SAMCRO

He is very short for the Ballymore (formerly Neptune) at Cheltenham. I hope he is better than Death Duty last year's talking horse of Elliot.

All the talk is that he is better. A good deal better than DD.  Not sure Death Duty liked Cheltenham very much. Seemed ill at ease with the track very pretty early on.

He was very impressive. Ok, he might not have beaten much today nonetheless, on tacky ground, the distance he put between himself and the 2nd at the end so effortlessly was eye-catching indeed; his style of jumping was economical, effortless and assured - he is a natural, I believe.

He is certainly better than Death Duty at this stage, and already being compared to Don Cossack. Much more to come from him in the near future, I hope, and only 5/2 for the Ballymore.

Yeah its rare you see a horse power up the Navan hill under minimal assistance.  Reminded me a bit of Footpad a few weeks back. Exciting times ahead.

Footpad looked every inch a natural jumper too (I know it was his 1st outing over fences) more so than Petit Mouchoir who also was impressive in his chasing debut.

The manner of his win today reminded me of Thistlecrack winning his hurdle races enroute to winning the World Hurdle at Cheltenham ie toying with his adversaries and winning effortlessly; he was so impressive today that I could not resist a short price double with Faugheen for Cheltenham.

9-4 for a race over 3 months away. Not for me but hey knock yourselves out if you like it

Now we will see how good he is ..... (if he turns up !)

Leopardstown  Wed 27th Dec
1.50

2m. Hurdle 4-y-o plus 23 Entered
Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hdle (Grade 1) of €85,000.00
11061Carter Mckay (GB) 6,gr g 11-10
Martaline-Saxona(Jade Robbery)
(32) c1 d1 (Pearl Bloodstock Ltd)     
W P Mullins

21-11Getabird (IRE) 5,b g 11-10
Getaway-Fern Bird(Revoque)
(17) (Mrs S Ricci)   
W P Mullins

32113Hardline (IRE) 5,b g 11-10
Arcadio-Hidden Reserve(Heron Island)
(24) d2 (Gigginstown House Stud)     
Gordon Elliott

42-21Mind's Eye (IRE) 5,b g 11-10
Stowaway-Joleen(Bob's Return)
(42) d1 (Gigginstown House Stud)     
Henry De Bromhead

51421Next Destination (IRE) 5,b g 11-10
Dubai Destination-Liss Alainn(Flemensfirth)
(46) (Malcolm C Denmark)     
W P Mullins

6-111Samcro (IRE) 5,ch g 11-10
Germany-Dun Dun(Saddlers' Hall)
(31) d1 (Gigginstown House Stud)     
Gordon Elliott

76110Top Othe Ra (IRE) 9,ch g 11-10
Whitmore's Conn-The Top Road(Toulon)
(24) d3 (Mrs Helen Mullins)
Rated 136   
Thomas Mullins

82612Trainwreck (IRE) 5,b g 11-10
Stowaway-Trail Storm(Supreme Leader)
(17) d1 bf (Gigginstown House Stud)
Rated 126     
Henry De Bromhead

90131Athenean (IRE) 4,b g 11-7
Westerner-Cash And New(Supreme Leader)
(17) d1 (Gigginstown House Stud)   
Noel Meade

10511pBalakani (FR) 4,b g 11-7
Khalkevi-La Balagne(Le Fou)
(52) (R A Scott)
Rated 123
M F Morris

116Dortmund Park (FR) 4,b g 11-7
Great Pretender-Qena(Le Balafre)
(18) (Gigginstown House Stud)   
Gordon Elliott

123112Early Doors (FR) 4,b g 11-7
Soldier Of Fortune-Ymlaen(Desert Prince)
(24) d2 (John P McManus)     
Joseph Patrick O'Brien

131116Le Richebourg (FR) 4,b g 11-7
Network-Fee Magic(Phantom Breeze)
(24) d1 (John P McManus)     
Joseph Patrick O'Brien

143-1pMakitorix (FR) 4,gr g 11-7
Makfi-Goldamix(Linamix)
(24) d1 (Twenty Seven Black Partnership)   
W P Mullins

154111Mengli Khan (IRE) 4,b g 11-7
Lope De Vega-Danielli(Danehill)
(24) d3 (Gigginstown House Stud)     
Gordon Elliott

16f374Play The Game (IRE) 4,b g 11-7
Lawman-Neutral(Beat Hollow)
(18) c1 (Derek Kierans)   
Thomas Gibney

170-1Real Steel (FR) 4,b g 11-7
Loup Breton-Kalimina(Monsun)
(27) d1 (Sullivan Bloodstock Limited)   
W P Mullins

181133Roaring Bull (IRE) 4,b g 11-7
Milan-Gift Of Freedom(Presenting)
(17) d1 (Gigginstown House Stud)     
Gordon Elliott

193-11Sharjah (FR) 4,b g 11-7
Doctor Dino-Saaryeh(Royal Academy)
(32) d2 (Mrs S Ricci)     
W P Mullins

202-12Stratum (GB) 4,b g 11-7
Dansili-Lunar Phase(Galileo)
(45) d1 (Anthony Bloom)
W P Mullins

214311Us And Them (IRE) 4,b g 11-7
Stowaway-Manorville(Flemensfirth)
(17) d2 (J Carthy)
Joseph Patrick O'Brien

22-111Whiskey Sour (IRE) 4,b g 11-7
Jeremy-Swizzle Stick(Sadler's Wells)
(145) d1 (Luke McMahon)
W P Mullins

233311High School Days (USA) 4,ch f 11-0
Elusive Quality-Baroness Richter(Montjeu)
(58) d2 (Gigginstown House Stud)
Rated 122   
Henry De Bromhead

guess the ones willie has left out will be going for the bumper at chelters

There will probably be 4 or 5 runners and he'll be long odds again so won't tell us much.

Reminds me of Aran Concerto who looked amazing until he got to Cheltenham.

Samcro entered in Navan on Sunday. Then he'll probably be aimed at the 2m 4f Grade 1 in Naas in January. imo

Worringly weak for the Grade 1 in Naas on sunday which was supposed to be his target since last run.
was 4/9 2 days ago & now 15/8.

Drifter like that, my guess he will not run

I too would imagine an unlikely runner this weekend given the big drift. If so, Elliot still has quite a couple who could deputise with aplomb eg Cracking Smart and Blow By Blow.

What a shame, nevertheless.

Eddie O'Leary has told the Racing Post that Samcro will not be running at Naas on Sunday as his scope was not 100 per cent this morning. Elliott confirms: ''He scoped a little bit dirty earlier. It is nothing serious. We just could not take the chance with him.''

The bush telegraph (The Exchange) wins again.