Horse Antepost
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For a perennial handicapper, who'd never even been tried in a Grade 2, to come across the sea and convincingly beat horses totalling 10 Grade 1 wins is nothing short of an embarrassment and a damning indictment on the standard of Irish long distance chasers.
I honestly though Synchronised would be completely out of his depth today and that his only hope was if the race was run on really testing ground. The horse is clearly inconsistent as he couldn't go the pace on the first circuit in the Midlands National this year and connections were surely just taking a punt today yet it came off.
I had high hopes that Quito De La Roque could be a Gold Cup contender but on today's run he and his counterparts are miles away. It's almost 6 years since War Of Attrition won the Gold Cup and the Irish haven't had a horse placed since. You can only see that trend continuing after today.
I honestly though Synchronised would be completely out of his depth today and that his only hope was if the race was run on really testing ground. The horse is clearly inconsistent as he couldn't go the pace on the first circuit in the Midlands National this year and connections were surely just taking a punt today yet it came off.
I had high hopes that Quito De La Roque could be a Gold Cup contender but on today's run he and his counterparts are miles away. It's almost 6 years since War Of Attrition won the Gold Cup and the Irish haven't had a horse placed since. You can only see that trend continuing after today.
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Reckon your underestimating the horse personally. He has now had 8 chase starts and won 5 of them. Thats a good record. The Midlands National was also after his main target of the season, the Welsh National, when he was a convincing winner off a mark of 150 conceding lumps of weight to admirable sorts like Giles Cross. He never stood a chance of winning the Midlands Naional after such an effort and on a revised mark of 159.
IMO.
IMO.
Would have to agree with the above statement, but disagree with the Midlands national part on 159, which is comfortably grade 2 class, so after today's performance, the handicapper was'nt too far off with his revised rating.
As for the 3m division in itself, imo, it's very poor. Las year's RSA is simply not worth a carrot, Long Run is over-rated..182
, and when I see an 11yo winning the 2 big grade 1 3m chases run this season, then something is wrong.( cue abuse from Kauto fans).
I personnally can see 1 hell of a surprise in the GC, and I've not given up on Planet of Sound yet.
As for the 3m division in itself, imo, it's very poor. Las year's RSA is simply not worth a carrot, Long Run is over-rated..182
, and when I see an 11yo winning the 2 big grade 1 3m chases run this season, then something is wrong.( cue abuse from Kauto fans).I personnally can see 1 hell of a surprise in the GC, and I've not given up on Planet of Sound yet.
If Synchronised was a top chaser then why go down the National route for so long instead of the top Graded events?
On the Gold Cup, Nicky Henderson seemed to be billing it as a 2 horse race after the King George and I wouldn't disagree after today.
On the Gold Cup, Nicky Henderson seemed to be billing it as a 2 horse race after the King George and I wouldn't disagree after today.
Maybe he has just improved ? Dont know tbh. Connections have said they will head straight to the GC next.
Halcon Generladis won the Welsh National off a big weight and then finished 4th in the Gold Cup ..
ridiculous thread and screams of pocket talking, imo of course.
Why is this a ridiculous thread? 
No doubt Synchronised has been underrated by some but this was surely a worrying race for Irish Jump fans. The leading Irish hopes might have wanted a bit more dig but, against that, today's race was 3m...over 3m 2 1/2f I dread to think how far he'd have won. Could have been 30 lengths
On the bright side for those over the water, their novice chasers look a bright bunch......although the home team are looking pretty tasty too!
No doubt Synchronised has been underrated by some but this was surely a worrying race for Irish Jump fans. The leading Irish hopes might have wanted a bit more dig but, against that, today's race was 3m...over 3m 2 1/2f I dread to think how far he'd have won. Could have been 30 lengths
On the bright side for those over the water, their novice chasers look a bright bunch......although the home team are looking pretty tasty too!
A couple of very good horses have won the WN and then the GC. Burrough Hill Lad wasn't too shabby, Master Oats won the GC head in chest by 15 lengths and Cool Ground (under leg lock) won the WN and then an average GC (Adrian Maguire may have had a bit to do with that and under the current rules would still be banned for over-use of the stick). Synchronised has been very lightly campaigned over fences (more of a GN plot) but after today he surely becomes the third most likely winner in March (assuming Grand Cru goes the novice route).
