Best And Worst of 2011

graysonscolumn said:
Villain of the year:
Howard Johnson. Many acts in racing over the last 12 months, be they related to tariffs, whip rulings, etc., have merely been misguided or racing-illiterate. Johnson's, however, were manifestly wicked, and that's a whole other world of unforgiveable as far as I'm concerned.

Bet of the 2011:
Dermatologiste at Bangor last week paid for Christmas and then some - I'd been waiting for the day they'd finally aim it at a marathon distance, and the hope then had to be that the jumping would hold up.
Keeverfield at Market Rasen in February was another big touch landed, as well as a reminder of the virtues of going by fitness as much as form in early-season hunter chases. Note to fellow forumites - take any Sam Drake runners in hunter chases this coming winter very seriously indeed. She gets them granite tough hunting with the Pendle Forest and Craven hunt far more than the minimum required to get the hunters' certificate, and she also has some use of Sue and Harvey Smith's facilities.

Bet of 2012:
Mid Div And Creep will win a marathon handicap chase - it's just a case of which one. She'll be carrying less of my money in the Welsh National than she might have done, for even if the 11lb she currently lies out of the handicap can be surmounted, the phalanx of rival pace influences probably cannot - I don't think she'd be able to soften up both of Giles Cross and Carruthers, plus whosoever else takes her on. Come to think of it, I'd be happier still now if she swerved Chepstow completely and was aimed at a Midlands National, Classic Chase or similar.

gc
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Someone you don;t see posting on here much... Nice to see you are still following the murky amateur depths of our great game GC!!
 
Moment : Arriving at Cheltenham on the first day of the festival again with all hopes and dreams still alive (and wallet full)

Performance : Big Bucks destroying Grands Crus (who I adore)

High : End of the Flat season
Low : Start of the Flat season

Hero : Willie Mullins.......fantastic trainer
Villain : Tom Scudamore....always weak in the finish IMO

Bet 2012......wherever Grands Crus runs at the festival
 
Moment of 2011: Kauto at Haydock.
Performance of 2011: I'll have to go to the flat for that. Frankel at Newmarket.
Hero of 2011: Big Buck's and Kauto.
Villain(s) of 2011: Those who put the sport in the news for the wrong reasons.

There were plenty of other highs of course but I'd like to mention a couple of more lows, namely seeing Denman and Kauto struggle at Aintree and Punchestown post Cheltenham. Also, Denman's retirement coming in the circumstance it did without getting to see him run once/twice more. But at least he retired safe and sound.
 
Aragorn said:
Someone you don;t see posting on here much...
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Bless you, Aragorn! I'd realised with horror the other the day that it was getting on for three years since I did anything much on here - that needed rectifying.


Aragorn said:
Nice to see you are still following the murky amateur depths of our great game GC!!
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More so now than ever. Four weekends into the new Pointing season, five Points already visited, another 40 pencilled in before season's end. I know what I like, me. :D

gc
 
Colin Phillips said:
Hope you will be posting on here more often, Jeremy, informative post as usual.
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Aw, that's very kind, Colin, and hope things are going better with you and yours than when I contacted you last. I still have it in the back of my mind that I owe you a lift to the next Welsh Point-to-Point I get to, yes? Or at least to Ffos Las once again. :cool:

gc
 
Katharine said:
Moment of 2011: Kauto at Haydock.
Performance of 2011: I'll have to go to the flat for that. Frankel at Newmarket.
Hero of 2011: Big Buck's and Kauto.
Villain(s) of 2011: Those who put the sport in the news for the wrong reasons.

There were plenty of other highs of course but I'd like to mention a couple of more lows, namely seeing Denman and Kauto struggle at Aintree and Punchestown post Cheltenham. Also, Denman's retirement coming in the circumstance it did without getting to see him run once/twice more. But at least he retired safe and sound.
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I'd go with all of that. Howard Johnson definitely deserves special mention, though. Personal lows were Raise The Beat straining a tendon in the Champion Bumper and Camira having to be put down. Seeing Sizing Europe fulfil his enormous talent was also very satisfying, but Big Zeb is not a lost cause. Hurricane Fly also looks special.
 
