Tranquil Sea

According to Noel O'Brien in the Irish Field on the 10th of October, there was an agreement in place that any horse rated over 140 in Ireland ran off that mark in the UK (except in the Aintree National). I have not been able to establish whether Phil Smith no longer feels bound by this agreement, but I suspect that may be the case as Casey Jones (149) was entered in a handicap chase in England last weekend (not declared) and had been allotted a mark of 153. Tranquil Sea's mark lends further credence to my theory.

I have made some inquiries but my investigation into this matter has borne no fruit. Perhaps one of the experts on here are aware of some change to this agreement?

I suspect that the most likely answer is that Phil Smith is a man who does what he likes when he likes.

I think you have made a mistake here. This thread was only started today.

Saturday was his Gold cup. I`ll be opposing him wherever he turns up next.

Maybe something to do with The Last Derby winning a 100k hcap chase by 5l at Ascot on Saturday?

very good synopsis giant strides , this is a horse thats not quiet up to top class imo .goes well fresh but needs everything to fall into place

]:)

Joanna Morgan is reportedly pleased that Raise Your Heart has only 10 stone 7 lbs in the Greatwood but by my calculations that equates to an official BHA mark of 146 which is 9lbs in excess of its Turf Club rating - it is possible that the BHA team have taken a view on his form at Cork beating Silver Jaro ( who they have rated far higher than his home mark ) but surely they didnt take his improved flat form into account in making their calculations ?

Been well beaten off lower marks in England previous.
No reason to raise his english mark on the back
of that cork win in the bath!
You could be right about the improved flat form.

TRANQUIL SEA has been promoted to favourite for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday by Ladbrokes and William Hill, after heavy support was reported for the Irish raider.

The Edward O'Grady-trained seven-year-old was cut to 5-1 (from 8) by Ladbrokes, to 11-2 (from 9) by William Hill and to 13-2 (from 9) by Coral.

Hayley O'Connor of Ladbrokes said: "Although O'Grady does have reservations about Tranquil Sea, punters clearly believe he has progressed enough to be in with a major chance.

"We laid him all day and as a result he's into 5-1 favouritism from a morning quote of 8-1."

Even though Coral are still offering a bigger price than their competitors, spokesman David Stevens does not believe it will last long.

Stevens said: "The Irish haven't won this race since 1980, but the money we've seen for Tranquil Sea in the past 24 hours suggests that long wait may be about to end, and at this rate Tranquil Seacould well start favourite on Saturday."

Tranquil Sea, a Grade 1 winner at Punchestown as a novice hurdler, won only one of his five chases in his first campaign over fences last season but on his reppearance last month he landeda Grade 3 chase at Naas.

Other Paddy Power contenders to come in for support were the Paul Nicholls-trained Tatenen, now 10-1 (from 12), and Ballyfitz, who is as short as 12-1 (from 20) after his trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies issued a positive bulletin about him.

His jumping let him down in the Jewson last year, and was under too much cover, to recover and get involved. He did finish really well having looked stuffed and did pass a lot of horses on the run-in.
He does handle the course, as he did lead to 2 out in the Supreme the year before, but they kinda cut their throats in front, but he did manage to finish 6th or 7th. Was worried he didnt get up the hill after the supreme, but he def got up it last year, was just too far back. Third time lucky ;)

He said today that after he won at Punchestown in April 2008, when he was let down a bird spooked him and as a result he was stood still for May, June and July in his box. Thats the reason he is giving for his form tailing off last season.
This summer he was out in the field for the full 3 months.

Wouldn't say that Bio, ran well, if too free in the Sup; and stayed on well in the Jewson despite poor jumping.

Never out of the first 2 on Heavy btw - 2,1,2,1,2,1- sft/hvy lto.

^^^^that was offically Soft.

Fair enough swim, but you get the point surely.

:)

Laughed at them. Great performance

i hang me head , you proved me wrong t.s.

booooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmm if you look at my horses to follows named this fellow.... €100 double at 10's now going onto trafford at 16' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wd to the backers, he always promised a big day at some stage