International Hurdle (The Bula)

Grasshopper

Grasshopper

Senior Jockey
Joined
Nov 14, 2006
Messages
16,012
Some horses, for one reason or another, don’t get the credit they deserve, and I have Song For Someone firmly in that category.

On my reading of his form, he has disappointed probably only once in his career - in the Aintree G1 juvenile behind Pentland Hills - and he probably had excuses that day anyway (ground on the quick side, and sharp track not providing a sufficient test). Otherwise, he has performed with great credit under big weights in a couple of handicaps, and gone on to win a couple of Grade 2s with a bit up his sleeve, from horses just below top-class. It’s a progressive profile any way I look at it.

He is clearly in good order, a stiff track like Cheltenham’s New Course should really suit him, and his trainer continues to bomb along in ripe form. Why he is 6/1 for this race is beyond me, and I’m expecting a big run on Saturday.

I’ve also had an each-way pinch at 33/1 for the Champion Hurdle, as it’s always useful to have a strong stayer onside.
 
I definitely want to be opposing Goshen who may hose up like a good thing but has a plenty to prove at the moment.

The only thing that's stopping backing Song for Someone is I want to know he goes here. Has Tom Symonds definitely said he does? The fact that he's still available today at 6's worries me.
 
Maruco said:
I definitely want to be opposing Goshen who may hose up like a good thing but has a plenty to prove at the moment.

The only thing that's stopping backing Song for Someone is I want to know he goes here. Has Tom Symonds definitely said he does? The fact that he's still available today at 6's worries me.
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Maybe, but GOSHEN is in my book as “back ‘til lose”
 
Maruco said:
I definitely want to be opposing Goshen who may hose up like a good thing but has a plenty to prove at the moment.

The only thing that's stopping backing Song for Someone is I want to know he goes here. Has Tom Symonds definitely said he does? The fact that he's still available today at 6's worries me.
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Honestly don’t know if this is the target, Paul, but I’m not particularly concerned about the price - other than the fact it looks big. Silver Streak is around the same odds, and I suspect SFS is available at 6’s due to the apparent strength of Goshen, rather than anything else.......though it is only a suspicion.
 
I've put the feelers out to find out. In the back of my mind I think he'd said he wanted to run on soft. The only real rain due is on Friday, but it doesn't look like a whole lot.
 
Maruco said:
I've put the feelers out to find out. In the back of my mind I think he'd said he wanted to run on soft. The only real rain due is on Friday, but it doesn't look like a whole lot.
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He should be perfectly fine on the forecast ground, Paul, though that’s not to say he will necessarily take his chance on it.

If he doesn’t go here, his options are likely to be limited until the old Agfa or the Haydock trial (where he’d get Soft ground, but possibly the arse torn out of him in the process), as I doubt he’d have much of a chance against Epatante round Kempton.

I don’t think he tool a great deal out of himself at Ascot, so hoping Symonds lets him go forward this weekend.
 
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Saturday's decs

Ballyandy Call Me Lord Sceau Royal Song For Someone Summerville Boy Silver Streak Ch'tibello Goshen Stormy Ireland Verdana Blue



The Caspiar Caviar Gold Cup decs

Master Tommytucker
Cepage
Al Dancer
Huntsman Son
Windsor Avenue
Midnight Shadow
Saint Sonnet
Good Boy Bobby
Drumconnor Lad
Southfield Stone
Coole Cody
Annie Mc
Benatar
Chatham Street Lad
Champagne Mystery
Romain de Senam
Militarian
 
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Diamond Geezer said:
The Caspiar Caviar Gold Cup decs

Master Tommytucker
Cepage
Al Dancer
Huntsman Son
Windsor Avenue
Midnight Shadow
Saint Sonnet
Good Boy Bobby
Drumconnor Lad
Southfield Stone
Coole Cody
Annie Mc
Benatar
Chatham Street Lad
Champagne Mystery
Romain de Senam
Militarian
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Fvck.

No sign of Musical Slave or Ibis Du Rheu. So much for trying to sniff out ante-post value...