We have been a little bit unlucky with out staying chasers in recent years. Kicking King got injured, then War Of Attrition got injured and was never as good, Weapons Amnesty looked a superstar in the making and has not ran sicne winning the RSA and Pandorama who is a brilliant horse when getting his conditions has not been seen since getting hurt in last years Gold Cup.
In saying all that we have no real Gold Cup contender in my opinion.
In saying all that we have no real Gold Cup contender in my opinion.
If it's a ridiculous thread how many times is a big Grade 1 won comfortably by a horse sent off 25,50 and 25/1 on their last 3 starts? The only reason he wasn't a big price today was pricewise tipping him up.
My initial reaction to the race was how the **** has that won? It was a strange kind of race,in that Sychronized travelled well throughout the race,when everything screamed to me that he wouldn't ie decent ground,shorter trip and better(?) opposition.He always seemed to me previously, that he climbed over fences,however today he jumped far better which perhaps meant he travelled kinder.
Whatever way you look at it,the Irish horses in behind now have a huge question mark over them.QDR didn't manage to get past suspect stayer RL despite being right on his tail turning for home,and even accepting that Sync improved today,it was a poor effort from them both.
Is Sync now a genuine GC contender? It's not beyond the bounds of possibility that he's an improving horse,but it's a huge jump to taking on Long Run and Kauto ....however I thought he had no chance today.
Whatever way you look at it,the Irish horses in behind now have a huge question mark over them.QDR didn't manage to get past suspect stayer RL despite being right on his tail turning for home,and even accepting that Sync improved today,it was a poor effort from them both.
Is Sync now a genuine GC contender? It's not beyond the bounds of possibility that he's an improving horse,but it's a huge jump to taking on Long Run and Kauto ....however I thought he had no chance today.
Jessie's Dream can be added to the list of good 'uns absent thus far.
I'd not fret too much. I'd say all that talk about 'not wanting Synchronised to hump the weight in the Welsh National' was tosh; they knew he'd improved and took a punt. They'd not realised he was that good though...
I'd not fret too much. I'd say all that talk about 'not wanting Synchronised to hump the weight in the Welsh National' was tosh; they knew he'd improved and took a punt. They'd not realised he was that good though...
So a good handicapper improves and goes on to win a Grade 1. If he was trained by Nicholls or Henderson we'd being saying what a great training performance.
Fair point Laying.
Jonjo won the Lexus with Exotic Dancer back in 2008 who had won a couple of Grade 3 Handicaps as we know, the Paddy Power and Boylessports as Cheltenham. If Kauto was not around he would have mopped up the staying Graded Chases.
Jonjo won the Lexus with Exotic Dancer back in 2008 who had won a couple of Grade 3 Handicaps as we know, the Paddy Power and Boylessports as Cheltenham. If Kauto was not around he would have mopped up the staying Graded Chases.
With Sychronized,the impression before yesterday was he was a mudlark well suited to extreme distances.When McCoy was interviewed after the race,and was asked how the race rode,he said that he didn't think Long Run and Kauto would be too worried.
With hindsight,it seems QDR is a member of a group of very average novices from last year,and his Down Royal win was at the expense of a non-staying Sizing Europe.Rubi Light's John Durkan win over Joncol and Cooldine now looks very average,and although he would have beat Sizing Europe at Gowran had he stood up,that was on ground unsuitable to SE.
The conclusion I draw is it was a substandard Lexus,won by an improving horse who would need bottomless ground to have a chance in the Gold Cup.
With hindsight,it seems QDR is a member of a group of very average novices from last year,and his Down Royal win was at the expense of a non-staying Sizing Europe.Rubi Light's John Durkan win over Joncol and Cooldine now looks very average,and although he would have beat Sizing Europe at Gowran had he stood up,that was on ground unsuitable to SE.
The conclusion I draw is it was a substandard Lexus,won by an improving horse who would need bottomless ground to have a chance in the Gold Cup.
Cane Brake's 5th in 2007 and Cooldine's 5th in 2010 have been the best Irish performances in Gold Cups in five years.
Pandorama last year was the first Irish horse since Beef or Salmon in 2005 to win the Lexus Chase.
