Irish Hennessy

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Well said indeed! The same should be said of Sizing Europe and Finian's Rainbow.

Sizing Europe owns the 2-mile course in Cheltenham and could easily be going for 4 wins in 4 festivals over C&D. Never be afraid of one horse.
 
If Hen Knight trained Sizing Europe or Flemenstar and had gone to the lengths connections have gone to to convince themselves and others that both these horses need much further..just to avoid one horse..she'd have been criticised to hell.
 
EC1 said:
If Hen Knight trained Sizing Europe or Flemenstar and had gone to the lengths connections have gone to to convince themselves and others that both these horses need much further..just to avoid one horse..she'd have been criticised to hell.
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I don't think that was a factor in either connections thoughts
 
EC1 said:
If Hen Knight trained Sizing Europe or Flemenstar and had gone to the lengths connections have gone to to convince themselves and others that both these horses need much further..just to avoid one horse..she'd have been criticised to hell.
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HK was never criticised for purposely swerving other horses - only for the infrequent nature of Best Mate's outings. Sizing Europe has been campaigned pretty-much fearlessly throughout his career, and Flemenstar hasn't been short of runs either.

I'm not sure Hen Knight has much relevance here, to be honest EC.
 
I just hope at least one of Finians, Sizing or Flemenstar show up... The Irish two are the most likely given who trains Finians. The fact that Henderson's avoiding Sprinter with Finians must be a concern for de bromhead though.

Having said that I think Finians has no chance in the Ryanair. Just cannot see him staying.
 
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Aragorn said:
Having said that I think Finians has no chance in the Ryanair. Just cannot see him staying.
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I prefer First Lieutenant but Finian's would be my second choice. Unlike Cue Card this horse has learnt to settle nowdays and doesn't need to lead. He also is economic over his fences and I think he's value for the race.
 
Euronymous said:
I prefer First Lieutenant but Finian's would be my second choice. Unlike Cue Card this horse has learnt to settle nowdays and doesn't need to lead. He also is economic over his fences and I think he's value for the race.
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Cue Card is a free-going sort who is best out front. That's just the type he is - it's hardly a negative.
 
It wasn't a criticism but I do feel FR's inflated price is in part due to a perception of his lack of stamina. I think CC has similar questions to ask.
 
davidjohnson said:
Wouldn't be the biggest surprise to see the owner move him.

To those that think the horse didn't stay yesterday.

I have 2 questions. How much further behind SDC was Flemenstar at the last compared to the line, and how far did Flemenstar need to beat SDC by to have stayed.

I thought yesterday definitely proved his stamina for 3m, and if they ride him to play to his strengths, he'd have won. Hopefully we'll get to see him do it at Punchestown if not Cheltenham.
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I actually came on tonight thinking to myself there's far too much emphasis being put on what Flemenstar is and and not enough on what he might not be.

tbh I was somewhat disappointed with him when he beat Sir Des Champs in the John Durkan. He had beaten the likes of the aging Big Zeb and a few not so hot chasers on his way up very easily but this looked more of a test as Sir Des Champs was also on the way up having won all his 7 races.

In his last run before the John Durkan SDC who always looked like a stayer had confirmed where his future lay over longer trips winning by half the track over 3m1f

It has to be said he was a considerable disadvantage against Flemenstar and what disappointed me was the time he took to settle the race. It even looked a bit workmanlike to me.


Despite being held up against the jockeys advice he actually seen the trip out and was coming back at SDC.

This time round SDC wasn't at the same disadvantage and swung round that 5 length defeat over the shorter trip.

So it's not all Flemenstar not staying it's just as much SDC running over a trip that brings the best out of him.

They are both very good horses in my book but Flemestar may not be quite as good as some people think he is.

While it looks like he may end up going for the QMCC I reckon Casey is completely mad raving bonkers.

Flemenstar is a fast horse between his fences for chaser but Cheltenham isn't Ireland in a bog and Sprinter Scare isn't Big Zeb.

Did these guys even bother to watch last year's Arkle?