How do we find out if the latter just missed the cut or was scratched?
 
Desert Orchid said:
Fvck.

No sign of Musical Slave or Ibis Du Rheu. So much for trying to sniff out ante-post value...

How do we find out if the latter just missed the cut or was scratched?
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Just checked the card. They're listed as Nos 18 and 19 of 19 with a field max of 17. I take it they are reserves?
 
Double J said:
Said I wouldn’t get sucked in. But 365s 11/4 for Goshen is a temptation too far.
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How?
He's had two poor runs on the flat.
Been pulled out of two races with a bad scope.
He is taking on very good horses who are race fit.
11/4 is surely a reflection of this...
 
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Maxbet said:
How?
He's had two poor runs on the flat.
Been pulled out of two races with a bad scope.
He is taking on very good horses who are race fit.
11/4 is surely a reflection of this...
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His flat form before last season was shite as well, look into it.

The triumph he was going to **** in, the form behind seems to be stacking up. He looked a freak last year.

Admittedly it won’t be my biggest bet, and I have reservations myself. Had this been his first run of the season and he didn’t go on the flat, you’d be looking at a 6/4 shot.

Others may well be race fit, Goshen had a flat run only 2 month ago, he’s as entitled to be as fit as any of these. I may have read this wrong and he could get smashed out the park, but I’m quite happy to take the 11/4.
 
Goshen comes with a lot of risks too...

He jumps violently right, needing to travel right down the hurdle to correct his jump as he tires.
It was this trait that caused the unseating, he had no room to traverse being up against the rail.
 
Double J said:
Others may well be race fit, Goshen had a flat run only 2 month ago, he’s as entitled to be as fit as any of these. I may have read this wrong and he could get smashed out the park, but I’m quite happy to take the 11/4.
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So during the last 6 weeks that he's been scoping badly, do you not think his training would have been interrupted?

If he had antibiotics, they knock a horse sideways...

I like Stormy Island e/w 18/1....4 places Skybet. Form beating Elfie puts her up there with Honeysuckle..gets all the allowances here, will go off 12's or less...
 
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Maxbet said:
So during the last 6 weeks that he's been scoping badly, do you not think his training would have been interrupted?

If he had antibiotics, they knock a horse sideways...

I like Stormy Island 18/1 4 places Skybet. Form beating Elfie puts her up there with Honeysuckle..gets all the allowances is here, will go off 12's or less...
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I don’t think he scoped badly. Jamie Moore came out and said the day before he was pulled he was absolutely electric in schooling.
I’m taking what the trainer has said with a pinch of salt (as well as the jockey) Somethings going on I’ve no doubt, I just don’t know what. But 11/4 I think is fair. As I said, take away his flat runs he’s probably 6 or 7/4.

He may not win, but 11/4 for the most hyped horse in training after the Triumph I think is a fair price, and one Ive taken. If he is a Champion Hurdler, he should be winning this on the snaff.

He could also go the other way and be the biggest talking horse without actually doing anything, much like Pentland Hills.
 
Slim said:
If Goshen can't give Stormy Ireland 3lbs then they may as well shoot it.
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It's not so long ago Stormy Ireland was rated 154. Goshen is rated 156. It depends on which version of each horse turns up, I suppose.

To put them both into perspective, it's not really all that long either since Verdana Blue was rated 162 and she's getting weight from all of them. I've convinced myself she's being plotted for the Coral Cup, though.
 
Stormy Ireland's best performance tend to be when let loose on the lead against non triers. Can't think of a piece of form thst would make me back her in a race like Saturday.
 
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Slim said:
Stormy Ireland's best performance tend to be when let loose on the lead against non triers. Can't think of a piece of form thst would make me back her in a race like Saturday.
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Only thing getting shot on Saturday is Nicholls by the Sullivan’s. I wouldn’t be backing Stormy Ireland even if she was still trained by Mullins. Nicholls isn’t exactly doing a great job with them since he’s got them either.

18/1 for a reason I think.
 
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