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this yard has always been one I have followed and I had a 25% share in Faustino trained there in the 1990s. In the last few years I have despaired of backing them as results deteriorated but in the last 12 months they are transformed. 4 wins in the last 14 days is nothing exceptional but nearly all of their runners have been in contention with 5 second places as well. French Ship battled on well at Cheltenham and in my opinion, Captain Hugo could be the best they have.
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Nolan their main rider out with a naughty injury atm.
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Good post. Had actually noticed their recent couple of wins. Maybe they can get a run going this time.
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I never wish injury on any jockey of course but I am not a fan of Nolan as a rider. Houlihan and Pritchard are better but the yard needs a decent jockey. Dunwoody, Johnson and McCoy have been stable jockeys in the past when they were having 100 wins in a season. Ben Jones rode French Ship and improved him 10lb according to RPR. They retain the support of some big owners such as Brocade Racing, Wayne Clifford, Ian Gosden, Alan Stennett as well as relative newcomers in Gwent Holdings.
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Evening sage, carrying on in the same vein, I dont know your opinion, but I didnt rate tom obrien either.
Used to be a decent yard many many moons ago. Just need to look at their cheltenham record over recent years - i dont remember the last festival winner they had ? |
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Soba Glory went into my notebook last season as one that will improve on his already decent NH flat form when he gets something to jump and a longer trip
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sober
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They could have had Jones as stable jock before he was signed up by Pauling, but chose Nolan instead. Long way to go for the stable to get back up the ladder. A few novice wins won't do it.
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Johnson White was interviewed at Ffos las yesterday. He said that Sober Glory had more toe than their winner there, Starzand, and would run in a 2 mile novice hurdle shortly when the going was soft enough. I still think that Captain Hugo could be better than either. Tom O'Brien was another adequate but not outstanding rider. French Ship was their first Cheltenham winner (not just Festival, any race) since Johnson White joined in the license nearly 3 years ago. They are going the right way now though.
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We’re not saying he’s “back up the ladder” and we all know the difference beaten novice races and Grade 1’s, thank you.
Every resurgence, comeback, starts somewhere. We are hoping that this is a comeback having noted his recent good spell. Thank you. |
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Evening sage
I don't remember McCoy being a stable jockey there, I do remember him early days being at Toby Balding yard, but I'm sure you're right Only a smallish set up compared to the Lambourn boys in terms of gallops, imo As you drive towards Minehead, as I often do, look up to the left and you can see the gallops and practice fences going up the hill, unless there's more you can't see? |
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Johnson is the only one who has been a stable jockey for Hobbs.
Losing the Whateley horses to Murphy was a big dent and that sort of quality hasn't been replaced. JP still supports the yard and has an interesting one in Limier D'Arthel who missed the whole of last season. |
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Not sure what the contract was but AP rode most of them for a while. His first Festival win was on Kibreet in the Grand Annual. He also won twice on Faustino at Ascot and Hereford. He moved on to Martin Pipe and we know the rest.
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Morning Reg, I know the yard and gallops. There is a danger of lack of variety but many "experts" say that horses prefer routine. There are not many other trainers close to Minehead so less risk of infections spreading compared to Newmarket and Lambourn. My main criticism in recent years has been jumping ability. They mostly jump fine in the earlier part of races but seem prone to mistakes at the last 2 or 3 obstacles when coming under pressure. It was the same when Richard Johnson was there but he seemed to get away with it. Hopefully that will improve this season.
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Sober Glory due to make his hurdling debut tomorrow with Ben Jones up. I think he will end up needing further with something like the Challow as a target, but ground on the soft side and Chepstow is a galloping track. I would be disappointed if he didn't make all. Obviously, Skelton rates Kadastral, but everyone knows how his horses are usually ridden in these type of races. Will this be any different? Tennessee Twist is a good looking horse, but thus far not at this level, and he probably doesn't want it too soft. Interesting race.
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thanks for the heads up dd. I will have a close look.
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A hard enough race to start off in but the going will be why so many decent looking prospects are declared. Grand Garcon and Matty's Getaway with a hurdle run behind him are other dangers. Captain Hugo runs on Thursday at Newbury so they mean business this week.
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I am surprised he has been put in at 13/8. Expected shorter.
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Even bigger now given that Matty's Getaway has been cut from 4/1-5/2. Struggling to see that move. The horse is a 6yo with ordinary point form and now in a much stronger looking race than his hurdling debut. He does not look to have the profile of a Graded horse, and his form is on quicker ground than he will face tomorrow.
