Clopf
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Looking back on some of his early season form, his drubbing of Aitmatov doesnt look to shabby now either, looked to really relish the ground today as well which is a big plus for future targets. Todays win is up on the ATR site already.
From the Sportinglife:
Clopf will step outside novice company for the first time over timber in Sunday's Maplewood Developments Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.
Edward O'Grady's charge won a Grade One at the track back in April and according to his handler, the six-year-old was not at his best on that occasion.
"The interesting thing with him is that I don't think he was within a stone of himself when he won at the Punchestown Festival," O'Grady said.
"He had won before that over a mile and six furlongs on the Flat, and won well.
"I had booked him in for a scan because I wanted to find out if there was anything wrong with the horse as he hadn't been right before Cheltenham.
"After Punchestown, it turned out he had a stress fracture of his humerus. We had to rest him for three months and he got very, very gross.
"While he looks fantastic at the moment and we've been doing as much as we can with him, he's still quite gross."
Clopf had his first start since when finishing in mid-division in a well-contested Flat race at Galway at the end of October.
O'Grady was satisfied with what he saw on that occasion and is now looking forward to seeing his charge take on some smart horses, with Iktitaf and Macs Joy among the potential opposition.
"At Galway, he steamed down the hill like an absolute express train and got to the cusp of the hill and just blew up. If he'd have blown up earlier, he might have got a second wind," O'Grady told At The Races.
"We've managed to get a bit of work into him and he's supposed to run on Sunday in the Morgiana at Punchestown.
"I expect he will run very well and I expect he will have a bit of improvement in him."
Clopf will step outside novice company for the first time over timber in Sunday's Maplewood Developments Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.
Edward O'Grady's charge won a Grade One at the track back in April and according to his handler, the six-year-old was not at his best on that occasion.
"The interesting thing with him is that I don't think he was within a stone of himself when he won at the Punchestown Festival," O'Grady said.
"He had won before that over a mile and six furlongs on the Flat, and won well.
"I had booked him in for a scan because I wanted to find out if there was anything wrong with the horse as he hadn't been right before Cheltenham.
"After Punchestown, it turned out he had a stress fracture of his humerus. We had to rest him for three months and he got very, very gross.
"While he looks fantastic at the moment and we've been doing as much as we can with him, he's still quite gross."
Clopf had his first start since when finishing in mid-division in a well-contested Flat race at Galway at the end of October.
O'Grady was satisfied with what he saw on that occasion and is now looking forward to seeing his charge take on some smart horses, with Iktitaf and Macs Joy among the potential opposition.
"At Galway, he steamed down the hill like an absolute express train and got to the cusp of the hill and just blew up. If he'd have blown up earlier, he might have got a second wind," O'Grady told At The Races.
"We've managed to get a bit of work into him and he's supposed to run on Sunday in the Morgiana at Punchestown.
"I expect he will run very well and I expect he will have a bit of improvement in him."
Irish Stamp
Forum Moderator
Possibly the leading Irish hope (after Sublimity) for this years Champion?
As you mentioned back in April Gal the drubbing of Aitmatov now looks pretty good - with a couple of pretenders to the Hurdling throne in behind Aitmatov the other day
As you mentioned back in April Gal the drubbing of Aitmatov now looks pretty good - with a couple of pretenders to the Hurdling throne in behind Aitmatov the other day
trackside528
At the Start
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- Apr 30, 2006
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The fact that Patsy Hall has ended up in Tony Martin's yard has more to do with his previous trainer than it does with his current..
Rate Clopf a really good prospect myself.. certainly wasn't overly impressed with his Punchestown run (genuine excuse it seems), but the one positive I would take from that run was that he wasn't shirking a battle, and found a good deal under pressure, considering he was probably quite a ways below his best..
Rate Clopf a really good prospect myself.. certainly wasn't overly impressed with his Punchestown run (genuine excuse it seems), but the one positive I would take from that run was that he wasn't shirking a battle, and found a good deal under pressure, considering he was probably quite a ways below his best..
Powerscourt
At the Start
I like the way Clopf travels in his races. He just blew up in his last run at Galway and should be spot on now.
I thought in the Punchestown race he was held up way off the pace and given a lot to do but did it well in the circumstances. He may be better running a little closer to the pace.
I thought in the Punchestown race he was held up way off the pace and given a lot to do but did it well in the circumstances. He may be better running a little closer to the pace.
I dont really rate clopf but if he was injured when winning at Punchestown then there is some chance. But to me for him to be a serious champion hurdle contender, you must forget about that run. He simply isnt nearly good enough on that form. Also, if anyone thinks that the Aitmatov has improved dramatically (IMO) over the summer and I wouldnt read much if anything into his form at this stage with clopf.
Thought clopf was class at this time last year, but i have revised my opinion. Hope I;m proved wrong for his supporters.
Thought clopf was class at this time last year, but i have revised my opinion. Hope I;m proved wrong for his supporters.
The horse was clearly wrong after his run in the storm at Fairyhouse behind Hide The Evidence. His bumper form was smart, his early season form while maybe not that strong was extremely impressive visual, and he won his Grade one off a far from ideal prep (one race on the flat and not over hurdles since before Christmas). He is 20-25/1 for the Champion, trained by a proper trainer and now ridden by a proper jockey….I am trying not to fall into the Back In Front trap again but given his price I think he is decent value.