Feb 24, 2019 -- 7:25AM, ACStafford wrote:
My initial reaction after the Dovecote was that Elixir De Nutz was to be backed for the Supreme, but, after watching back, I'm with Marychain: that wasn't a bad a run from Angel's Breath. He tugged really hard early on. If they could get him to settle he could be dangerous. He did seem to get left behind just after the bend, but I wonder if that was Cobden timing it just right and De Boinville a little slow to react. I'm not sure where to go with this race at the moment. The front two in the market look far too short to me. Itchy Feet is interesting at the price. I remember backing him the time he was beaten by Vision Des Flos, but there's no time to get another run in to him now. Anyone know why he hasn't run since?
Olly Murphy told the Racing Post back in November after his Cheltenham run that he would have a break and maybe go to Musselburgh for the Supreme trial - that got abandoned (twice!). He was entered in yesterday's Dovecote but they decided to go straight to the Festival.Don't think there's any other reason for the lay off.Worth remembering he was trying to give Elixir Du Nutz 5lbs when 2nd to him at Cheltenham because he had a penalty for beating Grand Sancy in a Listed race at Kempton.
Would n't be put off by the fact that Richard Johnson likely to ride Murphy's other contender Thomas Darby either - I think there is some sort of tie up whereby Gavin Sheehan rides the Brooks' horses.
He is a generous price based on his form - obviously if collateral form always worked out it would be an easy game and the other two horses have clearly improved since he raced them but he is surely a live outsider, only caveat is he looks like one who could be scuppered if the ground comes up soft.