Champion Hurdle

E

eric c

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Catch Me's winning run at Gowran means he goes for the Champion Hurdle and Henry De Bromhead will be looking for another jockey to replace AJMcNamara.
 
There's an intriguing element to this, and it's not the first time Eddie O'Grady has done it. Davy Russell and Back In Front for example, but he's not known for his patience, and I'd be surprised if there isn't more to this than meets the eye.

Firstly if O'Grady thinks Catch Me has a genuine chance why would he let his stable jockey ride for another trainer who has a leading hope in the same race? Does he think he's better off with Ruby or Gerraghty? If so, how would McNamara feel about that? And if that isn't the case surely there must have been some words of some sort. Eddie O'Grady kindly saying, Andrew, you go and ride Sizing Europe with my blessing and I hope you win' doesn't sit quite right somehow.

And what if McNamara rides a stinker on Sizing Europe and Catch Me benefits. Would there be questions asked?

It could of course all be straightforward and it's something and nothing, but I can't help feeling that there may be some future fallout from this.
 
Catch Me is rated 150 in Ireland---could he go for the Coral Cup--Skys The Limit won it with top weight of 144 ??
Irish Times--Brian O'Connor says today that EJOG is ready to release AJMcN---has to discuss it with the owner.
Intriguing it is.
 
If a trainer has a retained jockey then he has every right to claim that jockey on behalf of his owner, even if that jockey has an association with the favourite from another yard.

O'Grady pays for McNamara's services, and his owners expect the yard to utilise those services especially in the top meetings.

Personally I have little time for McNamara, however I don't see how O'Grady can be expected to do anything other than claim his retained jockey for the Champion Hurdle, and I cannot understand how any outcome would lead to any suspicions being raised - apart from the worst example of Betfarians!
 
[1] McNamara will ride Sizing Europe

[2] Geraghty will ride Catch Me

You heard it here...

Well...

Definitely number 1 anyway
 
Originally posted by useful@Feb 19 2008, 08:26 PM

Personally I have little time for McNamara, however I don't see how O'Grady can be expected to do anything other than claim his retained jockey for the Champion Hurdle, and I cannot understand how any outcome would lead to any suspicions being raised - apart from the worst example of Betfarians!
Click to expand...
O'Grady has already said that McNamara is riding Sizing Europe for de Bromhead and he will find another jockey for Catch Me useful, and that is the point of my post. Nothing to do with Betfair consiracy theories. O'Grady is NOT claiming McNamara his own stable jockey.

Essentially I'm questioning why, and asking what others opinions are as it seems out of character for O'Grady to let a jockey off, particularly when he has a live Champion Hurdle contender running in the same race.
 
Originally posted by Euronymous@Feb 19 2008, 12:21 PM
Is the first part of your sig a joke Martin?
Click to expand...
Nope - the BHA seem keen enough on having enough 2m 4-5f Grade 1's throughout the season why not give the cross country specialists a proper race too?

The more variation we have in NH racing the better :)
 
EJOG said he had to consult with the owner---that could mean a few things--OGrady gets pleasure out of being devious.
Osana is not a DJ horse so Timmy Murphy could be the choice.
 
Maruco, you said:

"And what if McNamara rides a stinker on Sizing Europe and Catch Me benefits. Would there be questions asked?

It could of course all be straightforward and it's something and nothing, but I can't help feeling that there may be some future fallout from this."

This reads as conspiracy theorising even before the race is run. You make statements that imply you have some insight into the mind of Edward O'Grady - "but he's not known for his patience, and I'd be surprised if there isn't more to this than meets the eye".

Why do you think you are able to comment on O'Grady with such authority?

If O'Grady is good enough to allow his stable jockey the chance to ride the Champion Hurdle favourite then so be it. How can you even suggest that a Catch Me victory could be read as a Ballynonty plot with McNamara involved in some way? That is very much a Betfair Forum standard of post.

As for the Back In Front saga - that is actually completely the oppposite to what we have this time around. Russell was being utilised by O'Grady but the owners wanted a top class jockey with Festival winning experience. O'Grady bowed to that pressure. This time around he is releasing his stable jockey to ride a better fancied horse. Where is the similarity?
 
Catch Me has been entered for the Coral Cup---OR 150.
If Lough Derg were to run--OR 159---it would be interesting between the top two and a lot of horses would be out of the handicap.
 
Can't see Catch Me going for anything other than the Champion Hurdle now. He was still in with a shout when capsizing at Punchestown against Glencove Marina, and if you forgive him his blip at Thurles in December he has every right to go to the Champion as a potentially highly underrated animal.
 
Evening all, I can't see catch me getting into the shake-up for the champ hurdle. I don't believe he's good enough maybe EO'G knows this and that is why he is letting AJ ride a horse that actually has a good chance. Anyone hear anything about silent Oscar. He is entered but still hasn't had a run this season, he wants it quick so maybe they are going to wait. I think current champ is under rated or maybe just his trainer is.
 
Welcome to the forum Sheikh!

Not heard anything about Silent Oscar, I think it must be doubtful regarding Cheltenham now for him.

As for Catch Me, its his jumping that concerns me. Not the most natural.
 
Lough Derg has gone up 3 for Fontwell----Catch Me up 3 because he is from Ireland.
If they were both to go for the Coral Cup a fair few would be out of the h'cap and AJMcN would be on board O'Grady's getting 9 lbs.
Catch Me's form seems much better than Sky's the Limit's was at this stage.
All options will be considered at Ballynonty.
Remember Hardy Eustace in 2004?
 
As I said on another thread, he wants to ride the latter but I understand it's still in the balance. Your hunch could be right Gal but he wouldn't be happy - just as he wasn't after the AIG
 
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