Cheltenham Festival
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Rock On Ruby Champion Hurdle winner 2013
Rock On Ruby Champion Hurdle winner 2013
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Replies: 241
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Based on this years form, No.
Feel free to answer my Q though Roo   |
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So therefore he was fitter last year and his rating the was pretty irrelevant.
If I was his owner I would want him in a condition to win each race he ran in. No excuse for him to be suddenly fitter in March than December - plenty of time after either Fighting Fifth or International for short break and then build up again. |
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How many others in the field could give Raya Star 13lbs and a 10 length beating?
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Not many and my point is that he did it quite a while ago and could he now?
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But he's not had to be at his best yet as there are no handicaps/lesser races wirth going for when the Champion Hurdle is his target so winding him up beforehand would be pointless especially with the ground as it's been. I actually think it's a legitimate question to ask if he's as good as he was last year but at least he's priced up as if he's not whereas the favourite is priced up as a world beater.
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Roo,hes been trained differently cos of the ground.
He was going to Newcastle but they did not want to run him on the ground.Since then they have had to change the plan for him,and go for the Bula instead of the Xmas hurdle.Who knows,if they had gone newcastle and Kempton he might be similar form to last season culminating in being tip top in March. The preps been different,but still the end result could be the same.He definitely improved from Kempton to Cheltenham,he could well improve from the other day to Cheltenham.He will have to to win for sure. Only March will tell us. |
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Raya Star has improved a fair whack since his Newbury, so no I dont think he would beat him now conceding him the 13lb, nothing to do with fitness.
ROR had two breathing ops over the summer, he would not have been fit for the Bula, i.e A1, and again I don't believe he would have been A1 at the beginning of Feb for a listed race. ROR has not ran in any Grade 1's this season, mostly due to the ground, so it is possible the trainer would not therefore get him super fit at home. He will do for March, though. |
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Two breathing ops? I didn't know that and I was sceptical before
 Genuinely I like the horse and it would be no surprise if he followed up. Just I guess trying to justify why I didn't back him in the end. I came very close to backing him at 10s and may come to regret it. Anyway come on Zark! |
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ROR really strong on here last night. 8.0 came into 7.6 now.
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Completely agree with you boys - will be my biggest bet again at this year's Festival, as he was last year. Still don't understand why HF is ahead of him in the betting, he was beaten fair and square last year by him and can't see why he won't be again.
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Trainer rather bullish about ROR today.
Reckon he will be spot on come the day. Big runner again. |
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BETWEEN ROR AND THE FLY
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And Zarkandar
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 Budd in there like a flash |
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At lunch mate,bit bored with work so any conversation on here is most welcome. |
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I think i will holiday with Lord Lucan if Zarkandar wins. More than two barrells await me on here.
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Sometimes you just have to go with what you feel. You have strong opinion on Zark,thats fair enough. As always though,if your opinion proves to be wrong,you have to face it head on. Im sure you will have no problem with that mate. |
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Graeme if you are wrong I'll be too pi55ed to remember to give you both barrels - not that I would anyway!
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Ahhh pissed drunk if it wins sort of bet. You must have more than a shilling on it by whatever your standards are. We will see what happens. I used to be quite coy when talking about horses, especially ante post ones. I've always refrained from being positive on anything i've backed. I just thought now was the time to start being more opinionated, as it helps pass the time in the build up. I can focus more on my opinion, instead of mildly dreading seeing a new thread with the title of a horse i've backed, followed by the dreaded 'has drifted like a barge'. If i had to nail my colours to the mast, i would nominate Grandouet as the horse i think is the most likely. We will see what happens.
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Grandouet may turn out to be the best of those in the Bula but i'm quite pleased ROR's build-up/prep has gone smoothly. Missing the Grade 1's on Heavy could be a blessing in disguise.
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but i'm quite pleased ROR's build-up/prep has gone smoothly
sint you've got to tell me.......what I have missed?  |
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in relation to Grandouet, Roo.
Everything has to gone to plan with ROR as far as I am aware, no knocks or set-backs. |
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So are you genuinely pleased with the form shown so far?
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No offence guys. But think best thing is not to get caught up in this set on one horse mentality regardless.