Cue Card is a fast as they come over fences, lets not forget he won the Champion Bumper and he couldn't get near Sprinter Sacre. He closed slightly when Barry slowed down a bit to make sure he was spot on for the last but 5 strides after he simply pulled away again and he wasn't anywhere near going flat out.

That is scary. There's no better way of describing it, but this Farmer Jones charterer who obviously has no access to a TV or has a bad case of presbyopia thinks it's the best race for this talented horse. Man's an idiot
 
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To be fair, I think there is an element of truth in that, Euro.

Both pretty-much ran like drains last-time-out, and there are similarities in their overall profiles. Indeed, on form, FR should probably be given the benefit of the doubt.

However, a Melling Chase is not nearly so searching an examination of stamina, as a Ryanair Chase - particularly this Ryanir Chase - is likely to provide. Cue Card has a lot less to prove in the stamina deparment (imo).

He also likes the course, jumps well, and has a genuine, straightforward nature. He's also capable of high-class form on his day, and is the last horse ever to remotely look like giving the Aeroplane a race over fences (all things being relative).

He ticks a lot of boxes, and with him likely to run his race and show his form - lto notwithstanding - he's not one to oppose lightly, in my view.

Clearly, I've backed him, but I acknowledge the competitive nature of the race, especially should the QM dry-up of all the top-end possibles, and see them run here. But I reckon I'll get a reasonable dash for my cash, which is good enough for me in a tricky event like this seems certain to be. :cool:
 
I think some on here are being very harsh on connections of Flemenstar. They have kept him in one piece and he has improved, unlike some horses with potential who only go backwards by being pushed too hard too early. That's the end of my compliments though.

I just cannot understand what Lynch or connections were thinking on Sat. At Crimbo he raced pretty much beside SDC and then went away from him only to be closed down late on. SDC is not quick. He just keeps going. On Sat, Lynch purposely missed the break and gave away a cheap four lengths to SDC. Rather than track Quel Esprit and get to the second last in front of SDC, he pulled him back. Is it not better to be slightly in front of a strong stayer so you can get away from him after the last that be a length or two down and have to use your speed to get up to the stayer only for the stayer to fight back?

I just think it was a desparate ride, again. As I said at Crimbo, Lynch has ridden some howlers over the last couple of years. Maybe he is riding to instructions so I can blame them all but it was just a mess, whoevers fault it was.

Anyway, I don't think SDC has the gears to win the gold cup. nor the jumping!!
 
#Flemenstar exclusive Peter Casey has just informed me that Flemenstar "was found to have lung infection" and "Cheltenham is in the balance"
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#Flemenstar "is now on antibiotics and has to take it handy for two weeks. Owner is considering Aintree if Cheltenham doesn't happen."
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Tanlic said:
They could get 999,999 and he still wouldn't win the Gold Cup this year.
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The best biter bit was the **** who laid Binocular at 999-1 before it was announced that it he would not run in the 2010 CH - only for him to make a marvellous recovery :lol:
 
Nothing to wonder about mate unless you think George W Bush blew up the twin towers and there were no planes :rolleyes:

The horse had a muscle problem that cleared up after treatment almost as quickly as it appeared.

I've had more than a few muscle problems in my time as I am sure some other members have.

Some take take 3-7 days to clear some can take months. It's not something you can predict easily and one is as painful as another.

There was no conspiracy to defraud and only 26 pounds was matched at a 1000 by normal every day mad punters with no connection was found to Seven Barrows whatsoever. No single person won an out of the ordinary amount of money and no investigations were made. It is possible someone who works at Nicky's got someone outwith the yard to have a couple of quid on at 1000. Good for them if they did take the risk as that's just one of the perks of the job

He was available after it was announced at 22 on the machine. Even then there wasn't any strange patterns in the betting.......... other than me backing him about a dozen times.;)

The horse opened at 8/1 on the day drifted out to10's and was returned at 9/1 no JP millions just a horse people weren't sure about due to the setback.
 
I'm not talking about the betting angle. I'm asking why was he taken over to Ireland, out of the jurisdiction of the UK racing authorities, in mid-season. Some recoveries from muscle injuries are a lot quicker than others, especially if helped by artificial means.
 
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