Horses That Missed The Festival

M

Maruco

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 7, 2004
Messages
4,787
Location
The Shire
I thought it might not be a bad idea to put a list together of horses that missed the Festival for various reasons. They often get overlooked and some never come back, but there can be a bit of value in there too. Just add them in here and discuss, and I'll edit them back in the opening post with their agreed most likely target for us to refer back to as next season progresses.

I'll kick off with the first ones that spring to mind, but there are many more:

Topofthegame (Gold Cup)
Buveur D'Air (Champion Hurdle)
Saldier (Champ Hurdle)
Malone Road (Supreme/Ballymore)
Andy Dufresne
Klassical Dream (Arkle/Marsh)
Pic D’Orhy (Arkle)
Rayapour (Coral Cup)
Felix Desjy (Arkle or seriously well handicapped over hurdles?)
Gypsy Island (Mares Nov)
Maries Rock (split up from from Honeysuckle?
Micro Manage
Monsignor (Veterans Novice Chase)
Laurina (Mares Chase?)
Robin De Carlow (Mares Chase?)
Glenloe
On the Slopes
Angel's Breath
Sam Spinner
Sizing John
Le Richebourg
Bright Forecast
Thistlecrack
Windsor Avenue
Silver Sheen
Commander Of Fleet
Dickie Diver
Champagne Classic
King Roland (RSA Chase)

In addition there were a number of novices touted that were left for the season or late season targets that won't come out now, or had a low-key prep without winning, or ran in to hotpots and remain novices for next season. I'm thinking about the battalions of young horses with Willie, Gordon, Nicky, and Nicholls and their big owners mostly. There are a few in my tracker but plenty more besides. Add any you can remember and I'll update the first post.

Rayapour
Fin Du Match
Bold Conduct
Estelle Ma Belle
Rocheston
Lucky One
Frere TucPower Of Pause
El Barra
Ain't That A Shame
Luxy Lou
Feu Du Bresil
Chante Neige
Uthred
Farouk D'Arlene
Wide Receiver
Forged in Fire
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Good idea. Might be worth an asterisk against horses that have now missed two Festivals (Saldier/Malone Road) who should be avoided like the plague until NRNB.

I can offer
Laurina (Mares Chase?)
Robin De Carlow (Mares Chase?)
 
Glenloe is still on 135 but looks to have serious issues now having missed two festivals in successive years.
 
I don't think there is any chance that we are getting another jumps festival this year.
 
Diamond Geezer said:
Angel's Breath
Sam Spinner
Sizing John
Le Richebourg
Footpad
Click to expand...

Speaking of Sam Spinner, Windsor Avenue is now down to 148. He could be interesting in handicaps next year if they can straighten him out. Maybe the Hennessy or something like that.
 
The best horse to have missed the Festival - and indeed the season - is (imo) Master Dino. He was sold by Munir/Souede in November; presumably because he is doesn't stand the demands of racing.

Either that or he was considered too genuine to take his place amongst the collection of gutless mutts that constitute the rest of the partnership's string.
 
Last edited:
Grasshopper said:
The best horse to have missed the Festival - and indeed the season - is (imo) Master Dino. He was sold by Munir/Souede in November; presumably because he is doesn't stand the demands of racing.

Either that or he was considered too genuine to take his place amongst the collection of gutless mutts that constitute the rest of the partnership's string.
Click to expand...
Didn't realise he'd been sold. Who bought him, Nick?

You're favourite website (Ex-paper [emoji3]) still has him as owned by Munir & Souede?

7d43dd43d38f84add9f9c67a16fee59c.jpg
 
granger said:
Plenty of good bumper horses

Farouk D'Arlene
Wide Receiver
Master of Tara
Forged in Fire
Uhthred
Click to expand...
Master of Tara died.

Commander of Fleet is one I'll have my eye on. Form with Allaho and Indo looks red hot.

Dickie Diver another from that race who hsd an issue - huge thing that's absolutely made for the boat race.
 
I've just updated the original post with all posted so far. There's some in there that you can smell 'plot' with when they come back.
 
Maruco said:
I've just updated the original post with all posted so far. There's some in there that you can smell 'plot' with when they come back.
Click to expand...

The handicapping system will help them too. Horses that have had an extended absence tend to be allowed 7-10lbs for it.