Grasshopper said:
Nice to see you around the parish, Jazzer. :cool:
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...Just so long as I don't mention the F-word to you, I guess? I quite like the artificial surface stuff nowadays, but in admitting that I already feel like I've failed you. :lol:

Apropos of all-weather antics, how could I not nominate The Tatling as a Highlight of 2011? Badly drawn, rarely a winner after the sort of break he was returning from, and found plenty of traffic issues in the race itself, yet still managed to find the late gears of a Flat horse one seventh of his age.

Astonishing stuff, and here's hoping he does consent to retire peaceably and happily this time; or at least if he doesn't, that he can be found enough fun things to do outwith racing instead.

gc
 
SlimChance said:
Best Bet of 2012: Simonsig to win the Supreme Novice is the only ante post bet I want to have in 2012 so far. Nothing else has me reaching for my cash.
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I like this too but will he run? I suppose that is the risk you take but I'd like to see some sort of intent from connections that they might be heading that way.

Moment - Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. It was simply superb.

Performance - Frankel in the Guineas had to be seen to be believed. I was there that day and the crowds emotions were something else. Confusion as everybody was sure the pacemaker was drawn on the stands side, then realisation that it was Frankel blazing away in front. Shock and horror as he was so far clear and surely couldn't keep it up. Then realising that he was and just cheering home a brilliant horse. We won't see a performance like that for a long time.

Villain - The BHA for doing it's level best to destroy the sport it regulates.

Hero - Sir Henry for his masterful handling of Frankel.
 
Zenyatta said:
Moment - Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. It was simply superb.

Performance - Frankel in the Guineas had to be seen to be believed. I was there that day and the crowds emotions were something else. Confusion as everybody was sure the pacemaker was drawn on the stands side, then realisation that it was Frankel blazing away in front. Shock and horror as he was so far clear and surely couldn't keep it up. Then realising that he was and just cheering home a brilliant horse. We won't see a performance like that for a long time.

Villain - The BHA for doing it's level best to destroy the sport it regulates.

Hero - Sir Henry for his masterful handling of Frankel.
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...after reading this there is no point putting mine up other than to add the drama of the Derby finish... I've not seen such sublime confidence in ability and foolhardiness in such equal measure.
 
2011 will always be the year Frankel won the Guineas in the style of a horse I doubt I will see again, magical horse.
 
Katharine said:
Moment of 2011: Kauto at Haydock.
Performance of 2011: I'll have to go to the flat for that. Frankel at Newmarket.
Hero of 2011: Big Buck's and Kauto.
Villain(s) of 2011: Those who put the sport in the news for the wrong reasons.
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Ditto, ditto, ditto and ditto. With an honourable mention of The Tatling in the Hero category for good measure.
 
Quite simply Kauto's betfair and Frankels guineas and sussex are likely to be highlights of the decade as much as the year. These moments are rarely matched

Villains will include anyone who uses the word "machine' to describe a horse. I cant quite say why but i hate it

But Howard johnson stands out as a disgrace
 
Bruce_Savage said:
Moment: Frankel 2000 Guineas
Performance: Frankel 2000 Guineas
Hero: Kauto Star Betfair Chase
Villain: Paul Roy
Bet: I don’t bet sorry
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"I dont bet" Make yer mind up.


For me its been all about The Fly...best horse of the year by a mile.
 
clivex said:
Quite simply Kauto's betfair and Frankels guineas and sussex are likely to be highlights of the decade as much as the year. These moments are rarely matched

Villains will include anyone who uses the word "machine' to describe a horse. I cant quite say why but i hate it

But Howard johnson stands out as a disgrace
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"BEAST" is my new one. Although i do like machines.
 
If we can have 'Heart-warmer of the Year' then it really has to be the farewell winning run by THE TATLING. Imagine you'd bought him at two and had him all this time - there really wouldn't have been a day's racing where he hadn't given you his best shot. The horse is in a category of his own.
 
Ive been around a bit i will admit, but despite living not to far from Heathrow, that isnt something ive tried
 
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Moment: Kauto Star (Betfair Chase)
Performance: Frankel 2000 Guineas
Hero: Kauto Star Betfair Chase
Villain: HoJo
Bet: There's a few for here - most coming across the channel.
Martin
 
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