSA, i think he's the banker of the festival.

Racing is all about opinions and yours obviously differs to mine which is fine. The Newbury race suggested to me that Unioniste wouldn't get home in the RSA at this stage in his career with only a lb weight concession from his elders. He scrambled home after hanging (often a sign of a horse tiring over a trip too far) and then bumping Hadrians Approach on the run-in, in my opinion HA would have won cosily if he didn't peck on landing two out and/or get impeded by the winner before the line. I haven't backed Unioniste for either race yet but given he won on good ground at Aintree over 2 and a half miles and staying 3 miles is ideal over 2 miles 5 furlongs at Cheltenham - the Jewson really seems the obvious race for me and arguably the better race for a gifted racehorse longer term. But that's just my opinion.

I would keep Unioniste to 2 miles 5 furlongs and step him up in trip next season, that would seem the logical way to progress the horse but we shall see which way they go with him

Thats only wats been said at previews Judo, il b staggered if its tru myself and disappointed as a BB backer tbh

Graeme83 - That is only my opinion that Ruby will ride BB and not Unioniste, I don't care what people said at previews!

I'd hardly clasify his old man and trainer as an opinion a forum punter can dismiss and pass off as other peoples opinions.

No worries if Townend rides imo. He won on him last time.

Like I said, it is MY OPINION he will ride BB and not Unioniste!

I didn't:

'clasify his old man and trainer as an opinion a forum punter can dismiss and pass off as other peoples opinions'

as you say.I merely said I don't listen to previews and what has been said because people always distort what was ACTUALLY said!

We will see come 14.40 on Wednesday 13th March 2013, care to lay me evens to a grand Ruby will be on BB back if he hasn't got injured before then?

Wizard - that's the best post I have read on here - BANG - let's get a k on it

I'd lay you a grand if i had it, and i'd keep the winnings.

Paul Townend took a bad fall today and had his arm in a sling. If he's unavailable and Ruby rides Unioniste, who do we think will ride Boston Bob? Davy Condon?

From the RP site

Townend and Ruby Walsh will ride the majority of Mullins' horses at Cheltenham and both had falls at Leopardstown on Sunday but no serious injuries were suffered.

In Ruby's RP interview today named mounts are Huuricane Fly, Quevega, Pont Alexandre, Conti- says he won't make up his mind about others until nearer the time 'cos of ground, oppo, weight (handicaps) and race options - latter particularly for novice chasers.

Sounds eminently sensible to me.

The Wizard Of Oz 03 Mar 13 13:29
If BB was going to go for the 4 miler then I am sure someone in the Mullins yard would be taking the 60's on offer on here.


11.5 for the four miler now and drifting for the RSA. I'm officially worried.

Pinnochio Mullins indicated it was RSA on twitter. I honestly thought to myself, when i saw 59 on the machine, that maybe someone meant to lay 5.9 ?

My antepost is built around this running in rsa - better not be any nonsense!

Mine too inca. Got everything crossed

With Dynaste drifting a bit, it seems odd he hasn't shortened for the RSA a bit though.

Me too, surely it must be RSA.

yeah Dynaste being bet for Jewson - had this last year with SDC - fell my way then so fingers crossed.  Why or why do we do this!!

The volume of money going on the NH is tiny, far bigger stakes still being placed on the RSA. If the ground is soft or good to soft then I'd be amazed if he went NH and it sets it up perfectly for BIF in NH

F*ck it, in for a penny, in for a pound... gone in again at 6/1 with Hills. I think Dynaste will go for the Jewson and if he does and he BB starts here, he could go off 2/1 ish imo.

Just don't fancy him for it. Of course he may win but no real substance to his chasing form imo to justify the price. Rather play e/w elsewhere, especially if Dynaste is a no show

Really roo? I thought his last run was quite taking on only his second run over fences and that it is pretty solid form. I think Lyreen Legend is a very decent animal myself. That form has a really solid look to it to me.

The form definitley better after his last run. He beat some of the best in Ireland there and clear wants further. Only Dynaste stands out over here.

just backed him again also btw this time with the NRNB concession, not subject to Rule 4

Ive been greedy Sint. Fancy the 6's. Just cant see them not going for the RSA.

Always very nervous when 4 horses in a line. Just think a little is to do with his reputation which may prove to be justified.

