cracking renewal featuring the return of energumene twice winner of the champion chase , if he is back to his best he is the most likely winner but he may just need this ,ferny hollow is a danger to all but short enough, dinoblue appreciate it both have chances on their best form but i like the look of blue lord here also on a comeback mission but goes very well fresh not a massive amount to find on ratings and solid enough chasing form . banbridge also appeals ,very useful top class form mainly over a bit further but versatile and this could be run to suit ,winner of the punchestown champion chase and rated 165 he ticks a few boxes ground may not be as much an issue as many think although billies offewing 20s might mean they know he is a nonner here. selections blue lord 14/1 bog ew & banbridge 20/1 ew bog . good luck opinions encouraged.
The Hilly Way already, and yesterday the Tingle Creek. This season is half over but at the same time seems barely to have taken off. Just three months left till Cheltenham.
Energumene after two years on his sickbed is not tempting at odds-on.
The Hilly Way already, and yesterday the Tingle Creek. This season is half over but at the same time seems barely to have taken off. Just three months left till Cheltenham.Energumene after two years on his sickbed is not tempting at odds-on.
when i say not a massive amount to find on ratings energumene is at least 10 superior on ratings but given the lay off and uncertainty as to where he is fitness wise the ratings advantage may not be so clear .if so its a much closer race than the figgas reveal . not saying he wont come back as good he may well win but given the uncertainty and short odds today may be the day to take him on .
when i say not a massive amount to find on ratings energumene is at least 10 superior on ratings but given the lay off and uncertainty as to where he is fitness wise the ratings advantage may not be so clear .if so its a much closer race than the fi
regarding banbridge the ground may not be as much of a concern as the penalty but he may have needed debut run this season and has won on softish going .the forcast yielding to soft should be fine .
regarding banbridge the ground may not be as much of a concern as the penalty but he may have needed debut run this season and has won on softish going .the forcast yielding to soft should be fine .
Willie might take the view that because Energumene will be 11 next March, today is his cup final.
Or Willie might think that for the same reason, he is being brought along gently to maximise his chances at the Festival.
And that is not to say Energumene will be a non-trier: of course he will win it if he can.
Agree with sageform.Willie might take the view that because Energumene will be 11 next March, today is his cup final.Or Willie might think that for the same reason, he is being brought along gently to maximise his chances at the Festival.And that is
no stew in the car on way home got the commentary on but couldnt do anything about it and dint leave my usual short priced keep lay in for some unknown reason ! never mind had a good week so no probs .
no stew in the car on way home got the commentary on but couldnt do anything about it and dint leave my usual short priced keep lay in for some unknown reason ! never mind had a good week so no probs .
The winner caused the fall after hampering Banbridge three times. Would surely have got it in the room if he'd have stayed on board, even if not quite getting up. Now he'll get away with no punishment at all, presumably.
The winner caused the fall after hampering Banbridge three times. Would surely have got it in the room if he'd have stayed on board, even if not quite getting up. Now he'll get away with no punishment at all, presumably.
Traded 1.6 ir apparently. I had no interest in the race but for me it was a toss up, PT was 'nursing' the winner home, erratic jumping and all, don't think there was that much left.
Traded 1.6 ir apparently. I had no interest in the race but for me it was a toss up, PT was 'nursing' the winner home, erratic jumping and all, don't think there was that much left.
banbridge was giving the winner plenty of weight and would be well capable of holding his own in the champion chase if getting there on good/softish ground .
banbridge was giving the winner plenty of weight and would be well capable of holding his own in the champion chase if getting there on good/softish ground .
might not have btn the fav but might have not been that much in it if he had completed giving the winner 10 pound and the 3rd 7 pound shows the ability is there , 33s for the champ which could end up a small field .
might not have btn the fav but might have not been that much in it if he had completed giving the winner 10 pound and the 3rd 7 pound shows the ability is there , 33s for the champ which could end up a small field .
booby says different but someone parted the birch at the last and the jockey on Bainbridge absolutely threw the horse at the fence ,winner going right didn't help but think the jock thre himself out of the saddle,never winning imo ,I suspect side on would show him a good length down at the last
booby says different but someone parted the birch at the last and the jockey on Bainbridge absolutely threw the horse at the fence ,winner going right didn't help but think the jock thre himself out of the saddle,never winning imo ,I suspect side on
yesterday is history we will never know what woulda happened but the one id take out of the race for the champion chase is banbridge after all he was giving the winner 10 pound (10 pound to a dual champion chase winner ) and he was giving him a race may or may not have beaten him but i think most would agree wouldnt have been lapped by the winner had he had stood up ,after all the last fence drama energumene ran out an easy 10 length winner but if banbridge had stood up in all likelyhood he would have been made to battle and the gap back to the third may have well been bigger . many will say enegumene would have needed the race and sure he will come on for it but the way townend rode aggresifly from the front him suggests to me he was fit enough on the day.
yesterday is history we will never know what woulda happened but the one id take out of the race for the champion chase is banbridge after all he was giving the winner 10 pound (10 pound to a dual champion chase winner ) and he was giving him a race