Grasshopper
Senior Jockey
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2006
- Messages
- 16,050
Sir Gino is a legit favourite for the Triumph, but he is short enough and the yard form is a bit inconclusive at the moment - through granted it may be a different story in ten days time. Regardless, he isn't a backable price, and I've gone with the Spring Juvenile form and backed Bunting each-way at 14's. I thought he travelled great at Leopardstown before getting just a touch out-paced turning in, and staying on strongly in the straight; not losing any more ground to Kargese. The stronger stamina test of the Triumph will hopefully be right up his street, and the only negative I can think of is that Ruby Walsh tipped him each-way on the Paddy Power preview tonight!
JP's runners always have to be respected in Festival handicaps, and whilst he has a couple shorter in the betting for the County, I've backed Risk Belle at 16's, with a smaller bet on the exchange at 26. I think she would probably have won the Boodles last season if she'd hit the front a littler later than she did, and her two runs this season likely weren't under ideal conditions, and have the sniffs of mark-maintenance to me. As it is, she'll runs from a mark only 1lbs higher than her Irish rating. She's also been quite battled hardened since last year's Festival - hopefully to ready her for a top-end handicap - and the end-to-end gallop should play to her strengths.
I was on High Class Hero reasonably early for the Bartlett (double-figure price, though nothing too fancy), but I've been going a bit cool on his chances of late, and wanted another one running for me. To that end, I've backed Ben Pauling's The Jukebox Man (34 on machine), who I thought ran a smashing trial for this when chasing home Captain Teague in the Challow, where all he did was stay on. He isn't an absolute guaranteed stayer at 3m, though given he hacked-up twice on Heavy ground over 2m4f earlier in the season (Ffos Las both times), and beat Cleatus Poolaw (amongst the favourites for the Pertemps) in a 3m Point, I'd be reasonably confident he will get the trip. The fact that the yard is on fire right now is an added bonus.
I've ended-up backing Corach Rambler each-way at 20's, based largely on his course form, and the fact there will be a stack of horses looking to put the pace on. On Official Ratings, he has something of a class gap to bridge, but then again, I think he is a hard horse for the handicapper to get a grip of. He is a guaranteed stayer, his price relative to Fastorslow is a bit wild based on their Ultima runs last season, and for me, he can definitely worry some of the sexier horses. I should also add that my heart will also compel me to have a few quid on Shishkin come the day, though my head tells me this might just be a trip too far for him.
I'll get my round in during the Foxhunter - though I can't see why Premier Magic can't go in again - and I'll help fetch someone else's round while Dinoblue trots round in the Mares Chase.
I'll try to figure out the Conditionals race when the decs have been made for the Coral Cup.
JP's runners always have to be respected in Festival handicaps, and whilst he has a couple shorter in the betting for the County, I've backed Risk Belle at 16's, with a smaller bet on the exchange at 26. I think she would probably have won the Boodles last season if she'd hit the front a littler later than she did, and her two runs this season likely weren't under ideal conditions, and have the sniffs of mark-maintenance to me. As it is, she'll runs from a mark only 1lbs higher than her Irish rating. She's also been quite battled hardened since last year's Festival - hopefully to ready her for a top-end handicap - and the end-to-end gallop should play to her strengths.
I was on High Class Hero reasonably early for the Bartlett (double-figure price, though nothing too fancy), but I've been going a bit cool on his chances of late, and wanted another one running for me. To that end, I've backed Ben Pauling's The Jukebox Man (34 on machine), who I thought ran a smashing trial for this when chasing home Captain Teague in the Challow, where all he did was stay on. He isn't an absolute guaranteed stayer at 3m, though given he hacked-up twice on Heavy ground over 2m4f earlier in the season (Ffos Las both times), and beat Cleatus Poolaw (amongst the favourites for the Pertemps) in a 3m Point, I'd be reasonably confident he will get the trip. The fact that the yard is on fire right now is an added bonus.
I've ended-up backing Corach Rambler each-way at 20's, based largely on his course form, and the fact there will be a stack of horses looking to put the pace on. On Official Ratings, he has something of a class gap to bridge, but then again, I think he is a hard horse for the handicapper to get a grip of. He is a guaranteed stayer, his price relative to Fastorslow is a bit wild based on their Ultima runs last season, and for me, he can definitely worry some of the sexier horses. I should also add that my heart will also compel me to have a few quid on Shishkin come the day, though my head tells me this might just be a trip too far for him.
I'll get my round in during the Foxhunter - though I can't see why Premier Magic can't go in again - and I'll help fetch someone else's round while Dinoblue trots round in the Mares Chase.
I'll try to figure out the Conditionals race when the decs have been made for the Coral Cup.
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