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sageform
21 Dec 20 09:02
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Date Joined: 15 Jun 01
| Topic/replies: 28,181 | Blogger: sageform's blog
A high profile horse out of the Festival. He is not the first and won't be the last to develop an injury. I don't want to be too pessimistic but the way that Covid19 is continuing it's erratic progress, will any Irish horses be able to travel over in March? All of my ante post bets so far are GB trained but this possibility has only occurred to me today after the new travel ban could keep Irish horses away from Kempton.
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Report Somerset Sam December 21, 2020 2:05 PM GMT
I don't think there would any logical step to stop the travel of horses from Ireland. Football and rugby clubs are travelling all over Europe without any mention of their competitions stopping, I don't see why horses travelling from Ireland would be any different if the Festival was to go ahead.

Twitter had Ferny Hollow was going to be out for a little while before the official announcement confirmed it. On a similar them I see Shewearsitwell has also been mentioned as not being 100%. You wouldn't expect Willie Mullins to be letting punters know now would we?!
Report buddeliea December 21, 2020 2:39 PM GMT
Not much point in having the festival without the Irish, imo.
Certainly be lessened by some way.
Report duffy December 21, 2020 3:35 PM GMT
It must be odds on that we'll all be in another 3 month lock down or longer very shortly like the first one with everything shut down.

If it wasn't for Xmas we'd be in it right now IMO.

Nearly twice as transmissible with a peak predicted greater than the first.

Enjoy this weeks sport because that will be our lot for the foreseeable.
Report sageform December 22, 2020 8:20 AM GMT
Every point in having Cheltenham Festival if the Covid rules allow. GB owners and trainers badly need the prize money and if there are no Irish there, they will get all of it. And in answer to the point about football etc, the restrictions for the new year have not been announced yet. duffy has it right.
Report buddeliea December 22, 2020 10:16 AM GMT
Yeh,still have it of course, i was more meaning it would not be near the same without the Irish.
And be a few horses winning races and becoming Festival winners that normally would not.
It would still be a spectacle, just the quality diminished somewhat.

Anyway. lets just hope we have racing to watch in the coming weeks and months.
Report workrider December 22, 2020 11:12 AM GMT
Cheltenham without the Irish would simply not be Cheltenham , it would be a Bangor on Dee on a dreary Monday...The winners could never really be called Champions now could they!
Report sageform December 22, 2020 1:46 PM GMT
It would not be the same but there are all sorts of reasons why horses don't run and a travel ban could be one of them. It must be tempting for connections of Envoi Allen and a few others to move them to an English yard after new year if allowed to.
Report buddeliea December 22, 2020 5:44 PM GMT
Dont matter what the reasons are....the simple fact is the festival without some of the best horses just aint what the festival should be.
Watered down version.
Report FOYLESWAR December 22, 2020 5:48 PM GMT
wouldnt be the same but lets worry about that when and if it happens .
Report layingisthewayforward December 22, 2020 8:36 PM GMT
Cheltenham without the Irish horses and punters obviously wouldn't be the same but if its that or nothing I'm happy to take it.
Report FOYLESWAR December 22, 2020 9:43 PM GMT
got at least 90 ante post bets on the festival probably 70 per cent irish trained ,am in for an awfull  hammering if they are not allowed to participate!
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