Arkle 2014

D

DannyB

At the Start
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The last couple of years have seen relatively small fields for the Arkle with SS and Simonsig scaring off the opposition so to speak.
Does anyone think there will be a bigger field this year? How many do we think may line up?
Do we think Champagne Fever is opposable or will it be 3 festival wins on the bounce?
 
with his prep he's had i'd be against the favourite at the price.

on rock on ruby at 15/1 and has a place chance but not mega confident or anything. think chasing has been a bit of an afterthought.

think of the others. valdez & dodging bullets are the dangers. not convinced by trifolium. looks like hinterland may re-route to queen mum. think felix yonger should be in the race and would have had a good chance.
 
Trifolium is nailed on for the 3 if he stands up.
If the ground is no worse than Good/Soft and he runs (which now seems unlikely) Felix wins. Though he seems JLT bound.
 
I can't get a read on this race at all ! Every time I think I have it worked out I find a reason to oppose the same pick....

Anyone know if Arnaud will run? C Byrnes can ready one for the big day. He traveled really well the last day until the final 2 fences when just touched off by Valdez.

His price on betfair suggests he won't run here, anyone know any details?
 
SlimChance said:
There was bombs for Trifolium today.
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If its not soft or worse I would be concerned about whether he has the raw pace for the Arkle. He's only faced decent ground twice, finishing 3rd in Cinders and Ashes Supreme and then when Felix Yonger beat him 15l in a novice chase. He reversed the form with FY the next time they met but the respective rides brought about the change in fortunes, that and the ground/weights. Willie doesn't seem to think FY can win the Arkle.

This is a difficult race to solve though.
 
Champagne Fever would have beaten Trifolium at Christmas but for the mistake at the second last. I'd be more afraid of Rock on Ruby despite what the stats gurus say.
 
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Never thought Champagne Fever would have the speed for an Arkle, but watching his superlative jumping on Sunday, you'd have to think he might do a reprise of his Supreme.
Rock On Ruby had nothing like CF's alacrity over hurdles, and I wouldn't even have him down for a place.
 
reet hard said:
Never thought Champagne Fever would have the speed for an Arkle, but watching his superlative jumping on Sunday, you'd have to think he might do a reprise of his Supreme.
Rock On Ruby had nothing like CF's alacrity over hurdles, and I wouldn't even have him down for a place.
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Not gonna lie to you Reet..... I had to look up 'alacrity'.

"cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness"

Excellent word!
 
reet hard said:
Never thought Champagne Fever would have the speed for an Arkle, but watching his superlative jumping on Sunday, you'd have to think he might do a reprise of his Supreme.
Rock On Ruby had nothing like CF's alacrity over hurdles, and I wouldn't even have him down for a place.
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Did Champagne Fever work after/before racing on Sunday?
 
He's going to be a very hard horse to pass if he jumps like that


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I saw the gallop and agree he jumped amazingly well but seen nothing but e/w cash for Trifolium and Dodging Bullets since. It's becoming obvious this is a very thin Arkle field.

.
 
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Interesting comments from WPM re Felix Yonger;

"At the moment we're also looking at the JLT for Felix Yonger as well. He is more ground dependant. He prefers good ground so the going will dictate where we go. He found it difficult to get out of the heavy ground at Limerick over the Christmas and again when running second in the Irish Arkle behind Trifolium.

He found the good going at Cheltenham much more to his liking over hurdles last year when he finished second to Simonsig in the Neptune so the better the ground, the better his chances this time around. We'll see what the ground is like closer to the day but with the Arkle on the Tuesday and the JLT on the Thursday, the latter race will give us two more days for the ground to dry out, if needs be."

Surely there's still hope of him running in the 2 miler with the weather forecast and all that. I'm clinging to the "if needs be" anyway.

Come on Graham, step in and follow the Tidal Bay route - it didn't do him any harm...
 
Call it blind faith but I've backed Grandouet for this. Having backed him at the festival the past 2 years I'd kick myself if I looked elsewhere and he won.
Despite the negative vibes re: his schooling recently, backed him in the hope he puts it all together on the day. Positives include the forecast better ground & the fact he has had 3 runs this campaign against decent opposition run at a decent clip (can the same be said for some of the others towards the head of the market....ROR springs to mind?).
Has the speed to win an Arkle without doubt & BG on board can only be seen as a positive.
 
DannyB said:
Call it blind faith but I've backed Grandouet for this. Having backed him at the festival the past 2 years I'd kick myself if I looked elsewhere and he won.
Despite the negative vibes re: his schooling recently, backed him in the hope he puts it all together on the day. Positives include the forecast better ground & the fact he has had 3 runs this campaign against decent opposition run at a decent clip (can the same be said for some of the others towards the head of the market....ROR springs to mind?).
Has the speed to win an Arkle without doubt & BG on board can only be seen as a positive.
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The likely going is defo in his favour, bad for and going against Trifolium for me tho :(
 
I see Felix Yonger has been declared for the Arkle.

Anyone know if Mullins has said he's a definite for this??
 
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