Cheltenham Festival
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Cheltenham Eyecatchers
Cheltenham Eyecatchers
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Geoff, I think Might Bite needs to dictate the pace of the race as the race progresses and get others uncomfortable before their stamina kicks in.
He won the King George that way. If he cannot shake NR off by the time NR's stamina kicks in he will never beat him in a Gold Cup. Its clear to all though that NR stays further than MB, so at some point MB has to kick on to gain a big enough advantage to hold on up the hill. It does look to me though, that NR will be a very tough nut to crack next March, and I see him winning again to be honest. |
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wont happen but would love to see might bite let loose in the ryanair
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Might Bite (MB) in the Ryanair 2019? Unless it was heavy going again, very unlikely I'd think, after such a herculean effort this year. If the ground is good connections of MB will deplore a different tactic eg set the pace regardless, to try and draw the sting of NR maybe making a mistake or two in the process.
Whatever, should the two meet in next year's renewal, another spectacle in the offing, I believe. |
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My worry about Kings Sock is that he was obviously fancied on the day and, like many of Pipe's runners, folded tamely.
Perhaps a shorter trip will help, but I wouldn't be interested at the likely short odds. I thought Benatar ran really well for a long way in the JLT on unsuitable ground. But for his mistake at the last he would surely have finished closer to the front two, both of whom will go on to much better things. His mark of 149 has stayed the same and if he is in handicap company next time - perhaps the big 2.5m chase at cheltenham in November (whatever they call it now) if roughed off for the season - I think he would have a great chance, as I suspect he's a good bit better than that. But I don't know what the plans are and he could ruin that by going close in a G1 novice chase between now and then. Hardly under the radar as he won the Supreme, but I thought Summerville Boys win was the performance of the week and think it is being undervalued by the markets. I'd like to see him over a fence, he might treat them with a bit more respect and reckon he could be some tool in coming seasons, whatever sphere he is campaigned in. |
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On better ground MB could afford to get NR at it earlier, to then get into the lead and set his own pace and rhythm once he's out the way.
There would be a net gain to MB to be able to get NR at it and to break him earlier compared to allowing NR to set his pace and gradually tighten the noose as the race progresses. MB could afford to do that on better ground as he'd have money in the bank if you like, we've already seen how close MB came on desperate ground so that's your gauge to see how much rope he has to play with. MB's was a near miss on bad ground with NR having to have things and the fractions to be perfectly nailed to exploit that ( as we've seen) slightest of frailties. NR did not go hard early on, on better ground MB would certainly go quicker and expose a horse that is uncomfortable at a quicker pace. NR has bundles of stamina but it still has to be distributed in the correct way and going a stride harder earlier on would exhaust the reserves he'd have at the end a long way before the end came. Anyway back to the point of the thread, O K CORRAL in the AB, I know he came 2nd anyway but he's going to be a serious novice chaser IMO, he was keen enough early on but travelled very well throughout, Geraghty let him get too far back and then when he asked him to make ground was very green but finished full of running I thought. He's be my early idea of an RSA horse. |
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Voix Du Reve (page 1)
Entered in the 4-10 Fairyhouse tomorrow,dropped back to 2 miles. Mullins has 8 in the race,VDR has 5 lb claimer booked,14% strike rate for stable. Plenty guesswork involved,could be a duck egg,or are the others there as the smokescreen ? Market late on may be the guide,not the easiest crew to work out. |
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Getabird was my biggest bet of the festival.......typical ey you have to laugh :D
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Voix Du Reve very interesting today, the lad has ridden him before this season which is good because just like all Wylies it seems the horse takes a strong hold.
I'd just be a bit concerned that on this atrocious ground they go a bit slower than he likes and he ends up pulling his chance away. Definitely one to look at I/R first to see how it's panning out. |
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Might Bite - MONSTER (without a cul-de-sac
 )Eamon an Cnoic - 1.45 FRIDAY. Juicy 16's Laddies/Koral  Voix Du Reve - 17th April in €100k 2m hdl in 5.50 Fairyhouse. |
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Might Bite stamped his class on the Betway Bowl with a comfortable victory at Aintree.