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It does look a good race so any jumping weakness could be exposed. Sky racing had an interview with Johnson White today and he sounded very bullish about Captain Hugo at Newbury.
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At the moment there is no comparison between Sober Glory and Captain Hugo. Captain Hugo has just ran in two very ordinary good ground bumpers, one of which he didn't win. Assuming Sober Glory translates his ability to hurdles it will be disappointing if he isn't at least a stone better. Captain Hugo will need to find plenty to be anything other than a handicapper.
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I have yet to hear from a Trainer that said,"It has schooled like a yak"
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As I write Sober Glory pretty much odds on everywhere. Given the showers that have been sweeping the country I would be surprised if there is much good in that Chepstow ground. No doubt Skelton will try his usual stalking ride on Kadastral - the long Chepstow straight lends itself to that type of ride - so it's up to Jones to control the pace well enough not to give him a sniff. He is one on the stronger looking stayer.
Just looked at the Captain Hugo race tomorrow. The current 7/2 looks very short to me. You could easily have him fourth or fifth favourite at double those odds. I liked the look of Sinnatra when he won on debut, but that form didn't work out, and he disappointing at Windsor, albeit in a much better race. I would like to see Skelton ride him forward, but that's probably a pipedream. Couple of very well bred horses in this, notably Wilstar and Joyau Allen. With the exception of the first race, it's a reasonable card, as you might expect. |
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Sober Glory hugely impressive but time will tell if he beat much. Grand Garcon was 40/1 on here which is huge for a Nicholls runner but it finished third. I grant you that Captain Hugo will have much more to beat tomorrow but I got the vibe from Johnson White that he thinks that he is the one.
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Doesn't always work out, but that did. As expected made all and never looked like losing. Hopefully, a few other people got something on at the 13/8 and 15/8. Not often bookmakers are generous. Skelton tried to ride Kadastral a bit closer than the one's earlier, but never looked likely to reel in the winner. Tennessee Twist (backed from 33/1) probably worth another look on a quicker surface.
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Kadastral is very likely a better horse than anything Captain Hugo is running against tomorrow, it's just that Captain Hugo's form as it stands is very ordinary.
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Turned a 3-4L advantage on the bend coming into the straight over Kadastral to an
easy 12L win in the end.Murdered the field really. wd GL |
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Bumpers are never that reliable but the Hans Lippershey form tells us that Capt. Hugo would have easily won the Cheltenham bumper last Saturday. One of us will be right tomorrow.
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Thanks.
Bumpers can be very reliable, but clearly they are not the ultimate guide. After the race Hobbs said Sober Glory was the best they have had for many years. Nothing about Captain Hugo. All I am saying is 7/2 was a terrible price for Captain Hugo based on what he has achieved. He has already drifted to 9/2. I am not saying he can't win. It's a family of winners, but the vast majority are in the 110-120 bracket. |
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He also may be up against a very good one today in Wilstar. That is the fascination of novice hurdles at this time of year. Every big yard will have 2 or 3 good novice hurdlers yet to run and until they run against each other it is hard to tell which are the potential stars.
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Market all over the place as they line up.
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Captain Hugo showed a really good attitude, Wilstar ran like the late drift told you it would
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Phew. My bet of the jump season so far. We will have to wait and see how the form works out.
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Once Wilstar drifted I was very confident although there were nibbles at 3 others.
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Given the mistake at the last, he has done well to win. He got a much better tactical ride than the second, but that's typical Skelton. I think most people would probably expect the form to be reversed, but not sure you can trust Sinnatra. His jumping was very poor. With the choicely bred pair, Wilstar and Joyau Allen blowing out, I am not sure the race lived up to the expectation. Certainly not as good as the one yesterday.
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We will see dd. I was very impressed by the last 100 yards when Capt Hugo looked ready to go again if asked. Sinnatra is still gangly and green so can improve but he won his first bumper then ran poorly next time. The third was very well backed. I am very happy with today.
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Ollie Murphy = Hero or Zero.
The trouble is,nobody knows which will occur |
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Fav. never put in the race but he was ahead of Sinnatra at one stage so it was not caused by sitting too far back.
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Although he has ended up well beaten, from a betting viewpoint I would probably take West Hill Verde out of the race. He looks the part, and you could see him ending up on a decent handicap mark.
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Sober Glory might well be the better over a trip on soft but I would take Captain Hugo every time over 2 miles good/soft on a flat track.
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