We've at least managed to keep the Hennessy at home three times out of five. But that could because the English trainers don't like targetting their horses at itso close to the Gold Cup.
When Follow The Plan won the Punchestown Gold Cup last season, it summed the standard of our staying chasers imo.
Pandorama last year was the first Irish horse since Beef or Salmon in 2005 to win the Lexus Chase.
We've at least managed to keep the Hennessy at home three times out of five. But that could because the English trainers don't like targetting their horses at itso close to the Gold Cup.
When Follow The Plan won the Punchestown Gold Cup last season, it summed the standard of our staying chasers imo.
IMO only Quel Esprit can have any sort of chance from last years crop of novices. Only reason for this as daft as it sounds is because he fell twice and as such is less exposed. probably will eventually blend in with the rest.
He is rated 147 currently, needs to find 30lbs, but I agree he is, still, stacked with potential.
I would probably back him in any chase 2.5 to 3m racing off 147. Racing Post Chase?
The trouble with Quel Esprit is he's run in 3 graded chases and not finished any of them. He also hasn't proved he stays 3m+ yet.
Going back to Synchronised, something else that marks this out as a good performance is the terrible record of Welsh National winners after they win that race. In recent years, half of them or more never won another race after the WN, presumably because it takes so much out of a horse - so it could be regarded as impressive to come out and easily win a G1 a year later.
Laying, I must agree with you as well, Jonjo deserves more credit than he's getting here.
Going back to Synchronised, something else that marks this out as a good performance is the terrible record of Welsh National winners after they win that race. In recent years, half of them or more never won another race after the WN, presumably because it takes so much out of a horse - so it could be regarded as impressive to come out and easily win a G1 a year later.
Laying, I must agree with you as well, Jonjo deserves more credit than he's getting here.
It's not that long ago that Nicky Richards nearly burgled one with Money Trix. Irish staying chasers been pants for a while - this is nothing new, agreed.
an embarrassment for isish racing good lord he just won a facking race!!
if anything it just shows how impossible racing is!! maybe sprinter sacre isnt a cert after all
good lord he just won a facking race!!if anything it just shows how impossible racing is!! maybe sprinter sacre isnt a cert after all
Big time pocket talk. Everyone knows Irelands top 3 mile chasers haven't been up to much.
Usually you would have 1 or 2 to go to the top chases like the betfair chase or the king george but they all stayed at home as there not up to that level.
In the last few years when your competing in the generation Denman, Long Run and Kauto Star you will struggle to even get Irish horses placed in the gold cup because they are so good.
Usually you would have 1 or 2 to go to the top chases like the betfair chase or the king george but they all stayed at home as there not up to that level.
In the last few years when your competing in the generation Denman, Long Run and Kauto Star you will struggle to even get Irish horses placed in the gold cup because they are so good.
I think given good health Pandorama(soft ground) or Weapons Amnesty may well be up to real Grade 1 standard.
Yeah but Notre Pere was Grade 1 standard .. on Heavy ground. What use is Pandorama if he has to have Soft all the time ?? I know Noel Meade thinks the world of him but with such a liking for soft conditions it does limit his potential imo
Not relevant this season anyway. I'm a huge Weapons Amnesty fan but it will be asking a lot for him to be top drawer after two full seasons off.
Authorised - Synch has got pidgeon holed as a mudlark plodder which is so far off the truth it is unreal. Can understand why connections have followed this idea given he's won a welsh national in the mud but facts are he's a really really good horse and thankfully is now gonna get a chance to prove it as his handicap mark will be 170ish.
Anyway, agree with OP that Irish stayers are a really bad lot but for Synch to win in fast ground with no pace in race is outstanding. Will shake them up in the GC IMO.
Anyway, agree with OP that Irish stayers are a really bad lot but for Synch to win in fast ground with no pace in race is outstanding. Will shake them up in the GC IMO.
Just noticed Synch has no Cheltenham form whatsoever - big disadvantage at the Festival.
I don't think everyone thought the Irish staying chasers were that bad before the race otherwise Synchron wouldn't have been priced up at 20/1. Must be a chance JP had worked out that they were poor pre-race and
told Jonjo to bring Sychron over as their wasn't much to beat.
told Jonjo to bring Sychron over as their wasn't much to beat.
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