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The 2025 Greatwood (Handicap) Hurdle

Sean Bowen. Delighted with that.

Let's see am I an idiot or not.

3.30 – Putapoundinthejar​

I rode this horse to victory at the Punchestown Festival last season. That was one of the highlights of the year for me. He travelled like a dream in that race, and my initial thought after the contest was that he would improve again. He has featured on the Flat and over hurdles during the summer, so he should be fit. The handicapper put him up 10lb for his Punchestown triumph, so he is now off a mark of 127. He deserves his spot in this field, and it will be great to get back on board.
 
Still hoping Faivoir will give me a run at 66s .
Laafi is interesting, particuarly if the forecast sun omits a flight of hurdles or two. I remember him running away with a couple of good handicaps on the flat, on bad ground when Haggas had him.
 
Still hoping Faivoir will give me a run at 66s .
Laafi is interesting, particuarly if the forecast sun omits a flight of hurdles or two. I remember him running away with a couple of good handicaps on the flat, on bad ground when Haggas had him.
Low sun, omitted obstacles, lousy jumper, enhanced chance, its the sort of angle to provide a long-priced winner and gain compensation for accidentally bumping into Danny before the previous race.
 
Fiercely Proud looks interesting. Been 25s for a while, bits of blue and 28 currently with 33 365.

Looked like early season target was Ascot a couple of weeks ago, but didn't run. While looking best fresh, reportedly also takes a lot of work to get ready. One interpretation might be that BP eyed up the Greatwood and changed his mind (figuring it didn't look that hot), another might be FP wouldn't be quite ready for the original target race and didn't want to waste the bullet.

Rubber Ball might be able to step up and run a nice race. But would want minimum 50s.

And your favourite 10 year old hurdler - Faivoir - in the first 5 is not impossible.
 
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Putapoundinthejar is 140 on the machine. I'm.happy to accept I've got this one badly wrong. Sean Bowen might never ride a horse this big a price in his life again.
 
Alexei seems to have strengthened again in the market.

If the ground turns out no worse than Good to Soft, he might still do it, I suppose.

Fiveonefive was one I thought might outrun his odds - that will be easier to accomplish now....he's out to 140!
 
Fiercely Proud looks interesting. Been 25s for a while, bits of blue and 28 currently with 33 365.

Looked like early season target was Ascot a couple of weeks ago, but didn't run. While looking best fresh, reportedly also takes a lot of work to get ready. One interpretation might be that BP eyed up the Greatwood and changed his mind (figuring it didn't look that hot), another might be FP wouldn't be quite ready for the original target race and didn't want to waste the bullet.

Rubber Ball might be able to step up and run a nice race. But would want minimum 50s.

And your favourite 10 year old hurdler - Faivoir - in the first 5 is not impossible.
Fiercely Proud


25/1 (bet365)

"Fiercely Proud has been away for two racecourse gallops so he should be fully fit for this. I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on at a big price."

Trainer
 
It's time for the moment you've all surely been waiting for - yes, YFUSA's Greatfecta combo.

You're all again banned from doing the exotics (YFUSA plans to "cop the lot" doing those all on his own so he could buy the house next door to Charlotte Church and live on sushi for the rest of his life - the two not being directly connected) and you're all restricted to the Tricast.

Combine the following four beasts (who naturally will be the first four home) in those bookie-bashing combinations (and leave the Tote to YFUSA)....

Alexei
Serious Challenge
King William Rufus

and, to send a few big bookie share prices South come Monday morning....

Fiveonefive!

There is absolutely no need to thank YFUSA for this - he's all about sending surprisingly-photogenic gentlemen of pert form and negligible ongoing barbering overheads back to the Midlands with hold-alls full of Cotswolds cash.
 
Alexei 6/1 from 8/1 now and, I know it's boring, but I think what beats it wins.

I wouldn't lay 6/1 - it's a 4/1 shot in my book.
I immediately took Slim up on his advice on the Auteuil thread.

On the downside. my confidence diminished when I later saw how ground was riding.

On the upside I'd already bet it with some confidence by then.
 
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I immediately took Slim up on his advice on the Auteuil thread.

On the downside. my confidence diminished when I later saw how ground was riding.

On the upside I'd already bet it with some confidence by then.

It must be great having a Your Favourite Uncle Smart Arse - I envy you all in that regard.
Obviously a rapidly improving horse !
 
I immediately took Slim up on his advice on the Auteuil thread.

On the downside. my confidence diminished when I later saw how ground was riding.

On the upside I'd already bet it with some confidence by then.

It must be great having a Your Favourite Uncle Smart Arse - I envy you all in that regard.

Fiveonefive ran well. It's hard to give you credit when you spread your opinion so thinly.
 
Well done YFUSA.
Thank you.

It was an odd one, really.

I had fancied Alexei from the get go and backed it at 8/1 and 6/1 ante-post.

But while I didn't trade out of it, my confidence was diminished by the ground on Friday and I didn't start to get hopeful again until I saw Saturday's times and started to think it might only be Good to Soft today.

This is a very progressive hurdler - it took a big step forward from Chepstow to Ascot and another one this afternoon.
 
Thank you.

It was an odd one, really.

I had fancied Alexei from the get go and backed it at 8/1 and 6/1 ante-post.

But while I didn't trade out of it, my confidence was diminished by the ground on Friday and I didn't start to get hopeful again until I saw Saturday's times and started to think it might only be Good to Soft today.

This is a very progressive hurdler - it took a big step forward from Chepstow to Ascot and another one this afternoon.

Too late. You're now a race behind.
 

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