Nice summary Ekbalco. I think if you tuned in to watch the last couple of furlongs you wouldn't be too worried if you held a voucher. Sadly the other 14f were not so impressive. He picked up nicely when asked though.




QUOTES Josses Hill has got so much scope over a fence, he frightened himself at one or two. Because his jumping is still a bit erratic, he´s making things hard for himself, but he was good over the last couple. There´s work to do on him, but he´s a horse with a lot of class - Barry Geraghty, rider.

The sight of the festival could be UDS in the Arkle, can't recall a horse who goes from the front like him (maybe Make a Stand) - he could be 10 lengths clear by the 3rd!

Thanks Howders - you can't be old enough to remember Anaglog's Daughter then(see if you can Youtoob her).

You're right Ruby will go a terrific lick in front - slow and then quicken again from 3 out - it's going to take a traveller and a slick jumper to stay within range to strike up the hill - atm JH has no chance of being within range at the foot of the hill unless there is serious improvement in the next 8 weeks.

Note to Trainers reading this with Arkle hopes - run a spoiler to harry UDS and under no circumstances give him an easy lead or you're all playing for second.

I am a big Clarcam fan, based on his jumping ability. Looks a total natural to me, and might well bag a place at worst by simply jumping and travelling kindly. Probably stating the obvious here, but think Bryan Cooper is absolutely top-drawer too. He's the man I would want on board to get the pace right and judge when to ask his horse to start withering into UDS's lead...

It's on the RP Twitter feed.

You're right budders - but they must give him one more chance over fences on the racecourse prior to Festival - he does not show these tendencies at home I'm told.

Good call - but he can't win a Champion given the current opposition.

Hendo always likes a well hcpd horse for the Grand Annual. Can only be 145 on a line through Solar Impulse. Is this the Plunge horse. Lol

Made up 5 lengths at one or two (was he galloping faster at those fences) Scared himself at one or two, was this when he was asked to just canter?

Like i said above, he jumped the last two really well when BG was asking him to go and win it.

Might be money talking, clutching at straws perhaps, but i am holding onto them really rather tightly given that i missed all the fancy prices on the top two in the market and that i am sure only one will run

Just devilment Ekbalco.

Still think its wide open myself, you could say there are issues with vatour re effort last time after mistake( remember beforehand he was the next Pegasus) and uds fell first time out and beat little last day. Maybe a benefit to have two or three competitive runs rather than walk overs and not be battle hardened or lacking experience as wille would say, just a thought

Still,thinking about it,if you think he will improve his jumping by the time the Arkle gets here,hes a fair price right now.
Its not as if he got every fence wrong,and he did jump ok at a  few of them.

He'll be tailed off by half way...that much is clear.

the best hands GI? With NJH? PFN maybe.

Having backed the horse last Spring for this seasons Arkle I am glad I can lay off my bet with no loss. His price has not gone out to 16/1 plus because there is a lot of doubt surrounding the whole race so it is not inconceivable he could get to Cheltenham in March and still be a 6/1 chance as the race has potential to cut up. But as an Arkle winner, he looks some way off for me now. He had to be given the benefit of the doubt after his debut but he looked an accident waiting to happen yesterday.

Watched the race again,and I do think he jumped better this time. Was rather big at the first two and another later on,but apart from that he got a tad close to one and the rest ok with a couple of really good ones towards the end. I do think he has to improve his jumping to win the Arkle,but I don't think his trainer and jockey have forgotten how to get a horse jumping well,so I am now going to reserve judgement until his next run.

the best hands GI? With NJH? PFN maybe.

Hendo has won 5 Arkles, more than any other trainer, Barry has won 4 Arkles more than any other Jockey, he's in the best hands if he's to turn it around. That's how I look at it.

fair point GI!

the horse will have ear plugs and a hood fitted next time NAP

^ All good points and of course it's possible that his jumping can be improved significantly, but I thought he was really poor yesterday. Tidal Bay didn't look a natural but he jumped much better than Josses, as did Finian's, who was actually very good at his fences when allowed to bowl along.

What I really don't like about Josses' jumping is that it's a different shape/mistake at almost every fence, which suggests he's just scared and doesn't know what to do, especially when he's on the wrong stride. At Cheltenham, going at real pace, his chance could be gone before halfway.

Really? I thought he was better yesterday.

He jumps too big and he also has a bit of a habit of twisting his back-end....they will be going at a much faster pace in the arkle so his hesistancy is going to cost him lengths at every fence, and with the jockey not having the luxury of being able to nurse him round but having to commit him at his fences it's a recipe for disaster imo.