Imperial Cup Sandown

I trawled the weights this evening.

Nothing really stands out for the race itself so certainly not for the bonus as a penalty in a handicap will be nigh impossible to overcome and nothing else is rated high enough for non-handicaps for which they might be eligible.

Unless there's a total long-term plot lurking...
 
Would you not give Friday night light a chance again Des?

Personally I've backed Master of Irony as I'm lead to believe he will actually line up this time.

Might have a real big outsider for the long shot thread as well Des if Sandown doesn't get much more rain.

Re-master of Irony Des he might not standout on your figures but worth watching the replays. He's on a win to get in basis for the County also.
 
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I backed FNL last time out and he was trying for his life, only to be beaten on the day by a better horse. He went up for not winning and now contests a stronger race.

It will take a braver than me to back him.

I agree about MOI. He looks a possible long-term plot and certainly caught my eye last time but he's only one of several such runners.

I do have one in mind for the race but I'm waiting to see if it's declared, which jockey is engaged and what price it is before committing.
 
DC
heres what Tom thought the last time FNL ran,

3.00 Ascot – Friday Night Light

Friday Night Light has shown a good level of form and was just touched off last time by a very solid horse of Jeremy Scott’s called Unison.

He should be suited to Ascot and he would be my best ride of the day.
 
Desert Orchid said:
I backed FNL last time out and he was trying for his life, only to be beaten on the day by a better horse. He went up for not winning and now contests a stronger race.

It will take a braver than me to back him.

I agree about MOI. He looks a possible long-term plot and certainly caught my eye last time but he's only one of several such runners.

I do have one in mind for the race but I'm waiting to see if it's declared, which jockey is engaged and what price it is before committing.
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I take your points DO but I'd just consider that he narrowly got beat by Le Patriote and that was over 2m3f. They were well clear of the rest so the rise may well be fair for both. Friday night's previous performance where he was beaten 2L by Unison over 2 miles was franked when Unison went and won again 4 lengths clear of the useful Caid du lin. Raced off 135 against FNL, now rated 146. Le patriote's previous performance over 2 miles on heavy ground he was well beaten Our Merlin in front of him and Our Merlin was well behind Unison last time. I think if Sandown gets plenty of rain he'd at least be value to turn the tables with the more fancied Le patriote ( who I was actually on last time) . I haven't checked the prices today but he was 14's, 12's in places yesterday he'll certainly go off a lot shorter given the Pipe's History with this event.
 
There shouldn't be too much between FNL and Le Patriote if they both run their race but last time out was their short-term target, I reckon. I'll be gobsmacked if either is up to winning this unless they've improved another 7lbs in a short space of time.

I think Pipe has another in the race too.

Edit - I was mixing up Dell Arca with Dell Oro.
 
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Absolutely Des I have no doubts they are both trying to ensure their place in either the County of the Boys race. I think they are two nice types though. Just hope they are not quite as nice as MOI on the day.
 
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John Quinn having not only trained the winner of the Swinton but also won the race as a young jockey.

So he knows exactly what it takes to win these tough handicaps and has booked RJ for

Has a great racing weight and ran better in the Gerry Fielding than the result would have you thinking

Master of Irony
 
Tom very bullish about FNL

2.25 Sandown – Friday Night Light

Friday Night Light has the visor on for the first time which I think will help him. He’s tailormade for this race. I’m very confident that he can win this.

The two miles will suit, as will the stiff uphill finish. He’s improved with every run and yes he’s got to improve again. He’s got a 3lb pull with Le Patriote from last time.

That was a very good run and I can see conditions at Sandown suiting my horse even better than they did at Ascot. We’ve now got to go and do it.

I won the Imperial Cup on Baltimore Rock in 2014 which is a while ago now so I’d like to do it again.
 
Agree completely lucky me and I'm on him and Master of Irony against the field could do with a funds boost for next weeks assault !
 
Number 17 on the card, Man O Plenty. Improved a notch or two this season when second to Limited Reserve, fifth behind Hunters Call and fourth behind Jenkins. He's one of these relatively lowly rated horses in the 120/130 bracket who can actually run well with the ability to place in big hurdles like this. I reckon he'll give his amateur jockey a nice ride round, also a good each way price at 50/1 to finish in the first four or five, (depending on the place terms of whoever your betting with). Best of the rank outsiders for sure.
 
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Tanlic said:
John Quinn having not only trained the winner of the Swinton but also won the race as a young jockey.

So he knows exactly what it takes to win these tough handicaps and has booked RJ for

Has a great racing weight and ran better in the Gerry Fielding than the result would have you thinking

Master of Irony
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It's happened again. I agree with Tanlic.

Worked out well last time!
 
Marb; I've been backing Man of Plenty all season; would love tomorrow to be 'his day'! He's a real 'trier'.
 
moehat said:
Marb; I've been backing Man of Plenty all season; would love tomorrow to be 'his day'! He's a real 'trier'.
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Marble said:
Number 17 on the card, Man O Plenty. Improved a notch or two this season when second to Limited Reserve, fifth behind Hunters Call and fourth behind Jenkins. He's one of these relatively lowly rated horses in the 120/130 bracket who can actually run well with the ability to place in big hurdles like this. I reckon he'll give his amateur jockey a nice ride round, also a good each way price at 40/1 to finish in the first or five, (depending on the place terms of whoever your betting with). Best of the rank outsiders for sure.
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He's game as a pebble that one and I'm sure he'll give you a decent run for your money.

A horse that I had down on my shortlist for the Coral Cup/ MP conditionals runs instead in the National Hunt Novices hurdle tomorrow in the shape of Melrose Boy 10/1 generally. Ran a game old race at the course over a longer trip in testing conditions and didn't quite get home, so dropping back in trip tomorrow should help him continue his improvement back here in novice company. The winner of that race Top of the Game I get the feeling Nicholls thinks will be one of his better chasing prospects next year so Melrose may well have been up against it that day anyway. I think as long as he's got over that race as it did look like a right old slog then he's a solid enough e/w bet.
 
Just added a combi tricast for the Imperial

Master of Irony
Friday Night light
Huntsman close
Gassin Golf

It pains me to leave out Man of Plenty Marb as he's one I'm fond of but I didn't want more than 4 so I've had to narrow it down a bit.
 
Yeah I know what you mean, Danny.

He could look like placing today two furlongs out, only finish 7th or 8th, which sometimes happens with horses like him.

He needs a career best, but as I hinted in my first post, I reckon he's improved this season, so I can't discount the idea he'll improve today again.

Good each way value. He's shortened into 33's, was 50's with Powers last night.
 
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It was an unsatisfactory race after all that (unless you backed the winner, obviously) with them going no pace, which was always going to play into the top-weight's hand. Not many will have acted in that ground and the form probably isn't anything out of the ordinary. I had the first two on exactly the same rating, both with a '+p' on my figures. They've maybe improved up to the standard of an average winner and have been the ones that have simply acted best in the going. That's probably how I'll be rating it unless I see something else when I have another look.

Master Of Irony wasn't well-placed off the pace and was looked after from some way out. I'll just be striking a line through that run.

I'd also have preferred to see Gassin Golf closer to that pace but apart from that I thought the young jockey did absolutely the right thing to stick to the inside rail right through until he couldn't make ground on the pace horses.
 
Well done Marb and Moe. My form continues to plummet ahead of the festival.

I feel a bloodbath awaits me :(
 
Fear not Danny, given most of the racing this season has been on similar ground to what's predicted for next week the form will work out fine.

Won't it ? :ninja:
 
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