Chepstow

Yes although he goes well on very soft ground I believe that had it been merely soft he would have won . 11-12 over 3m 5f in a bog and beaten less than a length - legend of a horse.
 
Gallant hero, I would have been screaming the living room down for him even if I hadn't backed him!
 
Last edited:
One bet for me at Chepstow today and that was Hawkes Point at 14/1 this morning.

Hope someone managed to find a winner!?
 
I wonder if Jacob overdid the waiting or if he'd tried to go between horses he'd have done a Lexus.

He ended up being my only bet in the race, win only needless to say.
 
I wonder if Jacob overdid the waiting or if he'd tried to go between horses he'd have done a Lexus.
Click to expand...

I don't think he overdid the waiting (and, to be honest, I'm not sure a jockey has too much choice on that front with Tidal Bay) but I do think he may very well have won if he'd gone between horses. That was the deciding move in a very, very clever ride in last year's Lexus ..
 
I'm in broad agreement, Muttley.

I just thought it might be the kind of race in which TB could lob around on the bit and pick off the inevitable weakeners and then get serious over the last couple.

I'm not sure the weight beat him as he ran on so well. If his effort had petered out I could say the weight did for him but he was closing them down until the last stride. Maybe Jacob couldn't have got him any closer but the horse seemed to relish going between them in the Lexus and I wonder what would have happened if they'd tried that.
 
The way a class horse like that carved his way through the field giving all that weight away really makes you think that long run could do the same and25/1 for the national is a magnificent price, especially with those modified fences and sams decent record round the national course.
 
Tidal Bay has learned how to jump fences in the last couple of years; Long Run likely never will.
Wouldn't get round the National course with 10st on his back.
 
reet hard said:
Tidal Bay has learned how to jump fences in the last couple of years; Long Run likely never will.
Wouldn't get round the National course with 10st on his back.
Click to expand...

Dunno about that, reet. Long Run won enough times over Auteuil's quirky chase course, and he might be one that is suited to the unique demands of Aintree - which on last year's evidence, takes not a great deal of jumping these days anyway. The jockey is also a pretty-good leveller (instead of being a liability) over the National course, and he'd have as good a chance of staying as many.

Jump him off out front away from trouble, and he'd be an interesting runner, imo.
 
Tidal Bay has learned how to jump fences in the last couple of years
Click to expand...
I wouldn't agree entirely, in that Tidal Bay still regularly loses lengths at fences but, so far, he hasn't looked like falling (hopes frantically that she hasn't put the mockers on him) - he has too strong a sense of self-preservation so he tends to put himself right and find a stride.

Tidal Bay and Long Run are polar opposites. I get the impression that Tidal Bay wins races despite physical problems and a strong desire to do things his own way. Long Run, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be following through in his races these days - I think he also has physical problems but they have affected him mentally in a different way.

DO - totally agree. I remember Ruby saying of another old rogue (either Cornish Rebel or Le Duc) that the horse ran best when he found trouble in a race and Ruby would routinely try to put him between horses.
 
Muttley said:
I wouldn't agree entirely, in that Tidal Bay still regularly loses lengths at fences but, so far, he hasn't looked like falling (hopes frantically that she hasn't put the mockers on him) - he has too strong a sense of self-preservation so he tends to put himself right and find a stride.

Tidal Bay and Long Run are polar opposites. I get the impression that Tidal Bay wins races despite physical problems and a strong desire to do things his own way. Long Run, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be following through in his races these days - I think he also has physical problems but they have affected him mentally in a different way.

DO - totally agree. I remember Ruby saying of another old rogue (either Cornish Rebel or Le Duc) that the horse ran best when he found trouble in a race and Ruby would routinely try to put him between horses.
Click to expand...

An excellent point Muttley - was there enough room though ?
 
There was indeed - if DJ had switched slightly left after the last, there was a gap to aim for on the run-in. This isn't intended as a criticism of DJ, though - that sort of thinking is the fairy dust that makes a great ride
 
Muttley
Tidal Bay has always been a slow jumper; that's why - even though an Arkle winner - he's better given a test that slows the others down. Whether it's the PN influence or Ruby's riding it's unclear, but it's beyond question that he doesn't create the 'cor blimey' errors he did under previous tutelage.
Fwiw, and with no disrespect to Daryl Jacob, I firmly believe he would have won yesterday, with Ruby on his back.

Grassy
There you go again! :)
Aintree's fences may have been emasculated, but never to the extent that Long Run would negotiate 30 of them safely. The sedate pace and 'quirky' fences of the X country course at Cheltenham might be right up his street, though.
 
Last edited:
I suspect DJ was riding to strict instructions, though. TB would probably idle if he hit the front too soon and I don't think it overstretches the imagination to think that Nicholls would have told Jacob not to worry as long as he was within a couple of lengths of the leader going over the last the horse would do the rest.

I do wonder, though, if there was enough room between the other two. Had he gone for the gap that wasn't really there he might have had to barge through and face losing the race in the stewards' room.

It was a great run but I had him clear top on my ratings beforehand so wasn't at all surprised, just disappointed he didn't win!
 
Last edited:
Back
Top