Nicky Henderson had been agonising over whether to run the nine-year-old after his epic battle with Native River in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, yet he need not have worried. Bristol De Mai, having his first run since a wind operation, tried to take the sting out of the King George winner and made the running under Daryl Jacob. Stepping up the pace on the second circuit, only Clan Des Obeaux could keep in touch with the big two, and only then at a respectable distance. Briefly Might Bite supporters had a little panic with a mistake at the fourth-last, but he was quickly back on the bridle for Nico de Boinville By the time the front two set down for a battle, Might Bite was going much the better and the 4-5 favourite won by seven lengths, with Clan Des Obeaux just over three lengths back in third. De Boinville said: "He's a magnificent animal and a joy to ride. He jumped with real panache and gusto. "The ground is on the soft side and he really does feel that. He's one who will actually die for you. I'm privileged to ride him." Henderson said: "That was as good a round of jumping as you'll ever see. He was just on it the whole way - he was doing crazy things. "The horse was just enjoying himself. He's been telling us he's right, but you just can't tell until you run them how much they have left in the Cotswolds (Cheltenham). "That's obviously it for this season. We'll be a bit braver next year, though, and we might have a crack at the Betfair (Chase, Haydock). "To defend the King George is the obvious one, but if the ground is reasonable we will think about starting in the Betfair on the way to the King George." Nigel Twiston-Davies said of Bristol De Mai, who won this season's Betfair Chase is spectacular fashion but did not run at Cheltenham: "We've finally discovered we are not as good as the top one. "He is very good, but we want to win. We will be back for the Charlie Hall and Betfair and those sort of things next season. "Everything was right today, there were no excuses. I thought we might have beaten him and I thought we had, but we didn't. "Well done them, they have the better horse. If we have the third best chaser in him, that's not bad. I'm sure there is another good one in him." |
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Winner did it well,very likeable type.
However,if there was one to take home,it would have to be Clan Des Obeaux,not seen many better jumping displays from a 6 yr old for a long time. Never threatening the front two up the straight,he stuck to his task really well,some very highly rated horses in behind,this lad with another summer on his back looks a really nice prospect. Always plenty guesswork,not too hard on him at Aintree,this will give PFN an idea of where they stand,intriguing which route he will go next season. With you tomorrow  |
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You haven't got the 3rd best chaser Nigel
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Clan Des Obeaux might well have been second but for the loose horse (Definitely Red) getting in his way for nearly 2 circuits.
If the handicapper doesn’t hit him too hard then next seasons Hennessey is surely the target - I’ll be waiting for first shows with interest. |
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7 months down the road........some of those mentioned have already run well.
Desmond.....right stable,different horse,also keen to see if Benatar can progress.Kings socks also running well in the BV until a real soft looking unseat/ fall. VD Reve has now won 4......got him completely wrong so far,looks better on sound surface,now novice chasing. Verdana Blue looks very ground dependant,full of promise in the greatwood,would not look out of place in the mares hurdle.She might be put away until spring if ground changes,very promising.Few others in the Greatwood that were very eyecatching in behind. Clan Des Obeaux...........Along with last poster I was hopeful they might go Hennessy route off a decent looking mark,instead they have chosen to throw him at the deep end on saturday. Bear with me here,unless he has improved massively,he has a mountain to climb on the book.However that run at Aintree was not devoid of promise,he did get messed around plenty,but they did not really pull away from him after the last. Another summer on his back,he,s a big unit already,might just see a completely different horse this year.The fact he,s entered tells me they do like him,knowing anything near the leaders would blow his current mark. Lightly raced last term,there is plenty to suggest he could rise up the staying division with natural progression,still only 6 yr old. Will be watching with interest in a couple days. |
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Interesting read from last season. Who would have expected Might Bite to be the main one to go backwards.
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Hope you kept the faith nocturnal - sadly I didn;t.
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NOTWHATIAM as an early shout at 33/1 for the Pertemps (yeah I know. Suicidal or what, punting in the handicaps at this stage but hear me out)
Finished with a rare old rattle yesterday in the Warwick qualifier, after being held up out of his ground and then trying to make up ground coming wide off the final bend. You'd have to think that the faster pace and uphill finish at the Fez will suit and hopefully he'll be held up in midfield rather than out the back come the big day Thrown a couple of quid each-way at it anyway. |
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Alas no Uncle......Backed him in the Betfair,not a penny in the KG.
Whatever we saw at Aintree has been partly justified,can he fulfil that potential in March. Verdana is another intriguing one,really liked her for the mares before the Kempton run.Take her out of that Kempton race and Buveur remains the daddy,and very short for the day 1 feature. Just what was Hendo doing running her on boxing day.......remarkably she only went up 5lb for that. Answer that simple question,that may be the key to this years Champion Hurdle. Plenty of those mentioned earlier will no doubt be entered this year,worth remembering those that appealed at the time. Whatever their finnishing position,time and again previous Festival form will rise to the top. Just one of those "eyecatchers" can make the week. |