Cheltenham Festival
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Where do you start? This year more than ever it's hard to pick one - would have to be Native River, but some special performances this week.
Footpad - one of the best Arkle performances I've seen; Altior - how did he win that when looking beat; Penhill - winning first time out in a year and the first AB winner of the Stayers; Presenting Percy - hacking up in one of the most brutal races in the calendar; Laurina - easiest winner of the week; Balko Des Flos - unfashionable but went past UDS like he wasn't there.
Some lost nothing in defeat too - Supasundae on ground he didn't like, Might Bite for putting it up for Native River, Kalashnikov trying his heart out to the line, Melon improving stones and running a blinder in the Champion.
Vintage festival for me, and the soft/heavy ground didn't detract from it in any way.
Much smaller punting year for me this year, so could actually watch the races a lot more relaxed without that tight knot in your stomach where you're desperate for that big win to get ahead.
Hope all regular forumites came out on top.
Footpad - one of the best Arkle performances I've seen; Altior - how did he win that when looking beat; Penhill - winning first time out in a year and the first AB winner of the Stayers; Presenting Percy - hacking up in one of the most brutal races in the calendar; Laurina - easiest winner of the week; Balko Des Flos - unfashionable but went past UDS like he wasn't there.
Some lost nothing in defeat too - Supasundae on ground he didn't like, Might Bite for putting it up for Native River, Kalashnikov trying his heart out to the line, Melon improving stones and running a blinder in the Champion.
Vintage festival for me, and the soft/heavy ground didn't detract from it in any way.
Much smaller punting year for me this year, so could actually watch the races a lot more relaxed without that tight knot in your stomach where you're desperate for that big win to get ahead.
Hope all regular forumites came out on top.
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after past farcical/false starts, it looks like Cheltenham and jockeys have got their acts together and this week we had no issues down at the start. as a bonus most races went off to time. just a small point but well done to everyone involved. equine wise presenting percy takes the gold medal for performance of the week.. tough, genuine with a real touch of class. 2019 gold cup winner? hope everyone enjoyed it win or lose.
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Might be biased by having my best betting week ever but I thought it was great Festival and the soft ground helped imo.
Gold Cup, QM and Stayers were great races and although the CH lacked star quality it was still a good finish. |
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As for performance of the week I'd have to go for Summerville Boy. Might not have been a vintage Supreme but he really should not have had any chance after the mistake two out and then the blunder at the last. To get going again twice and win was the mark of a very decent horse.
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All about Altior for me, granted I am biased as I have been aboard pretty much since the beginning.
Although considering the usual prohibitive odds I haven't always been on. |
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The races were run on the ground that the form had been put together on through the winter and it stood up accordingly.
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Maybe in future Claisse will water to try to guarantee soft with heavy places.
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I thought the Champion Hurdle battle between Buveur D'air and Melon was the race of the meeting.
Douvan for a mile was awesome. The Gold Cup was a wonderful match as Mr Tizzard was proven right with starting Native river off late , the ground so much in his favour just beat a wonderful horse. Mind Katie Walsh's power packed finish on Wednesday won me just short of 5 grand in a yankee. Follwoed up today by Moohayed who stayed with despite the hacks saying it doesn't like soft ground .Ever since it trotted around behind Buveir Dair I have waited for it's next run in a nig handicap. |
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Team Elliott
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NOT THIS YEAR
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Paisley Park for me.
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City Island …. up the Rossies ..
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i thought the performance of the week was the gold cup winner his time was very good he did it with a bit in hand ,but there were other great performances ,what i am sure about is the rsa was the race of the week three cracking horses who will keep us entertained for many years ahead health allowing.
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Who could ever imagine or dream a novice with more than a stone to find on the established grade one chasers could win the gold cup ? You are right foxy
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Band of outlaws wouldn't have been out of place in the triumph
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There was a split second when the crowd went absolutely mental . It was when PAISLEY PARK found a little bit extra in the final furlong . The noise from the stands was unbelievable .
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irishone
he is an exceptional horse, on the percy thread on 25th january i said i firmly believe  the gold cup would be won by a horse that ran in last seasons rsa. |
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Paisley Park given where he was 2 out, and Frodon for his will and determination to win despite under pressure from 4 onward.
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both great impossible frodon a bit like our vic and fondmort who both won the ryanair,deserved a really big one and it was a pretty good field,which cant be said about the stayers hurdle it was a dreadful race but yes a nice occasion.
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Well hang on there foxy
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That was meant to be a question mark irishone
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The trainer could not remember where his prep run had been
Surely not a good sign before such a prestigeous race ? And then he was an Irish novice taking on the English best Al Boum Photo was injured, 2x off for long periods last 2 season I'd not call that Gd 1 form ! Would you impossible ? |
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A Plus Tard was pretty spectacular, could have gone very close in the JLT with that effort
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Not Mc Coy ,who knew all about JPs horses that were strongly fancied and gambled on yet chose to say nothing. Why ask his opinions when clearly the horses are fancied whether they win or lose!
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the champion hurdle hyped by the media and won won by a relativly uknown trainer (gordon elliots farrier ) taking on the big boys and turning a supposedly 3 horse race on its head .
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Yep and a massive chip on his shoulder don't forget !
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Millwall goalkeeper, koont
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WOLVES anyone ?
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I thought one horse
Ran a truly exceptional race Carried top weight One of the oldest Was last for two miles Got caught on the line WICKLOW BRAVE |
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Nah, still think WOLVES beating Manu in the FA Cup for a place in the semi final was better
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I'm sick to death of the Bryony Frodon love in I know that much, it actually defeats the whole argument about championing women jockeys to go on about it endlessly, the race should have garnered the same attention as it would have done if a bloke rode the horse, that's how you get the boys and girls accepted as the same.
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Yep,totally agree.
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Not her fault but even **** on the racing tv channel today was saying he had been trying to get answers from the hospital about her situation as he felt the racing world needed to know,ffs has he never heard of patient privacy.
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The bit blanked out said the sir name of a former Liverpool center half big Ron.
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