Horse Antepost
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12 Dec 22
19:03
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04 Dec 06
Was interesting to read comments from HDB regarding Honeysuckle, and the possibility of her running in the Mares race instead.
I feel there has been a massive over reaction to her defeat in the Hatton Grace at Fairyhouse.
If we look back at her success from last year, she comfortably beat Ronald Pump on Good ground.
The season before she was far less impressive beating the same opponent by half a length, with Beacon Edge close up in 3rd.
Rachel Blackmore said post race that they went very slowly that day and sprinted from 2 out.
This years race was run at a much stronger gallop which put more of an emphasis on stamina than speed, again on soft going.
I wonder on soft going at this intermediate trip, it is the very limit of her stamina ability.
Teahupoo and Klassical Dream and better opposition than she faced in 2020 and was unable to get away with it this year.
Hopefully at the DRF, back at her optimum distance she can show everyone she is not done with yet.
I feel there has been a massive over reaction to her defeat in the Hatton Grace at Fairyhouse.
If we look back at her success from last year, she comfortably beat Ronald Pump on Good ground.
The season before she was far less impressive beating the same opponent by half a length, with Beacon Edge close up in 3rd.
Rachel Blackmore said post race that they went very slowly that day and sprinted from 2 out.
This years race was run at a much stronger gallop which put more of an emphasis on stamina than speed, again on soft going.
I wonder on soft going at this intermediate trip, it is the very limit of her stamina ability.
Teahupoo and Klassical Dream and better opposition than she faced in 2020 and was unable to get away with it this year.
Hopefully at the DRF, back at her optimum distance she can show everyone she is not done with yet.
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whilst the festival has created more races, days to profit from and people to enjoy , they,ve created a situation where this years champion hurdle may well be a walkover .
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I think you have a fair point brandy, and may well be right. However, she has consistently been very good, and run to a consistently high level, but it has always been tricky to make a case for her being exceptional (in the open field; she is undoubtedly an exceptional mare).
Many figures people who know far more than me have her latest run within the bounds of a ratings band that covers the majority of her performances. She might not have underperformed much - or at all. I hate the "she came up against a soft generation" argument. She has been a winning machine. But you do get a natural fluctuation, which is often hard to measure, across time. Before she won her first CH many had been moaning about how awful the 2m hurdle division was. It might *just* be that she is not but that (i) she didn't quite stay the other day (ii) the Teahoopoo yeargroup will be a little bit stronger than the few before it and (iii) if constitution Hill doesn't make it for whatever reason, she may still have a wonderful chance of winning again. If we knew all the answers there wouldn't be much left to punt on! |
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Willie Mullins reports Sir Gerhard will not be making his chasing debuts over Christmas as hoped. And that he is still a fortnight away from getting to the track.
With that in mind, will they be tempted to remain over hurdles with him? |
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I hope your spot on with all of that Brandy, excellent write up.
Just the six go to post Sunday,with some serious question marks hanging over the Mare. The time difference in the three Hattons Grace runs were marked,the form from that latest defeat has been franked already. The other question would be .... Is she quite as effective right handed ? She might raise the roof Sunday,who knows,she has been a revelation regardless .... Wonderful Horse. |