Oscar Whisky would have won if Geraghty didn't treat the race as an exercise gallop. Only decided to start riding the horse after the last. Connections had negative mindsets beforehand. Apparently it was badly handicapped (though 11 pounds below hurdles mark), the ground was wrong (even though he has won 3 Graded races on heavy ground, including a Grade 1), had too much weight even though top weights have outstanding records in all handicaps nowadays irrespective of ground.
They went into the race with all these illogical negatives in mind and so soon as the horse wasn't cruising he decided to not be too hard on it until after the last when it was apparent he had the winning of it and left it behind. Don't be too hard on a 10 year old proven warhorse? In the Paddy Power? Might only be a handicap but he will do well @ 10 to ever win a race as big again. Totally left that behind and they were bet before they went out.
The horse had plenty left in the tank. Or certainly enough to win that. Level weights with John's Spirit? Gimme a break.
It happens all the time with trainers deciding stuff they actually know little about. Nichols saying the winner (Caid du Berlais) needed good ground? Horses by Westerner who don't go on that kind of ground are as rare as chickens teeth. Also, CDB faded out of the Galway Plate because he doesn't stay 2 mile & 6f? Of course he stays 2 mile 6. A Westerner out of a Kayhasi mare staying on like a lion in that ground over that trip but he doesn't stay another 2 furlongs on good summer ground? Silly silly talk. Trainers are so quick to decide they know something about a horse based on the most flimsy evidence.
Also, this Nichols horse in the 3.00 apparently might not like it soft? By Dom Alco? Dom Alco's who don't like this ground virtually don't exist.
Oscar Whisky would have won if Geraghty didn't treat the race as an exercise gallop. Only decided to start riding the horse after the last. Connections had negative mindsets beforehand. Apparently it was badly handicapped (though 11 pounds below hurd