Cant argue with that mate.

I don't like blanket finishes either Roo but at least BB looks like he is gagging for an extra 3f. That could see him in a better light.

I've a little ew tickle on Lyreen Legend aswell though tbf. No surprise to see any improve for the trip from that race.

Patrick Mullins has said that he is riding Back in Focus in the 4 miler.

I think it's near certain Bob runs in this race.

Lets hope he starts soon then

Made me chuckle roo. Needed that, like on another thread, I'm sweating up before the off!

tbh it'd be hard to be bullish about him on his last 2 starts. But Mullins is sure he's better on better ground and he's coming back to himself. He said on twitter q&a that he was going really well at home, which is good as he's been negative about him since his AB run at last years festival, he was n/r at Punchestown festival, then took ages to make his debut, then stayed on to win lto.

Ruby also said in the padypower audio that Bob was in great form at home. So it seems that he's finally pleasing them. Good ground and a real grinders race like this will be perfect for him. He never stopped last year in the AB and got up that hill faster than anything else in the AB.

If Dynaste goes for Jewson like the market suggests and Ruby picks Bob over Unioniste then he'll be going off fav for sure in this. Probably too short tbh.

Never any chance Boston Bob was going to run in the 4 miler and funny how people were discussing it. Betfair price tells you all you need to know about where it is going to run - and where it was always going to run.

I think Ruby will go for Unioniste which is, in my opinion, a mistake.

Think i may well skip this race,unless i can find something that might finish the same day

Still something has to win i guess,must be something at a decent price thats better than BB,surely.

panic ye not BB supporters...Bostons Angel won 2 years ago and Bobs Worth won last year so going by that BB only has to turn up,no

Amazing the stick BB gets for being slow...when he's just won a 2m 5f graded LTO....Unioniste will need a lift round to stay this and Walsh's loss if he goes for the french bred 5yo who won a handicap off about 4 stone...Dynaste ain't turning up...BIF is off to 4m...Hadrians Approach cant jump...Rocky Creek aint going..neither is Super Duty...

Race is gonna massively cut up indeed Ballydoyle

WPM as good as confirmed BB for this last night at a preview and BIF for 4 miler fwiw

Well somethings got to win it, have backed Lord Windermere at 20s, got to be in with a good shout of at least being in the 3. I also have BB. Union, and HA in my book. Going to top up on BB this morning for sure though am not sure why you say HA cant jump, didnt he beat Rocky creek very easily lto i actually think the RSA will cut up as will all them novice races! Though the Jewson could prove to be the best race this year !

Indeed looking a pi55 poor race

though am not sure why you say HA cant jump, didnt he beat Rocky creek very easily lto

Am obviously thinking of something completely different without looking it up for accuracy, me silly

HA will beat Unioniste anyway....for fourth place

RSA weith Townend on board. Wizard of Oz, i accept cheque.

Ruby chooses Unioniste.
Dont blame him.

As long as he runs. At the end of the day if the horse gets easily done, then it wouldn't matter who was on board. I haven't given up on him yet.

Dont blame you mate,its a nov chase and anything can happen,plus hes one with a chance,whoever rides.

Really think the Unioniste,HA form is the form to follow myself as re this race,seems Ruby may think that as well.
But hes chosen wrong before!!

I'm not overly impressed with anything in this race if Dynaste doesn't turn up. I don't see any horses in here that will be taking home any big races next season. I suppose Unioniste is the obvious oen if you're looking to the future, but this race is in a few days and i just haven't taken to anything. If someone told me they had a 2 quid budget for this race, i'd tell them to pick 2 outsiders.

I can't have Unioniste for this race, i backed him for the December Gold Cup so i am a big fan of the horse just don't see it being his race. I agree with Ballydoyle Hadrians Approach can't jump (but would have a good chance if he puts in a clear round), I get the impression that Mullins has never been happy with Boston Bob this season in terms of his preperation and i'm guessing thats why Ruby went with Unioniste thinking they don't have BB quite right. If BB is back to himself then I think he would win this race like Cooldine did, if he isn't then we could have a right old turn up

Like Lord Windermere or Houblon Des Obeaux Swagger?ive got those 2 alongside Boston Bob.thoughts?

