punchestown

yes punchy, I think tomorrow will be different we will find out if hes good enough

same to you swarden

You're scaring me wonks . February 20th kick off, if that suits..........

Slick , I know you want to make the rules on the day , was just wondering if this would appeal , how about no odds on shots and no bigger than 4/1 for the whole comp ,just so nobody can fluke a result on the last day ,what do you think ?

Was just trying to limit the possibility of one of us fluking it Slick , so its a weekend comp  plus Chelt Aintree ?

Enjoy your holiday...

why?

Like Swardean I also Like The Job Is Right in the finale fwiw.

This is not you tony?

Punchestown 1:35 – Court Frontier

The Conyngham Cup is a race that is always fondly greeted by the racing fraternity given its historical significance, but this year’s renewal sees a very disappointing and depleted field line up to contest the first prize of just over €11,000.

The weights are headed by Unic De Bersy, who after initially proving disappointing for Willie Mullins over hurdles, has progressed well for Gordon Elliott over fences and ran a blinder last time at Fairyhouse, when he was narrowly denied by Witness of Fashion. That was only 8 days ago however and saddled with top weight, this might be a big ask.

Baie Des Iles is a useful mare with some smart French form and she should have won at Limerick on her penultimate start over hurdles. She ran ok over hurdles last time off 126, but she is back over fences off a mark of 130 and that looks about right.

The horse we feel is well ahead of the handicapper is the Alan Fleming trained Court Frontier. The son of Court Cave is a winning pointer after previously racing under rules for Conor O’Dwyer and in his 5 starts back under rules in hunter chases and handicap hurdles/chases, he has shown plenty of ability. He sauntered home in a handicap hurdle on his penultimate start, but it is his runs in hunter chases and last time which really mark him out as well weighted. He got very strange rides in hunter chases, particularly when second to Jack Aboo at Clonmel and then last time at Leopardstown, John Fitzpatrick again gave him a ride which can at best be described as moderate. Fitzpatrick is replaced this time by Roger Quinlan and the horse races off just 1lb higher than when very well backed last time. He does have to reverse form with Bearly Legal and he has a quick reappearance to overcome, but he was not given anything like a hard time over Christmas and if he is ridden to his best advantage here, with a well judged ride in terms of positioning, then he looks very well in off 113 and we could see him collecting a race in the future off a mark of 125 or higher. He rates a decent bet in this contest.



Punchestown 3:50 – Diamond King

Diamond King has yet to open his account for Gordon Elliott in two starts since he left Donald McCain along with nearly everything other than the kitchen sink. However he has shown plenty on both those runs to suggest that he is well up to winning this contest on his way to landing something better as the season continues.

On his first start for his new yard, he was quite well backed at Down Royal, but ran as though he needed the run, keeping on in the straight, but finishing a never nearer 8 lengths 4th to Fethard Player. On his most recent start, he showed much more, as he travelled strongly through the race and looked to be going like the winner as they turned in at Fairyhouse. However when he was let down, he did not quite have the speed to live with Blue Hell and although he ran on well, he was never going to reel in the Alan Fleming horse. He has looked as though a step up in trip will suit him and he gets that here as he races over 2,5 miles. The ground should be an issue for him and with Jack Kennedy claiming 5lb, he is marginally the best in on official ratings, with the most scope for improvement.

Art of Payroll may need this confidence booster, while the ground looks to be against The Job is Right. All Hell Let Loose has to put a poor run over fences last time behind him, while Theophilus is hard to rate, but was very easily beaten by Dicosimo at Limerick over Christmas and does not appeal as being as well weighted as our selection.

How in heavens name will Fitzpatrick get a ride as a professional.

I'm a long time defender of jockeys but the ride Court Frontier got in Leopardstown was worse than the ride he gave it in Clonmel.
In Clonmel he was instructed to hold the horse up and he overdid it.
In Leopardstown he did everything wrong,he was in the worst possible position at all times in that race.
He found himself wide got pitched wider at nearly every fence,turning in he has no chance and is on the extreme outside,he moves back inside losing more ground and finishes to some affect to snatch third.

He has to win today with the change of jockey.
I certainly didnt think he had a hard race at Leopardstown,the opposite in fact.

it's a pro/am. pros who claim 7 and all amatures.. bumpers been like that for number of years in Ireland..

Tyner have him the leg up last weekend and he won for workrider against Tudor City.

His riding of Court Frontier was dreadful though. Replaced in this context means someone else his riding. Whether he can or cannot ride is not mentioned? Anyone backing will surely prefer Quinlan no matter how it has come about.

ttk,
   with respect,the obvious is sometimes that the obvious?as im not in the league as others when coming to write ups, im happy enough to pass my opinion, as for hateing to agree with me ttk, I,ll not worry.

Tour des Champs e/w at 16/1 in the Welsh National, bet of the day.

Will relish ground, track and trip and only up 4 pounds for last win.

With you Snap, 16s looks massive

That court Frontier is useless.  Very little scope to jump fences and got a cruel hard race at Chritmas.  I sometimes wonder what race some of ye lads are watching!!

Winner was the classiest horse in the race by a mile.  Look at her french form.  Was running against grade 1 and 2 animals.  Only a matter of staying.  Look at her Navan run, was miles better than races Court Frontier was running in.

Court Frontier is very ordinary.

No you wouldn't. You would be calling the horse a total disappointment!!! She is very disappointing as she would have been bought for big money and she's scrapping around in a dud handicap. Wouldn't be calling him a genius. Wikis would be winning a graded hurdle with her! That's the difference.

O'Hehir "napped" Classic Frontier. Backers had their fate sealed with this Evens FAVOURITE from flag fall.
However, all was not lost for O'Hehir's "follower", as he redeemed himself with a "next best" of Min at 1-7