(If I were a trainer with a long-term plan for a horse that's the route I would take rather than keep running it down the park. I think horses that get into the habit of running publicly well below their best find it hard to get out of the habit, whereas a horse that's been kept active and interested in life away from the track might be literally champing at the bit for some action. Which would appeal to your sex-drive more, constantly banging away at an old bike or waiting for Victoria Coren to give you the come-on?)
 
I thought I'd add my thoughts on the ones that I'll be watching and waiting for and why.

Topofthegame - Potential to be better than Santini who was beaten a neck in this seasons Gold Cup. Will he show the same progression after his injury. Also how will his RSA compare to Champ and Minella Indo's.
Saldier - Has the potential to be top class but has missed the last two Festivals with only one run each season. Hard to keep fit but still only 6. New kids on the block may be better anyway.
Malone Road - His potential is huge given they rated him higher than Envoi Allen, and he's currently 6 times the price for the Supreme than he was 12 months ago. Hasn't seen a racecourse in 16 months now though, and rumours circulating suggesting his problems may persist.
Klassical Dream - Probably will start out over 2 miles in novice chases but more likely to step up in trip at some point in the season. Forgotten and interesting.
Pic D’Orhy - Always thought of as a future chaser, and has been looked after. I expect to see him become a live Arkle contender, although he'll have Shishkin to contend with.
Felix Desjy - Was close to a come back I understand, so now really interesting for next season. Given the likely novice chase opposition I wonder if he'll have two or three quiet races in handicap hurdles, or whether they'll try and get him a mark over fences. Whichever route, the less he does the more interesting he becomes.
Gypsy Island (Mares Nov) - Everyone will latch on to her if she comes back fit and well. An update from Bayofreedom wouldn't go amiss to her well being! Interesting that her only defeat was in a maiden hurdle to Put The Kettle On. Maybe people will finally wake up to that one when she wins the Champion Chase.
Silver Sheen - Missed the Festival with a minor setback and remains unexposed and ridiculously well handicapped.
Commander Of Fleet - Novice chasing, or plotted for a lenient mark over hurdles. Interesting either way.

 
Defi Bleu another really interesting one. Monster of an animal and clichés aside, will do more over a fence. Could see him plotted for the Kim Muir for the same connections as this years winner.
 
Last edited:
One more to add to the list of those missing the Festival is King Roland, who skipped the Festival because Harry Fry wanted to avoid a hard race against Envoi Allen. Fry is on record as saying he expects him to come in to his own over fences and has deliberately kept him lightly raced so as not to over face him in his novice hurdle season. He's also said he's the best in the yard and he rates him in the Neon Wolf bracket, who had been the apple of his eye.

He ran in the novice hurdle on trials day at Cheltenham, which has been an excellent future guide for horses in the best staying chases, particularly the RSA and Gold Cup. The roll of honour for UK horses from that race is remarkable. He was left 20 lengths behind the leader that day and only beaten a couple of lengths when his run just petered out, so he was definitely the one to take from the race. It also puts the all important course form stamp in his book. I presume he'll be back there for a novice chase at some point during the season anyway so it's fully endorsed. He promises to be a better horse over further, looking as though a step up in trip to 3 miles will suit on both of his last two runs. He also jumped his fences well in his point over 3 miles and saw it our with ease, so there shouldn't be jumping or longer trip concerns.

By skipping the Festival, and Aintree and Punchestown not happening, he's become a bit of a forgotten horse. And that's the perfect scenario for value antepost punting given the market is focused on Cheltenham Festival form. The current antepost RSA market has the Albert Bartlett Horses heading the market but I have a nagging doubt whether this seasons Albert Bartlett will prove to be good as last seasons. The first 4 finished in a heap which isn't usually the sign of a classic renewal. The rest of the market is full of horses that won't run (including Envoi Allen) so, all factors considered, 50/1 King Roland for the RSA is a gift. It can also be made relatively risk free if laying back for stake+ is your thing (mine is), as he'll trade at less than half that price immediately before his seasonal debut, and a quarter of the price after his debut assuming he doesn't fluff his lines. Ideally though I'll be looking to lock in a profit immediately before his first run, and may go back in and take some more later.

Below are all the horses I've backed so far from the horses that missed this seasons Festival. Most are already trading shorter, and the others I expect to trade shorter, so I'll be playing the same tactics with each:

Andy Dufresne 33/1ew Arkle
Angels Breath 25/1ew Ryanair
Topofthegame 20/1ew Gold Cup
King Roland 50/1ew RSA
 
Last edited:
Roger. For some reason I can't edit my opening post. When you get a moment could you add King Roland too it please.
 
Back
Top