Funny you mention those two Ballydoyle as those are the two others i am considering backing on the day. My thoughts on Boston Bob are even if he hasn't been pleasing Mullins etc, he still beat all those Irish horses last time out so you would hope he has improved from that meaning it would be difficult to see any of them reversing the form. However Lord Windermere does look a proper boat made for the RSA as does Houbon Des Obeaux, they look like they will stay longer than the proverbial mother-in-law!

Yeah I've been on all three practically all season..BB 8/1 Lord 33/1 and Houblon 70...I really like this Lord Windermere for this...crying out for 3m and Culloty is saying the same...I don't like the prep BB has had...I can't have Unioniste at all....Goulanes has only had one run....Houblon will stay no problem and could sneak a place

Had Rocky Creek also and am staggered he hasn't gone for this.Save him for a Hennessey?in 8 months time?nah don't like that at all....

Yes i am also starting to come round to Lord Windermere, he just has a nice profile for the race. I wouldn't even be surprised if Boston Bob didn't turn up, i am amazed Walsh didn't decide to ride him, whatever people say about Boston Bob he is a Grade 1 winner in both disciplines, including a Grade 1 win in his second chase race. I'm not too bothered he isn't on him more the fact that he chose a horse over him who won a Cheltenham handicap effectively off 138, a French 5 yr old with a 1 lbs allowance who isn't even certain to confirm form with Hadrians Approach and i have doubts about his stamina at this stage in his career. I have a bad feeling about Boston Bob the closer we get to the race

I think Lyreen Legend can reverse the form with Lord Windermere, will strip much fitter in the RSA than he did last time out. This is probably the race I'm in the best position in with Boston Bob at 10/1 and Lyreen at 40/1. Please God they'll both turn up and run their race now.

Lord Windemere and Lyreen have their chances but hard to see them reversing form with BB over an extra 3 furlongs given the way he mowed them down over 2m5f. As for Unioniste I dont like 5 yr olds in this race, very bad record since the weight for age allowance was changed and Hadrians Approach always seems to have a bad mistake in him. Goulanes has huge potential but lacks experience for a race of this type.
I would have liked if BB had 3 runs over fences for experience but im not going to 2nd guess W Mullins. Im v encouraged by the positive noises from the yard. I lumped on at 5/1 nrnb and could see him going off at 2/1 if Dynaste defects as seems likley given the ground conditions. BB I think would have won the Albert bartlett last yr only he was given too much to do. Townend gets a good tune out of him and im sure will keep him prominent and then I see him powering up the hill. Soft groud wont harm his chances and he seems an ideal type for the rough and tumble of this race.
Houblon des obeaux could be a good 20/1 nrnb bet given the way race could cut up.

Similar to you Slabster, LL 33/1 ew and Bob at 8s and 11/2.

Still a competitive race mind you, Jim Culloty is very bullish about Lord Windermere for example.

Still surprised Ruby chose Unioniste tbh but Paul Townend is due a festival win.

ruby has got it wrong before, but unioniste must be doing something special at home for him to pick him over a G1 winner, don,t you think???

Nicholls would have told him that he's left something to work with, and Mullins would have just said he hasn 't been firing as he would have liked. Decision made.

I remember thinking why Paul Townend did`nt kick Boston Bob on sooner lto at Leopardstown at a trip that was obviously short of his best.
In hindsight they probably learned more from the race with the horse being asked to jump at pace & grind out the win.
Over 3 miles, granted a clear round you cant see anything other than more improvement to come.

maybe mcain will switch super duty to this now that dynaste is out

Hope so who knows with Mccain after Peddlers last season,Super Duty would have good chance imo.

I'm with Swagger from further up this page, about Unioniste, I don't like the December gold cup win and I can't see him winning

win lay boston bob, should be running in the midlands national

It takes a strong stayer to win this. I favoured BB b4 Dynaste's defection and it now looks like a good opportunity for Townend to get a 1st festival win IMO.

Synchronised (rip) won the Midlands National and went on to win a Gold Cup

Boston Bob won over 2m5f...amazes me that people think he is a plodder...Unioniste has absolutely no chance of winning this. 5 years old..French bred...walking up the run in LTO...won a handicap off under 10 stone...form ain't there whatsoever

nor profile bally

Well it begs the question,what does Ruby know that we dont?
Cos he obviously thinks Unioniste has more chance than BB.