I've been fluid with my opinions on horses for this. Backed Darlan antepost, then thought it was stupid over reaction to his Kempton win and layed out. Have Grandouet backed as think he was gonna be a big, nay biggest danger in this. Will no lay out of him totally as prep is shocking. Rock on Ruby had to be respected but he looks a shadow of the horse he was last season. Smacks of Punjabi the season he defended his crown. Trainer always saying Chelts is the day, giving excuses for blow ups and average performances. Zark and Fly have had perfect preps. Winning 3 starts. Look like the two going into Chelts in the best form. It's as simple as that really. Don't like this picking a horse a year in advance and sticking to him regardless. Been burnt 4 times sticking with a Champion hurdler to retain his crown even though the signs were there for me to see, if only I had my eyes open. |
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It looks fine to me Roo. He beat Countrywide Flame 3 lengths at Doncaster, when in need of the run, who is last seasons Triumph winner and this seasons Fighting Fifth winner. And his Bula run he was all over Zarkandar approaching the last flight where fitness and 4lb concession on Heavy ground made the difference. He has 8 lengths to turn around with Zark but will be 4lb better and hopefully on Good to Soft. Plus the fact he won't be making his seasonal debut. I can easily see him reversing the form, provided the ground is decent. 8 lengths is not much at all when the going is Heavy.
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How does trainer always give excuses for Rock On Ruby? He's only run twice and wasn't tuned up/didn't like ground in the International then won at Doncaster. You tell me any trainer who isn't saying his horses will improve for Cheltenham, it's their job to get them to peak on the day. I'd agree he's not been in the same form this year but he didn't start the season on a winnable handicap mark so the opportunities were fewer anyway and surely there's only one race for him?
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I'm not set on him. His Bula effort was perfect and his last run was a Listed race. Not a chance in hell he would have been fit.
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Still looks a backable price to me but I've got enough on @9s.
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He obviously blew up in the Bula,and lto was a lot fitter and finished the race a lot better.
Cheltenham should see him in the best shape hes been in this season,and its a case now of if thats enough to win again.His form thus far would not be. I backed him at 10 start of season,but i must admit i would not be backing him at his current price based on what ive seen this season. But its all about how they are next month,and anyone pooh poohing his chances,and Zarkandars for that matter,need to remember that,especially in this day and age when trainers seem to focus on one meeting. |
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Zarkandar appeared to run much better at the weekend than he had at the same course in the Autumn and could be the biggest danger.
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It is debateable whether Zarkandar would have even won the Bula had he not been in receipt of 4lb and the going was Heavy. Ruby was after him before the other two jockeys. If it is Good to Soft on Tuesday Zark wont see which way the others go.
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I assume that's your opinion, he just looks a much improved horse this season and statements like that can make you look silly. I understand his times have been comparatively slow but he's beaten what's been put in front of him and Raya Star was much further behind him than he had been behind Darlan at Kempton. If Big Buck's had been injured earlier in the season I think they may have trained him as their World Hurdle horse but can't see much wrong with his form and arguable the most progressive horse in the line up. Has also beaten Grandouet every time he's faced him.
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Sorry sint, its all so different from last year.
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well of course it is my opinion. And we'll see which horse comes out on top under said conditions.Maybe we should flip this on it's head. For those who think ROR fans are defiant and pocket talking maybe they can explain why the horse would have been fit for a Grade2 carrying a pen and a Listed race in early Feb when the cup final is just around the corner ?? |
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Yes it is Roo, because he is the reigning champion, surely you would expect him to be campaigned differently?? No handicaps to be won when your rated 171
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No reason to turn up for a race half fit though which most seem to think was the case for his 1st two races. Xmas hurdle is Grade 1 btw
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I'm also a Rock On Ruby fan, he was my biggest winner last year and looks like he could be this year but I accept there are dangers and that's all I'm saying. I'd actually go so far as to say he's my favourite horse in training.
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he did not run in the Xmas hurdle this year, i've not mentioned it.
And why would he not turn up for a race half fit? |
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Booster, I backed him last year too, but that has no relevance and i've not mentioned it once since. Until just now, obviously!
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I don't think he'd turn up half fit as that would surely bottom him in top company but I do believe he'd be some way less than 100% as there can only be one target when your the champion.
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