Does anybody else think The Sawyer is a knocking each way bet for the Paddy Power? Bob Buckler has confirmed the horse will be going for the race and he has been allotted a lovely racing weight of 10st 5 and has the very good young claimer Nathan Sweeney claiming 7lbs off his back. He ran a good pipe-opener in the Haldon to come 5th, just over 10 lengths back from Tchico Polos. It was a completely inadequate 2m trip and firmly ensures the horse will turn up on Saturday fit from the run.
I think you can draw a line through his 9th in the Festival Plate behind Great Endeavour as Bob Buckler primed him to win the two bug handicaps at Cheltenham and Ascot on the last two weekends of January. Two consecutive weekend wins on soft ground in very competitive handicaps gave substance to the pre-race belief that he may have been over the top come the Festival. He beat Mister McGoldrick comfortably at Cheltenham on the 30th Jan before this form was reversed at the Festival. His run at Ascot in February where, on level weights, he was a length behind Albertas Run, who went on to win the Melling and Ryanair, and a further length behind Monets Garden, who went on to win another Old Roan this year is particularly good form. He was 14 lengths in front of Oh Crick that day who went on to finsih 5th in the Queen Mother.
He has been primed for this race and will bowl along out in front and could be very difficult to peg back on the godd to soft ground forecast after rain this week.
140s on here is too large and 40/1 is a cracking each way price.
but he seems to be better after xmas needs to dominate to be at his best which will be tough in the pp field his mark is his highest including claim (sweeney always rides his best races) and he needs soft or worse ground
will make a few quid on him this year but not this race imo
gl
good post and i like the horse a lotbut he seems to be better after xmasneeds to dominate to be at his best which will be tough in the pp fieldhis mark is his highest including claim (sweeney always rides his best races)and he needs soft or worse gro
Admirable horse but on a stiffish mark now and needs really soft ground to produce his best which he's unlikely to get. Also this race invariably goes to a young unexposed horse.
Admirable horse but on a stiffish mark now and needs really soft ground to produce his best which he's unlikely to get. Also this race invariably goes to a young unexposed horse.
There is 6.5cm of rain forecast between now and race time in GL54. However, Prestbury Park seems to have it's very own micro-climate so conditions in the first few races of the day's card will be crucial to whether The Sawyer has any real chance of making an impression in the race.
As you say, flyingbolt, the race does invariably go to a young unexposed horse. However, Imperial Commander's '08 Paddy Power, Tamarinbleu's '07 **** and Poquelin's **** '09 make me think that those horses who bowl along in front or handy, whether young and unexposed or not, have a very good record in Cheltenham's big winter handicaps and although a long shot, The Sawyer could possibly add his name to that list.
There is 6.5cm of rain forecast between now and race time in GL54. However, Prestbury Park seems to have it's very own micro-climate so conditions in the first few races of the day's card will be crucial to whether The Sawyer has any real chance of m
pretty much agree with what the lads have said comm.if the heavens opened would'nt be the biggest suprise to see him slip the field.
noland is taking my fancy atm if he shows up.
but one @ a price for me is tatenen 40/1...was one of the fancied horses for this last yr...and then just lost his way...changed stables now,and i thought he put in his best round of jumping for a long time @ kemp 1st time out this season.
riverside theatre is at least 5lbs better round kempton...so a 10l defeat is not the end of the world running off levels...river rated 154...and tats 143.
also he was giving 3lbs to the 2nd that day who is rated 152...and was only beaten 1.5l by free world.
off 143...he looks well h/cap if getting back to his best...will run off 10.05 if the same owners poquline stays in the race.
pretty much agree with what the lads have said comm.if the heavens opened would'nt be the biggest suprise to see him slip the field.noland is taking my fancy atm if he shows up.but one @ a price for me is tatenen 40/1...was one of the fancied horses
"The Sawyer will attempt to enhance his impressive record around Cheltenham in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
From five starts at Cheltenham, Bob Buckler's charge has won the last two renewals of the Grade Three Festival Trials Day Handicap Chase (2009 & 2010) over half a furlong further in late January, and also finished runner-up in the extended three-mile Irish Times Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase at The Open last year.
Following a gutsy pillar-to-post victory under Nathan Sweeney in this year's Festival Trials Day Handicap Chase, The Sawyer was a close third behind Monet's Garden and Albertas Run in the Grade One Ascot Chase in February.
Buckler revealed: "The plan is to run The Sawyer in the Paddy Power Gold Cup as long as the ground is soft enough. If it is on the fast side, we won't bother but if it is proper jumping ground, or nice and soft, that is where he will be going.
"I want to give him a run in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter (November 2) beforehand, just because it's local. Twist Magic is in there, which will mess up the handicap, but we'll see what else goes and if we can sharpen The Sawyer up for the Paddy Power Gold Cup by giving him a race around there it won't matter.
"He's big and burly at the moment but he always is - he's naturally a massive burly bull of a horse. He has a great record at Cheltenham and the plan definitely is to go there."
The Sawyer is currently a 33/1 shot with the sponsors for the Paddy Power Gold Cup. They make the Nicky Henderson-trained Long Run the 4/1 favourite."
"The Sawyer will attempt to enhance his impressive record around Cheltenham in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. From five starts at Cheltenham, Bob Buckler's charge has won the last two renewals of the Grade Three Festival Trials Day Handicap Chase (2009 &
Hugh Taylor has put this up as his e/w selection and the price has consequently tumbled. Great shout Commander, you seem the understated maestro of a big price selection. Gl mate
Hugh Taylor has put this up as his e/w selection and the price has consequently tumbled. Great shout Commander, you seem the understated maestro of a big price selection. Gl mate
looking at the market on here prior to its suspension i dont think it is going to chelts
think this is a very good opportunity for it
we will see
very interested in edgbriar aswelllooking at the market on here prior to its suspension i dont think it is going to cheltsthink this is a very good opportunity for itwe will see