Devastated

Sick

puking my guts

also backed rival d'estruval today

Wouldn't have won anyway imo,Lord Windermere had plenty in the tank.

total bollox imo

watch the overhead, read the form of the moriarty no way LW catches BB from 2+ lengths down

it's easy to say AFTER thye horse put in an extra stride, slowed down and fell

but you have to imagine what would have happened if he did not put in the extra stride and landed running

in that case he does not get caught

It's all conjecture but i agree with Judge. The first point is if Ruby Walsh rode the horse he would have won in my opinion as would have been positioned correctly throughout (wouldn't have had a rush of blood to go 7 wide then cut back across) and people forget that all Boston Bob does is stay - he gobbled them up last time out and was going away at the end. The horse was ridden incorrectly, trainer instructions or jockey decision. The second point is he was about 2 lengths clear at the last and met it at the wrong angle, proper stayers find more up the hill when it looks like they might get lured in (Champagne Fever) but equally, you would have thought Townend would have learnt from the first race the way that winner was reeled in that it's best to not hit the front too early. No good for backers of Boston Bob today so just have to suck it up. When Ruby wasn't booked i had a bad feeling about Boston Bob, just knew something freekish would happen as it did.

Look again, he wasn't 2 lengths clear at all , he was a length clear and they were closing, also, when the horse was travelling on the rail for the first part of the race he was sticky, as soon as townend switched him out wide he jumped significantly better, all in all, LW would have been a very unlucky loser he had a nightmare run around the turn when travelling better than BB was...rewind to the turn in when visually it looked impressive with seeing BB sweep around them all, doesn't it look like he's about to storm clear, but when they straighten up he isn't quite as far clear as it looked like he would be,as said before Lyreen closed down on him between the last two and he didn't even win...LW had stacks left.

Profile wise, I rejected Boston Bob because he only had 2 chases, not enough for the race.  You have to jump the fences...

Would have won that easy. He is simply classier than the rest.

Why did Ruby jump sh1p FFS!! Thought Townend would have been OK but imagine if Ruby was riding.

I don't think he would have won. Horse took another stride when Towned asked him for a big one at the last - had his final turn exertions taken their toll?

We will never know of course but whilst he may be termed the best in the race, the way he was ridden he wouldn't have won had he stood up, the winner would have caught him.

Bad luck to his backers however.

Although he normally finishes strongly he used his energy bursting into the the lead around the home turn. I fully expected him to storm further and further clear but he was already being closed down as they approached the last and his tired fall suggests he didn't have a lot left. We'll never know for sure obviously.

I had a bit of a cover on the winner which i did post somewhere so apologies for aftertiming but it only covered by big bet on Boston Bob so just stating that so people don't think i'm completely bias. He would have been between a length and 2 lengths clear had he approached the last without the extra step that's what gave the impression the others were even closer than they actually were. My own opinion is it's a difficult call whether he would have won given the way he was ridden - I have absolutely no doubt in my mind if Ruby would have ridden him he would have been produced much later and absolutely bolted up. If you note the way he has been ridden in the past (sorry if patronising but some may not know) Ruby leaves it until either just before or after the last fence/hurdle to hit the front using another horse as a target before storming clear. This clearly wasn't carried out today and the reason why he lost in my opinion. Even being ridden the way he was, given he has only done enough to win in the past i still think there are strong arguments that he would have pulled out more up the hill and outclassed the rest. Still we will never know and little point in debating it any further. Onwards and upwards

well i think bob was done for - what a light weight that beast has been.

get stuck into him again suckers for the GC next year.

Thought he got a bad ride last year because he wasn't close enough and now he got another bad ride because he was leading jumping the last, ffs people on here would want to take up a different hobby. I backed BB today and I don't think he would have have held off LW today, LW won with plenty in hand as soon as he hit the front he idled, just my take on it anyway.

I think BB would have pulled out more but it's hard to criticise the ride. Boston Bob ran lazily in the Albert Bartlett and in his two chase starts until today. Had Paul Townend left it too late and got beat by an ever diminishing margin up the run in he'd have been slated for it

He travelled almost too well today, think he's been fooling us for ages

I didn't criticise Walsh last year, i thought the winner of the Albert Bartlett last year was potentially out of the very top draw. But i do think Townend hit the front too soon for a horse who doesn't do much when in front but thats merely my opinion which i am entitled to and in any event it's done now, can't change the ride/result. Move onto Thursday

I backed BB pretty heavy and my vision pre race was him 4 or 5 lengths off the lead turning in  and then eating up the ground on the hill. Instead he was travelling too well and Townend made a bad move imo in sweeping him to the front 4 or 5 wide around the tight turn on that course. I know Russell got impeded this time but generally the smart move is to hug the rail taking the bend and then pull him wide on the straight.

Remembering that Leopardstown win where he got outpaced before mowing down LL and LW its hard to imagine one/both of them would have outstayed him this time around but saying that it was either a tired or novicey fall, could argue either way. The trend about the 3 runs over fences is there for a reason, experience is vital.. Feel sorry for the jock tho and for my wallet..
As swagger says, just have to move on.. Looking to Bostons Angel to succeed where Boston Bob failed..

wallace...One thing is for sure, if Bostons angel was in the lead at the last tomorrow and fell at that obstacle, you'd know your luck was out

Just watched it again and BB's jumping was very novicy throughtout.Definitely believe that 2 run stat was correct. Sorry Swagger but a horse who doesn't do much in front!.Would love to know where that comes from? Personally I reckon he would have won and certainly has
more potential than any of todays rivals

The horse would have won if Ruby was jocked up. Anyone who thought it was a good ride needs to look again. The horse needed a nudge to the side, not hit with the whip right before taking a fence.

Ruby fallen off enough of Mullins chasers this year so stop talking SHI"E

Thanks for your input. Now go and crawl back under your rock.

Could have been the fact he only had 2 chase starts. The winner had 5!! Lack of experience nearly caught out Simonsig!

According to Noel Meade on the morning line today, WPM thinks BB would have won if he were held onto longer. Lets see who wins at Punchestown or Aintree if they go.

Could have been the fact he only had 2 chase starts. The winner had 5!! Lack of experience nearly caught out Simonsig!

According to Noel Meade on the morning line today, WPM thinks BB would have won if he were held onto longer. Lets see who wins at Punchestown or Aintree if they go.

Could have been the fact he only had 2 chase starts. The winner had 5!! Lack of experience nearly caught out Simonsig!

According to Noel Meade on the morning line today, WPM thinks BB would have won if he were held onto longer. Lets see who wins at Punchestown or Aintree if they go.

He may lack experience, but he should still have won if the trainer had got proper instructions to the jockey to carry them out. I know some didn't like my comments about Mullins, but Arvika didn't get round, Boston Bob fell and SDC(who wasn't great over the fences) was a bit of a let down to the people who thought he was going to win. The jury is still out. Don't worry though. the trainer will be back to put people away again next year. They always send out big words on the short pricers that get beat....Quel Esprit..Boston Bob...Ponte Alexandre. Funny enough, Champagne Fever was showing them alot at home in the build up to the supreme, when Pinnochio started to talk about the 3 miler.

Lol Graeme.

Fwiw, I thought Boston Bob would have won. Just a shame for my wallet Ruby chose wrongly. I said before the race I thought he had and they were probably trying to give Townend a big race Cheltenham win.

Aupcharlie never jumped that well either Graeme.

Sint, Ruby certainly did chose wrongly. What's worse is that the more i watch the race the worse it gets. If i was the owner of Boston Bob i wouldn't be pleased that the horse who really ought to have won quite easily ended up falling on his 3rd start over fences. The worrying thing for them if they are worriers, is that it could damage the horses confidence. If you see it from the head on shot after the finish, then how often  do you see a jockey strike a horse a couple of times just as it's finding his stride to take the final fence. It's an absolute rotter, and anyone taking a Mullins chaser A.P ought to factor it in as a negative. As for Ponte Alexandre, he's about as light on ghis feet as nelly the elephant. Whos idea was it for him to set a slow pace when he could have went for the 3 miler ?

"Aupcharlie never jumped that well either Graeme."





Yup. I thought he looked a good prospect, but he's made an error every race. Maybe he should be trained by De Bromhead, but some of these owners like to try something different and look where it has gotten the Wylies and the Potts. Where's that horse who finished 2nd to Simonsig in the neptune ?